1970
Dual FET Compressor & Pre-Amplifier
The Drawmer 1970 is a dual-channel microphone preamplifier and FET compressor designed to deliver maximum flexibility without compromising sonic integrity. Combining ultra-clean THAT-based preamps, creative impedance options, comprehensive dynamics control, and parallel compression, it adapts seamlessly to tracking, mixing, and live sound applications.
With its refined DI EQ, stereo linking, BIG and AIR modes, and fully balanced hard-wire bypass, the 1970 functions as an all-purpose recording channel capable of handling microphones, instruments, line-level sources, and stereo buses with equal confidence. It is a modern evolution of the Drawmer 1960, engineered for engineers who demand precision, versatility, and creative freedom.
Ultra-Versatile Vintage Character with Maximum Control
Building on the legacy of the acclaimed Drawmer 1960, the Drawmer 1970 expands the concept into one of the most flexible mic pre-amplifier and compressor combinations available today. It blends vintage-inspired character with modern precision, offering an exceptional range of routing, control, and creative options for studio and live use.
While the layout will feel familiar to users of the 1960, the 1970 introduces meaningful refinements throughout. The DI EQ has been reworked for improved accuracy, and the signal path enhanced to deliver greater clarity, consistency, and control across all operating modes.
Pristine Pre-Amplifiers
At the heart of the 1970 are dual microphone pre-amplifiers built around the latest THAT Corporation technology. These deliver ultra-clean, transparent recordings, providing a neutral foundation that can later be shaped using valves, transformers, saturation, tape, or external processing.
Each channel offers up to 66 dB of gain and includes switchable microphone impedance for precise matching with any microphone. Phantom power, phase reverse, and a high-pass filter are included as standard, ensuring flexibility across a wide range of recording scenarios.
Super-Clean Hard-Wire Bypass
Engaging the fully balanced hard-wire bypass connects the input directly to the output, completely removing the compressor FETs, mix circuit, and gain stages from the signal path. This provides the cleanest possible route from microphone to output, ideal for critical tracking and transparent signal capture.
Creative Mic Impedance Control
The 1970 transforms microphone impedance into a creative tool. In addition to standard matching, deliberate impedance mismatching allows tonal exploration and character shaping. With selectable settings of 200, 600, and 2400 Ohms, the resulting tonal changes range from subtle refinement to pronounced colour, depending on the microphone and source.
Dual-Channel FET Compression
The onboard FET compressors provide full control over threshold, ratio, attack, and release, along with Drawmer’s exclusive BIG and AIR modes to enhance low-frequency weight and high-frequency openness. The two compressors can operate independently in mono or be linked instantly for stereo bus compression.
Mix Control for Parallel Compression
Each channel includes a Mix control for effortless parallel compression. By blending compressed (wet) and uncompressed (dry) signals, you can retain natural dynamics while adding punch and density — from subtle enhancement to more assertive compression — without complex routing or external mixers.
Features
- Two THAT Corporation ultra-clean mic pre-amplifiers delivering up to 66 dB of gain with phantom power and switchable impedance for accurate microphone matching
- Dedicated XLR inputs for both microphone and line-level sources
- Professional instrument DI with independent low and high EQ controls
- Flexible mono or stereo operation, functioning as two independent tracking compressors or a linked stereo bus compressor without image shift
- Bypassable FET stages allow ultra-clean outputs direct from the microphone pre-amplifiers
- Comprehensive compressor controls including threshold, ratio, attack, and release, with 8-segment LED gain-reduction metering on each channel
- Rear-panel side-chain insert points provide expanded processing and creative routing options
- BIG and AIR modes preserve deep low frequencies while enhancing high-frequency openness and clarity
- Variable wet/dry mix and output gain controls on both channels enable built-in parallel compression without external mixers
- Dual backlit analogue VU meters with switchable +10 dB rescale mode for higher operating levels
- Time-delay output relays ensure clean, pop-free power-up and power-down
- Low-hum toroidal linear power supply with rear-panel voltage selector
- Rugged steel chassis with precision aluminium front panel for long-term reliability
- Designed and handmade by Drawmer in the United Kingdom
Specifications
| Input Impedance | 20k Ohms or greater |
| Maximum Input Level | +21 dBu |
| Output Impedance | < 100 Ohms |
| Maximum Output Level Into 10k Ohms load |
+21 dBu |
| Frequency Response | 20 Hz – 20 kHz ±0.5 dB |
| Noise @ Unity Gain 20 Hz – 20 kHz |
> 93 dB |
| Crosstalk @ 1 kHz |
< –75 dB |
| Distortion (THD & Noise) @ 1 kHz, 0 dB & 10 dB, Line input with compressor engaged |
0.01% |
| Mic EIN | –130 dB |
| Power Requirements |
115 V or 230 V at 50–60 Hz 30 VA |
| Fuse Rating @ 230 V |
T250 mA |
| Fuse Rating @ 115 V |
T500 mA |
| Fuse Type |
20 mm × 5 mm, Class 3 Timed-Blo, 250 V working Conforming to IEC 127-2 |
| Case Depth |
270 mm |
| Case Width |
482 mm |
| Case Height |
88 mm |
| Weight | 4.2 kg |
In the interests of product development, Drawmer reserve the right to modify or improve specifications of this product at any time, without prior notice.
