The FG-Stress is an authentic replication of the Empirical Labs Distressor. In order to demonstrate how precisely we matched the hardware, we had some hardware Distressor users process some files with their hardware, and then we matched it using the FG-Stress. The files below are comped between the hardware and software files, and as you’ll hear, the transitions are so seamless that it’s difficult to hear when one stops and the other starts.
It’s important to note that in the examples below, we had the hardware Distressor users follow a strict calibration procedure to align the gain reduction precisely with the software. This is crucial, because even 1db of gain reduction discrepancy will make even two hardware units sound very different. We then carefully matched the timings and output, and due to component tolerances differing, sometimes the hardware setting was slightly off from the software settings. For instance, a user’s attack at 5 could equal the software attack at 4.7, and yes, this very small difference is audible on this unit! If you’d like to match your own hardware Distressor, please download our calibration file package and then follow the calibration directions in this video HERE.
Full Mixes
*Full mix offered to demonstrate detail, not for tasteful compression.*
Eric Hill
Hardware Settings: Ratio-10:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5.5, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-10:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-6, Attack-0, Release-8.9, Output-5.6
FullMix-EricHill
Rob Ruccia
Hardware Settings: Ratio-2:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-2:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5.9, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-4.2
FullMix-RobRuccia
Todd Barriage
Hardware Settings: Ratio-NUKE, Detector-HP, Audio-Off, Input-6, Attack-0, Release-0, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-NUKE, Detector-HP, Audio-Off, Input-4.3, Attack-0, Release-0, Output-6.1
FullMix-ToddBarriage
Vocal Mixes
Dan Morrell
Hardware Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-HP, Audio-HP/Dist 3, Input-5.3, Attack-10.5, Release-5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-HP, Audio-HP/Dist 3, Input-5.2, Attack-10.5, Release-5.3, Output-3.9
Vocals-DanMorrell
Jesse Zito
Hardware Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5.8, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5, Attack-0, Release-10.4, Output-5.8
Vocals-JesseZito
Nathan Mcdonough
Hardware Settings: Ratio-NUKE, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5, Attack-5, Release-0, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-NUKE, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-4.1, Attack-5.3, Release-0, Output-5.1
Note: Due to the difference in converters, this user’s interface was much brighter than the interface we used for our tests. Because of this, CS-EQ was added before the FG-Stress to emulate the bright characteristics of his converters, achieving a perfect match.
Vocals-NathanMcDonough
Drum Mixes
Andy Sneap
Hardware Settings: Ratio-20:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Dist 2, Input-5.75, Attack-5, Release-5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-20:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Dist 2, Input-5, Attack-4.6, Release-4.1, Output-3.4
Drums-AndySneap
Dan Flynn
Hardware Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Dist 2, Input-4.8, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Dist 2, Input-5, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-4.5
Drums-DanFlynn
Todd Barriage
Hardware Settings: Ratio-20:1, Detector-Mid, Audio-Off, Input-6, Attack-0, Release-0, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-20:1, Detector-Mid, Audio-Off, Input-4.4, Attack-0, Release-0, Output-6.2
Drums-ToddBarriage
A, B, C Comparisons
*Full mix offered to demonstrate detail, not for tasteful compression.*
The order of the following audio examples has been randomized in order to ensure an unbiased listening experience.
Andy Sneap – Vocal Mixes
Hardware Settings: Ratio-NUKE, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5.7, Attack-0, Release-0, Output-5
Slate Hardware Settings: Ratio-NUKE, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5, Attack-0, Release-0, Output-8
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-NUKE, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5, Attack-0, Release-0, Output-2.9
fgstress-comparison-andysneap-vocal-a
fgstress-comparison-andysneap-vocal-b
fgstress-comparison-andysneap-vocal-c
Todd Barriage – Full Mixes
Hardware Settings: Ratio-NUKE, Detector-HP, Audio-Off, Input-6, Attack-0, Release-0, Output-5
Slate Hardware Settings: Ratio-NUKE, Detector-HP, Audio-Off, Input-4.3, Attack-0, Release-0, Output-7
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-NUKE, Detector-HP, Audio-Off, Input-4.3, Attack-0, Release-0, Output-6.1
fgstress-comparison-toddbarriage-fullmix-c
fgstress-comparison-toddbarriage-fullmix-a
fgstress-comparison-toddbarriage-fullmix-b
Rob Ruccia – Drum Mixes
Hardware Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-5
Slate Hardware Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5.1, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-9.6
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-4.5
fgstress-comparison-robruccia-drums-a
fgstress-comparison-robruccia-drums-c
fgstress-comparison-robruccia-drums-b
Todd Barriage – Drum Mixes
Hardware Settings: Ratio-20:1, Detector-Mid, Audio-Off, Input-6, Attack-0, Release-0, Output-5
Slate Hardware Settings: Ratio-20:1, Detector-Mid, Audio-Off, Input-4.5, Attack-0, Release-0.1, Output-8.2
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-20:1, Detector-Mid, Audio-Off, Input-4.4, Attack-0, Release-0, Output-6.2
fgstress-comparison-toddbarriage-drums-a
fgstress-comparison-toddbarriage-drums-b
fgstress-comparison-toddbarriage-drums-c
Dan Morrell – Full Mixes
Hardware Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-HP, Audio-HP/Dist 3, Input-5.3, Attack-10.5, Release-5, Output-5
Slate Hardware Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-HP, Audio-HP/Dist 3, Input-4.75, Attack-10.5, Release-5.25, Output-6
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-HP, Audio-HP/Dist 3, Input-5, Attack-10.5, Release-5, Output-3.7
fgstress-comparison-danmorrell-fullmix-b
fgstress-comparison-danmorrell-fullmix-a
fgstress-comparison-danmorrell-fullmix-c
A, B Comparisons – Drum Mixes
*Full mix offered to demonstrate detail, not for tasteful compression.*
The order of the following audio examples has been randomized in order to ensure an unbiased listening experience.
Andy Sneap
Hardware Settings: Ratio-20:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Dist 2, Input-5.75, Attack-5, Release-5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-20:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Dist 2, Input-5, Attack-4.6, Release-4.1, Output-3.4
fgstress-comparison-andysneap-drums-b
fgstress-comparison-andysneap-drums-a
Dan Flynn
Hardware Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Dist 2, Input-4.8, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Dist 2, Input-5, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-4.5
fgstress-comparison-danflynn-drums-a
fgstress-comparison-danflynn-drums-b
Dan Morrell
Hardware Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-HP, Audio-HP/Dist 3, Input-5.3, Attack-10.5, Release-5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-HP, Audio-HP/Dist 3, Input-5.1, Attack-10.1, Release-4.5, Output-3.8
fgstress-comparison-danmorrell-drums-a
fgstress-comparison-danmorrell-drums-b
Eric Hill
Hardware Settings: Ratio-NUKE, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5.5, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-NUKE, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5.2, Attack-0, Release-9.9, Output-5.5
fgstress-comparison-erichill-drums-a
fgstress-comparison-erichill-drums-b
Jesse Zito
Hardware Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Dist 3, Input-5.8, Attack-0, Release-0, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Dist 3, Input-4.7, Attack-0, Release-0.4, Output-5.8
fgstress-comparison-jessezito-drums-b
fgstress-comparison-jessezito-drums-a
Nathan McDonough
Hardware Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-HP, Audio-Dist 3, Input-5.5, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-HP, Audio-Dist 3, Input-4.4, Attack-0.3, Release-9.3, Output-4.2
*Note: Due to the difference in converters, this user’s interface was much brighter than the interface we used for our tests. Because of this, CS-EQ was added before the FG-Stress to emulate the bright characteristics of his converters, achieving a perfect match.
fgstress-comparison-nathanmcdonough-drums-a
fgstress-comparison-nathanmcdonough-drums-b
Ryan Fonseca
Hardware Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-4.5, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-4.8, Attack-0, Release-10.1, Output-3.8
fgstress-comparison-ryanfonseca-drums-b
fgstress-comparison-ryanfonseca-drums-a
A, B Comparisons – Full Mixes
*Full mix offered to demonstrate detail, not for tasteful compression.*
The order of the following audio examples has been randomized in order to ensure an unbiased listening experience.
Andy Sneap
Hardware Settings: Ratio-4:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5.7, Attack-10.5, Release-10.5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-4:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5.2, Attack-10.5, Release-10.5, Output-3.4
fgstress-comparison-andysneap-fullmix-a
fgstress-comparison-andysneap-fullmix-b
Dan Flynn
Hardware Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Dist 2, Input-4.8, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Dist 2, Input-5, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-4.6
fgstress-comparison-danflynn-fullmix-b
fgstress-comparison-danflynn-fullmix-a
Eric Hill
Hardware Settings: Ratio-10:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5.5, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-10:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-6, Attack-0, Release-8.9, Output-5.6
fgstress-comparison-erichill-fullmix-a
fgstress-comparison-erichill-fullmix-b
Jesse Zito
Hardware Settings: Ratio6-:1, Detector-HP, Audio-HP, Input-5.8, Attack-10.5, Release-0, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-HP, Audio-HP, Input-4.6, Attack-10.5, Release-0, Output-5.7
fgstress-comparison-jessezito-fullmix-b
fgstress-comparison-jessezito-fullmix-a
Nathan McDonough
Hardware Settings: Ratio-2:1, Detector-HP, Audio-Off, Input-5.5, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-2:1, Detector-HP, Audio-Off, Input-4.4, Attack-10.5, Release-0.3, Output-5.1
*Note: Due to the difference in converters, this user’s interface was much brighter than the interface we used for our tests. Because of this, CS-EQ was added before the FG-Stress to emulate the bright characteristics of his converters, achieving a perfect match.
fgstress-comparison-nathanmcdonough-fullmix-a
fgstress-comparison-nathanmcdonough-fullmix-b
Rob Ruccia
Hardware Settings: Ratio-2:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-2:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5.9, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-4.2
fgstress-comparison-robruccia-fullmix-a
fgstress-comparison-robruccia-fullmix-b
Ryan Fonseca
Hardware Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-4.5, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-4.7, Attack-0, Release-10.1, Output-3.8
fgstress-comparison-ryanfonseca-fullmix-a
fgstress-comparison-ryanfonseca-fullmix-b
A, B Comparisons – Vocal Mixes
*Full mix offered to demonstrate detail, not for tasteful compression.*
The order of the following audio examples has been randomized in order to ensure an unbiased listening experience.
Dan Morrell
Hardware Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-HP, Audio-HP/Dist 3, Input-5.3, Attack-10.5, Release-5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-HP, Audio-HP/Dist 3, Input-5.2, Attack-10.5, Release-5.3, Output-3.9
fgstress-comparison-danmorrell-vocal-a
fgstress-comparison-danmorrell-vocal-b
Eric Hill
Hardware Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5.3, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5, Attack-0, Release-9, Output-5.5
fgstress-comparison-erichill-vocal-a
fgstress-comparison-erichill-vocal-b
Jesse Zito
Hardware Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5.8, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5, Attack-0, Release-10.4, Output-5.8
fgstress-comparison-jessezito-vocal-a
fgstress-comparison-jessezito-vocal-b
Nathan McDonough
Hardware Settings: Ratio-NUKE, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5, Attack-5, Release-0, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-NUKE, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-4.1, Attack-5.3, Release-0, Output-5.1
*Note: Due to the difference in converters, this user’s interface was much brighter than the interface we used for our tests. Because of this, CS-EQ was added before the FG-Stress to emulate the bright characteristics of his converters, achieving a perfect match.
fgstress-comparison-nathanmcdonough-vocal-a
fgstress-comparison-nathanmcdonough-vocal-b
Rob Ruccia
Hardware Settings: Ratio-4:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-4:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-5, Attack-0, Release-10, Output-4.5
fgstress-comparison-robruccia-vocal-a
fgstress-comparison-robruccia-vocal-b
Ryan Fonseca
Hardware Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-4.5, Attack-0, Release-10.5, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-6:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Off, Input-4.4, Attack-0, Release-10, Output-3.9
fgstress-comparison-ryanfonseca-vocal-b
fgstress-comparison-ryanfonseca-vocal-a
Todd Barriage
Hardware Settings: Ratio-4:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Dist 2, Input-6, Attack-0, Release-0, Output-5
FG-Stress Settings: Ratio-4:1, Detector-Off, Audio-Dist 2, Input-4.7, Attack-0, Release-0.1, Output-6.1
fgstress-comparison-toddbarriage-vocal-b
fgstress-comparison-toddbarriage-vocal-a