Empirical Labs The Pump

Get Pump'd

The Pump from Empirical Labs is a compressor based on the Empirical Labs Distressor. In addition to the classic compressor elements, it also offers a special feature. The Pump is the first hardware compressor to have the"AtMod" (Attack Modification) function. This was previously only available as a plug-in version, but has now also been built into this device and is set using the associated "AtMod" control. Empirical Labs thus gives the user the option of slowing down the initial steepness of the attack envelopes and bringing a little more transient back into the track."AtMod" allows the transients to pass through without losing the desired compression . The ratio of the compressor can be selected from one of eight selectable ratio values by pressing the switch. Which ratio is actually set can be easily checked via the LED meter, where the respective LED then lights up. Below this are the attack and release knobs, which are used to set the corresponding times. Turning the release control to the far right produces a soft Release in the style of an opto-coupler. Another switch (Sat) activates the high-pass filter, which operates at a frequency of 110Hz. The filter is based on the same circuit as that of the Empirical Labs "EL9 Mike-e", which is why slight saturation effects are created when it is used. The Pump also offers the option of activating a bypass, which audibly removes the circuit from the signal chain, making A/B comparisons possible. Empirical Labs The Pump also has controls for adjusting the input and output level, with a clipping indicator LED (BAD) associated with the input level.