The Drawmer 1968 MkII is a 1U stereo bus compressor that combines the warmth of tubes with the speed of FET technology for versatile, high-quality compression. Building on the original Drawmer 1960 design, it replaces the tube front-end with a J-FET gain reduction circuit, offering faster response than traditional opto-isolators.
The 12AX7 tube stage provides makeup gain, adjustable by up to 20dB via the output control. The compressor’s soft-knee design eliminates the need for ratio controls, delivering smooth, progressive compression.
Attack times on the Drawmer 1968 MkII are expanded to six settings: 2ms, 9ms, 15ms, 25ms, 30ms, and 50ms, while release times include three fixed choices (100ms, 500ms, 1s) and three program-dependent ranges, automatically adapting between 200ms to 2s, 500ms to 5s, and 1 to 10 seconds. Full sidechain access is provided, allowing connection of external EQs for applications such as de-essing or vocal enhancement.
Each channel of the Drawmer 1968 MkII includes the switchable ‘BIG’ and ‘BIGGER’ modes, reducing compression on low-frequency fundamentals while controlling upper harmonics.
This prevents unwanted ‘boomy’ or ‘boxy’ qualities, enhancing sub-bass clarity and enabling heavier compression without undesirable pumping effects from kick drums or bass instruments. The result is a solid, wide, and balanced low end, ideal for mastering and mix bus duties.
The Drawmer 1968 MkII delivers transparent operation with an open, warm sonic character. While excellent for stereo bus compression, it’s equally suited to vocals and acoustic instruments thanks to its fast attack times and flexible controls.
Both Drawmer 1968 MkII channels feature illuminated yellow VU meters that switch between output level, gain reduction, and a +10dB mode for hot outputs, with a red glow warning for potential clipping.
An output switch toggles between normal output, hard-wired bypass, and sidechain monitoring, offering full control and flexibility in professional studio environments.
