RS124 Compressor

Chandler Limited, EMI, Abbey Road Studios, RS124 Compressor, front

EMI Abbey Road Studios

OVERVIEW

The Chandler Limited RS124 Compressor is a recreation of one of the most coveted audio valve compressors of all time, the legendary EMI/Abbey Road RS124, reimagined for use in the modern studio environment.

First designed in 1960 by Abbey Road Head of Technical Bill Livy, Deputy Head Len Page and seasoned EMI Audio Designer Mike Bachelor, the Abbey Road RS124 compressor is one of the most desired and mysterious pieces of recording gear ever developed.

Born out of the insufficient Altec 436Bs acquired by EMI in the late 1950s for Abbey Road, the RS124 compressor is most closely associated with recordings made by The Beatles at Abbey Road Studios. Present on virtually every Beatles session, the RS124 left its remarkable signature across most of the catalog.

The RS124's undeniably smooth character and ability to tame transients without muffling the sound at steep compression levels, quickly became popular with Abbey Road Studios engineers and widely used throughout the now historic studio, for tracking, buss compression, mixing, and mastering. They were so integral to the recording and mixing process that a pair can be seen in almost every control room photo in Abbey Road Studios during the 60s period.

The RS124 Compressor was built for use at Abbey Road Studios, and was never commercially available.

Through the years, from incomplete information and supposition, some have tried to recreate the holy grail of tube compressors, though never fully capturing the elusive Abbey Road RS124 in all its glory.

Schematics themselves only told part of the story, and access to Abbey Road Studios’ historic units and various hand written modification notes would prove paramount towards understanding the true nature of the Abbey Road RS124 compressor and variances between units.

Many revisions were carried out since its inception, and as a result, the Abbey Road RS124 valve compressor has remained a mystery for decades, until now.

Available now, for the first time ever, the Chandler Limited RS124 Compressor harnesses the sound and personalities of Abbey Road Studios’ favorite historic RS124 Compressors (Ser. No’s 60070B, 60050A, and 61010B) still in use at the famed studio to this day, all in a single unit.

Along with features traditionally found on the original counterparts, Input control, Output attenuation, ‘Recovery’ (release) control and the unique ‘HOLD’ setting, the Chandler Limited RS124 Compressor includes modern facilities such as adjustable attack, selectable output impedance, and a special twist, dubbed the ‘SuperFuse’.

Bring home the sound of a legend reimagined for the modern era, today.

NOTE: Standard units come with variable Input and Output control. Stepped Input and Output controls are available via special request for an additional fee– notify your dealer prior to order.

Abbey Road Studios, EMI, REDD, 47, RS, 124 and TG and their associated logos are trademarks of EMI (IP) Limited.

VIDEOS

USERS

Peter Cobbin

Former Chief Engineer- Abbey Road Studios ( Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Sting, Ed Sheeran, Kanye West, U2, LeAnn Rimes, Danny Elfman )

Kevin Kadish

Producer, Engineer, Songwriter ( Keith Urban, Meghan Trainor, Jason Mraz, Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus )

Vance Powell

Producer, Mixer, Engineer ( Jack White, Chris Stapleton, Beck, Jars of Clay )

Dave Cobb

Producer, Mixer, Engineer (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Rival Sons, Chris Cornell, George Jones, Miranda Lambert )

Green Day

(Grammy Award Winners) - RS124 Compressor, Curve Bender, Zener Limiter, TG Channel MKII, TG2 Pre Amp/DI, LTD-2 Compressor, Little Devil Colored Boost Guitar Pedal

Tony Maserati

( Robin Thicke, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Pink, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Jason Mraz, R. Kelly, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Puff Daddy, Tupac, Mary J. Blige, James Brown )

Ryan Hewitt

Producer, Mixer, Engineer (Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Avett Brothers, Blink-182, Tom Petty, The Lumineers, Bob Dylan)

Ross Hogarth

( John Fogerty, Ziggy Marley, Edgar Winter, Jimmy Eat World, Lifehouse, Clay Aiken, John Mellencamp, Melissa Etheridge, Coal Chamber, Roger Waters, Jewel, Black Crowes, Mötley Crüe, Keb' Mo')

Greg Wells

( Taylor Swift, Adele, Keith Urban, Elton John, Celine Dion, Katy Perry, Deftones, Mika, Pink, Rufus Wainwright )

Sheryl Crow

Singer Songwriter ( Grammy Award Winner )

Blackbird Studios
Michael Wagener

( Mötley Crüe, Overkill, Accept, Great White, Poison, Alice Cooper, Extreme, Megadeth, Janet Jackson, Ozzy Osbourne, Dokken, Metallica, White Lion, Skid Row )

Abbey Road Studios

REDD Microphone, RS124 Compressor, REDD.47 Mic Amplifier, Curve Bender, Zener Limiter, TG1 Limiter, TG Microphone Cassette, TG2 Pre Amp/DI, TG Channel MKII, TG2-500 Pre Amp, Germanium Pre Amp/DI

HEARD ON

Jason Mraz— “Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride” Album

RS660 Compressor (vocals), TG1 Limiter (vocals), TG12345 Curve Bender EQ (Mix Bus), RS124 Compressor. Mixing Engineer, Tony Maserati

Red Hot Chili Peppers— “Return of the Dream Canteen” Album

RS660 Compressor (vocals entire album), TG2 Pre Amp/DI, REDD.47 Mic Amplifier, RS124 Compressor, TG1 Limiter, TG12345 Curve Bender EQ (Mix Bus), TG Microphone (electric guitar), LTD-1 EQ/Preamp. Engineer/Mixer, Ryan Hewitt

Ida Mae– “Click Click Domino” Album

RS660 Compressor (Lead Vocals, album), RS124 Compressor (Parallel Mix Bus - album, Acoustic Guitars), REDD.47 Mic Amplifier (Mix Bus, album ). Producer/Mixer/Engineer, Howard Willing

Red Hot Chili Peppers— “Unlimited Love” Album

RS660 Compressor (vocals entire album), TG2 Pre Amp/DI, REDD.47 Mic Amplifier, RS124 Compressor, TG1 Limiter, TG12345 Curve Bender EQ (Mix Bus), TG Microphone (electric guitar), LTD-1 EQ/Preamp. Engineer/Mixer, Ryan Hewitt

Brett Eldredge— “Sunday Drive” Album

REDD Microphone (Lead Vocals and Strings,) TG Microphone (Bass guitar,) TG2 Pre Amp/DI, TG2-500 Pre Amp (Snare drum,) TG12345 MKIV EQ (Piano,) LTD-1 EQ/Preamp, REDD.47 Mic Amplifier, RS124 Compressor (Acoustic guitars, Mandolins, and other acoustic instruments,) TG1 Limiter (Drum room,) TG12345 Curve Bender EQ (Mix Bus). Engineer/Mixer Ryan Hewitt

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Circuit Type EMI RS, Tube/Valve (6BC8, 6CG7, 6AL5)
Channels Mono
Feature Set Input Control: Continuous (stepped special order)
Output Attenuator: Continuous (stepped special order)
Attack: Selectable, Stepped (9 settings, including 3 Abbey Road Historic serial numbers)
Recovery: Selectable, Stepped (6 settings, and HOLD)
SuperFuse (switchable mode)
Output Impedance: 200/600 ohms, switchable
Stereo linkable: Standard 1/4" jack
I/O XLR (pin 2 hot), Transformer balanced, custom wound
Power Internal, AC wired region specific

Chandler Limited in Partnership with Abbey Road.