The Neve 33609 Stereo Compressor offers comprehensive limiting and compression facilities for music recording, mastering, post production and broadcast applications.

Coupled with the unit’s unparalleled ease of use, this inimitable sound quality has made the 33609 a worldwide studio standard for three decades.
 
The hallmark 33609 compression sound is very smooth, and extreme settings may be used with the compression or limiting remaining relatively transparent. After several versions of this classic Neve compressor over the years, today’s 33609 provides the best of both worlds. The original Neve 33609 sound, with enhanced internal and external I/O switching compared to the original model. The 33609 also utilises a discrete output stage like the original model, for a slightly warmer sound that is preferred by many professionals over previous iterations. Multiple units can be easily linked for multi-channel operation.

The 33609 features independent sidechains for the compressor and limiter sections, with similarly independent threshold, recovery and attack controls. The compressor features a selection of ratios from 1.5:1 to 6:1 and a gain make-up control that comes before the limiter. Overall gain reduction is indicated on a moving coil meter.
 
Marinair Transformers
The 33609/N uses exclusive Marinair specification transformers on the input, bridge-driver, sidechain and output stages – Neve colour throughout.
 
Diode-Bridge Design
Neve pioneered the diode-bridge compressor by exploiting the electrical properties of diodes and mounting them in a bridge configuration with carefully selected control voltages, allowing for distortion to be significantly reduced. This creates a unique gain reduction slope that produces compression from smooth to an overdriven hard-clipping style. These unique characteristics make the 33609 the ideal creative studio tool.
 
Class A/B Discrete
The 33609 design has gone through several iterations since its inception, each rendition improving from the last. As a result, the 33609/N takes the best features from the beloved 33609’s – such as balanced gain reduction circuitry, class A/B amplification. Additionally, the 33609/N has a discrete transformer-balanced output, evolved from the early Neve console line output stages to produce a ‘sweet’ sound.
 
Stepped Controls
Every control on the 33609 is stepped, from threshold through to make up gain. These switched controls are great for stereo matching and session recall, ideal for mixing and mastering.
 
Independent Limiter & Compressor
The independent compressor and limiter circuitry gives ultimate dynamic control over transients. With the limiter input positioned after the compressors make up gain, the 33609 can be used as a creative tool with the limiter driven by the compressor’s output.
 
Feedback Compression
The 33609’s feedback-style compression feeds the compressors control signals back through the diode-bridge gain reduction circuit. This design introduces analogue non-linearities that form the unique character of  33609/N.
 
Mix Bus Glue
Compression can be perfectly tuned to fit a wide variety of program material with several switchable recovery times, including two auto-recovery options. The 33609/N slow attack feature reduces sensitivity to low frequencies by 6dB/octave at 100Hz, this tunes out kick drums and other low peaks that may otherwise trigger the compressor by just the right amount -mix bus glue.
 
Mono/Stereo/Linking
The 33609/N’s dual channels can be linked in stereo or used independently as separate channels at the flip of a switch. For larger groups of instruments, multiple 33609/N’s can connect with ease via the tandem control voltage connection; each unit’s bypass, mono/stereo switch & compressor in/out switch can be remotely controlled.
 
Stereo Gain Reduction Metering
Independent moving coil gain reduction meters display up to -20dB of gain reduction for each channel.
 
True Bypass
The 33609/N includes a true straight-through bypass, which connects the input terminals directly to the output terminals, ideal for auditioning compression by A/B’ing wet/dry signals.

Features
- Classic Stereo Compressor / Limiter designed to exacting 1970’s specifications
- Made using hand-wired Neve transformers in Burnley, England
- Classic 2254 feedback compression circuitry
- Brick Wall Limiting
- Transparent level control
- Perfect for mixing, broadcast, and mastering applications
- Hard Limit feature for digital recording
- Limit in/out Compress in/out
- Discrete output stage for a slightly warmer sound