Hairball Audio FET/500 Rev D - 1176 Rev D Clone

The Hairball Audio FET/500 Revision D is a 500-series clone of a Rev D 1176. The FET/500 has the same audio path as their larger 1176 kits. I built this FET/500 as a kit a couple years back. Starting Point: FET500D Att-3 Rel-5 4-1.nam See notes below for my recommendations regarding usage. To dial in the FET/500, I referenced some drum tracks (snare close mic, mono room mic) peaking at around -6dB. I settled on a Threshold (30) that provided moderate gain reduction (~7dB). Output was setting at around 18 to provide enough makeup gain. I had a specific application in mind, so I am curious how this translates to all of you. Captured are 2 Attack and Release times: 1: Attack-3 Release-5 (Dr. Pepper setting) 2: Attack-2 Release-6 (Slow Attack, Faster Release) 3: Attack-5 Release-7 (Med/Fast Attack, Fast Release) Ratios Captured: 4, 8, 12, 20, SLAM (All Buttons In) Recommendations: If you are hitting the captures with lower peak levels (eg. -12dBFS), you may need to turn your NAM output down about 3dB to achieve a signal closer to unity gain. If you are using SLAM mode, you’ll also want to back the plugin’s output down to counteract the mode’s jump in level. I’ve provided the send/return calibration. For this effect, I recommend not using calibration or normalization. My input/output is set at unity gain, so it is as if you sent your audio track, and I then printed the track with the FET/500 as a hardware insert with my chain. When I had calibration turned on and set with my usual 11.5dBu, I experienced a slight loss in level (on the order of 6dB). I A/Bed the NAM captures with the FET/500 as a hardware insert, and felt that turning off calibration matched the hardware the best. I also recommend turning off the Gate in your respective NAM plugin for this application. Filenames contain the relevant settings in the following order: (Att)ack (Rel)ease Ratio Signal Chain: RME UCX II Out (19dBu Send) - FET/500 - RME UCX II In (19dBu Return)