1960

Vintage Tone, Modern Control
Engineers and producers have long valued the unmistakable warmth and depth of vacuum tubes. By combining eight active valve stages with the low noise, stability, and reliability of solid-state circuitry, the Drawmer 1960 creates a seamless bridge between classic analogue character and modern recording precision.

Each channel features a natural-sounding soft-knee tube compressor alongside a low-noise microphone preamplifier with switchable 48 V phantom power. A front-panel auxiliary instrument preamp with EQ provides direct access for guitars and keyboards. Together, they deliver the unmistakable musicality of valve circuitry with up to 60 dB of clean, balanced gain — ideal for detailed vocal recording, instrument tracking, and direct-to-digital capture of live performances.

The Compressor
The 1960’s soft-knee tube compressor is designed for musical, transparent control with minimal setup. Threshold is continuously variable from infinity down to –24 dB, allowing signals below the threshold to remain untouched while progressively increasing gain reduction is applied above it.

Attack and release are switch-selectable, echoing the behaviour of classic all-valve compressors. Attack offers slow, medium, and fast settings, while Release provides six options, including two programme-dependent modes that adapt naturally to vocals, stereo mixes, and complex material. The release selection also subtly influences attack behaviour, expanding the unit’s tonal range beyond first impressions.

Gain Make-Up & Side Chain Control
A dedicated make-up gain stage provides up to +20 dB of post-compression boost, with switchable VU metering for either output level or gain reduction. Channels may be operated independently or linked for stereo compression.

Side-chain access points allow external EQ insertion for tasks such as de-essing or frequency-dependent compression. As with all Drawmer dynamics processors, the Bypass switch offers three modes — Normal, Bypass, and Side Chain Listen — enabling direct monitoring of external processing effects.

Professional Mic Preamp & DI
In addition to balanced microphone and line inputs, the front-panel DI input allows direct connection of instruments. With onboard EQ and ample gain to drive the valve stages into musical saturation, the 1960 functions as a DI box, equalizer, and compressor in one.

This versatility makes it ideal for adding sustain, warmth, and harmonic richness to guitars, basses, or synthesisers, while routing cleanly and confidently to a console, interface, or recorder.

Features

• Stereo valve compressor and microphone preamplifier with classic soft-knee circuitry
• Operates in dual-mono or stereo modes with channel link function
• Two low-noise microphone preamps with switchable 48 V phantom power
• Eight active tube stages deliver warmth, depth, and musical character
• Switchable VU metering for gain reduction (G.R.) or output level (V.U.)
• Side-chain input with listen mode for de-essing or frequency-conscious compression
• Front-panel DI input with EQ and dedicated tube stage for instruments
• Wide gain range up to 60 dB with exceptionally low noise performance
• Rugged steel chassis with precision aluminium front panel
• Designed and handmade by Drawmer in the United Kingdom

Specifications

In the interests of product development, Drawmer reserve the right to modify or improve specifications of this product at any time, without prior notice.