1961

Precision EQ with Unmistakable Valve Tone
The Drawmer 1961 brings the musical warmth of classic tube equalizers into modern, high-resolution production environments. While vintage valve EQs are prized for their character, many lack the accuracy, consistency, and repeatability demanded by today’s workflows. The 1961 overcomes this with advanced low-noise circuitry and twelve active tube stages, delivering two channels of precise, musical equalisation with unmistakable analogue depth.

Rather than relying on continuously variable controls, the 1961 employs rotary stepped switches across all EQ bands. This vintage-inspired approach allows each circuit to be fully optimised throughout the frequency spectrum, ensuring superior stereo matching, absolute recall, and dependable results for mixing, mastering, and post-production.

Control the Warmth
The 1961 gives you direct control over how hard the tubes are driven. From clean, transparent tonal shaping to rich, harmonically saturated colour, it adapts effortlessly to your intent. When paired with the Drawmer 1960, it forms a powerful two-channel tube processing system, ideal for mastering chains, analogue sweetening, or critical post-production work.

Input & Connectivity
A wide-range input level control from -20dB to +20dB ensures seamless compatibility with a broad range of sources, while also allowing precise control over tube drive and harmonic character. LED bar-graph metering provides clear, immediate visual feedback of input levels.

Balanced XLR inputs and outputs are standard, with operating levels switchable between -10dBu and +4dBu. Insert points on 1/4" jacks allow direct connection to the side-chain or insert loop of a Drawmer 1960, creating a cohesive front-end system where gain control, equalisation, and compression are available directly from mic or line sources.

Equalisation & Filters
At its core, the 1961 features four fully parametric EQ bands per channel, each with six overlapping frequency selections and its own dedicated tube stage. Every band offers up to ±18dB of cut or boost, with adjustable bandwidth from 0.3 to 3 octaves, providing exceptional control across the entire audible spectrum.

Complementing the EQ are a 12dB/octave high-pass filter adjustable from 15Hz to 500Hz, and a matching low-pass filter covering 2.5kHz to 56kHz. Together, they allow unwanted low-end, excessive highs, or RF interference to be removed with surgical precision, from subtle tonal refinement to critical mastering tasks.

Output & Control
Each channel’s output section incorporates two additional tube stages, allowing smooth, musical soft clipping when driven harder. ‘Soft’ and ‘O/L’ indicators provide clear visual feedback of tube behaviour, while switchable VU metering displays either output level or gain reduction for accurate monitoring.

Individual bypass switches on each EQ band, along with a master channel bypass, allow instant A/B comparisons or the option to route audio solely through the tube output stages for added warmth without equalisation. With its intuitive layout, musical response, and uncompromising build quality, the Drawmer 1961 is equally at home delivering subtle enhancement or bold creative shaping.

Features

• Ultra-low-noise, transparent circuit design for accurate monitoring in both surround and stereo environments
• Twenty input sources in total: two discrete 7.1 inputs (one via balanced jacks, one via 25-pin D-sub) with a thru output for multitrack recorders; one stereo input via Neutrik combi-jacks; and a top-panel 3.5 mm AUX input with level control for smartphones, tablets, or media players
• Three sets of speaker outputs: one 7.1 output (or eight independent channels in any configuration), one stereo pair, and one mono or subwoofer output, each switchable individually or simultaneously for A/B comparisons
• Level trims on all eleven outputs for precise calibration and accurate channel matching
• Flexible monitoring with solo and cut controls for each of the eight surround channels
• Mix-down options allowing 7.1 sources to be reduced to 5.1, stereo, or mono, with support for up to eight monitors depending on input type and speaker configuration
• Stereo monitoring, including mix-downs, available via the dedicated stereo outputs or the front left/right surround channels
• Comprehensive stereo mix-check tools including low, mid, and high solo, dim, left/right mute, phase reverse, and additional monitoring functions
• Volume control via a smooth variable front-panel knob or a repeatable preset level, both offering excellent channel matching
• Two high-quality headphone amplifiers with independent level controls
• Integrated talkback system with level control, internal or external microphone input, optional footswitch activation, headphone routing, and a dedicated mono output
• Fully analogue signal path with no software, firmware updates, reboots, or crashes
• Rugged steel desktop wedge chassis with a Kensington security slot for theft protection
• 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.