DL241
Dual Auto Compressor
Featuring Drawmer’s Programmed Adaptive Expansion, soft-knee auto compression, and a zero-response-time peak limiter, the DL241 provides reliable control over both subtle dynamics shaping and absolute signal protection. Comprehensive metering and flexible operating modes make it a dependable choice for engineers who require precision, speed, and consistency across a wide range of audio applications.
Compressor, Expander & Limiter
The Drawmer DL241 Dual Auto Compressor is a next-generation dynamics processor designed to deliver transparent, musical control across broadcast, live sound, and studio applications. Combining intelligent automation, intuitive operation, and comprehensive metering, it sets a benchmark for professional analogue dynamics processing.
Advanced automatic functions allow engineers to achieve consistent, polished results quickly, without sacrificing flexibility or control. The DL241 delivers smooth, natural dynamics with the unmistakable Drawmer sonic character.
Expander / Gate
Drawmer’s Programmed Adaptive Expansion circuitry provides smooth, single-control operation by automatically adjusting ratio, attack, hold, and release in response to the incoming signal. This intelligent behaviour eliminates chatter around the threshold while maintaining natural, musical gating.
With an 80 dB operating range and a variable threshold from +20 dB to –70 dB, the Expander/Gate offers exceptional control. Fast and Slow release modes tailor the response to the source — Fast for tight, percussive material and Slow for vocals or instruments with longer decays and fade-outs. A dedicated LED clearly indicates gate activity.
Auto Compressor
The Auto Attack/Release Compressor combines soft-knee smoothness with precise ratio control to deliver transparent, musical compression across a 10 dB range. Rather than engaging abruptly at the threshold, the compression ratio increases progressively, ensuring consistent and unobtrusive dynamic control.
Both Manual and Auto modes are provided. Auto mode is ideal for complex, dynamically varied material such as full mixes or expressive performances, while Manual mode allows detailed adjustment for subtle shaping or more assertive compression effects.
Peak Level Limiter
The DL241 features a zero-response-time, zero-overshoot peak limiter that provides absolute control over signal peaks. Adjustable from 0 dB to +16 dB above system level, it contains excessive transients instantly, preventing distortion and protecting downstream equipment.
This ultra-fast limiting performance makes the DL241 equally suited to mastering, live sound reinforcement, and system protection duties where reliability and precision are critical.
Features
- Dual-channel 1U dynamics processor combining gate, compressor, and peak limiter
- Manual attack and release controls for precise dynamic shaping
- Variable-threshold Programmed Adaptive Gate with switchable Fast and Slow release modes
- Proprietary Auto Compressor with slope-based attack and envelope-following release
- Zero-overshoot transparent limiter providing up to +20 dB of peak control
- Fully balanced hard-wire bypass connects input directly to output
- Stereo linking prevents image shift during compression
- Proprietary log-level detector (not RMS) for accurate signal tracking
- Comprehensive metering for gain reduction and output level monitoring
- Selectable –10 dB / +4 dB operating levels on each channel
- Rugged steel chassis with aluminium front panel, built to classic Drawmer standards
- Designed and handmade by Drawmer in the United Kingdom
Specifications
| Input impedance | 20k Ohms or greater |
| Maximum input level | +20 dBu |
| Output impedance | 50 Ohms (balanced), 100 Ohms (unbalanced) |
|
Maximum output level Into 10k Ohms load |
+20 dBu |
|
Bandwidth -1 dB |
<10 Hz to 22 kHz |
|
Noise at unity gain 22 Hz – 22 kHz |
-95 dB (AV), -93 dB (RMS) |
|
Distortion @ 1 kHz, unity gain, +4 dBu input |
<0.02% |
|
Distortion @ 1 kHz, +14 dBu input, 10 dB gain reduction |
<0.01% |
| Power requirements |
230 V or 115 V ~ 50–60 Hz Power consumption: 9 VA |
|
Fuse rating @ 230 V |
T32 mA |
|
Fuse rating @ 115 V |
T63 mA (IEC 127-2) |
| Fuse type | 20 mm × 5 mm, Class 3 Timed-Blo, 250 V |
|
Case Depth |
200 mm |
|
Case Width |
482 mm |
|
Case Height |
44 mm |
| Weight | 3.2 kg |
In the interests of product development, Drawmer reserve the right to modify or improve specifications of this product at any time, without prior notice.