SSM2167

[Mark Hammer]

I'm a big fan of the Analog Devices SSM2166 chip that Jack Orman used for the Q&D compressor.  It is intended as an all-in-one solution for mic strips, but works great for other things.  One of its best features is that it includes onboard downward expansion to gently and unobtrusively get rid of noise when you stop playing; "breathing" being one of the chief complaints and confusions of compressor builders/users.

The 2166 is a 16-pin chip that, unfortunately, is not in production in DIP form any more.  Happily, Small Bear carries them on a SOIC-to-DIP adaptor, but as you can imagine, arranging for someone to sweat the chips onto the adaptor boards costs more.  Expensive for a chip, when we're used to paying less, but still dirt cheap when you consider how few additional parts are required to produce a professional quality dynamics processor.

Poking around the Mouser catalog this afternoon, I stumbled on the SSM2167.  This is an 8-pin surface-mount chip that appears to possess all the specs of the 2166, except that it has fixed gain.  The fixed gain can be addressed by means of suitable attenuators and such at the input or output of the chip.  It still has the downward expansion and great compression, and the option to change averaging-cap values for different attack/recovery times.  Best of all, it's well under $3@, even in single-unit quantities.

Worth checking out: http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Analog-Devices/SSM2167-1RMZ-R7/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMv9Q1JI0Mo%2ftTXuHgLTq3%252bg

[DIMstompboxes]

10-pin Mark.