EMT 256

The EMT 256 is a plug-in compressor module from the German studio manufacturer. It belongs to the same family that grew out of the larger EMT 156 PDM compressor (Studio Sound, December 1974, p.29). Little is documented about the 256 beyond its listing in period equipment directories and a handful of surviving units. What the record shows: it was a compact, program-dependent compressor with an expander feature for low-level noise reduction. It came in a small "Danner size" format that could be racked, often in pairs. A 1972 price in the UK was £119.

The module saw use in professional studios. It appears in gear lists for Little Big Beat Studios and Edac Studio, and owners on forums describe it as a desirable vintage channel-strip compressor. One modern source (Proharmonic) notes that some surviving units have been modified with custom meters, variable input/output level controls, and upgraded ICs. A noise rating of 67 dB rms at 0 dB compression gain was published.

Type: Compressor/expander module, plug-in design
Known variants: EMT 256, EMT 256 II (relationship between the two not documented)
Feature: Program-dependent release time, expander for low-level noise reduction
Noise: 67 dB rms with 0 dB compression gain
Price (1972): £119
Manuals: Available on analogrules.com and barryrudolph.com