Softube Empirical Labs Professor Punch-Knuckles

You know it when you hear it. That instantly gratifying sound that hits you right in the gut. Professor Punch-Knuckles from Softube and Empirical Labs delivers just that: warm and gentle saturation all the way to forceful and explosive character for your drums, vocals, and more. All with the unmistakable and unique sonic character of ELI.

Highbrow hellraiser 
If any tool is going to make it on the very short list of once-in-a-decade modern classics, it’s the Empirical Labs Distressor. Since its inception, and 1995 release, Dave Derr's Distressor circuit has also been included in other ELI products, such as the versatile preamp/compressor Mike-E.

Professor Punch-Knuckles is the brilliant but unruly lovechild of Mike-E and the Distressor. But don’t let the analytical, professorial side of Professor Punch-Knuckles fool you, it can crush your audio to pieces. Smooth, warm, and musical, Professor Punch-Knuckles is a punch in the gut – with honors. 
 
Three classic Empirical Labs saturation flavors 
Professor Punch-Knuckles is more than just brute force. Its sophisticated side lies in three distinct types of modeled distortion/saturation: Toasty, Crunchy, and Distress. Toasty and Crunchy are based on the saturation and preamp distortion of Mike-E. Distress originates from the compressor circuit of the Distressor and Mike-E.

The easy-to-use interface is the quickest way to take your sound from warm vintage tones, through gentle breakup, all the way to the classic distortion/compression sound of the Empirical Labs Distressor.  
 
Tone Shaping 
To make the sound a punch in the gut, rather than a slap in the face, the Professor is equipped with additional options to shape the sound. These include the unique Mode switch, which employs Empirical Labs’ emphasis filters to the sound. With this mode, users can easily add the recognizable sound of transformer and tape, making the rough punch smoother and more refined. 

In Short: 

• Three classic saturation flavors 
• The distortion sound of the Distressor 
• Tone shaping options including emphasis filters 
• Easy-to-use and instantly gratifying
• Console 1-ready