Black Lion Audio Seventeen 500

Fast FET compression, parallel blending and sidechain control in a double-width 500-series module.

Shape energy and movement

Seventeen 500 brings the Seventeen approach to a powered 500-series rack. Its FET gain-control circuit responds quickly enough to reshape transients, while adjustable attack and release let you decide whether a performance should retain its initial impact or feel more tightly controlled. Vocals, bass and individual drum tracks are useful starting points for exploring its range.

From levelling to stronger effects

Four ratios—4:1, 8:1, 12:1 and 20:1—cover progressively firmer control. All-buttons operation provides an additional character for deliberately assertive processing. The wet/dry blend makes that character easier to place in a mix: combine an energetic compressed signal with the original attack and dynamics without setting up a separate parallel routing path.

Choose what drives the compression

The sidechain high-pass filter offers off, 100 Hz and 200 Hz positions. Filtering the detector reduces the influence of low-frequency energy on gain reduction, which can be helpful when a kick drum or bass-heavy sound is making the whole signal duck. The audio itself can retain its low end while the compressor responds differently.

Build it into your rack

The module occupies two adjacent slots and requires a compatible powered 500-series chassis. Stereo linking supports paired operation with another suitable unit. It is a compact way to put tactile dynamics control beside your favourite preamps and EQs, with direct access to the settings you will adjust most often.