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© SPL electronics GmbH, Stand 04/97
Charisma
Charisma
into the patchbay. That way you can decide, whether it should
be used while recording or later during mixdown – or simply
inserted into specific channels. Processing subgroups is another
interesting application. Using C
HARISMA
while recording to
digital is the most beneficial application as the tube limiting
prevents clipping.
Creating effects like tape saturation,
Increasing loudness,
Improving presence.
You control the sound of C
HARISMA
with the D
RIVE
and
C
HARISMA
controls. The O
UTPUT
control is used to compensate for
the level increase when the D
RIVE
control is set higher than 0dB.
Starting positions:
Set the Drive to zero and Charisma to center position.
Set the Output control fully clockwise (0dB).
Input and output levels should be identical now. Check this by
depressing the bypass switch, labeled with the channel number.
Turn the D
RIVE
control slowly clockwise. You start to drive the
tube into saturation. The level increases. Compensate this by
turning the O
UTPUT
control counter clockwise.
The P
ROCESS
LED illuminates when the processing starts.
Depending on the source characteristic you will hear the
C
HARISMA
process much more intense with sinewave-like/layer
sounds. When processing these sounds the P
ROCESS
LED should
illuminate rarely. When processing squarewave-like/transient
sounds you can drive the tubes harder. The P
ROCESS
LED may
illuminate constantly and the M
AX
LED may also light up
frequently. The M
AX
LED tells you that the maximum satura-
tion of the tube is reached.
Now, check the level meters on your playing and recording
unit and set the O
UTPUT
controls in a way that identical levels
are shown on both units. Switching on C
HARISMA
´s channels will
give the aural impression that the processed signal is louder
than the unprocessed. If this effect is not impressive enough,
turn the D
RIVE
control a little further clockwise.
After setting the D
RIVE
control, start to vary the C
HARISMA
control. This control varies the tube sound from H
ARD
to S
OFT
.
In the S
OFT
position the processing curve looks similar to that
of a soft-knee limiter curve. The tube processing comes in softly
with a gently rounded curve, whereas in the H
ARD
position the
programme material is treated more dramatic. This can be
compared with the processing curve of a hard-knee limiter.
A specific C
HARISMA
control setting may make it necessary to
readjust the D
RIVE
control. If you use a S
OFT
setting, the proces-
Getting started
Set-up positions
Normal processing
