6
ANALOG DESIGN
INTRODUCTION
Shape Tone
In addition to being another source of harmonics and saturation, the parallel
saturation circuit also opens up tonal possibilities. The 3 way “Freq. Select”
switch gives the user the option to choose what frequencies are present in the
parallel saturation circuit. The “low” position feeds the circuit only lows and low
mids, the “high” position feeds the circuit only the highs and high mids and the
“flat” position feeds full bandwidth. This allows the user to add body and weight
to the low end of tracks by mixing in the saturated signal and harmonics only in
the low end or add sizzle, bite and harmonics only to the top end of dull tracks.
The “air” switch is a gentle lift starting at 10kHz.
Instantly Switch between Tubes
The “alt tube” button instantly switches between two sets of parallel
saturation tubes. The “alt” tube is voiced slightly more aggressively allowing for
even more flexibility when using matched tubes but the tubes can be swapped
with any 12AX7 tubes, allowing the user to try different tubes and switch between
them in real time, at the push of a button.
Increase RMS of your signal
The same controls that allow you to enhance your signal with harmonics,
also allow you to increase the RMS of your signal by pushing the tubes into
saturation and natural compression. Each tube stage is specifically setup to
have a range that goes from clean reproduction of the signal to full saturation
where the peaks are compressed and the average level is increased. Since each
stage feeds the next (parallel saturation feeds Pentode which in turn feeds the
Triode), the stages interact in a very useful way. In other words, if you set the
Pentode and Triode to just before where they begin to saturate, adding signal
from the parallel saturation circuit or driving the Pentode harder will push the
Triode into saturation. You can then push the Triode itself harder which will in turn
produce more compression, increasing your perceived level while maintaining
your peaks. Similarly, pushing the parallel saturation circuit hard will allow you
to achieve compression at the Pentode stage which can then be used to push the
Triode as hard as you like from clean to further compression.