DESCRIPTION
Optical Tube Compressors have been the choice of seasoned engineers and producers for recording critical signals such
as voice where it is essential to retain all the individual character and emotion while offering a natural, transparent
control…
Now, Heritage Audio has released its take on this venerable classic, the TUBESESSOR.
A unique design manufactured in the EU with top-of-the-line components,
customs transformers at the input as well as output and NOS tubes
operating at an extremely high internal voltage to ensure a clarity, depth
and headroom previously unheard of. Analog excellence is achieved by
combining an all tube-based amplification stage with an outstanding UTC
A10 input transformer replica by AMI as well as a custom all-silicon steel
output transformer. With an elevated internal operating voltage you can be
sure the TUBESESSOR will heat up any signal while also maintaining its
character and vibe. No starved plate circuits here! Never has dynamics
control been so easily obtainable while at the same time so invisible. Even
with generous amounts of gain reduction being applied anything processed
with the TUBESESSOR still maintains its clarity and depth.
Not only is the TUBESESSOR the perfect choice for warming up and slightly
enhancing a signal subtly all while maintaining total dynamic control, but it also has a few tricks up its sleeve…
The TUBE SATURATION section allows you to add in a taste of attitude with 4 settings varying from CLASSIC, no
saturation at all, to HOT, an angry tone ready for a fight. This greatly increases the tonal options you can achieve with the
TUBESESSOR therefore making it much more flexible than any other optical tube compressor out there.
This takes full
advantage of a creamy sounding NOS Raytheon double triode tube to add in just a pinch of aggression or fully transform
the signal into something ready for war. It, importantly, works in tandem with the custom output transformer to produce the
right harmonic content. And thanks to Heritage Audio´s use of an audiophile-grade Psvane dual output triode in a totem
pole configuration, a solid output stage is guaranteed all while allowing much higher headroom than other tube
compressors, whether vintage or modern.
Heritage Audio has also opted to include its legendary sidechain filter section to expand control even more with
five
internal sidechain settings to choose from
. Two of the settings make sure the compressor is not being unfairly
overpowered by lower frequencies and the other three are frequency specific options for extra creativity.
Continuously adjustable ATTACK & RELEASE controls in addition to a FIXED mode and a combination of the two will
provide all the necessary settings possible, allowing you to mold your signal exactly as you´d like.
3
