11
TUBE VITALIZER
Selection of two bass timbre
(Soft – Tight) and adjusting
the intensity
Varying bass sounds
by balancing Bass and
Process Level
Adding a passive LC filter
network to the bass filtering
system
This easy-to-use compressor
works exclusively on the bass
and helps you to control the
bass amplitude especially
when recording on digital
media
The Gain Reduction LED indi-
cates compressor operation
They symbolize the contoured “Tight” bass sound. If the Bass
control is moved from the center position (0) to the left, the bass
sound becomes very deep, soft and warm. This sound is known as
“Soft”. This is symbolized with round scaling points which also
increase in size as the intensity increases.
The further the Bass control is shifted to the right or left of the
center position, the more intensive the bass sound in question.
However, Process Level (7) must be positioned to the right of the
9 o´clock setting for the bass to be audible. You can always hear
the original (dry) bass if the Bass control is in the center position.
The Process Level control determines the processing ratio
between the set bass sound colour and the original signal. This
results in varying bass sound structures: if you combine high bass
amplification on the Bass control with a lower Process Level
value, you get a different bass structure than with a lower bass
amplification combined with a higher Process Level value.
Choosing the best solution is a matter of personal taste and also
depends on the type of original signal involved.
The active filter-network to process the bass operates with a
RC-combination (R = resistor; C = condenser). The LC Filter switch
adds a passive coil/condenser filter to the network.
Coils are known for their pleasant sound. When getting satu-
rated they produce a special harmonical structure giving a
certain punchy sound that we know from old filter designs. The
Tube Vitalizer offers you the choice between both ‘worlds’.
The Tube Vitalizer features a compressor, which is integrated
into the bass filter network. The original signal is left untouched.
When recording on digital equipment it is essential not to over-
load the inputs of such systems which results in invalid samples
or digital peaks. As the bass frequencies carry most of the level it
makes sense to integrate a compressor into the bass-path. This
compressor works with a soft-knee characteristic. We designed
the compressor around the well acclaimed THAT 4301 VCA as a
‘one-knob’ solution to make it easy to operate. The threshold,
attack and release are automatically adjusted. The Compression
control sets the ratio value.
The blue Gain Reduction LED indicates the point at which the
compressor starts to operate. When you turn the Compression
control fully clockwise the entire bass processing is nullified.
Control elements
Bass – LC Filter
4
Bass Comp.
5
