The STC-8 is a high quality stereo compressor combined with a remarkably dependable peak limiter, providing overload protection critical to digital recording and broadcast transmitters. The STC-8's compressor is engineered to provide musically transparent gain control, but is also capable of emulating vintage equipment and creating distinctive new sounds.
In addition, a switchable enhancement circuit creates analog and tube like warmth to enrich lifeless audio and digital recordings. This vast flexibility is simplified by the inclusion of several optimized presets, allowing fast, easy set-up on a wide variety of sounds. It can operate in true stereo or discrete independent mono, accessible by a front panel switch.
The STC-8's sophisticated side-chain allows both compression and peak limiting to take place simultaneously, using the same proprietary gain circuit. High signal quality is maintained by utilizing a discrete class A audio path, and by eliminating any VCA or optical gain control elements.
The STC-8 requires 2 rack spaces. All inputs and outputs are transformerless and balanced. The toroidal power transformer is UL approved and allows four line voltages for international use.
The STC-8 delivers consistent gain control without sacrificing musical definition or harmonic richness.
Crane Song STC-8 Standard Edition Features :
- Simultaneous Compression/Limiting
- Discrete Class-A Compressor/Limiter
- Switchable analog/tube enhancement circuit
- Sidechain allows simultaneous compression and peak limiting
- Balanced / Transformerless I/O
- Quick & Easy Presets
- 'KI' & 'HARA' Sounds
- Transparent Overload Protection
Applications :
- Stereo Bus Compression
- Digital & Analog Mastering
- System Overload Protection
- Broadcast Engineering
- Project Studio DAW
Crane Song STC-8 - DISTORTION IN COMPRESSORS :
Distortion in compressors is dependent on the RELEASE TIME and the RATIO. The higher the ratio or the faster the release time, the greater the amount of induced distortion. This distortion follows the low frequencies and the sound envelope. In all conventional compressors, tube or solid state, this distortion is third harmonic. The distortion is third harmonic because of the way the control circuits and gain control elements function.
Third harmonic distortion is a major part of what are called artifacts. Artifacts influence the sound of the compressor and may or may not be musical. Third harmonic distortion is not a musical artifact.
The STC-8 has the ability to change the type of induced distortion to second harmonic. In doing this the nonmusical artifact of third harmonic distortion is changed to the musically pleasing sound of second harmonic distortion. The STC-8 is the only compressor-limiter on the market that has the ability to change the induced distortion from third harmonic to second.
Changing the induced distortion from third harmonic to second harmonic results in new and different sounds and adds warmth. This change allows the use of higher compression levels with fast release times and still have the sound remain musical. This function is enabled on the STC-8 by putting the MODE SWITCH in the KI position.
