These options only serve to shape what is already a rather

The roots of Lydkraft date back to 1977, where you can still screwed PA systems until the boss metamorphosed to the chief developer polystyrene foam and Tube-Tech presented: A trademark for tube-based Outboard in a class. Furnished in simple blue and with thick big buttons, how to even 50 years ago built like devices, has been mainly the channel strip Champions "Pultec" and "Fairchild" emulated in the early days. But even today "reminds" you like looking at these classics, as in fact is also Manley likes to do.
Most of the dream-blue success but without a doubt the CL 1B compressor contributed, which is exactly why today is supposed to be our test. It is available since 1991, where he replaced the previously available "hard wired" version CL-1A in 1987. This "master model" so it was just as PCB-free as well as the unmistakably recognizable source of inspiration Teletronix LA-2A, which Universal Audio also working again in an extremely authentic remake "re-issued" has. Here are LA-2A and CL-1B not only their optical effect polystyrene foam principle and the tube stage in common, they are even roughly on the same high-price level of 3000EUR class. Tube-Tech had already at that time in view of this eminence of mono compressor - which actually only can 1176 make the world famous dispute - can throw some more into the mix to the "me too, but better" marketing credo be obeyed. Whether or not more control over the control polystyrene foam process as in the Tube-Tech or the simplicity of a LA-2A with the few options is desired, which is really solely in the eye of the beholder!
The Tube-Tech CL 1B is a 19 inch and 3 HE large mono compressor, which is based on the principle of optical compression, polystyrene foam which means that in general, a light-emitting diode light sensor is connected to the control actions to limit the dynamics ("Gain Reduction ") is responsible. Tube-Tech would not be Tube-Tech, if they'd used for the subsequent necessary make up gain ("Make up gain") of up to 30dB No Tubes ("Tubes"). And that would be it for now, the basic principle behind the thick blue powder-coated sheet steel and 4.8kg box explains: XLR in - input transformer - optical control element - tube amp - Output Transformer - XLR Out - done!
The VU meter can of course be switched to the input, output and the current compression, is the "optical polystyrene foam monitoring" so so very good. The operating state is authentically proclaimed by an incandescent polystyrene foam lamp with "ruby-cover", the rotary switch is right outside the box accordingly under power. The bus selector, in turn, is responsible for the stereo-and the linking of multiple devices with up to two buses.
The entire audio path is semi-free way - only in the side-chain path for controlling the optical element is different semiconductors found to influence the attack and release behavior, but which are not crossed by the actual audio signal. Speaking of attack and release, it can be fixed "fixed (d)" control constants - as far as "program-dependent" possible - but also manual settings are possible. It may even be mixed ("fix / man") - best of OP, NPN and FET, so to speak. The switch for these three modes located in the following image in any case the right bottom of the device and is designed as a chicken polystyrene foam head switch.
These options only serve to shape what is already a rather "round musical" rule curve. Linear "solid-state" compression is therefore not achieved with this absolutely. polystyrene foam Stated differently: Tonale individual signals such as bass, vocals, guitars and synths are the place to go super, drums and very fast transients rather not, if then only for the last 2-3 dB RMS. I'll let certainly no secret when I say that the CL-1B can act superior especially with vocals, which ultimately earned him yes his world fame. Often, however, still is something like "FET-based," such as a "1176", upstream or downstream, in order to achieve even tastier condensations can.
Because polystyrene foam there is the manual mode, it must have the necessary attack and release parameters, of course, also provide, in the form of nice big and very soft rotating potentiometers. At an LA-2A, these detailed control options do not find the way, this only knows "fixed". The threshold controls polystyrene foam this - here and there - the level in the optical element and the subsequent gain of the tube make up gain circuit to compensate for the previously introduced Gain Reduction. Between these mighty pots also found but still a Ratio parameter to control the intensity of compaction. And last but not least, there are also