Thermionic Culture | VintageKing.com

Thermionic Culture

Thermionic Culture have released the Little Bustard, their second valve summing mixer which has been designed to complement the Fat Bustard valve summing mixer by increasing the number of inputs channels. Or the new 19” 2u Little Bustard can be used independently by itself as a stand alone mixer. Features include 16 input channels arranged as 6x stereo pairs with fixed gain at unity level with on/off switches, 4x mono inputs with mute switches and pan pots which can be defeated by another switch adding an extra 6dB of gain. The master output section has independent left & right 31 position output indented pots with a gain range from –17db to +2db. The valve stages use a pair of ECC83/12AX7 on the gain stage, and a pair of PC86’s for the output stage. The master section will also have a simple output level indicator. To create a monster-summing mixer, The Little Bustard’s outputs can be plugged into the Fat Bustard’s AUX inputs increasing the number of channels to 28.

Thermionic Culture Little Bustard
16 Channel Tube Summing Mixer & Fat Bustard Expander

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The microphone amplifier is arguably the most important part of the audio chain, yet it is here that solid state technology is weakest in most mixing desks. 

The Thermionic Culture Earlybird 2.2 has been developed to be simply the best mic amp you can buy. Because of the special balanced push pull double triode circuit, it is virtually silent and distortion free, and has a very open, clean yet warm sound. The extended frequency response and lack of phase shift make it ideal for classical or rock recording.
The Earlybird 2 has a simple yet very effective eq for top, mid and bass in the feedback circuit (switchable). The high pass filter has been designed so that it works conventionally at lower settings, but on the 2 highest settings is gentler, and provides a mid cut when used in conjunction with the active bass lift.
The Earlybird 2.2 does not have to sit idly by on a mix! A separate line in socket is provided so that it becomes a valve eq and can produce a wonderfully warm distortion if required. The Output Trim control is placed after the electronics (as on The Phoenix ) and if turned back to a low setting, The Earlybird 2 can be overdriven by increasing the Gain setting.

Some Cultured users...
 
Because of their unique blend of flexibility, musicality, and usability, brought about as a result of being hand-built by some of the worlds leading pro audio valve equipment designers and engineeers, Thermionic Culture products attract their fair share of high profile, industry leading producers and engineers from the world of recording technology. Here is just a handful - why not add your name to the list?
<ul>
<li>Tony Maserati - Culture Vulture

</li><li>Black Dog Productions - Earlybird 2.2, Pullet, Phoenix Mastering Compressor, Culture Vulture.

</li><li>Al Schmitt - Phoenix

</li><li>Big Life Music - Phoenix Master Compressor

</li><li>Steve Dub Jones - Earlybird 2

</li><li>The Dairy - Phoenix

</li><li>Al Stone - Culture Vulture

</li><li>ROBERT CARRANZA - PRODUCER FOR LOS LOBOS, SUPER GRASS, JACK JOHNSON - CULTURE VULTURE

</li><li>PABLO MUNGUIA - ROBBIE WILLIAMS - PHOENIX & CULTURE VULTURE

</li><li>STEPHEN STREET - KAISER CHIEFS - CULTURE VULTURE

</li><li>JAMES FORD - PRODUCER - ARTIC MONKEYS - CULTURE VULTURE

</li><li>GROOVE ARMADA - EARLYBIRD & CULTURE VULTURE MASTERING - " Both myself and Tom Findlay bought the Earlybird and the Culture Vulture Mastering, they're like your first mobile phone, once you've used them for a week you wondered how you ever liver without them!" Andy Cato - Groove Armada.

</li><li>Larry Hammel - Producer, Deepwave Music Productions, Earlybird 2.2 and Phoenix

</li><li>Peter Katis

</li><li>Chemical Brothers - Culture Vulture Mastering MV & Phoenix 
"The vulture it distorts synths in a truly beautiful way-we used to acheive this effect thru a long,convoluted process now we can get this great sound at a flick of a switch!" - Tom Rowlands

</li><li>Peter Gabriel - Real World Studios - Culture Vulture

</li><li>Alan Moulder -Producer/Engineer The Jesus & Mary Chain, Swervedriver, My Bloody Valentine,Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails Downward Spiral, U2's Pop.

</li><li>Mike Caffrey

</li><li>Steve 'Dub' Jones - Engineer/Producer - Chemical Brothers, Madness. Culture Vulture Mastering MV & Phoenix

</li><li>Tom Findlay - Groove Armada - Earlybird-2, Phoenix

</li><li>Pietro Taucher - Engineer for Sharrie Williams

</li><li>Paisley Park

</li><li>Tie Dye Keith

</li><li>Jerry Harrison and Eric Thorngren (Talking Heads)

</li><li>Peter Katis

</li><li>Jimmy Boyle

</li><li>Kevin Bacon ( Axis Studios, recent credits include Jaimeson )

</li><li>Angel Mountain Studios

</li><li>Overtones

</li><li>Andy Strange ( recent credits include Robbie Williams )

</li><li>David Ives

</li><li>Bernard Butler

</li><li>Tony Hoffer ( Beck , Turin Breaks )

</li><li>Edwyn Collins

</li><li>Mick Jones

</li><li>The Libertines

</li><li>Mark 'Spike¹ Stent ( U2, Madonna, Oasis )

</li><li>Portishead

</li><li>Ken Nelson ( Badly Drawn Boy, Coldplay )

</li><li>Dave Gilmour

</li><li>The Prodigy

</li><li>Hugh Jones

</li><li>Strong Room Studios

</li><li>Air Studios

</li><li>Mute Records

</li><li>Ross Hogarth - "Mondo distorto! dude, i like your box a lot...really liked the musicality of it!"

</li><li>San Francisco Soundworks

</li><li>“La Source” Mastering suite - Paris France

</li><li>Yves Jaget

</li><li>Bertrand Blais producer of Etienne Daho

</li><li>Wisseloord Mastering</li></ul>

Thermionic Culture Earlybird 2.2
Microphone Preamp/EQ

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The Thermionic Culture Pullet is a passive equaliser originally designed to complement the Earlybird pre-amp. The Pullet will provide a variable Q boost at 11 frequencies of 21 dB and simultaneously a cut at 11 frequencies of 21dB. In addition high top can be boosted or cut with a shelving filter. The Earlybird will provide the gain makeup required after a line level signal has been passed through the pullets passive EQ network. This provides an excellent arrangement due to the fact that the passive EQ of the pullet gives full control over any midrange frequencies whilst the active EQ of the Earlybird can give a smooth sounding control over the bass and top frequencies. The fact is that passive EQ can give a much better result when radically boosting or cutting mid frequencies with a tight Q than active EQ can ever do. 
Its possible to boost a narrow band of midrange by 21dB with a musical sounding result using the pullets passive network whereas an active EQ may well start to sound harsh and begin to ring. 
The pullet has lately been re-designed in order to allow it to be used with any preamp available. The preamp will need to give between 38 to 40 dB of gain makeup and it ideally will have an input impedance of 1200 . A range of commercially available preamps have been used during testing of the pullet and all have given excellent results. 
The high input impedance (10k) of the Pullet means that it will give optimum performance when placed in a chain after any piece of equipment. 
The mid boost frequencies are: 
800 Hz 3.5 KHz 1.2 KHz 4.4 KHz 1.6 KHz 5 KHz 2 KHz 6.3 KHz 2.5 KHz 8.5 KHz 3 KHz 
The mid cut frequencies are: 
230 Hz 2 KHz 340 Hz 2.8 KHz 500 Hz 4 KHz 700 Hz 6 KHz 1 KHz 8 KHz 1.4 KHz 
The air control will shelve as a lift from 15 KHz, 12 KHz and 10 KHz. It will cut from 15 KHz, 11 KHz and 6 KHz.

Thermionic Culture Pullet
Stereo Passive Equalizer

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Originally designed as a "distortion box" to simulate distortion in valve amps, the Thermionic Culture Vulture has found lots of uses beyond this. We know that some owners use them on drum loops, vocals, piano sounds and even across entire tracks (it is a stereo unit). 
We have refined this so that distortion figures are reduced to only 0.2% at lowest to about 99.9% (at least that's what our distortion meter tells us!). Predominant distortion can be changed from even to odd harmonics with a simple switch. We know it's recently been rented to mix a JAMES BOND movie! 
Key Features: 
Warm sounds gently or create a noise like a 200 watt guitar stack with all the drivers slashed. Independent channel operation 
<UL>
<LI>Odd or even harmonic distortion, or combination of both. 
<LI>All valve design free from solid state additives. 
<LI>High impedance line input or instrument inputs. 
<LI>4 & 7 kHz filters 
<LI>Overdrive & bypass switches</LI></UL>
Some Cultured users...
 
Because of their unique blend of flexibility, musicality, and usability, brought about as a result of being hand-built by some of the worlds leading pro audio valve equipment designers and engineeers, Thermionic Culture products attract their fair share of high profile, industry leading producers and engineers from the world of recording technology. Here is just a handful - why not add your name to the list?
<UL>
<LI>Tony Maserati - Culture Vulture

<LI>Black Dog Productions - Earlybird 2.2, Pullet, Phoenix Mastering Compressor, Culture Vulture.

<LI>Al Schmitt - Phoenix

<LI>Big Life Music - Phoenix Master Compressor

<LI>Steve Dub Jones - Earlybird 2

<LI>The Dairy - Phoenix

<LI>Al Stone - Culture Vulture

<LI>ROBERT CARRANZA - PRODUCER FOR LOS LOBOS, SUPER GRASS, JACK JOHNSON - CULTURE VULTURE

<LI>PABLO MUNGUIA - ROBBIE WILLIAMS - PHOENIX & CULTURE VULTURE

<LI>STEPHEN STREET - KAISER CHIEFS - CULTURE VULTURE

<LI>JAMES FORD - PRODUCER - ARTIC MONKEYS - CULTURE VULTURE

<LI>GROOVE ARMADA - EARLYBIRD & CULTURE VULTURE MASTERING - " Both myself and Tom Findlay bought the Earlybird and the Culture Vulture Mastering, they're like your first mobile phone, once you've used them for a week you wondered how you ever liver without them!" Andy Cato - Groove Armada.

<LI>Larry Hammel - Producer, Deepwave Music Productions, Earlybird 2.2 and Phoenix

<LI>Peter Katis

<LI>Chemical Brothers - Culture Vulture Mastering MV & Phoenix 
"The vulture it distorts synths in a truly beautiful way-we used to acheive this effect thru a long,convoluted process now we can get this great sound at a flick of a switch!" - Tom Rowlands

<LI>Peter Gabriel - Real World Studios - Culture Vulture

<LI>Alan Moulder -Producer/Engineer The Jesus & Mary Chain, Swervedriver, My Bloody Valentine,Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails Downward Spiral, U2's Pop.

<LI>Mike Caffrey

<LI>Steve 'Dub' Jones - Engineer/Producer - Chemical Brothers, Madness. Culture Vulture Mastering MV & Phoenix

<LI>Tom Findlay - Groove Armada - Earlybird-2, Phoenix

<LI>Pietro Taucher - Engineer for Sharrie Williams

<LI>Paisley Park

<LI>Tie Dye Keith

<LI>Jerry Harrison and Eric Thorngren (Talking Heads)

<LI>Peter Katis

<LI>Jimmy Boyle

<LI>Kevin Bacon ( Axis Studios, recent credits include Jaimeson )

<LI>Angel Mountain Studios

<LI>Overtones

<LI>Andy Strange ( recent credits include Robbie Williams )

<LI>David Ives

<LI>Bernard Butler

<LI>Tony Hoffer ( Beck , Turin Breaks )

<LI>Edwyn Collins

<LI>Mick Jones

<LI>The Libertines

<LI>Mark 'Spike¹ Stent ( U2, Madonna, Oasis )

<LI>Portishead

<LI>Ken Nelson ( Badly Drawn Boy, Coldplay )

<LI>Dave Gilmour

<LI>The Prodigy

<LI>Hugh Jones

<LI>Strong Room Studios

<LI>Air Studios

<LI>Mute Records

<LI>Ross Hogarth - "Mondo distorto! dude, i like your box a lot...really liked the musicality of it!"

<LI>San Francisco Soundworks

<LI>“La Source” Mastering suite - Paris France

<LI>Yves Jaget

<LI>Bertrand Blais producer of Etienne Daho

<LI>Wisseloord Mastering

Thermionic Culture Vulture
Stereo Valve Distortion

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Thermionic Culture Vulture - Mastering  
  
The MV  has the same front panels controls and  operation as the standard Vulture but with the following changes; 
<UL>
<LI>Transformer balanced inputs & outputs on stereo jacks. 
<LI>Transformer balanced rear mounted bypass switch. 
<LI>Large indented input Drive controls. 
<LI>Indented Output Controls 
<LI>Specially selected or military type valves with longer life and low  microphony. Carefully matched 5725 distortion valves</LI></UL> 
We have refined this so that distortion figures are reduced to only 0.2% at lowest to about 99.9% (at least that's what our distortion meter tells us!). Predominant distortion can be changed from even to odd harmonics with a simple switch. We know it's recently been rented to mix a JAMES BOND movie! 
Key Features: 
Warm sounds gently or create a noise like a 200 watt guitar stack with all the drivers slashed. Independent channel operation 
<UL>
<LI>Odd or even harmonic distortion, or combination of both. 
<LI>All valve design free from solid state additives. 
<LI>High impedance line input or instrument inputs. 
<LI>4 & 7 kHz filters 
<LI>Overdrive & bypass switches</LI></UL>
Some Cultured users...
 
Because of their unique blend of flexibility, musicality, and usability, brought about as a result of being hand-built by some of the worlds leading pro audio valve equipment designers and engineeers, Thermionic Culture products attract their fair share of high profile, industry leading producers and engineers from the world of recording technology. Here is just a handful - why not add your name to the list?
<UL>
<LI>Tony Maserati - Culture Vulture

<LI>Black Dog Productions - Earlybird 2.2, Pullet, Phoenix Mastering Compressor, Culture Vulture.

<LI>Al Schmitt - Phoenix

<LI>Big Life Music - Phoenix Master Compressor

<LI>Steve Dub Jones - Earlybird 2

<LI>The Dairy - Phoenix

<LI>Al Stone - Culture Vulture

<LI>ROBERT CARRANZA - PRODUCER FOR LOS LOBOS, SUPER GRASS, JACK JOHNSON - CULTURE VULTURE

<LI>PABLO MUNGUIA - ROBBIE WILLIAMS - PHOENIX & CULTURE VULTURE

<LI>STEPHEN STREET - KAISER CHIEFS - CULTURE VULTURE

<LI>JAMES FORD - PRODUCER - ARTIC MONKEYS - CULTURE VULTURE

<LI>Larry Hammel - Producer, Deepwave Music Productions, Earlybird 2.2 and Phoenix

<LI>Peter Katis

<LI>Peter Gabriel - Real World Studios - Culture Vulture

<LI>Alan Moulder -Producer/Engineer The Jesus & Mary Chain, Swervedriver, My Bloody Valentine,Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails Downward Spiral, U2's Pop.

<LI>Mike Caffrey

<LI>Steve 'Dub' Jones - Engineer/Producer - Chemical Brothers, Madness. Culture Vulture Mastering MV & Phoenix

<LI>Tom Findlay - Groove Armada - Earlybird-2, Phoenix

<LI>Pietro Taucher - Engineer for Sharrie Williams

<LI>Paisley Park

<LI>Tie Dye Keith

<LI>Jerry Harrison and Eric Thorngren (Talking Heads)

<LI>Peter Katis

<LI>Jimmy Boyle

<LI>Kevin Bacon ( Axis Studios, recent credits include Jaimeson )

<LI>Angel Mountain Studios

<LI>Overtones

<LI>Andy Strange ( recent credits include Robbie Williams )

<LI>David Ives

<LI>Bernard Butler

<LI>Tony Hoffer ( Beck , Turin Breaks )

<LI>Edwyn Collins

<LI>Mick Jones

<LI>The Libertines

<LI>Mark 'Spike¹ Stent ( U2, Madonna, Oasis )

<LI>Portishead

<LI>Ken Nelson ( Badly Drawn Boy, Coldplay )

<LI>Dave Gilmour

<LI>The Prodigy

<LI>Hugh Jones

<LI>Strong Room Studios

<LI>Air Studios

<LI>Mute Records

<LI>Ross Hogarth - "Mondo distorto! dude, i like your box a lot...really liked the musicality of it!"

<LI>San Francisco Soundworks

<LI>“La Source” Mastering suite - Paris France

<LI>Yves Jaget

<LI>Bertrand Blais producer of Etienne Daho

<LI>Wisseloord Mastering

Thermionic Culture Vulture - Mastering
Thermionic Culture Vulture - Mastering

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The Earlybird 2.2 is a two channel all valve pre-amp employing a balanced push-pull circuit, which as far as we know, is unique in this application. The use of this type of circuit gives very low noise and plenty of headroom with minimal distortion. These factors coupled with a switchable input impedance will mean the user can get a very natural interpretation of whatever sound the microphone is picking up, whether the mic is valve, ribbon, moving coil or FET. 
The Earlybird 2.2 retains all of the features of the previous Earlybirds. We have added an extra pair of inputs to allow permanent connection to a Pullet EQ. In addition the active EQ section now has switchable frequencies on the mid and bass lift sections. The Gain controls have now been simplified and incorporated into a Function switch. After much dedicated development work in conjunction with Brian Sowter, we have arrived at the pinnacle of audio transformer design. Both the input and output transformers have been optimised for use in our unique circuit. This results in more headroom and lower distortion especially at low frequencies. 
The Earlybird 2.2 need not stand idle once the mixing process has begun. The line input facility means that the sonic haracteristics and EQ facilities of the Earlybird 2.2 can be fully utilised on any mono or stereo signals that the user feels may benefit from such enhancement. With this in mind the Pullet acts as a perfect companion for precision mid range EQ. We believe that the Earlybird 2.2 is not only the finest mic amp available for todays recording environment but combined with its EQ and Pullet compatability, the most versatile.
 
Some Cultured users...
 
Because of their unique blend of flexibility, musicality, and usability, brought about as a result of being hand-built by some of the worlds leading pro audio valve equipment designers and engineeers, Thermionic Culture products attract their fair share of high profile, industry leading producers and engineers from the world of recording technology. Here is just a handful - why not add your name to the list?
<UL>
<LI>Tony Maserati - Culture Vulture

<LI>Black Dog Productions - Earlybird 2.2, Pullet, Phoenix Mastering Compressor, Culture Vulture.

<LI>Al Schmitt - Phoenix

<LI>Big Life Music - Phoenix Master Compressor

<LI>Steve Dub Jones - Earlybird 2

<LI>The Dairy - Phoenix

<LI>Al Stone - Culture Vulture

<LI>ROBERT CARRANZA - PRODUCER FOR LOS LOBOS, SUPER GRASS, JACK JOHNSON - CULTURE VULTURE

<LI>PABLO MUNGUIA - ROBBIE WILLIAMS - PHOENIX & CULTURE VULTURE

<LI>STEPHEN STREET - KAISER CHIEFS - CULTURE VULTURE

<LI>JAMES FORD - PRODUCER - ARTIC MONKEYS - CULTURE VULTURE

<LI>Larry Hammel - Producer, Deepwave Music Productions, Earlybird 2.2 and Phoenix

<LI>Peter Katis

<LI>Peter Gabriel - Real World Studios - Culture Vulture

<LI>Alan Moulder -Producer/Engineer The Jesus & Mary Chain, Swervedriver, My Bloody Valentine,Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails Downward Spiral, U2's Pop.

<LI>Mike Caffrey

<LI>Steve 'Dub' Jones - Engineer/Producer - Chemical Brothers, Madness. Culture Vulture Mastering MV & Phoenix

<LI>Tom Findlay - Groove Armada - Earlybird-2, Phoenix

<LI>Pietro Taucher - Engineer for Sharrie Williams

<LI>Paisley Park

<LI>Tie Dye Keith

<LI>Jerry Harrison and Eric Thorngren (Talking Heads)

<LI>Peter Katis

<LI>Jimmy Boyle

<LI>Kevin Bacon ( Axis Studios, recent credits include Jaimeson )

<LI>Angel Mountain Studios

<LI>Overtones

<LI>Andy Strange ( recent credits include Robbie Williams )

<LI>David Ives

<LI>Bernard Butler

<LI>Tony Hoffer ( Beck , Turin Breaks )

<LI>Edwyn Collins

<LI>Mick Jones

<LI>The Libertines

<LI>Mark 'Spike¹ Stent ( U2, Madonna, Oasis )

<LI>Portishead

<LI>Ken Nelson ( Badly Drawn Boy, Coldplay )

<LI>Dave Gilmour

<LI>The Prodigy

<LI>Hugh Jones

<LI>Strong Room Studios

<LI>Air Studios

<LI>Mute Records

<LI>Ross Hogarth - "Mondo distorto! dude, i like your box a lot...really liked the musicality of it!"

<LI>San Francisco Soundworks

<LI>“La Source” Mastering suite - Paris France

<LI>Yves Jaget

<LI>Bertrand Blais producer of Etienne Daho

<LI>Wisseloord Mastering

Thermionic Culture Earlybird 2.2 and Pullet Combo Package
Special price - The Ultimate Pre & EQ Combo!

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The Phoenix is a stereo compressor, which can be used as a pair of
mono compressors. It has a ‘soft knee’ or ‘variable mu’ characteristic
in that the compression ratio increases with the amount of compression
being used. Initial compression is 1.2:1 increasing to 5:1 at 15dB
compression. 
 The Phoenix is being updated
continually and this unit is the Master version (suffix M) with higher
stability and faster release than earlier models. A side chain filter
has now been added to provide 75Hz & 150Hz, but more permutations
are possible when the MC is used in stereo mode with the link switch
engaged.
 The Master Phoenix is easier to recall as
it has a mixture of indented and switched controls and the screwdriver
adjustment on the chassis behind the meters controls the current
through the valves on this unit, so this corrects to some extent for
valve ageing. A screwdriver is supplied with the Master Phoenix and
should be used periodically to adjust the meters to zero
 
Stepped Input & Output controls * 6 position switched attack
control * 7 position switched release control * 11 position switched
threshold control
 Key Features
 <ul><li> All valve design for greater presence and naturality.</li><li> Completely free from solid state additives.</li><li> Transparent compression.</li><li> Punchy when pushed.</li><li> Drive it hard for compression effects and distortion.</li><li> Absolutely flat frequency response over entire audio range
 and beyond.</li><li> Minimal phase shift giving a crisp and warm sound.</li><li>Stepped Input & Output controls </li><li>6 position switched attack control </li><li>7 position switched release control </li><li> 11 position switched threshold control</li><li>Side Chain Filter - 75Hz & 150Hz plus permutations.</li></ul>

Thermionic Culture Phoenix - Mastering
Stereo Valve Compressor

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Thermionic Culture Fat Bustard
12 channel mixing with attitude

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The Thermionic Culture Rooster is a valve based design mic/line & DI pre-amp with
EQ and a distortion section based around the same 5725 valve used in
the ever-popular Culture Vulture. 
 Input Stage 
 The input stage uses a custom 1200-ohm input Sowter transformer and an ECC81/12AT7 valve. 
 EQ Section 
The neatly laid out EQ section has all the Boost or Lift controls on
the left, with a broad bass lift control, peaking at 60Hz, and a
selectable mid/high lift at 2.5k, 4k ("bell" shaped) and 7k (shelving)
respectively. All the Cut controls are on the left hand side, the mid
cut is 700Hz, the 6 position bass cut is straight off the Earlybird 2
pre-amp. There is also a switchable LPF ( low pass filter ). 
 'Attitude' Distortion Section 
The same 5725-distortion tube which is employed in the Culture Vulture
is used in the new Rooster. It offers a subtle distortion
characteristic in the triode position, more so than a Culture Vulture
due to the higher HT voltage, and so has a very low (about 0.01%)
distortion when the 'Attitude' control is set to 1. In the pentode mode
it generates more 3rd harmonic distortion. Distortion can be pretty
radical when the Attitude control is to 'Max' and the input is high. 
 Output Section 
The output valve is ECF80 which combines high output with low impedance
(less than 100 ohms). There is +48v phantom power, and phase reverse.
The output is unbalanced as standard but a balancing transformer option
that is used in the Culture Vulture Mastering will be available.

Thermionic Culture Rooster
Mic Pre/EQ with DI

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Thermionic Culture Rooster - balanced output version
Mic Pre/EQ with DI

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The Thermionic Culture Phoenix is a twin channel 'vari-mu' device. Compression ratio starts low
 and increases gradually so that compression can be subtle and
 natural, but compression effects can occur when driven hard. Very
 low noise. Continuously variable controls for Gain, Attack, Release,
 Threshold and Output Level. Stereo link for compressing a group
 (eg. drums) or a complete mix.
 The Phoenix enhances vocals & individual instruments by being
 unobtrusive, gently 'warming' sounds and making solos sound more
 powerful. It¹s impressive on overall mixes & can give
 a digital mix 'reality'. It¹s also excellent for compression
 effects. Try drums with a 'thump' attack (i. e slowest) & fast
 release.
 Key Features
 <ul><li> All valve design for greater presence and naturality.</li><li> Completely free from solid state additives.</li><li> Transparent compression.</li><li> Punchy when pushed.</li><li> Drive it hard for compression effects and distortion.</li><li> Absolutely flat frequency response over entire audio range
 and beyond.</li><li> Minimal phase shift giving a crisp and warm sound.</li></ul>

Thermionic Culture Phoenix - SC (Side Chain Model)
The best stereo tube compressor just go better, now with on board side chain filters.

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Originally designed as a "distortion box" to simulate distortion in valve amps, the Thermionic Culture Vulture has found lots of uses beyond this. We know that some owners use them on drum loops, vocals, piano sounds and even across entire tracks (it is a stereo unit). 
We have refined this so that distortion figures are reduced to only 0.2% at lowest to about 99.9% (at least that's what our distortion meter tells us!). Predominant distortion can be changed from even to odd harmonics with a simple switch. We know it's recently been rented to mix a JAMES BOND movie! 
Key Features: 
Warm sounds gently or create a noise like a 200 watt guitar stack with all the drivers slashed. Independent channel operation 
<ul>
<li>Odd or even harmonic distortion, or combination of both. 
</li><li>All valve design free from solid state additives. 
</li><li>High impedance line input or instrument inputs. 
</li><li>4 & 7 kHz filters 
</li><li>Overdrive & bypass switches</li></ul>
Some Cultured users...
 
Because of their unique blend of flexibility, musicality, and usability, brought about as a result of being hand-built by some of the worlds leading pro audio valve equipment designers and engineeers, Thermionic Culture products attract their fair share of high profile, industry leading producers and engineers from the world of recording technology. Here is just a handful - why not add your name to the list?
<ul>
<li>Tony Maserati - Culture Vulture

</li><li>Black Dog Productions - Earlybird 2.2, Pullet, Phoenix Mastering Compressor, Culture Vulture.

</li><li>Al Schmitt - Phoenix

</li><li>Big Life Music - Phoenix Master Compressor

</li><li>Steve Dub Jones - Earlybird 2

</li><li>The Dairy - Phoenix

</li><li>Al Stone - Culture Vulture

</li><li>ROBERT CARRANZA - PRODUCER FOR LOS LOBOS, SUPER GRASS, JACK JOHNSON - CULTURE VULTURE

</li><li>PABLO MUNGUIA - ROBBIE WILLIAMS - PHOENIX & CULTURE VULTURE

</li><li>STEPHEN STREET - KAISER CHIEFS - CULTURE VULTURE

</li><li>JAMES FORD - PRODUCER - ARTIC MONKEYS - CULTURE VULTURE

</li><li>Larry Hammel - Producer, Deepwave Music Productions, Earlybird 2.2 and Phoenix

</li><li>Peter Katis

</li><li>Peter Gabriel - Real World Studios - Culture Vulture

</li><li>Alan Moulder -Producer/Engineer The Jesus & Mary Chain, Swervedriver, My Bloody Valentine,Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails Downward Spiral, U2's Pop.

</li><li>Mike Caffrey

</li><li>Steve 'Dub' Jones - Engineer/Producer - Chemical Brothers, Madness. Culture Vulture Mastering MV & Phoenix

</li><li>Tom Findlay - Groove Armada - Earlybird-2, Phoenix

</li><li>Pietro Taucher - Engineer for Sharrie Williams

</li><li>Paisley Park

</li><li>Tie Dye Keith

</li><li>Jerry Harrison and Eric Thorngren (Talking Heads)

</li><li>Peter Katis

</li><li>Jimmy Boyle

</li><li>Kevin Bacon ( Axis Studios, recent credits include Jaimeson )

</li><li>Angel Mountain Studios

</li><li>Overtones

</li><li>Andy Strange ( recent credits include Robbie Williams )

</li><li>David Ives

</li><li>Bernard Butler

</li><li>Tony Hoffer ( Beck , Turin Breaks )

</li><li>Edwyn Collins

</li><li>Mick Jones

</li><li>The Libertines

</li><li>Mark 'Spike¹ Stent ( U2, Madonna, Oasis )

</li><li>Portishead

</li><li>Ken Nelson ( Badly Drawn Boy, Coldplay )

</li><li>Dave Gilmour

</li><li>The Prodigy

</li><li>Hugh Jones

</li><li>Strong Room Studios

</li><li>Air Studios

</li><li>Mute Records

</li><li>Ross Hogarth - "Mondo distorto! dude, i like your box a lot...really liked the musicality of it!"

</li><li>San Francisco Soundworks

</li><li>“La Source” Mastering suite - Paris France

</li><li>Yves Jaget

</li><li>Bertrand Blais producer of Etienne Daho

</li><li>Wisseloord Mastering</li></ul>

Thermionic Culture Vulture Mastering Limited Edition
Stereo Valve Distortion

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Thermionic Culture Pullet (Demo Deal)
Stereo Passive Equalizer

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