Thermionic Culture have released a new version of the Mastering valve compressor, the Thermionic Culture Phoenix Mastering Plus. The classic hand built point to point wired soft knee compressor has a compression ratio from 1.2:1 to 5:1 at 15dB of compression and uses Mullard and Siemens valves and custom Sowter transformers.
Following on from the success of the previous models including the red face anniversary limited edition the new model features new switched and stepped rotary controls for quick and easy recall. The input gain features a 24 position ELMA, a 11 position ELMA for the Threshold, 6 position ALPHA attack and release and a 31 position OMEG stepped output pot. The same side chain filter section as previous versions has been retained.
A significant difference to the previous M/C versions is the the Mastering Plus now has the same input gain structure as the standard model Phoenix, enabling the mastering Plus to cope with tracking and mixing of individual instruments and vocals that may require high amounts of compression.
Other new features include a standby switch which is provided to extend valve and capacitor life. When in 'standby' the HT current through the valves is only 50% of the normal value. The meter zero level adjusters have now been brought to the front panel to avoid having to take the unit out of the rack and so making calibration easier.
Original Manufacturers Description
Technical Documents
Specifications
Brochure
Product Manual
Recall Sheet
User Testimonials
"I auditioned one of these when they came out and didn’t buy it because the VU’s were hard to cal, as were the controls in general. With the Mastering Version (MV) they took care of those issues. I’d compare the sound to my old beloved Gates Sta Levels but with more control. They’re versatile, but generally add an uncommon smooth flavor" Doug McBride
Doug McBride is a Chicago based Producer/Engineer whose credits include Rachael Yamagata, Silversun Pickups, Fall Out Boy, The Walkmen and Veruca Salt. His studio, Gravity, has hosted sessions for artists ranging from Rod Stewart and Mavis Staples to Story of the Year and Rise Against.
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