The Last Thing You Want to Hear is Your Compressor At Work!

Crane Song STC-8 - Clipping can sometimes be a good thing in the analog realm, but when you're dealing with digital, clipping is the deathblow to the perfect take. Lucky for us, Crane Song's STC-8 has overload protection, and a whole lot more. Like the Trakker (above), the STC-8 can emulate classic compressors or be used to sculpt one-of-a-kind new tones. We situated the STC-8 in the recording chain and pushed it hard recording a bass guitar. The end result was a fat and punchy bass line that was perfectly "seated" in the mix. Next, we put the STC-8 to work on the mix bus, and it magically tied the mix together, perfectly preserving the dynamics and actually improving the mix.

Crane Song STC-8 Standard Edition at a Glance:

• Transformerless, balanced I/O
  
• Discrete Class-A Compressor/Peak Limiter
  
• Sidechain allows simultaneous compression and peak limiting
  
• Selectable analog/tube enhancement circuit
  

Class-A Compressor/Peak Limiter
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 classic toys and creating distinctive new sounds.

Selectable Enhancement Circuit
In addition, a selectable enhancement circuit creates analog and tube like richness to enrich lifeless audio and digital recordings. This vast flexibility is simplified by the inclusion of several optimized presets, allowing fast, simple set-up on a wide bunch of sounds. It can operate in true stereo or discrete independent mono, accessible by a front panel switch.

Simultaneous Compression and Peak Limiting
The STC-8's sophisticated side-chain allows both compression and peak limiting to take place at once, 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.

Transformerless I/O
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.

Crane Song STC-8 Standard Edition Applications:

• Digital & Analog Mastering
  
• System Overload Protection
  
• Broadcast Engineering
  
• Project Studio DAW
  
• Stereo Bus Compression

Crane Song STC-8 Standard Edition Features:

• Simultaneous Compression/Limiting
  
• Discrete Class A
  
• Balanced/Transformerless I/O
  
• Quick & Simple Presets
  
• 'KI' & 'HARA' Sounds
  
• Transparent Overload Protection

Crane Song STC-8 Specs: Number of Channels 2 Controls PK Threhold, Preset, Meter, Gain, Threshold, Attack, Release, Shape Threshold Spec Not Available Ratio Spec Not Available Frequency Response 5Hz-55kHz Side Chain Insterts Yes Inputs 2 x XLR Outputs 2 X XLR Sidechain I/O DB-15 Rackmount Spaces 2U Height 3.5" Depth 12.5" Width 19" Weight 19 lbs.