The Black Box Analog Design HG-2 Processor is all about enhancing and improving your audio, for a fuller, more dynamic, and richer more musical finished sound, in mixing and mastering. Unleash three-dimensional analog warmth and harmonic brilliance on every track!
If you’ve been searching for that one piece of gear that takes your mixes and masters from good to jaw-dropping, the Black Box Analog Design HG-2 Processor is about to become your new studio secret weapon. Whether you’re a seasoned audio engineer, a dedicated mastering engineer, or a musician ready to give your recordings that pro-studio edge, the HG-2’s tube-driven magic delivers the warmth, depth, and harmonic richness that simply can’t be replicated in the digital realm. Imagine adding a subtle glow that instantly makes vocals pop, guitars shimmer, and mixes feel three-dimensional—without ever sounding harsh or overcooked. The HG-2’s carefully crafted all-tube signal path lets you dial in exactly the right amount of saturation, harmonic enhancement, and analog color. From gentle harmonic “glue” on your master bus to bold tonal shaping on individual tracks, this versatile unit invites you to experiment, refine, and perfect your sound, all while speeding up your workflow.
The Black Box Analog Design HG-2 uses custom input transformers to feed two paths: The main signal path travels through a 6U8A Pentode tube stage that then drives into the Triode stage that follows, resulting in everything from subtle harmonics to full on saturation. Also fed from the input transformer is a parallel signal path that utilizes a set of 12AX7 tubes, voiced specifically for harmonics and saturation. This parallel saturation circuit is outfitted with a 3 way "Freq. Select" switch that allows the user to choose the frequency content returning from the circuit. The "low" position saturates just the low mids and sub frequencies, the "flat" position saturates full bandwidth and the "high" position saturates only the high mids and high frequencies. The result is the ability to add top end to dull tracks, enhance low end or enhance and add energy to the entire signal. The "saturation" knob allows the user to control how much of the processed, parallel signal is fed into the main signal before hitting the Pentode stage. Finally, both stages reach the passive output attenuation before a pair of custom output transformers.
In addition to the saturation stages, an "air" switch adds a subtle top end lift and the "alt" tube button switches between two different 12AX7 tubes in the parallel circuit. Switching between tubes allows the user to select between differently voiced tubes for different types of saturation, instantly. The meter button switches between 3 modes (VU, VU/Peak & Energy), and the "bypass" switch is a true bypass that shorts the input directly to the output with no additional circuitry in line.
Black Box Analog Design HG-2 Processor Features
- Authentic Tube Saturation: Real high-voltage tubes add natural harmonic content that breathes life into sterile digital audio.
- 3D Depth & Dimension: Customers rave about the “3D” quality the HG-2 imparts, giving your mixes a professional polish that stands out in any genre.
- Versatile Controls & Easy Integration: Effortlessly shape your tone with a variety of drive and saturation options - perfect for the mix bus or individual stems. It’s a smooth fit into any existing studio setup.
- Finish with a Professional Touch: Add that final, record-ready sparkle that top mixing and mastering studios rely on.
- Built to Inspire Confidence: Crafted by engineers who understand the demands of modern audio production, the HG-2 is rugged, reliable, and designed to perform session after session.
Black Box Analog Design HG-2 Processor Specifications
- High voltage Pentode & Triode tube stages
- Parallel saturation with mix control
- Selectable parallel saturation frequency
- Instantly selectable saturation tubes
- Air lift
- Ultra fine L/R trim adjust
- Custom input and output transformers
- True bypass
- Selectable 30 segment meter (3 modes)
- Illuminated push buttons & sealed relays
- Internally modular design for easy servicing
Black Box Analog Design HG-2 Processor Includes
- Black Box Analog Design HG-2 Processor
- IEC Power Cable
- Manual, With Recall Sheet and Calibration Instructions (Downloadable)
- Manufacturer Warranty
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Saturation for Days
Jul 13th 2020The Black Box HG-2. Sounds amazing and has a stupid ability to make a weak snare in to a banging garbage can lid with a crowbar. Can really pump up the RMS as a side effect so you have to be careful not to eat up all the energy in exchange for loudness - this box does what it does so well that it's too easy to get carried away and realized that you've completely flattened everything! I especially love it on snare, toms / tom bus, synths, FX returns, and strings. Anything that needs to be "juiced". It's actually a lot of fun on FX returns - drop it on some delays or a reverb return to really add some color and character. Great for injecting life into a digital delay pedal like a Strymon, but if you have a delay that already has some character like a Lexi PCM 42 or a Roland SDE3000 this box will bring it to the next level. The AIR button adds some kind of tube harmonics up high, around 10k. It does have a great ability to add a certain 3-D ness to stuff. For some it might be too strong, but it can be adjusted internally to be lower which some do for mastering purposes. I love it the way it is though - it's an additional way to add openness to something without EQ'ing it. The saturation knob brings a lot to the table and allowing you to chose to saturate the lows, highs, or the whole signal adds a ton of functionality to the unit and tailor make the saturation for the source. It does eat some of the bottom though no matter how lightly I hit it, but I think that's just a side effect of tubes and something I tend to experience with tube stuff in general. Even when it comes to pultecs, especially on masterbus I tend to use solid state ones because the tube ones eat some of the low articulation. Because of the fact that it slightly eats lows it's not something I use on drum bus or master bus as a first choice, although I have had success with it on both by using it in parallel with a low cut filter in front. When doing that, it's easy to retain lows while adding some juiciness and RMS. So while it takes some additional patching, being able to run it in parallel with a cut filter in front does add a ton to its usefulness. I deducted a star from the review and made it 4 stars because if it had two more knobs - a switchable low cut filter and a wet / dry mix knob, the functionality would be knocked out of the ballpark! Nothing crazy - like a three switched knob for low cut (like 40, 80, 120 hz) and a parallel mix knob and this thing would be unbeatable. Very useful box.
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