The Singular Audio Tubedrve Mastering 500-Series Tube Saturator is a stereo tube saturator module with indented controls designed for mastering. The Tubedrve provides your tracks with various levels of overdrive and harmonics.
The Singular Audio Tubedrve utilises 2 pentode tubes per module.The 6AS6 vacuum tube can be switched from pentode to triode operation. Triode mode provides a smoother type of overdrive with more ‘even harmonics’. Pentode mode provides an aggressive distortion with more ‘odd harmonics’. Switchable bypass and a mix knob for parallel processing provide pro audio requirements. The two channels are controlled independently from one another. The module can be controlled with an input or ‘drive’ level, controlling the audio signal going to the tubes. A bias control sets the operating point for the distortion tube, allowing the user to control the bias current. With high and low settings this introduces asymmetrical waveform clipping, providing a more aggressive sound.
The mastering version features an extra low gain setting, allowing the overdrive to be dialed in more precisely: useful when using the module on a mix or stereo group. An output level control controls the level coming from the tubes. The mix knob provides full dry and wet operation, allowing for parallel processing. This is a great feature to have in a saturator since they tend to compress audio. Parallel processing allows the user to dial in the exact amount of saturation they want and provides full control over dynamics.
Plate voltage for the tubes is 240VDC, due to a DC-DC converter which generates the high voltage from the +- 16V power supply of the API 500 format. This is needed for the best possible overdrive sound. NOS (‘New Old Stock’) tubes are used.
Singular Audio Tubedrve Mastering 500-Series Tube Saturator Features
- Indented potentiometers/knobs with 41 steps for easy recall and stereo matching
- Lo/mid/hi gain setting to precisely set the amount of distortion (-10, 0, +12dB)
- Triode or pentode operation
- 2 tubes per module
- NOS tubes
- Full dry/wet control for parallel processing
- Bias control to control the tube bias current, introducing asymmetrical clipping
- Plate voltage for tubes at +240VDC for best tube operation, no ‘starved plate’ sound
- Balanced in- and output
- Switchable bypass using relays for balanced bypass
Singular Audio Tubedrve Mastering 500-Series Tube Saturator Specifications
- THD: 0.2% to >85%
- Noise: <95dB below maximum output level at typical settings
- Frequency response (triode): 30Hz - 20kHz ±1dB
- Frequency response (pentode): 40Hz - 20kHz ±1dB
- Max gain (clean): 25dB
- Max gain (overdriven): 45dB
- Gain switch: -10dB, 0dB and +12dB input level
- Potentiometer indents: 41 steps
- Bypass: relay switched balanced bypass
- Tolerance between channels: ±0.5dB
- Power consumption:
- +16v = 95mA (per slot)
- - 16v = 95mA (per slot)
- Tube complement: 2 x 6J2P (6AS6 pin compatible)
- Weight: 575 grams
Singular Audio Tubedrve Mastering 500-Series Tube Saturator Includes
- Singular Audio Tubedrve Mastering 500-Series Tube Saturator
- Manufacturer Warranty
2 Reviews Hide Reviews Show Reviews
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mastering
Jan 16th 2024Lives on my mastering buss strip. Brings the track alive. I searched and searched for weeks trying to compare this to the $3500 black box and really no real comparisons exist. Its better than the black box plug in. I finally did find some comparison tracks on a forum and downloaded comparing this to the real black box. I would say this is just as good but a slightly different flavor as the tubes in it are different, I would say it's as close currently as you will get as far as anything available on the market that will get you that black box sound without a second mortgage. I have left a lot of reviews on front ends site for stuff I own, some I bought from them and some I did not. I am a big fan of theirs because they offer better deals than the larger competitors and I live in Virginia and they don't charge sales tax to Virginia! Unlike their bigger competitors. That is a big deal on an $800 item! There is another company in SC that doesn't charge sales tax either but their return policies are archaic so they are best avoided. I don't normally return stuff but when I need too and you want me to jump through hoops to do so you just lost my business for eternity. I have been in ecom since the beginning myself and things change. Return policies from 15 years ago are not how it is done anymore. You won't keep customers that way.
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SINGULAR AUDIO TUBEDRVE MASTERING
Dec 12th 2023It sounds great can get subtle or hairy. Adds a Nice tube glow. Lots of features in a little Box. like a budget culture vulture or black box in 500 series format
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