Thermionic Culture

Thermionic Culture have released a new version of the Mastering valve compressor, the 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. 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 zeroStepped Input & Output controls * 6 position switched attack control * 7 position switched release control * 11 position switched threshold control

Originally designed as a "distortion box" to simulate distortion in valve amps it 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.         FeaturesWarm sounds gently or create a noise like a 200 watt guitar stack with all the drivers slashed.Independent channel operationOdd or even harmonic distortion, or combination of bothAll valve design free from solid state additives. High impedance line input or instrument inputs.4 & 7 kHz filtersOverdrive & bypass switchesTransformer balanced inputs & outputs on stereo jacks. Transformer balanced rear mounted bypass switch. Large indented input Drive controls. Indented Output Controls Specially selected or military type valves with longer life and low  microphony. Carefully matched 5725 distortion valves. 

The Culture Vulture Super 15 also showcases several inspired new features. The Drive switch has three positions with a +10dB option sitting squarely between ‘Normal’ and ‘Overdrive’, enabling users to make their sounds ‘a little more crunchy’ with increased brightness. Meanwhile, the Drive knob now goes all the way up to 15, rather than the decidedly more conservative Spinal Tap-favoured 11! The Function switch now offers further enhancements including special dynamic tunable mid-lift in the P positions and extra drastically-processed harmonics in the SQ positions. The new unit also has a two position Presence switch, as featured on Thermionic Culture’s popular Solo Vulture product. The Output Level controls have a -10dB attenuator which can be used in conjunction with Drive +10dB for comparison purposes or just to reduce high levels. The module’s line plus DI inputs are balanced while the line plus low level outputs are unbalanced. Five NOS military-grade valves are utilised for long life, low noise and enhanced performance, mirroring The Culture Vulture Mastering Plus        Features  Warm sounds gently or create a noise like a 200 watt guitar stack with all the drivers slashed.Independent channel operationOdd or even harmonic distortion, or combination of both.All valve design free from solid state additives.High impedance line input or instrument inputs.4 & 7 kHz filtersOverdrive & bypass switchesTransformer balanced inputs & outputs on stereo jacks.Transformer balanced rear mounted bypass switch.Large indented input Drive controls.Indented Output ControlsSpecially selected or military type valves with longer life and low  microphony. Carefully matched 5725 distortion valves.​​