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Crane Song STC-8 Stereo Compressor - Used  From Crane Song

Clean and forward - you can throw a lot at the STC-8. Did we mention it can do BOTH Compression and Limiting?

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Crane Song

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What We Think

The word "versatile" gets thrown around a lot when it comes to pro audio gear, but versatile is exactly what the Crane Song STC-8 is. Whether you're mixing for classical, jazz, or really any recording that needs transparent compression with some surgical and subtle control, the STC-8 will bring you so much closer to that "finished" sound without imparting too much of its own character, unless you want it to! A variety of presets allow the user to quickly cycle through more frequently used settings and allow for dialing in a desired amount of warmth and color.

- Nick Prather, Sound Pure Pro Audio Specialist


***

 

An absolutely incredible 2-channel compressor AND limiter. This combined compressor and limiter series (yes, you can use both simultaneously) lends itself to mixing and mastering... we engineers know that you can't really adjust your limiter without adjusting your compressor, so this is the box that allows you to do it all under one roof. However, not only is its sonic transparency and complete versatility apparent by its function as a mastering device, this compressor also has a number of different compression settings that allow for its use as an effects box, and a wonderful tracking device as well. It is a little pricey, but its value is obvious!

Manufacturer's Description from Crane Song

The STC-8 is a high quality compressor that delivers consistent gain control without sacrificing musical definition or harmonic richness. It utilizes a remarkably dependable peak limiter that provides overload protection that is critical to digital recording and broadcast transmitters. The STC-8 is engineered to provide musically transparent gain control, but is also capable of emulating vintage equipment and creating distinctive new sounds. In addition, a switchable enhancement circuit creates analog and tube-like warmth to enrich lifeless audio and digital recordings. This vast flexibility is simplified by the inclusion of several optimized presets, allowing fast, easy set-up on a wide variety of sounds. It can operate in true stereo or discrete independent mono, accessible by a front panel switch. The STC-8s features include:

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


The STC-8s sophisticated side-chain allows both compression and peak limiting to take place simultaneously, using the same proprietary gain control circuit. High signal quality is maintained by utilizing the discrete class A audio path and by eliminating any VCA or optical gain control elements.

Crane Song

About Manufacturer

Designer Dave Hill has always had an interest in electronics, and started designing and building devices at an early age. He was building synthesizers from scratch and started doing professional level sound recording and equipment maintenance at a local music store while still in school. After high school Dave decided to pursue a career in electronics and enrolled in a course at a local community college. After his first semester he was asked by the college to take over teaching the course. He taught for 8 years and continued his involvement in pro audio. To date Dave has been doing studio and film sound recording since 1972. He has also been involved in film post production. Early in the 1980's Dave was asked by a used equipment dealer if he could design a tube compressor that would have the sound of the older tube type devices and still be clean enough to compete with modern devices. The result of this request was the Summit Audio TLA-100. Due to the success of that design Dave Hill went on to design and set up the manufacture of all Summit Audio products until September of 1994 at which time Summit Audio was relocated the manufacturing to California. From 1984 to 1994 Summit Audio grew from a single product and one employee working out of the basement of Dave's home to a full product line and over a dozen fulltime employees. Beginning in August of 1995, several of those key members of the Summit production crew began working for Dave again in his new company called Crane Song. After the move of Summit Audio, Dave wanted to keep the production crew together and start a new company. First he designed a tube playback pre-amp for the ATR-102 tape machine called the HDV-2. This is now being manufactured for the ATR Service Company by Crane Song. Next Dave designed a two channel discrete class A compressor-limiter, called the STC-8. The Today the Crane Song family of products has grown to five; *HEDD (Harmonically Enhanced Digital Device), FLAMINGO stereo mic preamp, TRAKKER, single channel compressor, and the new SPIDER 8 channel mic preamp, mixer, A/D convertor which has recently joined the family. Crane Song Ltd. is able to provide the highest level of quality due to the many years of experience of both Dave and the people who have stayed with him. Some of these employees have worked with Dave since 1988 and continue to have an intense interest in developing the best audio devices possible. Crane Song's combination of innovative design and uncompromising attention have helped the company make its mark in the professional audio world.

Specifications

SPECIFICATIONS

Compressor Attack Time: FAST; measured by doing 18 dB of Gain Reduction. The time to 18 dB of Gain Reduction is less than 1mS. 12 dB of the 18 are reached in .4mS.
SLOW; for 6 dB of GainReduction, 100mS

Compressor Release Time: FAST; From 12 dB of Gain Reduction to No Gain Reduction. 11 of 12 dB are reached in 50mS (Non Program Dependant Release)
SLOW; 20 sec for a full 12 dB release with PDR enabled.

Limiter Attack Time: less than 1uS.

Limiter Release Time: 60mS for 6 dB of Gain Reduction.

Maximum Signal Level: Input or Output, +25 dBm

Noise Floor: -88 dBm measured 20Hz to 20kHz

Frequency Response: 5Hz to 55kHz (Hara Mode)

Limiter Slope: Greater than 10 to 1

 

INTERFACING

Input: Floating, balanced. Maximum input is +25 dBm. The connectors are XLR.

Output: Floating, balanced. Maximum output is +25 dBm. The connectors are XLR.

For Input and Output: Pin 2 is Sig + , Pin 3 is Sig- , Pin 1 is GND

Side Chain Connections: Floating, balanced. Connections are made by using a DB-15 Male Connector. This is a loop insert and must be normaled back to the STC-8.

Unbalanced Connections: Are made by tying the SIG- Pin to the GND Pin. If the connection is an input, it is best to tie at the signal source. If the connection is an output, it is best to tie at the STC-8 connector.

Power: 100, 120, 230,240 volt; 50/60 Hz; 55 watts
             MDL .6A Fuse for 100V and 120V
             MDL .3A Fuse for 230V and 240V

Pilot Lamp: # 7335

Shipping Weight: 19 lbs. (8.6 kg)

Depth Behind Panel: 12.5 inches (31.75 cm) plus cabling

Panel Height: 2 rack spaces

Related Videos

Crane Song Faders - AES '09

The brilliant Dave Hill of Crane Song describes his simple new high-end Faders which will work with any device or situation requiring 8-channels of fader-based volume control. Boasting extreme quality, this simple device simply has 8 channels of analog ins and outs, wonderful headroom, and virtually non-existent crosstalk and noise. A simple solution for a variety of purposes, with Crane Song quality. Call Sound Pure toll free at 888-528-9703 to discuss ordering one, or any questions you might have, or try sales@soundpure.com. Members of the Sound Pure Sales team are also experienced professional recording engineers that are glad to lend their sales experience with any of their prospective customers. Please give us a call, we are here to help!

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