AA - Getting Started - SPL Tube Vitalizer Stereo Mastering Enhancer
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- Опубликовано: 2 янв 2023
- Watch as Maxe Axelsson covers the basics of using the SPL Tube Vitalizer.
The Tube Vitalizer is the top model in the Vitalizer product range and employs a symbiotic combination of tubes, LC-filters, IC-technology, multiband compression & Vitalizer-technology.
The Tube Vitalizer is designed for discerning applications in professional recording, mastering, and cutting. All effect intensities and potentiometer values and characteristics are optimized for the refined requirements mastering.
The sound processing of the Tube Vitalizer is split into two sections: On the left hand, you find the controls of the Vitalizer-circuitry and the compressors. The right side features the tube section, which can be used independently of the Vitalizer-section as a high-quality, low-noise tube-line preamp whenever you just want to give your program material the warmth and smooth bottom-end of tubes. 
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I’ve owned this unit for about a month and there are still things about it that baffle me. And the manual that comes with it shows that SPL doesn’t know how it works either. I’ll share what I’ve learned from using it, since there doesn’t seem to be any good resources online. The first knob “Drive” is more like a wet/dry mix knob. It doesn’t seem to drive anything. In mastering I usually prefer this in the -4 range. One technique to use this unit is to turn the drive up to the 2 or 3 o’clock area, then try to find the ratio of colors you want to impart, and then turn the drive down until those colors sit right. Bass to the left is a bass bump, bass to the right is a bass roll off, until you gel all the way to the right where it becomes a dip and then bump then roll off, kinda like a pultec. You’re probably turning it to the left in most cases. The hi-mid knob is like the first of two high shelves. The “Process Level’ to the right seems more like a ratio between the bass and high-mid knobs, but it still baffles me a bit. The high freq know is kinda like the slope on the highest boost. Then Intensity is like another mix knob on the high part. The “High comp” and “Bass comp” are more like volume levels on the high and low than actual compressors. On the actual unit you would have an LED telling you when you are hitting a certain level, so you know how to set the knob to attenuate. But not possible here so just leave them off, or put them at 1 o’clock if you’re driving the unit hard. The Tubes button will activate the tubes circuit. Might actually want to start with that section to see if you like what the tubes are doing before any processing. Turning them on will cut sub-bass, despite the manual saying specifically that it doesn’t. No reason to do anything with the attenuator knobs (Leave them turned right), unless you’re going to set them to Limit. Hope that helps someone with this very confusing piece of hardware.
I sold mine for the same reason pretty much. Very odd to logic thinking people
ruclips.net/video/F3ekAE1zgXU/видео.html&ab_channel=TheCratesMotel This guy really explains it to a level I can understand. You shouldn't touch the Drive knob until the end.
This is one of the most weird devices ever. And from SPL of all companies. I am yet to find someone who really knows what this unit does with the controls. I've had the plugin for ages and did try to use it on AA a couple of times but all I seem to get is an "FM radio" like sound out of any mix. I mean if that is the aim then yes this unit does it perfectly.
I have a hardware unit in my mastering room.
The best way to think of it is as a dynamic EQ.
Process Level is wet/dry for everything to the left.
Drive will drive into the process, intensifying the effects as the unit is very signal dependent (hardware version).
Hi-Mid dictates where the mid high enhancement takes place, the centre frequency you set, everything above this gets enhanced, and below this, you get some attenuation.
So start with high mid. Section.
Once you have that sounding nice, dial in the low end, left is mostly a boost, right is like a pulltech curve.
Once you have enhanced the bass you can attenuate with the compression, this is a very gentle and transparent comp, more like a levelling amp. LC filter will give more punch sub 60hz
The high frequency section (high comp, hi freq, Intensity) is next. Intensity is the wet/dry for this section. The whole section depends on the process level below.
High freq dials in the start frequency for the top end harmonics, high comp will control this dynamically, again the comp is like a levelling amp, very smooth. LC filter works a little differently here, you just need to switch it in and out and see if you like it. It is particularly noticeable on vocals.
After that, tube attenuation for gain staging is simple....
That`s it, think of it as a dynamic baxandall for achieving a fletcher munson smile curve in a way that can enhance harmonics as it does so. Once you master it, it can be a very useful tool, I use it a fair bit.
I tried a MINT (NOS) unit today and didn't read the manual before or even a description like the one on SPL's website. That being said I quickly found out that what I thought about which controls do what didn't work out at all 😂 The result was all over the place and not good at all. So I took a more "German engineering" approach and nulled/turned off everything. Then I only focused on a single function, one by one. Then after I got a slight understanding of these, I started combining two of them. In various combinations. That took some time, but I kinda had an idea how these functions affect sound.
Then I tried it on different sources and one thing that really surprised me is how dependent the results are from the musical style of the input material. The same settings work wonders on one style of music and completely suck on others. While I'd say a somewhat careful setting on normal compressors or EQs work well on either of these styles.
Very hard to explain, but overall I find the Tube Vitalizer VERY interesting and useful. It is special indeed. Will dive into it further, for sure.
i have the hardware and with your explanations I see clearly how to use it in the future. Thank you ever so much !
Thanks for this!
Wait im confused. How can multiple users access via the internet access the actual hardware at the same time using dfferent settings?.
They can’t. You book a time slot from memory but some pieces of gear they have multiples of. I’m only here because I’m looking at buying one and they’re the only people with a good video demo’ing it. I’ve followed these guys for ages however
Just signed up!
Круто спасибо, почаще бы таких видео