shop plugins SUBSCRIBE to ... ALL KUSH PROCESSORS ELEVATE YOUR ARTISTRY. The KuSh Audio Tweaker is an old soul with a post-modern brain. I found its effect was to simultaneously soften and thicken the high frequencies, especially fast transients, in a way that’s reminiscent of overdriven analogue tape or even heavy FM radio processing. The purple line is at the fully counter-clockwise position where the reverse occurs. It can sound extremely transparent and clean, if required, having that kind of see-through finesse of an optical compressor, but it can also add serious attitude and dirt when called for, bounce along effortlessly, and modify percussive sounds in very unusual ways. Mirroring the Tri-meter’s circular layout on the left-hand side are two unmarked push-buttons (each with a pair of status LEDs), and it turns out that the top one powers the Tweaker on-off, while the bottom one applies a relay-switched bypass. Hello, Sign in. 210k members in the audioengineering community. Of course, the Tweaker is a full-band compressor, and once gain reduction is applied it affects the entire spectrum, but if the Threshold control can be said to determine when the compressor acts, the side-chain-shaping controls determine the reason why. When fully clockwise the side-chain’s frequency response is similar to the Treble-Smash option, except that the HF part of the curve is a shelf instead of a bell, and not quite as intense. The practical upshot is that loud initial transients are naturally cleaner-sounding than sustained loud sounds, which is very beneficial in helping transients to cut through without sounding nasty. I found that I tended to use the edge-contouring option most, shifting the control left or right of centre to focus the compression towards reigning-in the highs or lows, as desired. The attack time spans a frighteningly quick 20 microseconds up to 70 milliseconds, and the release time offers the same ultra-fast 20 s up to 500ms in its normal, linear-release, mode. Sommateurs & Mixers Analogiques; Contrôleurs de Moniteurs; Outils de Mixage & Mastering You can use the presets as is, use them as a starting point, or go from scratch, knowing that you have a level of control not typically available in a dynamics processor. Condition is Used. Although very simple in concept, this is a surprisingly effective way of focussing the compressor’s attention on the parts of the spectrum that need reigning in. The top purple line is with the unit bypassed (1:1 ratio), and the others were taken at alternate click stops on the Curve control. Hear this VCA compressor squash drums and vocals, every setting is used to let you hear the full control it offers. Shipping and discount codes are added at checkout. Minimum Drive ensures plenty of headroom in the VCA and thus negligible distortion for an ultra-clean character, while the reverse leads to considerable distortion for a crunchy ‘70s-style sound. Non Smoking Studio! The disparate nature of the compressors modelled in these presets illustrates well the considerable versatility of the Tweaker’s design. The rear panel carries an IEC mains inlet accepting any AC voltage between 110 and 260 Volts, and audio connectivity comprises an electronically balanced input and output, both on XLRs, plus an additional quarter-inch TRS output socket (both can be used simultaneously). The contents of this article are subject to worldwide copyright protection and reproduction in whole or part, whether mechanical or electronic, is expressly forbidden without the prior written consent of the Publishers. Prime Cart. Share Quote. Reading between the lines, I presume this circuitry is configured along the lines of the famous ‘Blackmer Gain Cell’, a pioneering transistorised VCA circuit developed in 1970 by David Blackmer (the man who also co-founded the Dbx company). Turning this control clockwise lowers the threshold to achieve more compression. In fact, my bench tests suggested the minimum is closer to a very gentle 1.25:1 and the maximum ratio nearer 15:1. And at a maximum of 15:1 the Tweaker can still smash the dynamics with a powerful hard-limiting effect. The Tweaker by Kush Audio. Its vintage, discrete VCA and bespoke detector are married to envelope-pushing controls that allow this box to be whatever you want it to be ? It’s an unusual effect, but a very useful one. When I'm introduced to a "do it all" box, I get a little anxious thinking about the ramp-up required to get to where I feel comfortable using it … This expansion of the classic, coupled with the introduction of the cutting edge, enable this box to create a wider array of effects than any other compressor in existence.Whatever your vision, Tweaker delivers. Its vintage, discrete VCA and bespoke detector are married to envelope-pushing controls that allow this box to be whatever you want it to be - smooth & polished or dark & filthy, subtle & delicate or fierce & explosive. This really is a unique and wonderful product. Although I found the range of ratios to be lower, overall, than the manufacturer’s claims, I think this is to the Tweaker’s advantage, particularly if used for stereo mix-bus processing where a minimum of 2:1 is often too harsh. Side-chain-shaping facilities are immensely powerful. 19" Rack Discrete-VCA Mono Compressor ; High torque 21-step fully detented pots ; Unique 'Sidechain Shaper' focuses compression on desired frequency bands ; Curve: simultaneous ratio and … Marrying vintage electronics with a forward-thinking control set, the Tweaker is sure … Kush Audio Electra 500 £599.00 £499.00 (inc VAT) £499.17 £415.83 (ex VAT) Tweaker is an old soul with a post-modern brain. The Kush Audio Tweaker is an old soul with a post-modern brain. This frequency response plot illustrates the varying side-chain sensitivity using the Edge Contour control. Its vintage, discrete VCA and bespoke detector are married to envelope-pushing controls that allow this box to be whatever you want it to be: smooth & polished or dark & filthy, subtle & delicate 1799.00 € / Tweaker is an old soul with a post-modern brain. With percussive sources, it can be used to bring out the body and resonance of drums nicely without creating unwanted pumping, and it is fabulous for delivering a responsive but transparent dynamic control without killing the energy. 6 years ago. Room treatment and monitor speakers suggestions. from The House of Kush PRO . Win! Tweaker is an old soul with a post-modern brain. Marrying vintage analog technology with forward thinking controls, the end result is a squeezebox capable of the gentlest leveling or … The heart of the Tweaker is its dynamic attenuation element, which is described as a ‘vintage, discrete VCA’, and appears to be built around a pair of LM394 ‘supermatch pair’ transistors. There are countless compressors on the market, including many with side-chain filtering and wet/dry mix controls, and a few with user-configurable saturation processing. The Tweaker's innovative Sidechain Shaper gives you a fast, intuitive way to sculpt the tone of your compressed signals. Price ex. All contents copyright © SOS Publications Group and/or its licensors, 1985-2021. No issues. Its vintage, discrete VCA and bespoke detector are married to envelope-pushing controls that allow this box to be whatever you want it to be — smooth and polished or dark nad filthy, subtle and delicate or … The inclusion of a mix control works well in this context, allows the source signal to be blended with the processed to restore transients while still benefiting from the powerful up-lift compression. The Tweaker is a compressor that takes some time to master, but the journey is well worth it because this is an extraordinarily versatile processor. The Kush Audio Tweaker is a single-channel VCA dynamics processor. Austrian Audio OC818 Dual Set Plus microphones, Distant City Studios - A Drum Room With A Difference, Mastering Essentials Part 6 - Final Delivery: Requirements & Specs, Re: Vocal recording problem Rode NT1-A and Line 6 UX2, Vocal recording problem Rode NT1-A and Line 6 UX2, Tracking compressor - hardware or software. The Tweaker is a single-channel, 1U rackmount device, extending about 255mm behind the rack ears. When switched to the dual-release mode, the gentler part of the recovery slope can be adjusted between 500ms and a positively leisurely 7.5 seconds. The Kush Audio Tweaker is deigned to be whatever you need it to be. The fastest attack time is easily capable of generating significant transient distortion if you’re not careful, but it is also extremely powerful for transient shaping, really clamping down on the front edge of a percussive signal, or allowing it to punch through. Make sure to check out the reviews but first of all press the red button below to see if it fits your music taste. The green line is the flat response from the control’s central position. Kush have a knack of making forward-looking products that exude vintage vibe — and this remarkable compressor is no exception. I didn't even know this thread had replies! Offers an enormously broad sound palette. The lowest ratio is roughly 1.25:1 and the highest about 15:1.Attack and release time constants are set with a pair of detented rotary controls on the right-hand side, and the control ranges are far wider than most compressors. The former dissuades the compressor from acting on the very lowest frequencies, so it largely ignores the kick drum and other extreme low-end instrumentation. The first switch position provides an unprocessed side-chain like most standard compressors, while the next two modes employ high-pass filters in the side-chain-sensing circuitry with -3dB points at 60Hz or 300Hz. With the Contour control at the 12 o’clock position the side-chain response is completely flat, and works like any other generic compressor. Again, there’s no decibel scale, but the first green LED illuminates when the gain reduction (GR)reaches about 2.5dB. The handbook confusingly suggests the second yellow LED corresponds to -16dBFS — such an alignment, of course, depends entirely on an external A-D converter’s calibration and it’s a complete nonsense to quote digital levels in an all-analogue product! Kush Audio Tweaker - Mono VCA Compressor with Sidechain Shaper. Tweaker is an old soul with a post-modern brain. In contrast, Gregory Scott’s ‘House of Kush’ products are interestingly innovative and positively encourage user creativity, which I think is to be commended. Unusually broad attack and release time ranges. This unit has been LIGHTLY USED!! This might seem confusing, but in practice it’s much easier and intuitive to use than it sounds, and this arrangement provides considerable flexibility for fine-tuning the balance in parallel compression configurations. The Kush Audio Tweaker is an old soul with a post-modern brain. Kush Audio. Here for the gear . Kush Audio Tweaker When you buy products through links across our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. In fact, scratching around for negatives, as a reviewer must, the only one I can offer is that Kush don’t currently offer a fully integrated stereo version — I really hope they have plans to do so, because while a pair of Tweakers would already form a fabulous mix processor, that would be even better! KUSH AUDIO TWEAKER - Tweaker is an old soul with a post-modern brain. Tweaker is an old soul with a post-modern brain. An inspired and innovative single-channel compressor that offers many interesting and creative sound-shaping possibilities. So far, so logical, but a very clever side-effect of using the VCA to provide musical distortion — rather than overdriven input or output buffers as other devices do — is that the level of distortion is inherently reduced when gain reduction is being applied (because the gain of the VCA circuit is lowered). It is a versatile Side Chain Shaping Compressor. Internally, the Tweaker is built to high standards, with conventional components laid out spaciously on a large circuit board that covers the unit’s entire floor area. An alternative ‘dual-release’ mode is also available via a black push-button. Kush Audio leveraged the Tweaker design to give you their choice "analog presets," which emulate their favorite settings from legendary vintage compressors. subscribe museletter. The views expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the publishers. The most interesting side-chain-shaping controls are placed in the centre of the front panel, and initially lull you in with a very conventional threshold control — probably the most straightforward knob on the whole machine! The final option engages the insert return on the rear panel, allowing an external equaliser (or any other kind of processor) to shape the side-chain control signal, or to use an external audio (key) signal to control the amount of compression. Kush Audio Tweaker Sidechain Shaping Compressor | Sweetwater KuSh Audio presents Compressors, Gates and De-esser Tweaker.If you are on the lookout for effects and signal processors, then this may be a fitting choice. The purple line is at the fully counter-clockwise position where the reverse occurs. The MI market is awash with replicas to and homages of classic analogue outboard audio processors, especially those from the ‘60s and ‘70s, both in hardware and in plug-in forms. A second, smaller board sits behind the front-panel controls and is linked to the main board via five short ribbon cables. great stuff. The dark-pink line shows how the compressor becomes more sensitive to the high end and less to the low frequencies with the control turned fully clockwise. Its vintage, discrete VCA and bespoke detector are married to envelope-pushing controls that allow this box to be whatever you want it to be - smooth & polished or dark & filthy, subtle & delicate or fierce & explosive. Kush Audio Tweaker Sidechain Compressor: Amazon.com.au: Musical Instruments. The subsequent LEDs light up when the GR reaches approximately 5dB, 8dB, 10dB, 15dB and 20dB. The first three rotary controls, labelled Drive, Output and Mix, may all seem quite conventional but there are some interesting nuances. The Kush Audio Tweaker takes compression to the next level. The 300Hz option desensitises the compressor to everything from the low-mids down, so that it reacts mainly to the upper mid-range energy and largely leaves the warmth and fullness character elements within the track alone. You may login with either your assigned username or your e-mail address. The Tweaker also caters for external processing of the side-chain signal.Associated with these I/O controls, albeit mounted over on the right-hand side of the front panel, is a rather unconventional ‘Tri-meter’, a circular display of three LED meters which indicate the input, output, and gain-reduction levels, all at the same time. This EQ curve is apparently based on the company’s Clariphonic EQ (http://sosm.ag/sep11-kush-clariphonic), and is intended to make the compressor much more sensitive and reactive to transient detail, like the brashness of cymbals, the brittleness in high strings or acoustic guitars, or the harshness of some vocals. All rights reserved. The front-panel controls comprise eight 21-detent pots, a six-position rotary switch and three push-buttons. Treble Smash: the Treble Smash mode increases the compressor’s sensitivity to upper-mid frequencies centring on 8kHz, while simultaneously decreasing its interest in the lower-mid and LF. The dark-pink line shows how the compressor becomes more sensitive to the high end and less to the low frequencies with the control turned fully clockwise. Kush Audio Tweaker Compressor. The response is broadly similar to that of the fully clockwise Edge-Contour mode, but with a stronger bell HF response instead of a shelf. There’s a learning curve to climb in mastering its use. In this configuration, the first 50 percent of gain reduction is released very quickly and the remaining 50 percent far more gently — an arrangement which, for most compressors, is described as ‘auto-recovery’. A groundbreaking discrete-VCA compressor with extreme control ranges, Sidechain Shaping, Parallel Compression, & Tri-Metering®. Web site designed & maintained by PB Associates & SOS. support. Kush Audio Tweaker discrete-VCA compressor . Its vintage, discrete VCA and bespoke detector are married to envelope-pushing controls that allow this box to be whatever you want it to be: smooth & polished or dark & filthy, subtle & delicate or fierce & explosive. Login. Learn more Kush Audio Tweaker. Great care has been taken to ensure accuracy in the preparation of this article but neither Sound On Sound Limited nor the publishers can be held responsible for its contents. Secondly, the Output level control doesn’t affect the output volume directly; it only controls the signal level leaving the VCA and going into the (wet/dry) Mix control. The unique ‘Sidechain Shaper’ rotary switch is the key to focussing the applied compression on the desired part of the audio spectrum. The decreasing sensitivity to low frequencies is shown here for the 60Hz (red) and 300Hz (orange) side-chain options. Shipped with FedEx Ground or FedEx Home Delivery. With no gain reduction applied and minimum Drive, the distortion is around 0.01 percent with the output at 0dBu, rising to 0.5 percent distortion at +12dbu, and 1.5 percent at +19dBu. It’s a remarkably powerful but easy-to-use tool, and the Treble-Smash option is even more powerful for taming a strident high end in a very ‘analogue’ kind of way. Tweaker … These guys have created a new compressor called “Tweaker.” Apparently you can have your compressor cake and eat it too! UBK leveraged this design to give you his 'analog presets', which precisely emulate his favorite tricks from compressors as varied as the LA-2a, Distressor, API 2500, and even the absurdly eccentric Valley People Dynamite*. The advantage of this dual-release system is that it retains the dynamic punch of a fast release while simultaneously avoiding any hint of pumping, the combination providing a very transparent compression effect. Kush Audio makes great software (Pusher review HERE) but there’s something about physical knobs that just feel better than clicking and dragging. 6th March 2015 #9. dusted william . 4.65 out of 5, based on 2 Reviews. You may have already heard musings about how this device is a "Swiss Army Knife." What Key do you put your vocals in when using Auto Tune... Off the shelf laptop for hobbyist music prod duties? The fastest release time is far quicker than any other hardware compressor I know of, which brings some interesting sound-shaping possibilities into play, and makes bouncy pumping effects easy to achieve. There’s nothing particularly exotic in the active componentry, with mostly RC4558, LM301 and (one) TL072 op-amps in evidence. The company’s new UBK Tweaker compressor demonstrates this particularly well, expanding intelligently on the familiar ideas and technologies of ‘standard’ compressors to deliver a tool which can, almost literally, do anything and everything; it allows the creation of new dynamic control characteristics as well as replicating old-school devices quite convincingly. The transitional ‘knee’ as the compression is introduced becomes sharper with increasing ratios, too: starting off with a very slow and gentle knee for the most placid transition into compression, becoming sharper as the ratio increases to give a more pronounced entry into high-ratio compression/limiting. The display’s central, vertical gain-reduction meter works with a ‘dot mode’ display (rather than a bar-graph) using six larger LEDs. Compression Curves: a transfer plot illustrating the range of compression ratios on offer. In fact, to achieve great-sounding results it’s not even necessary to apply any gain reduction — the Tweaker can be used to introduce nice, musical-sounding, distortion to fatten things up, ranging from subtle saturation right up to a heavy full-on punk grime. The green line is the flat response from the control’s central position. I’ve often found the dual-slope auto-release concept to work well, and it is very well judged in the Tweaker. Drive allows controllable distortion that doesn’t kill the transients. Mix control for parallel processing effects. Reincarnating these devices from decades past has its merits, of course, not least in allowing easy and affordable access to characterful sound processing when the original hardware might be financially out of reach or technically unreliable. contact downloads manage subscription. The circumferential input and output meters both employ nine small LEDs in conventional green-yellow-red bar-graphs, and, although there are no scale markings, the first yellow LED illuminates around 0dBu and the first red at about +8dBu. Tweaker takes compression to the next level. The top purple line is with the unit bypassed (1:1 ratio), and the others were taken at alternate click stops on the Curve control. Everything Kush Plugins Sly-Fi Plugins Analog Gear Subscribe. Installed in my rack light signs of installing but Sounds Great! Kush Audio Tweaker Discrete-VCA Mono Compressor available to buy from the UK's leading Pro Audio and Studio Installation specialists, Kazbar Systems. However, the real powerhouse of the Tweaker undoubtedly comes in the form of its side-chain filtering options and, in particular, the Treble-Smash and Edge Contour modes. The unit clips at around +22dBu and distortion builds steadily above +8dBu. In really great shape.I have the original boxes I will ship with. The next option, ‘Treble Smash’, applies both an LF cut (below 300Hz) and HF boost (peaking at about 8kHz). Excellent Condition! Two more XLRs provide a balanced send-return insert point for external side-chain processing, and although the Send outputs the (processed) side-chain signal at all times, the return only becomes active when selected on the front-panel ‘Sidechain Shaper’ rotary switch. A pair (2) of Kush Audio Tweaker Compressors.100% functional. Essentially, the ‘grunge’ is applied where it’s wanted, and not where it isn’t, which is a subtle but highly advantageous bonus.