IK Multimedia T-RackS Vintage Series – Classic Processor Plugin Bundle (VST/AU/AAX) IK Multimedia

Vintage Series compiles five of IK’s top vintage processor recreations in a value-priced bundle.

Contains:

• Black 76 Leveling Amplifier
• White 2A Leveling Amplifier
• Vintage 670 Compressor
• Opto Compressor
• Classic T-RackS Equalizer

The Black 76 Limiting Amplifier is modeled after what is probably the most used, most known and most universally recognized compressor/limiter in the audio industry. There are probably no professionally recorded tracks where this unit wasn’t used. It’s a true legend and a piece of music production history.

The White 2A Leveling Amplifier is based on a legendary vintage unit that is entirely tube-based. It’s a totally different device in terms of construction where all the compression magic happens inside an optically coupled element formed by a fluorescent panel and some photocells: the famed T4A element. There is no electronic circuitry involved with the compression itself. It’s just a tube amp with photo-resistors, lighted by a fluorescent panel driven by the output signal.
At the time of this invention, there were not many ways of making an audio compressor: only variable-mu and optical. Optical was the simplest one, and if proper elements for both the light emitting panel and the photocells were matched, magic happened.

The Vintage Compressor module is based on the “Holy Grail” of compressor/limiters, the Fairchild™ 670. With a faithful reproduction of each control, this is an incredibly accurate model that captures every nuance of one of the best Fairchild units available, one considered a true “golden reference”.

The Opto Compressor module faithfully recreates that particular (and extremely musical) “movement” that characterizes only the best opto compressors. Optical compression has a special sonic character that audiophiles can truly appreciate. The technology behind its behavior and the way it achieves gain reduction is so ingenious and at the same time quite simple: the core of the circuit is an electro-optical attenuator, whose light source intensity is directly proportional to the level of the incoming signal. The second part of the gain reduction circuit is a photoconductive cell, which reads the light’s intensity and in turn adjusts its resistance being applied to the signal. As a result, the output amplifier follows by adjusting its gain, thereby creating the compression.

The T-RackS Classic Equalizer consists of a high quality six-band parametric EQ, specially designed to achieve high-end performance in a mastering environment. The design of this parametric EQ filter bands allows to perform broad EQing such as giving “air” to the high end, “fullness” to the low end or “focus” to the midrange of a mix with a nice and smooth result for creative and musical applications; when needed though, given its flexibility, this processor can be used very effectively to perform very precise interventions; considering the sharpness its peaking bands can reach, it makes it easy to remove a troublesome frequency without touching the rest of the spectrum.