Sound Performance Lab 9737 manual Machine Head, Introduction

Introduction

Creating authentic tape saturation effects.

The sound becomes warmer and more powerful, elimina- ting the harshness of digital recordings.

Precise reproduction of:

-tape saturation effect

-hysteresis effect

-harmonic characteristic

-linear and non linear trans- mission characteristic

Modified reproduction of:

-level behaviour

-high frequency damping

Not reproduced are:

-cross-talk

-pre or post echos

-noise floor

-motor speed fluctuation

Easy and intuitive operation

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The MACHINE HEAD is a creative sound and dynamics processor within SPL´s Digital-Red series.

Concept: The algorithm used by MACHINE HEAD computes authentic tape saturation effects, hitherto unavailable in the digital domain.

The subjective sonic effects are an increase in loudness and a better penetration of the mix at identical peak level. The sound becomes warmer and more powerful, and the process elimi- nates the harshness usually associated with digital recordings.

MACHINE HEAD is designed for mastering applications. Mixes gain more power, punch and warmth. It is also suited to process single instruments, like electronic or acoustic guitars and basses, drums, loops and samples, as well as complete stereo mixes.

The algorithm used by MACHINE HEAD precisely reproduces the analogue tape saturation effect, including hysteresis effects, the harmonic characteristic and both linear and non-lineare trans- mission-characteristic (other than level) that occur when recor- ding to analogue tape.

The level behaviour and high frequency damping is repro- duced in a modified manner. To achieve the best possible signal to noise ratio, an auto gain cell has been implemented into the algorithm in order to create a processing range for saturation effects for full scale input signals and to deliver full scale output signals afterwords. The intensity of high frequency damping varies from one tape to another, and is therefore fully adju- stable one the MACHINE HEAD. It is now also possible to make use of extreme saturation effects without high frequency damping at all.

In fact MACHINE HEAd provides all the benefits of analogue recording without any of the shortfalls – MACHINE HEAD does not reproduce cross-talk, pre or post echoes, noise floor (field noise, modulation noise) and motor speed fluctuation characte- ristics of analogue tape machines!

Operation: MACHINE HEAD is operated with four controls and one switch function:

INPUT GAIN: Controls the input level of the digital data stream

DRIVE: Controls the drive or recording level of the “virtual analogue tape machine”

HF-ADJUST: Controls the intensity of high frequency boost or damping

OUTPUT GAIN:Controls the output level of the digital data stream

HIGH TAPE SPEED: Switches from normal tape speed (15ips) to high tape speed (30ips).

Machine Head	© SPL electronics GmbH, Stand 11/96
	Machine Head