CM 1A Modular Opto Compressor
When designing the TUBE-TECH CM1A we decided to adjust the attack of the compressor.
The CM1A features exactely the same tube circuit as the famous CL1B Opto Compressor, but we have improved the action of the compressor by carefully selecting a different optical element and fine-tuning the control circuit. The result is smoother attack and less overshoot providing even more powerful behaviour than the CL1B, especially noticeable when the CM1A is used for drum recording and mixing + mix bus compression. Note! this does NOT seriously change the the "classic" charasteristics, known from the CL1B. The sound of the CM1A places it between the LCA2B (Tube VCA) and the CL1B. CM1A has been extremely well received by numerous top engineers. |
CM 1A Technical Description and Features
The TUBE-TECH CM 1A Compressor features a gain-reduction element, positioned immediately after the input transformer. It is controlled by the sidechain amplifier, which also contain the two time control circuits – one for fixed and one for variable Attack/Release. The two time-controllers can either be used separately or combined. This circuit contains semiconductor OP-amps for the entire control.
A tube-based push-pull amplifier follows the gain-reduction element with variable gain up to 30 dB. A dedicated Bus selector with three positions (Off, Link 1, Link 2) is used whenever you want to link several compressors together. Input and output transformers have a static-screen between the primary and secondary wirings. Input and Output is transformer balanced as well as fully floating.
A tube-based push-pull amplifier follows the gain-reduction element with variable gain up to 30 dB. A dedicated Bus selector with three positions (Off, Link 1, Link 2) is used whenever you want to link several compressors together. Input and output transformers have a static-screen between the primary and secondary wirings. Input and Output is transformer balanced as well as fully floating.
- Unique low distortion gain-reduction element
- All tube-based push-pull amplifier
- Multiple interconnection of several compressors via two busses
- LED display for monitoring compression and output
- Continuously variable attack and release time
- Gain Range (off to +30 dB)
- Variable Threshold (off to -30 dBu)
- Frequency response @ -3 dB: 5 Hz to 25 kHz
- Low noise: < -75 dBu @30 dB gain
- Clickless bypass switch