SPL Transient Designer

[johnk_10]

i was just playing around with my SPL Transient Designer this afternoon, and after using it with one of my preamps, i'm thinking that i'm going to have to take it with me to my gig this weekend.

as some of you may know, i have alot of bass preamp/channel strips that i've been testing lately. well, i just patched it after my Focusrite Tone Factory into my Crown xti2000 and i gotta say, i'm starting to think that i may not be able to live without it. i bought it 5 years ago for use on drums in the studio to give light playing drummers some punch and it always was my 'secret weapon' for making a drummer really pop in a mix. one way i would describe the effect as being able to move the microphone around in the studio after the track has already been recorded. but what i found out today is that it really works exceptionally well on bass too.

it is not compressor, but rather a way to control the dynamics envelope unlike any other device that i've ever used. kinda like an expander and compressor at the same time only ALOT more controllable. what this nifty, yet fairly expensive all analog device does is that it allows you to change the attack and decay of any signal with just two knobs. with the first knob you can accelerate the attack or soften it (or just leave it as is, of course). the second knob allows you to shorten or lengthen the decay (or leave it unaffected). i actually set it to both increase the punch (attack) and sustain (decay) of the notes that im playing.

first, before turning it on, i dialed in my favorite tone on the preamp and was really happy with it. then i clicked it in (it has a true bypass) and WOW! just a tiny amount of added punch is all that is necessary to make the each note pop. and it also made the amp's tone bigger, fuller and rounder both in the high and low end of the spectrum.

all i can say is, after using it, and then clicking out, my preamp/amp sounded lifeless, even though i thought i was getting a great tone before i plugged it in.

i'll try to post a clip of mic'ing my cab in an hour or so you can hear the difference between the two. for me, it really is an amazing way to bring the most out of an amp.

 

[rpsands]

Wow that sounds quite impressive

 

[Jim C]

Hey John,
Never heard of this piece of gear.
Is this similar in principle to an Aphex Compellor?

 

[tombowlus]

Crud, and here I thought I was reaching the point of GAS immunity...

 

[johnk_10]

Hey John,
Never heard of this piece of gear.
Is this similar in principle to an Aphex Compellor?

nope. its nothing like it. i had a compellor 3 years ago and it was an okay compressor, but that's about it. i actually like the 661 better for bass.

the SPL is really an awesome piece of gear. been playing thru it a bit more and i can't believe the punch and dynamics its giving me. it makes the xti feel like a super responsive tube amp on steroids now. and then when you bypass it, it seems like your amp is just dead sounding. i wish i could afford to buy a few more. mine's the 4 channel one with the XLR's. the two channel has unbalanced 1/4" jacks.

its super simple to operate as it does all the work automatically. 'even a caveman can do it'
here's a pic of it:

these are actually very popular with alot of engineers and producers in the studio. i remember before i got mine, i was dreaming about something that could do what it does, and was trying to do it with expanders & compression, then i went on a search on the internet and found it. i think i paid around $1400 for it back then.

 

[johnk_10]

Crud, and here I thought I was reaching the point of GAS immunity...

yeah Tom, like you thought that was really going to happen.

 

[Jim C]

Very cool.
Looks like the 2-channel is $700ish and the 4 channel is still about 1400
Here is a brief review about the system; thanks for the eductaion; never heard about this box before and they now have a plug in for you guys that don't turn knobs

Invalid Link Removed

 

[johnk_10]

yes, its been a plug-in for quite a while now too.


here's the website for it (the hardware version): Invalid Link Removed

and here;' the manual which describes what it does:
Invalid Link Removed


............and there's even another company that copied their plug-in as well. their name is Virsyn: http://www.virsyn.de/de/Products/TDESIGN/tdesign.html

 

[bongomania]

I've been wanting to check one of those out for some time. The only reason I haven't sprung for it is that a couple of users advised me that (as you say above) it's not really a compressor per se. But sometimes all I want a compressor for is just to alter the note attack, so... could be cool.

 

[johnk_10]

hey bongo...
in a way, on the 'backside of the note' its almost a compressor, as you can extend sustain (the tail can swell way too much, and almost feedback if you really crank it), but i just set it to about +4 or less on their scale. but i wouldn't limit yourself to only using that side of it. to me, the attack side is where its really at. i run the attack at about 3 (on their scale). it can get really goofy if you use too much (it sounds like you're beating a bass drum on each note).

IME, these things are like no other device. they're not a compressor or an 'enhancer' but a true dynamics manipulator.
i was playing it tonight for my wife, and she said that when i hit each note, you can 'feel' everyone of them hitting you, as opposed to just hearing them. IMO, this is a true punch machine.

i'm coming out of the tone factory, using a little of its compressor, then going into the SPL, and this thing just keeps amazing me. its kinda making me think, man, where has this been all my life? i've tried both with a compressor in front of it and without, and i like it alot better using compression. it makes every note have the same level, attack and sustain.

 

[Jim C]

Thanks a lot; another must have item I didn't know about; didn't have this on the bucket list
I hate this board some days!

 

[greenboy]

Also a two-channel version of this that goes for around $720 street price.

 

[johnk_10]

update:
well, i used it on the gig last night and it was awesome. never before was i able to get the punch on every note of the neck like this. it actually allowed me to play with slightly less volume since i could hear and feel every note better, so i'll be using it on every gig from now on.

 

[JimmyM]

i will wait for the behringer single channel knockoff that costs $100 but i would love to have one of these. this actually seems better than a comp...like what you'd want a comp to do but doesn't.

 

[johnk_10]

IMO, that would be cool if they did make one, i just wonder if they ever will, since its been around for a while now. and all we'd need is a mono one.

 

[JimmyM]

hmm...the plugin has a demo version available. sounds like i have a project for later today!

so john, what is your opinion of computer plugin versions vs. the real thing? i am pretty impressed by some of it. do you use them in your studio?

 

[johnk_10]

i use plugins when i use Sony's CD Architect mastering program, but i never use them in the studio since its all analog.

but i have found that most plugins basically work the way that they're supposed to, but to me, they're just not quite the same thing as the actual hardware that they attempt to simulate.
for example, to me its difficult to make a perfect digital version of a Urei 1176, or a Neve 1073 module

 

[OldogNewTrick]

Also a two-channel version of this that goes for around $720 street price.

EUR 477,- local price... a bit cheaper here

I've been having an interest in a SPL Ratpack, to assemble a customized pre/channel strip. Unfortunately the fact that it has an external power supply makes it a bit unwieldy and impracticable.


Link Removed

Still, the single channel transient designer for EUR 253,- is interesting, since the Ratpack modules appear all to be self-contained, but externally powered with a regulated 12V DC supply.

The Link Removed is a worthwhile read !

 

[JimmyM]

i use plugins when i use Sony's CD Architect mastering program, but i never use them in the studio since its all analog.

but i have found that most plugins basically work the way that they're supposed to, but to me, they're just not quite the same thing as the actual hardware that they attempt to simulate.
for example, to me its difficult to make a perfect digital version of a Urei 1176, or a Neve 1073 module

i can dig it. i guess it's the same difference between a vt pedal and an svt, eh? well i'm glad they exist...i couldn't record in my crappy little home studio for anything without them

 

[johnk_10]

here's a short live clip of my band at last saturday night's gig at a local club using the Transient Designer with the Focusrite Tone Factory thru my 12126 vox cab/69 jazz bass (neck pickup only). the recording was made on a Zoom H4n set off to the side of the stage so its not the best fidelity, (mp3 at the lowest bit rate). it also was our opening song that night ('Lowdown' by Boz Skaggs)so please excuse our keyboardist's voice since he wasn't warmed up yet, but you might get the general idea of the bass's tone and punch. BTW, the vocals and the kick are the only things coming thru the PA.

Invalid Link Removed