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Recording equipment by Magic Death Eye LLC.
Nov 2024
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Announcing the new Bliss II channel strip.
Tube microphone preamplifier and compressor with dual input transformers.
– Two stage 12AT7 valve preamplifier
– Phantom, phase, 70Hz low cut, -20dB pad, and 1 dB high frequency boost for a bit of sparkle.
– PAD changes amplifier gain (not passive) for lowest noise when engaged.
– Instrument input direct to tube grid.
– Dual input transformers. (V)intage UTC O-1 and (M)odern Lundahl 1538.
– Lundahl = 52 dB Gain. UTC O-1 = 61 dB Gain. 10dB added gain with compressor.
– Variable mutual-conductance tube compressor with intuitive controls.
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Magic Death Eye Stereo Compressor
– Smooth, gentle, signature compression found in all Magic Death Eye compressors.
– Eight 12AU7 medium mu, twin triodes.
-In house, hand wound transformers with Mu-Metal internal shields.
– Two band Equalizer with 6dB of boost and cut in 0.5dB steps. Pre compressor.
– Two selectable frequencies per band with bypass. 50Hz/250Hz for low and 5 kHz/18 kHz for high.
– High pass filter at 20Hz 12dB/octave
– “Valve” warning lights that indicate when the tubes (compression) have reached “bottom”.
– 200Hz sidechain filter and sidechain link.
– Internal DUAL channel linear power supply for maximum stereo separation.
-No electrolytic capacitors in the signal path.
– Front panel accessible volume trims for convenient stereo output matching.
The EQ section is designed loosely around a Sontec EQ circuit. The filters are in the feedback loop of a discrete op amp.
I build my own discrete op amps and they are socketed for flexibility and serviceability.
12Au7’s can be bought new from many different vendors selling multiple brands.
I buy many vintage 12AU7’s and test them on a tube curve tracer for best performance.
The compressor will perform just fine on standard off the shelf brands like JJ or Electro-Harmonix.
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Magic Death Eye Mono Compressor
The Mono compressor uses the same four 12AU7 transformer “block” as the stereo but the path is much simpler with no EQ.
The signal path has no electrolytic capacitors. There is a 990 discrete op amp driving the input transformer that can be
swapped out with any discrete op amp that fits the standard 990 footprint.
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STEREO compressor plugin
Available for $149 at the DDMF web site.
Demo it before you buy it!
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