tubedrve mastering
In stock
Original price was: € 809.00.€ 709.00Current price is: € 709.00.
The tubedrve is a stereo tube saturator module for the API 500 series also known as the ‘lunchbox’ format.
This mastering version is the same as the original tubedrve, but with indented/stepped controls for easier recall and stereo matching. It also has a low gain setting which provides an extra -10dB of gain that provides extra headroom. This comes in handy when using it on the mixbus or when mastering.
The tubedrve utilises 2 pentode tubes per module.The 6AS6 vacuum tube can be switched from pentode to triode operation. Triode mode provides a smoother type of overdrive with more ‘even harmonics’. Pentode mode provides an aggressive distortion with more ‘odd harmonics’.
Switchable bypass and a mix knob for parallel processing provide pro audio requirements. The two channels are controlled independently from one another.
The module can be controlled with an input or ‘drive’ level, controlling the audio signal going to the tubes. A bias control sets the operating point for the distortion tube, allowing the user to control the bias current. With high and low settings this introduces asymmetrical waveform clipping, providing a more aggressive sound.
Input gain can be selected with a 3-way switch and finetuned with the input knob. An output level control controls the level coming from the tubes.
A simplified overview of how the tubedrve works can be found in the manual at the bottom of this page.
parallel mixing
The mix knob provides full dry and wet operation, allowing for parallel processing. This is a great feature to have in a saturator since they tend to compress audio. Parallel processing allows the user to dial in the exact amount of saturation they want and provides full control over dynamics.
A white led lights up when the distortion tube is being overdriven. Furthermore there is a bypass switch which switches the module out using relays for complete bypass.
An anodised black aluminium frontpanel is used, providing a long and lasting finish.
“This is essential for anyone after that saturation sound that only tubes provide, and it easily competes against – in some cases beats – saturation units I’ve owned costing 3-5x more” – Lorn, electronic musician
high voltage
Plate voltage for the tubes is 240VDC, due to a DC-DC converter which generates the high voltage from the +- 16V power supply of the API 500 format. This is needed for the best possible overdrive sound. This is unlike other designs which use the +48V supply for the plate voltage, which leads to a ‘starved plate’ sound. The +240VDC plate supply in this design allows for the best possible tube overdrive sound.
NOS (‘New Old Stock’) tubes are used, meaning they are unused tubes manufactured in the 70s or 80s.
Tubedrve has the following power consumption. Please check if your 500 rack and complement of other modules can provide this: (+16V = 95mA, -16V = 90mA, per slot).
pricing
The tubedrve mastering is priced at 709 euros, excl. any applicable sales tax. They are assembled by hand in small batches.
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tubedrve mastering
Original price was: € 809.00.€ 709.00Current price is: € 709.00.
In stock
craig (verified owner) –
Best value 500 series module on the market.
Sean C. (verified owner) –
This is the magic sauce. If you wonder why professional mixes sound professional, it is because of boxes like this. “But you can get great mixes without fancy hardware”. Maybe, but why are all of the people who tell you this using fancy hardware in their studios? The fact is that going from a mix that is 90% there to a mix that is 100% finished requires an investment. There is a reason why studios have gear and it is because that gear matters. This box is one of those pieces of gear that matters.
I am really new to the whole analog outboard gear thing. Talk about being late to the party! Had I started mixing with this unit on my master bus 25 years ago, my head would not have been so bruised over the years from banging it against the wall in frustration. Maybe I would even have hair left on it, who knows. Many problems that I have been struggling for years to fix have been remedied by this unit on the first try. The stereo image is more cohesive. The sound of the mix is more lively. The bass is tighter. The highs are more sizzly. Everything is enhanced in a positive way.
What is strange is that I was testing some balance issues I was having with some other hardware. I pushed a 1k sine wave and was isolating different pieces of hardware to find out if I was having an issue with one of them. When I first turned the tone generator on, all effects were bypassed but the tubedrve (by accident). The sine wave was all sorts of crazy distorted with some wild harmonics. Yet, when I turned the tone off and the mix bus back on, no distortion could be found. The bottom line here is that you don’t really realize how much this little guy is affecting the sound even though it is affecting it quite a bit. All you can hear is that the mix goes from good to better. It is like seeing a relative you haven’t seen for months. They look much younger and have a glow about them. You can’t put your finger on exactly what has changed until they tell you that they whitened and straightened their teeth. This box is like that. It does dramatic things but the overall impression you get isn’t that something specific has happened only that your mix just sounds better. It’s crazy.
I debated for months (maybe even a year) about this unit before pulling the trigger. Don’t do what I did. By this box now. You will not regret it.
igal gofman (verified owner) –
I absolutely love this compact device—it’s a game-changer! I use it on everything, from individual instruments to the master chain. This is my second unit purchase; I initially got the normal version, but I highly recommend the mastering edition for its stepped controls, which make recall so much easier. Plus, the shipping was impressively fast!
Anonymous (verified owner) –
I’m really quite blown away by this thing. It’s currently strapped onto my RND 5059 summing mixer’s main outputs. The 5059 is spilt 8 channels from the DAW and 8 channels of analog synths, outboard in the inserts, silk red about half way. The Tubedrve takes all that mojo and enhances it further. I think I’m just gonna have to leave it parked right there!
The build quality is superb. Both channels are very well matched. Shipping to the US was super fast. Great price and great service from Singular Audio!
Chen Findling (verified owner) –
This product is nothing but AMAZING! It is exactly the addition I was looking for. It’s super useful for any kind of track/bus and it basically can do anything from subtle to extreme saturation. I actually use it as an eq and compression too and find it as a very versatile and capable unit. Thank you!
Robin Wylie (verified owner) –
After a couple of weeks with the tube drive in my rack and I don’t think it will be going anywhere for a long time. I thought this would replace my Elysia Karacter but its hits in a different way..
Tube drive is currently on my mid side circuit and really adds so much flavour to the signal.
jóhannes palmason (verified owner) –
Great unit works well on everything
Jesse Vainio (verified owner) –
ian barter (verified owner) –
Utterly fantastic units, well made …. I have two now 🙂
Thomas (verified owner) –
For me, tubedrve mastering was a luxury treat. I also got a Bento 6S to be able to use it.
I connected it to a stereo bus of my external mixing console. This way I can select hardware synthesizers, HD recording tracks, and soft synths to flow through this unit adding some analogue life and “cross-modulation” between the different tracks. I calibrated it so the sound level does not change whether it is processing or bypassing. Good: If the unit is turned off, the sound passes unprocessed and is not blocked, so you do not need to run it all the time. (Maybe that is actually a Bento feature, I don’t know.)
It feels very well built and designed. I use the triode mode to get quite noticeable, but not harsh bus saturation with modulating overtones. When mixing overtone-rich sounds, this coloration quickly becomes inaudible and is masked. That is something to consider depending on the sound you create. You will not hear the unit on lower settings when playing walls of distorted guitars or synths. (Although I guess you could switch to pentode mode and crank up the processing.) However with more mellow material it sounds super-sweet and psycho-acoustically you want it “in” when switching between “bypass” and “in”. The way I use it, e.g. one line is playing and then when another lines comes in or its volume changes, you can hear the mild distortion adding extra life. (Generally, I use SPL twin tube plugins and a hardware Vitalizer to bring life to the otherwise often somewhat flat digital sounds.)
If I may ask for a slight improvement, it is probably the documentation. I found it very sparse for this refined piece of hardware. I’d be interested in some technical background, e.g. what level to use going in. (I know “use your ears”, but I like professional engineering as well. 🙂 Or some practical step-by-step applications with settings. It took me awhile to find the right combination of “in” and “out” levels.
All in all: Two thumbs up for this 100% tube device!
Bob P. (verified owner) –
Brilliant piece of engineering and a fantastic saturator.
Kang Cheolsoon (verified owner) –
tubedrve can’t be left out of my mix
Oliver Shillito (verified owner) –
Awesome product. Does everything from subtle tube drive to full on atmosphere tearing distortion. Love the stepped controls which make recall a breeze and matching the Left and Right sides. Great value for what you get. This replaced my Culture Vulture!
Paul (verified owner) –
Incredible device! Subtle for bus, crazy for creative moments! Been on every mix since I got it! Thank you!
Bastian G. (verified owner) –
This is really good.
It‘s ab bit tricky to match levels because of the wet/dry knob behaviour. But the sound! I love it.
Shipping was superfast. Looking forward to anything you build next.
leo fowler (verified owner) –
This unit is amazing! It has comprehensively ousted my Elysia Karacter as the colour box in my 500 rack. Sounds so alive and especially great when feeding it Mid/Side from the DAW. Absolute bargain as well, and brilliant customer service. Very happy, thanks Berend!
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Absolutely fantastic. At this price ? Feels like a dream !
This piece is *exactly* what I was looking for in my hybrid setup.
I track with it.
I mix with it.
I master with it.
And it is a joy to use.
The Tubedrv puts much more expensive units to shame! I am very grateful to have found Singular Audio, the Tubedrv truly is the missing link in our digital world.
I almost got the regular version over the mastering one. I am so glad I didn’t because the “lo” toggle is just perfect.
Stepped knobs feel great.
Basically this is one of my favorite purchases ever, and I own a lot of great gear. Thank you Berend !
Johann (verified owner) –
Very flexible harmonics machine. Triode has a slightly different harmonics shape than pentode which emphasizes second order harmonics. Mix knob is great to dial out high-order harmonics.
Overall great value for the price. I’ll probably use this in M/S. Also, great communication and super fast shipping by Singular Audio
Sagy A. (verified owner) –
Running it on everything (Mix bus & individual inserts), a very versatile unit, especially when combined with inverted pre and post EQs!
Rodrigo Aguilar (verified owner) –
Just amazing. I took my time with this unit, I needed to find the right place in my mastering chain for it, and I must admit… It retired my 2 favorite saturation plugins, instantly.
The unit brings lots of weight (tone) and lush top end using Triode, and a agressive and pointy compressend glory sounds using the Pentode.
I put mine first on the chain then signal goes to my mastering buss compressor and so on…
I need this to be runing in M/S ASAP… But I dont have a transfer console …just yet.
It’s been a short ride but it is clear for me that for a straight-forward mastering situation, the best mastering results are yielded working with a healthy mix with a nice crest factor. The thing here is that you dont want the (attack) peaks on the track to be in control of the unit (saturation/color, dynamics).
I know it is hard work to be using RX to manually level ISP and fine tune your CF before the analog chain, but it’s the only way I know consistently pull -4.4 / -5 LUFS (urban and electronic music).
Outside mastering duties, I already used the wrong way by producing/mixing a song and a beat with it, LOL.
Worked really well in mixing and a sound design/creative production situation. Was a bless for heavely digital mono sources …Distortion heaven.
Creative Hack: Pass mono signals thru it twice to benefit from the grit and compression of the pentode and the weight and shine of the tride (Black Box HG-2 flow)
There’s alot of distortion in this unit, use with care (even in the “lo” settings)
I would buy anothe unit right away… 10/10 for me.
Thanks for everything Berend.