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Post by tasteliketape on Dec 3, 2019 15:12:58 GMT -6
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Post by Vincent R. on Dec 3, 2019 16:03:36 GMT -6
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Post by audioscape on Dec 3, 2019 18:22:06 GMT -6
We posted about this on our IG / FB pages a week or so back! Awesome to see it getting some love here! ...can personally vouch for how cool, versatile and FUN this box is (seeing as I have one sitting on my desk - with the outputs of our BUSS COMP going into it and then back to Cubase). Adds a very nice, subtle (if you want) touch of transformer "mojo" to pieces of gear that say, are electronically balanced like the BUSS COMP. The PRIMARY knob is a cool "tonal shift" control (somewhat like a very gentle low-cut / air boost when turning CW to my ears) while the SECONDARY control basically dials in the amount of saturated "iron" sound the source gets  . Love it, as mentioned, patched after our BUSS COMP! Great way to add iron to the outputs of the BUSS COMP without fussing with mods that could potentially ROB the BC of it's inherent mojo and vibe. Also love it when used in conjunction with our transformer-balanced gear - OPTO COMP, V-COMP, etc... I actually prefer to use it in 1:1 mode in these instances (unless going for more of an EFFECT) to better load these vintage-inspired circuits before going back into our A/D converters. It seems to make these old circuits "happier" if that makes any sense. I'm sure matt@IAA can explain this usage of the PSS a bit better than I can ATM... been sick the last few days so I'm not 100% on point, hahaha. The PSS is built like a tank and more importantly, imparts great sonics on everything I've passed through it - AND the price is right! What's not to like?? PROTIP: try chaining one channel directly into the other, both set to 1:2 mode.... MMMMMM NASTYYYYYY!!! ;-) |
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Post by matt@IAA on Dec 3, 2019 18:39:36 GMT -6
Hey! Just saw this thanks Vinnie. Yeah, well, I mean, audioscape said it better than I would have. It started as a custom project for a client of ours. We were just talking about mojo and I suggested that he wire up some transformers into his patchbay and use 'em wherever. He wanted it for his Series 34 console mix bus plus whatever else he might come across in life - he does a lot of mixing at home and on the road - so he wanted it in a stomp box. I went home and tried to think about how much utility I could put into it, and after a few rounds the PSS is what came out. There's no wrong way to use it, it's very much a fun "tweak til it sounds good" kind of box. The ratio is kind of a range knob on the other two, makes their effect magnified and also adds (or removes) some gain. So you can use the quandrifilar transformer in 1:1, 1:2, 2:1, or 2:2. As a quick way to interface 600 ohm gear, just set it to 1:1, min, max ...or 1:2, min, and maybe 3 o'clock or so. Or you can get nuts and start doing things I never imagined like audioscape and Portia Street Studios did and use it between a mic and a pre, or 1:2 daisy chained to really hammer a signal.  |
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Post by tasteliketape on Dec 3, 2019 18:58:13 GMT -6
Audioscape dogears thanks for chiming in . I actually bought a audioscape buss comp and paid to have transformers installed in it but the builder seems to been absent for a while sooooo? Wish I’d seen this box first .
Thie Portia stomp box looks like my new Christmas present lol .
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Post by audioscape on Dec 4, 2019 19:17:00 GMT -6
Audioscape dogears thanks for chiming in . I actually bought a audioscape buss comp and paid to have transformers installed in it but the builder seems to been absent for a while sooooo? Wish I’d seen this box first . Thie Portia stomp box looks like my new Christmas present lol . Ah man, I'm SO sorry to hear this! Did the builder in question's first name start with a "J"? Not pointing fingers - I simply only know of one guy who's been recommending people buy our BUSS COMP for him to then "mod" with xformers, etc... Please DM me with some more info if that's the case and we'll see what we can sort out for you. If it's not who I think it is - there's not a whole lot we can do I'm afraid but we DO NOT like people advocating the BC as a good "mod platform" and then ghosting out on OUR AudioScape Fam. Not cool. Hope you can get this resolved! Please let us know either way man! |
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Post by tasteliketape on Dec 4, 2019 19:32:09 GMT -6
Yes pm sent .
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Post by steveoc on Dec 17, 2023 12:43:57 GMT -6
Looks like these are being discontinued can you still order one or has that passed ?
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Post by matt@IAA on Dec 17, 2023 15:01:08 GMT -6
Yeah, there wasn’t much interest so we no longer make them. I’d be glad to help you diy a similar box though! Not too difficult.
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Post by bubblejackets on Dec 19, 2023 0:00:56 GMT -6
Just a shout out for the PSS. My neanderthal brain doesn’t totally grasp what the ratios and knobs are doing, but I’ve come to appreciate its versatility. I’ve been basically trying to tweak three variables with it: saturation (ratio), eq tilt (primary knob), soundstage depth (secondary knob). At least that’s how it seems to play out. Using it a lot on individual drum tracks lately to place things here and there while balancing out the whole kit. Also on mix/mastering bus. Thanks IAA!
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Post by matt@IAA on Dec 19, 2023 7:59:41 GMT -6
yeah, you've intuited it pretty close! the ratio knob changes the load on the driver, so that would affect saturation for sure. it also is like a "range" or "multiplier" knob for the effect of the other two. primary knob absolutely has an EQ effect, with a rolloff on the low and a bump in the mids, and also adds some distortion. the secondary knob adds distortion from the driver. so maybe another way to think of it is range (ratio), transformer effect (primary) and amp effect (secondary).
the fun thing about it is different sources will react differently to the loads. some things distort really nicely, others just like the transformer color.
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Post by poppaflavor on Dec 19, 2023 11:14:13 GMT -6
I'll also chime in that the PSS is a deliciously intriguing device. I'm really grateful I got one before they were discontinued. Matt@IAA was extraordinarily helpful after I purchased one, and very patient with my naïve questions... Thank you Sir! I'd also like to thank Seawell, whose YT video got me to see the potential for the PSS. Great detail and review.
It's a bit sad to me to see the PSS go out of production; from what Avedis has described he discontinued his TransDrive due to the same lack of interest (unfortunately before I was able to grab one). I realize that for reasonably competent builders producing a box like the PSS may be approachable, but that's not the case for the vast majority of peeps seeking iron tone.
What boggles my mind is the degree to which many online folks will clamor after the sound of "iron" but yet not grab onto a tool like the PSS which offers a flexible and unique way to readily draw out tones from it's own transformers and also from the devices it is chained to.
I've had a particularly rewarding time exploring the PSS and am still learning. Although it is deep, many easy wins on tone come quite readily simply by dialing for a couple of minutes. And yes, chaining the two channels together is so incredibly saucy!
Probably my favorite pairing is [Stuff] => ZULU desktop => Portia Street Stomp.
Hoooodaddy! The ZULU is quite sensitive to downstream device loads and responds in a markedly different manner. ZULU in front of a moderately low Z device vs a very high Z device changes everything about ZULU. With the PSS after ZULU it takes the ZULU into a whole 'nother parallel universe of opportunities and flavors. And, the PSS 1:2 ratio can make up for some minimal insertion loss from ZULU while also allowing the ZULU flavor to shine without adopting extreme setting on ZULU. If you've got both I'd highly recommend ZULU => PSS!
Lately I've been running the Coil Audio CA-70S into the PSS and using the primary knob to tilt the frequency spectrum to a bit brighter. This allows me to dial the CA70S negative feedback a bit more clockwise (moar NF) without it becoming dull and too bass heavy.
I'd like to say I'll be buried with my PSS, but it's too useful for it not be in continual use. I'll pass it down/along when I shuffle off.
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Post by enlav on Dec 19, 2023 11:58:57 GMT -6
matt@IAA - Not at all pretending to have a pulse on demand and what not (I'm a horrible businessman), but just curious if there's ever been talk of incorporating what the PSS has to offer with something like a pair of the QPP preamps in a sort of mic preamp+line driver sort of box.
Again, by no means suggesting or backseating here, just curious. Also looking forward to a possibility of a compressor mentioned a while back!
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Post by matt@IAA on Dec 19, 2023 12:58:35 GMT -6
Be glad to build one for you if you want!
Compressor in 1RU is probably a “soon”.
😁
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Post by enlav on Dec 19, 2023 15:26:30 GMT -6
Stereo Compressor?
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Post by matt@IAA on Dec 19, 2023 17:25:25 GMT -6
Current bench prototype is mono with stereo link ability.
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