MN-50 Smash Compressor Colour Module
MN-50 Smash Compressor Colour Module
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Aggressive FET Compression
for Chroma, Mister Focus, & DIYRE Colour
Overview
Sometimes you need a compressor to smooth the dynamics of a track in the cleanest, most transparent way possible. The MN-50 is not for those times.
The MN-50 is an aggressive, grabby, dirty compressor that colors everything it touches. It excels at smashing drum room mics into oblivion and turning peaky bass tracks into a thick, flat lines of crunchiness.
The Avenson Audio Smash Compressor Colour is a simple FET compression circuit based off the built in 6:1 ratio compressor in the MN-50 Mixer made by Fostex Corporation in the 80s. This cheapo mixer/compressor combo unit is much loved in the inexpensive gear world for it’s ability to acheive some explosive, trashy, and dirty drum compression sounds. The team at Avenson decided it would be a great idea to redesign this circuit for the Colour 500 Series format with a few small improvements for ease of use in the modern recording envirornment. Thanks to the format, the unit is easily implemented in an XLR balanced line level system, unlike the original which used unbalanced RCA ins/outs. They also fixed an overall volume loss on the output by adding a set makeup gain stage in their circuit. The final addition was an input pad selectable via a 2 pin jumper (High & Low) for getting more range of compression out of this unit.
Features
Louder Than Liftoff is proud to offer a special edition of this module that kicks things up a notch. The threshold and release have been modified for optimal flexibility and even more explosive gut punch. This hotrodded unit is sold as a fully assembled and tested Colour module, modded to our specs, and only available in our store.
- Adjustable release via onboard trimmer
- Adjustable FET bias fine tunes compression amount and distortion
- “High” and “low” input gain selectable via solderless jumper
- Exclusive threshold mod for optimal gain staging
- Exclusive release time constant mod for more explosive compression and more flexible range
- Exclusive IC upgrades to enhance punch and transient response
- Compatible with Chroma, Mister Focus, and DIYRE Colour
Fully assembled, calibrated, and tested by Avenson Audio.
Chroma 500 Series module, Mister Focus 500 Series module, or DIYRE Colour Palette must be purchased separately.
Documentation
About Colour
Colour is an exciting new modular platform for creating your own custom analog signal chains. The ever-growing family of modules allows you to bring multiple stages of high end analog processing to your setup a la carte. These are real analog plugins.
The Colour platform consists of Colour modules and hosts like Chroma and the DIY Recording Equipment Colour Palette. Colour modules are ultra-compact, swappable analog circuit blocks that snap into Chroma and impart various types of analog color such as distortion, saturation, compression, EQ, and even echo. Chroma provides drive and wet/dry mix controls, power, and support circuitry for one module.
The Colour Palette is a 3-slot host available as a 500 Series unit from DIY Recording Equipment. In the near future there will be rackmount version of the Colour Palette as well.
INTRODUCING COLOUR
MODULAR MOJO
Colour is an exciting new modular platform for creating your own custom analog signal chains. The ever-growing family of modules allows you to bring multiple stages of high end analog processing to your setup a la carte.
The Colour platform consists of Colours and hosts. Colours are ultra-compact, swappable analog circuit blocks that snap into the host, and impart various types of analog color such as distortion, saturation, compression, EQ, and even echo.
COLOUR HOSTS
Proucts like Silver Bullet mk2, Chroma, Chroma+, or Mister Focus can all host Colour modules. The host device provides level controls, power, and support circuitry for one or two Colour modules.
C-DRV knob simultaneously allows you to adjust the amount of input gain and output attenuation for intuitive level control.
C-MIX knob allow you to blend the smoothly dry and processed signals.
Colour modules can also be used various rackmount and 500 series gear from other manufacturers like DIY Recording Equipment.
BUILD YOUR DREAM CHANNEL
Choose from our growing list of Colour module options to customize compatible Louder Than Liftoff products. There are one or two analog plugin slots you can use to build your dream channel. You can also install any of the Colour modules from DIY Recording Equipment. This is a platform that adapts to the needs of your studio.
Disconnect power, remove the 500 Series module or cover, install the Colour Modules of your choice, and power back on.
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MISTER FOCUS
Choose two modules for each 500 Series unit
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CHROMA
Choose one module for each 500 Series unit
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CHROMA+
Choose two modules, one for each channel
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SILVER BULLET mk2
Choose two modules, one for each channel
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NERDY DETAILS
COMPATIBILITY
Colour Modules are compatible with Silver Bullet m2, Chroma 500 Series, Chroma+, and Mister Focus products.
They are also compatible with host products from DIY Recording Equipment.
PREMIUM COMPONENTS & BUILD QUALITY
We chose every component in our Colour modules by ear for maximum mojo and its sonic synergy with the rest of the circuit. Our meticulous development process involved both empirical measurement and real-world studio use to validate the design. We also leveraged what we learned designing and building our other products. In this design you will find high end parts from Nichicon, Panasonic, Vishay, Susumu, Wima, and TI. All audio path resistors are 0.5% or 0.1% thin film types for low distortion and noise. Where applicable, some modules features custom American wound transformers and our very own discrete op amp. Our PCBs use high temperature Tg 170 material for long-term reliability. The entire assembly is RoHS compliant (lead free).