STC 8 Stepped Knobs

[Brad Blackwood]

Originally Posted by dhiltonlittle

I'm sending in my stc8 (regular version) to be stepped. just curious who has the full mastering version and if i should go that route while they have it or just the outputs. i'm leaning towards just going all out while they have it. thoughts?

I have an STC-8M, I'd not want to have any of the controls as plain pots. I recommend the full upgrade.

[Lagerfeldt]

Those pots can be real problem makers unfortunately.

I've had my STC-8/M break down three times and sent back and forth to the US in order to repair those pots. The communication and customer service from Crane Song tech support has ranged from arrogance to not responding to any emails from me and my dealer during the last repair. This is despite of the fact that I have no part in what I believe is a design or manufacturing issue with the custom made detents.

Fortunately I did not pay for the quite expensive UPS shipments back and forth which I suppose counts on the positive side.

I love the sound of my STC-8/M but I can not recommend the detented pots or the customer service from Crane Song based on my own experiences.

From a usability stand point I don't find that I need a fully detented version, though that's what I have. It's possible to do accurate recall without the detents as you probably know. I recommend that you get the /H version with just the outputs detented.

[surflounge]

Originally Posted by Lagerfeldt

Crane Song tech support arrogance?

David Hill called, he wants Aebleskiver pan fixed for free

[Lagerfeldt]

LOL :-)

I didn't have any contact with David Hill though.

[Thor]

I'm with Brad,

the unit is deep enough as it is, no way I'd want all of those controls on unstepped pots!

We have the /M version, I would go for it.

As far as customer service goes, I've had nothing but excellent support (and it's very rarely needed). More often then not Dave and I end up going off on some audio tangent after a few minutes on the phone

The stuff never breaks and never needs fixing. Weird about your pots, Holger. I did need some hand holding when the HEDD was upgraded with new AD/DA boards, and had a sync issue with it waaaay back when, but that's about all I can recall.

Cheers,
Thor

[Sunbreak Music]

I like having the "M" version as well, but can also say I've got a bad pot that I'll need to have repaired soon.

[Lagerfeldt]

Originally Posted by Thor

Weird about your pots, Holger.

Especially as it kept coming back, but other users have similar problems. I think part of my beef was that they did not read our emails properly and did not seek to communicate in a manner which would have solved the problem much earlier. I'm trying to be polite here :-)

Luckily I've been able to get a replacement STC-8 all the times it broke, but suffice it to say that's never an ideal situation.

Still, with the knobs fixed it feels like they're going to break down or get stuck any moment soon, but it's like that on all units. I simply don't like the feel of the detents. I believe Crane Song is using some kind of proprietary system for the detents which is quite convoluted in my opinion.

[MASSIVE Master]

I had the 'regular' version for three days and then sent it back for the "M" version.

[Odeon-Mastering]

I do not have anything to add but I would like to ask for any info about the "mod"

I ve been thinking about it for a while and now maybe is a good time to go for it.

Any info about the different options (if there are any), the price and where I can do it would be highly appreciated.

[dhiltonlittle]

Originally Posted by Odeon-Mastering

I do not have anything to add but I would like to ask for any info about the "mod"

I ve been thinking about it for a while and now maybe is a good time to go for it.

Any info about the different options (if there are any), the price and where I can do it would be highly appreciated.

as far as i know, it's either the outputs or the full m version. i'm sure if you had a request they'd do whatever you wanted. price for full m version from the regular is around 1000 i believe. interesting about the problems some of you are having. anybody else having an issue with the stepped knobs?

[Brad Blackwood]

Originally Posted by dhiltonlittle

anybody else having an issue with the stepped knobs?

Nope, had mine for over 10 years with zero issues with the stepped controls.

[matucha]

Originally Posted by Lagerfeldt

Especially as it kept coming back, but other users have similar problems. I think part of my beef was that they did not read our emails properly and did not seek to communicate in a manner which would have solved the problem much earlier. I'm trying to be polite here :-)

Strange, I had a very good exp. with them, they've responded quickly, did what I requested and also serviced things I didn't specified because I just didn't know they were out of tolerance. They've also payed the UPS back (which is very expensive). But it was with Avocet and it was for the first time (not 3rd in the row).

[K. Evan Hodge IV]

Sean was really great with me. I had something very weird happen to my Hedd unit and they replaced it asap. Even loaned me a spare while they were fixing mine so I only had a day down.

Very cool people.

K

[acorneau]

STC:
We have the STC-H with detented output gain only. I've been working with it for 5+ years and don't have a problem with non-detented knobs. Would I think differently if I had detents on all the knobs? Probably.

Service:
We bought a HEDD at the same time as our STC and had some bad clock/click troubles with it from the get go. Multiple calls and even a few chip replacements still didn't fix it. We finally had to send it back to them to get it fixed completely, but they did lend us a replacement while it was gone.

Light bulb:
The green power light on my STC has gone out. Anyone know if this is a common light bulb or something I need to get from Crane Song directly?

[Brad Blackwood]

Originally Posted by acorneau

Light bulb:
The green power light on my STC has gone out. Anyone know if this is a common light bulb or something I need to get from Crane Song directly?

It's a common bulb, just google the number on the old bulb.

[finetuner]

Standard (non-M) version here.
No problems with it although some pots feel more loose than others.
As long as they won't crackle (and they don't) i'm fine with it and i even believe that most parameters benefit from the ability to set for finer values.

OTOH, i don't know whether stepped knobs with their fixed components behind them offer increased purity of sound ?...

[TWKs]

I have had nothing but excellent service from Cranesong.
My STC8 had a problem with a pot and it was fixed by their tech guy here in the UK really quickly.

I have the vanilla version [not stepped] and its OK but I do often think about upgrading to full M version. The H is an inbetween, and useful if you find yourself often making up gain using the STC. Doesn't apply often here. I make up gain mostly if I need to with my manley backbone

[24-96 Mastering]

Standard version here. I'm usually all for detented or better switched controls, but with the STC-8, I'm not feeling as much of a need as with most other units, probably due the excellent channel linking. Can't hurt to have detents, of course, but I've never missed it... and I have missed it on other units. That said, I run tones to match sides before analog passes anyway.

Never had a problem with the pots here. The left side pots are turning much lighter due to heavier use (linked), but that's all.

In my personal experience, Crane Song have been responsive, productive and friendly, but I never had any significant problem, so this was only troubleshooting / alignment questions.

[dave-G]

I've got the H version here, detents on the gain. Though I wouldn't mind having the rest of the controls detented, I don't exactly wish for it ... And rarely use the link switch, fwiw.

-dave

[J_Flux]

I'm very glad to hear that the regular version can be upgraded to full mastering version. Does anyone know if there's someone who can do this in the UK? Or will I have to send it direct to Cranesong in the US? Does anyone know the cost of this upgrade?

I don't know how I'd cope without it for more than a few days. Its become such an integral part of my setup, I can't really imagine doing any mastering without it! Although it might be painful, I'm sure it'd be worth it in the long run.

I got my IBIS fixed here in the UK by their UK Tech after Cranesong pointed me in the right direction. They were pretty quick getting back to me and in the end their suggestion worked like a charm and I even got a replacement unit from their main UK dealer while mine was away being fixed. I have to say that I was really impressed with the dealer's service, although I suppose this had little to do with Cranesong themselves.

[ak23]

I would go only for a switched output version never detendent !
I had a detendent first & this was a downgrade because i could not set output levels similar anymore.
upgraded to switched output which is fine and makes sense gor mastering.
Did the whole upgrading procedre over the german distributor : akzent audio.
great service can only recommend them

greetings

andreas

[J_Flux]

Originally Posted by ak23

I would go only for a switched output version never detendent !
I had a detendent first & this was a downgrade because i could not set output levels similar anymore.
upgraded to switched output which is fine and makes sense gor mastering.
Did the whole upgrading procedre over the german distributor : akzent audio.
great service can only recommend them

greetings

andreas

How much did it cost?

[Broyhillio]

I'm going to side with Lagerfeldt a little bit. Got the M version, right away had some minor issues, Crane Song support was helpful and quick but not with out sensing a touch of arrogance, not a big deal.

The stepped pots have no correlation to the faceplate, but are easier than not having any at all. Expected more given the price.

I had problems with my pots about a year and a half in, pulled it apart to see if I could take care of it myself. The good news is it's just a kind of a gear that rubs up against a
screw?? (working from vague memory here) that could easily be adjusted and put back into working order. Bad news is you will be a little disappointed to see what you pay an extra $1k?? for. (memory again, not sure what it cost extra)

Not that I regret buying the M version, but not really glad I did either.

[Alécio Costa]

I have the regular version. Sometimes I have to set Left at 3.6 and the right side at 4.

You folks all know this stuff, but someone mentioned it is ok at linked mode: remember that even at linked mode, the output gain is not adjusted by the (master) left side.

[ak23]

Originally Posted by J_Flux

How much did it cost?

don´t remember exactly but rougly 500 euros.

greetings

ak