Thermionic Culture - Rooster

[Kevlar]

THERMIONIC CULTURE – ROOSTER ( AT UNITY AUDIO BOOTH No 1028 )

Another new product from the English based Thermionic Culture is the twin channel Rooster. A valve based mic/line + DI pre-amp with EQ and a distortion section based around the same 5725 used in the ever-popular Culture Vulture. The input stage uses a custom 1200-ohm input Sowter transformer and an ECC81/12AT7 valve. The EQ section has a broad bass lift control, peaking at 60Hz, a mid cut at 700Hz, and a selectable mid/high lift at 2.5k, 4k ("bell" shaped) and 7k (shelving) respectively. . The 6 position bass cut is straight off the Earlybird 2 pre-amp.

The 5725-distortion tube offers a subtle distortion characteristic in the triode position, more so than a Culture Vulture due to the higher HT voltage, and so has a very low (about 0.01%) distortion when the Feedback control is set to Max. In the pentode mode it generates more 3rd harmonic distortion. Distortion can be pretty radical when feed back is "off" and the input is high. The output valve is ECF80 which combines high output with low impedance (less than 100 ohms). There is +48v phantom power, and phase reverse. The output is unbalanced standard but a balancing transformer option will be available.

Price TBA

International distribution by;
Unity Audio Ltd
sales@unityaudio.co.uk
www.thermionicculture.com
Tel: UK+ 1440 785843
Fax: UK+1440 785845

[NathanEldred]

Looks nice

[Jazzpunk]

Price please. Also, is there a stereo link mode?

[daniel c]

Originally Posted by Jazzpunk

Price please. Also, is there a stereo link mode?

As for a stereo link, there isn't one in the picture.... and why a stereo link? Just asking

[Jazzpunk]

Originally Posted by daniel c

As for a stereo link, there isn't one in the picture.... and why a stereo link? Just asking

Oh I don't know, for applying the exact same settings to both the right and left side of a stereo audio signal maybe?

[daniel c]

Yeah I know, but it's not a dynamics unit. And I can't think of a EQ or a mic pre that has a stereo link function, apart from a Presonus graphic EQ. Maybe there is a demand for that. It would most likely involve using digital control of analogue circuitry.

[Jazzpunk]

Originally Posted by daniel c

Yeah I know, but it's not a dynamics unit. And I can't think of a EQ or a mic pre that has a stereo link function, apart from a Presonus graphic EQ. Maybe there is a demand for that. It would most likely involve using digital control of analogue circuitry.

Something like the link feature on the Great River MAQ-2NV would be cool. I know it is for mastering but it would be nice to have a linkable option when tracking as well.

I would think others would like this option when applying EQ or distortion on a stereo source but maybe it is just me! Looks like the distortion settings on the Rooster may be stepped though.

[daniel c]

Aaah touche! I forgot about the Great River.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of turning just one pot instead of two. When I am on a Euphonix CS3000M I like to link EQ's on stereo sources. And now that I think of it, you are right, there are lots of people out there that would like this feature.

I think however in this case, when you look at the Thermionic Culture company background and philosophy, that digital control of a analogue device doesn't really fit in with what they are doing. But if those pots click when you turn them, that's the next best thing

[Kevlar]

Originally Posted by Jazzpunk

Price please. Also, is there a stereo link mode?

The price is yet to be determined, I'll post this info as soon as I have it. There won't be a stero line as it's not possible. stereo linking is usually associated with linking dynamics rather than pre's or eq's.

[Jazzpunk]

Originally Posted by Kevlar

The price is yet to be determined, I'll post this info as soon as I have it. There won't be a stero line as it's not possible. stereo linking is usually associated with linking dynamics rather than pre's or eq's.

Yeah I know what stereo linking is usually associated with. A few stereo EQ's out there do have a link mode though so thought I'd ask.

Thanks for the info.

[Chrisac]

I think new boxes like this should forget the past a little and put in stereo link buttons. I mean why not, borrow' from the past and update a bit for the 21st century.


nice box though. I had their stereo comp a few years back. Excellent quality (build and sound) but to transparent fror my taste.

[Pr.tiouz]

Someone got it in hands ?

[Jazzpunk]

Originally Posted by Pr.tiouz

Someone got it in hands ?

This box could cover a lot of ground for some of us. Love the thought of being able to dial in some distortion right on the pre while tracking my Rhodes and analog synths!

Waiting...on...pricing...

[Gravity8058]

Hey Thermionic,

Will this unit power the Pullet as well (as an alternative to the Earlybird?)

[wuss88]

£1639 in the UK


http://www.dv247.com/invt/47802/

[Kevlar]

Originally Posted by Gravity8058

Hey Thermionic,

Will this unit power the Pullet as well (as an alternative to the Earlybird?)

The Pullet doesn't require any power, it does however require gain make up which can be provided from most good mic pre-amps. The Pullet is line level and totally passive, no mains, no amplifiers, so the Pullet output will need to go into a mic pre-amp to provide the gain. The new Rooster will team up with the Pullet prefectly.

btw, the Pullet has been reviewed for the next issue of Tape Op magazine, and reviewer John Baccigaluppi's first sentence is " This is one of the best sounding EQs I’ve ever used".

[Kevlar]

Originally Posted by wuss88

£1639 in the UK


http://www.dv247.com/invt/47802/

This is the correct price for the UK inc VAT. The units are in production now and will be available early Jan 08. I have the first production unit here for testing and it's amazing, the EQ is simple, but incredibly effective. The distortion and feedback offers some nice tonalities too.

The Rooster was recently tested on seeion by Thermionic's own Nick Terry on a Klaxons and Franz Ferdinand recording which passed with flying colours, also Beck's producer and long time Thermionic user Tony Hoffer was in London and had the oportunity to test drive it too. He liked it as well and passed on some comments to designer Vic Keary which have now been implemented.

[GYang]

Originally Posted by Kevlar

btw, the Pullet has been reviewed for the next issue of Tape Op magazine, and reviewer John Baccigaluppi's first sentence is " This is one of the best sounding EQs I’ve ever used".

I don't trust reviews in any magazines (as the whole idea of less than stellar review usually conflicts with interest of magazine to attract advertisers).
But Pullet indeed is completely OK sounding, typical clean passive design, smooth etc. with Earlybird in chain very near to the best one can get anywere.

[worm]

*jizz*

[Pr.tiouz]

I have one in order now, but there is no news about when it will be available.

will keep this thread informed of the progress and give some feedback when in hands.

[Kevlar]

Originally Posted by Pr.tiouz

I have one in order now, but there is no news about when it will be available.

will keep this thread informed of the progress and give some feedback when in hands.

The first batch will be ready 2nd week in Feb.

[TRW]

I fancy one of these!

Does anyone know how much the optional balancing transformer will be for the output and if it will be a custom Sowter like the input?

Cheers T

[TRW]

Bump!

[TRW]

Kevlar, any ideas on that transformer out option?

Also, how distorted can you get this thing compared to a Culture Vulture?

Cheers Tom

[indie]

bump

[Kevlar]

Originally Posted by TRW

Kevlar, any ideas on that transformer out option?

Also, how distorted can you get this thing compared to a Culture Vulture?

Cheers Tom

Vic is looking into transformer options, the first one was a tad expensive! Good question on the distortion, the feedback control is now called 'attitude'! It can get pretty screwed up, it has the same Vulture distortion tube and has both pentode and triode tube selections, but it's not meant to be a substitute for the Vulture, it won't have the same range that a Vulture does, but if you want to dial in some dirt while tracking or mising it does the job well. This year we will finally be getting some sound files up for the Vulture, Rooster etc on the web site and gearslutz.

[Kevlar]

Originally Posted by indie

bump

sorry for not being quite up on the Gearslutz lingo, what the F*** does 'bump' mean?

[futur2]

Originally Posted by Chrisac

I think new boxes like this should forget the past a little and put in stereo link buttons. I mean why not, borrow' from the past and update a bit for the 21st century.


nice box though. I had their stereo comp a few years back. Excellent quality (build and sound) but to transparent fror my taste.

+1 i wish there were more stereo eqs with a link button!

[Pr.tiouz]

Hi Kevlar,

thanks for all the info on the rooster.

to bump is a reply to a thread in order to raise the thread's profile. This will typically return it to the top of the list of active threads, so the discusion can start again.



it's time DISTORRRRRRTION.

by the way do you know if the transformers will be availables for the units that ship in febrary. i need mine by the last week of febrary.

[TRW]

Originally Posted by Kevlar

Vic is looking into transformer options, the first one was a tad expensive! Good question on the distortion, the feedback control is now called 'attitude'! It can get pretty screwed up, it has the same Vulture distortion tube and has both pentode and triode tube selections, but it's not meant to be a substitute for the Vulture, it won't have the same range that a Vulture does, but if you want to dial in some dirt while tracking or mising it does the job well. This year we will finally be getting some sound files up for the Vulture, Rooster etc on the web site and gearslutz.

Thanks - will it do clean as well?

Looking forward to the clips - I like the CV - if its half as useful and as cool as that then the feature set/price of the Rooster has me sold.

-T