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Please fill out the form below and a Vintage King Audio Consultant will contact you with a ship date for the Black Box Analog Design HG-2 Saturation Processor.
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The Black Box Analog Design HG-2 is a line level, stereo unit designed to add saturation, harmonics, natural compression, increased RMS and enhancement during mixing and mastering. It is designed to easily and naturally do what usually requires multiple pieces of gear and do it better!
The HG-2 uses custom-wound transformers to feed two paths: The main signal path travels through a 6U8A Pentode tube stage that then drives into the Triode stage that follows, resulting in everything from subtle harmonics to full-on saturation.
Also fed from the input transformer is a parallel signal path that utilizes a set of 12AX7 tubes, voiced specifically for harmonics and saturation. This parallel saturation circuit is outfitted with a 3 way “Freq. Select” switch that allows the user to choose the frequency content of the signal feeding the circuit. The “low position saturates just the low mids and sub frequencies, the “flat” position saturates full bandwidth and the “high” position saturates only the high mids and high frequencies. The result is the ability to add top end to dull tracks, enhance low end or enhance and add energy to the entire signal. The “harmonics” knob allows the user to control how much of the processed, parallel signal is fed into the main signal before hitting the Pentode stage. Finally, both stages reach the passive output attenuation before a pair of Cinemag output transformers.
In addition to the saturation stages, an “air” switch adds a subtle top end lift and the “alt” tube button switches between two different 12AX7 tubes in the parallel circuit. Switching between tubes allows the user to swap tubes for different types of saturation and switch back and forth instantly.
The meter select chooses whether the meter is fed from the input or output, and the “bypass” switch is a true bypass that shorts the input directly to the output with no additional circuitry in line.
I used the plugin for a while and liked it so I got the real box. The hardware can be more subtle and it adds more dimensionality. Worth the wait.
It's so good
Very versatile but needs your patience for every song
Ultimately I found this one a bit too subtle, it needs more controls. It actually eats low frequencies a bit too much and could benefit very strongly from a mix control and a bit more drive/tuning options. The blue lights are flashy though. I got a lot better sound from just using a better preamp.
I am also a black box plugin user and i used the presets on the plugin to learn the hardware unit . i use on the master buss , on separate printed tracks , drum bus , on the back end of a axe fx it makes guitar sims sound real . the only problem is knowing when to stop.
I use this is my mastering chain, and I love it. It's all the tube action I want. It makes my mix sounds huge. The way they got this designed signal wise is genius. If you can get your hands on one. It's worth it!
This is one of my favorite pieces in my mastering chain! It has a wide sweet spot. This is what I wanted my Culture Vulture to be on the two bus. Clients are wowed when I insert this into the signal chain. Highly recommended!
This box does what it's supposed to do and it does it very very well. From kick, snare, room mics to vocals and guitars to full mixes the HG-2 adds width, sheen and sparkle when used lightly like I have. A little goes a long way to be sure but a little here and a little there and little on the mix is superb! No complaints at all!
The best gear advice always comes from those who use it the most. That's where you come in! Let the pro audio world hear your voice with a review of the Black Box Analog Design HG-2 Saturation Processor . Once you submit your review, please check your email and verify your address to have it posted.
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