Crane Song STC-8 Stereo Compressor/Peak Limiter

The Crane Song STC-8 is a high quality compressor combined with a remarkably dependable peak limiter, that provides overload protection critical to digital recording and broadcast transmitters.  The STC-8's compressor is engineered to provide musically transparent gain control, but is also capable of emulating vintage equipment and creating distinctive new sounds.

In addition, a switchable enhancement circuit creates "analog" and "tube-like" warmth to enrich lifeless audio and digital recordings.  This vast flexibility is simplified by the inclusion of several optimized presets, allowing fast, easy set-up on a wide variety of sounds.  It can operate in true stereo or discrete independent mono, accessible by a front panel switch.

The STC-8's sophisticated side-chain allows both compression and peak limiting to take place simultaneously, using the same proprietary gain control circuit.  High signal quality is maintained by utilizing a discrete class A audio path, and by eliminating any VCA or optical gain control elements.

The STC-8 requires two rack spaces. All inputs and outputs are transformer-less and balanced.  The toroidal power transformer is UL approved and allows four line voltages for international use. The STC-8 delivers consistent gain control without sacrificing musical definition or harmonic richness.