SPL Venos Stereo Bus Compressor - Red

Adding size, depth and impact to a stereo signal has never been easier. The SPL Venos stereo bus compressor is based on the same design as many legendary vintage tube compressors. Venos expands this impressive sonic signature with two revolutionary hyper-compression modes, opening up new dimensions of sound. With SPL 120V technology this sound is crowned to king of dynamics.

The Venos stereo bus compressor is basically a variable bias tube compressor. Venos works on the principle of a bias-controlled remote cutoff tube, but expands the sonic versatility of this concept with the new hyper-compression modes “Focus” and “Punch”. Once the ideal input level is dialed in, comparing different parameter settings works like a charm. The parameters have been fine-tuned in countless listening sessions to make the compressor intuitive to use. All parameters are set using switches or detented potentiometers. A single control element manages both, the left and right channel, allowing for easy recall!

CONTROLS

The input level is adjusted via a detented potentiometer in 41 steps, within a control range of ±10 dB. Increasing the input level results in more intense compression. Threshold determines the level beyond which the compressor starts with processing. The compressor begins to compress the signal once the set threshold value has been exceeded. The Threshold parameter of the Venos can be adjusted in 41 steps with the detent potentiometer. The tube bias can also be adjusted in 41 steps using a detented potentiometer. The bias of a tube is the voltage present on the tube‘s grid. The higher the voltage, the less signal makes it from the cathode to the anode of the tube, which means the compression is stronger. The modulation of the bias is the sum of the Input, Threshold, Rectifier, Mode, Attack, and Release parameters.

Attack determines the response time of the compressor. The Attack time can be adjusted in six steps, from Fast to Slow. The counterpart of the Attack is Release. The Release parameter determines how fast the compressor eases processing the signal. Similarly to the Attack time, the Release time can also be set in six steps from Fast to Slow. The tube stage in the Venos is controlled by a rectifier circuit. Venos offers three different diode control characteristics, generated by germanium, silicon, and LED diodes. The rectifier circuits influence the attack and release times. The output level can be adjusted in 41 steps within a control range of ±10 dB using a detented potentiometer. This allows the audio level to be increased again after compression or the output level to be adjusted to subsequent devices.

MODES

The modes change the behavior of the compressor in regard to the input signal. The first three offer various analog filters (side-chain filters) in the signal path (not in the audio signal), enabling frequency-selective compression. Focus and Punch are innovative hyper-compression modes. The last mode activates an insert in the signal path, allowing the control signal to be influenced by external devices or signals.

In linear mode only one capacitor is integrated in the signal path to filter out frequencies below 20 Hz. Consequently, the compressor does not respond to these low-frequency signals. Modern mode integrates an analog bandpass filter into the signal path. According to the filter, the compressor does not respond to low and particularly high frequencies in the signal. This type of sidechain filter is often used in modern music mixes. Vintage mode integrates an analog filter into the signal path with a filter curve empirically created by developer Wolfgang Neumann.

The two modes, Focus and Punch, offer a lot more! With these modes, no frequency response-adjusting filter is used in the signal path. A special circuit enables a new compression behavior for variable-bias tube compressors. In these two modes, Venos becomes a completely different bus compressor! In Focus mode, Venos grips much tighter and focuses on the midrange, but still makes the signal big and lively. In Punch mode, Venos gives the music a punch like you've never heard before from a variable-bias tube compressor. However, the signal does not become unpleasant, but simply shines with power.

THE SIDE CHAIN INSERT – EXT SC

When Ext SC mode is selected, a signal can be looped into the side-chain insert on the rear panel of the device to control the Venos. The send and return stages are balanced and are provided as inputs and outputs in the form of 3-pin XLR jacks. The signal can, for example, be sent via the send output to an active or passive equalizer in order to manipulate the frequency response there. This signal can be fed back into the Venos via the return input. Venos now responds to the signal processed by the external equalizer. It is also possible to feed a signal from another source into the return input – it does not necessarily have to be the signal from Venos. This means that a completely independent signal can also influence the compression in Venos. There are no limits to your creativity here.

THE FINAL EQUALIZER – AIRBASS AND TAPE

Venos features the popular analog passive SPL equalizer presets AirBass and Tape. The three-position switch allows you to choose between the two EQ settings or to turn this function off. These filters are located in the audio signal path and are connected behind the compression stage, but still before the output level control. The AirBass filter increases low and high frequencies by approximately 2 dB. The Tape Roll-Off filter emulates the typical frequency response of a tape machine.

SPL VENOS FEATURES:

• Stereo bus compressor based on legendary vintage tube compressors
• Three compression modes offering various analog filters (side-chain filters) in the signal path enabling frequency-selective compression
• Two new hyper-compression modes with no frequency response-adjusting filter
• With Ext SC mode signal can be looped into the side-chain insert on the rear panel
• Features analog passive SPL equalizer presets AirBass and Tape
• All inputs and outputs are equipped with Neutrik XLR jacks with gold-plated contacts
• Ground switch eliminates ground loops by isolating the internal ground from the housing ground when the switch is pressed
• Employs SPL's 120V reference technology which operates at a DC voltage of 120 volts - four times that of IC-based semiconductor op-amps
• 4 mm thick, black anodized aluminum front panel, aluminum knobs milled from solid, and housing made of high-quality steel, powder-coated in elegant black