Tube Summing Mixer in Its New Design: The Tech
- 02.09.2015
- Michael Krusch
- Story
- TSM
In 2015 the Tube Summing Mixer got the enclosure of our new design line – and a quieter signal path inside. Here is the announcement from back then, plus what defines the tube summing mixer's construction to this day.
The TSM is now available with their new design aesthetic.Beside the facelift we also revamped the inside to get an even better signal-to-noise ratio for example.
On the rear are 2x16 balanced jack inputs available which routes the signal automatically into the centre. The output switch on the front adjusts the level of the volume from 0 to -15 dB. For the perfect visual feedback are two huge illuminated vu meter available on the front.
The Summing Section of an Analog Console in 2U
The TSM united the summing section of the classic analogue consoles in a 19” / 2u case and delivers relentless analogue tube sound with a handcrafted quality made in Germany.Tube Summing Mixer Features (as of 2015)
- 2×16 balanced inputs
- Internal mix bus with up to +22 dBu
- Automatic signal routing into the mono centre by using the lower input
- Output switch to adjust the volume level (0,-3,-6,-9,-12,-15 dB)
- Two huge, illuminated vu meter for the perfect visual feedback
- Active tube and transformer output stage
- Frequency response: 20 – 40.000 Hz +/- 1,5 dB
- Handcrafted quality
- Dynamic Range: Un-weighted> 110 dB
- Crosstalk between channels > 90 dB @ 1kHz
- Internal power supply (25 W) with high quality toroidal transformer
Why Tubes and Transformers in a Summing Mixer – and What Has Changed Since
The Tube Summing Mixer's mix stages are built from tubes and transformers. They are the reason an analog-summed mix sounds different from the sum inside the DAW: open, defined and warm at the same time – the mix is no longer trapped between the speakers but opens up into the room. The output level switch instead of a potentiometer isn't cost-cutting, it's intentional: a mix should remain exactly reproducible, so there are fixed -3 dB steps and no knob you can only set approximately. And the mono trick with the lower TRS jack is still part of the concept today.
Since this announcement the TSM has kept growing: the current version has 2×20 channels – 2×16 balanced inputs via four sub-D connectors in Tascam layout (XLR or TRS via adapter cable) plus 2×4 balanced inputs on stereo TRS jacks. The internal mix bus handles up to +22 dBu, the frequency response extends to 40 kHz, and the dynamic range is 110 dB. Several units can be cascaded, including for surround mixes. What that sounds like is described in Amazona.de's review of the 40-channel version.
The Tube Summing Mixer will be delivered in a high quality design wooden box as every other product.The TSM can be borrowed for a 14 days test drive.
More details here
Want to test the Tube Summing Mixer in your own studio for 14 days?
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Learn more about the Tube Summing Mixer
Related: The Single-Knob Mix: Tube Summing Mixer TSM · Amazona.de Reviews the TSM Analog Summing Mixer · What Does Analog Summing Add? TSM Video Review
