New DC2476 Masterflow Processor from Drawmer

Makes 24/96 Sample Rate Conversion a Reality

(Click on either image for a close-up)

July 26, 1999 -- Drawmer engineered the DC2476 Masterflow Processor, a superbly specified 24-bit/96kHz D/A and A/D programmable mastering processor, to be one of the most flexible, best sounding all-in-one digital dynamic processor in the marketplace.

The Drawmer design team, headed by Ivor Drawmer, and backed by an award-winning history in high performance solid state and tube analog designs, has taken an enlightened approach to digital audio design. "Only when digital signal processing meets or exceeds its analog counterpart," says Ivor Drawmer, "will digital processing become justifiable." Today, that challenge has been met in the Masterflow Series. With the 2476 Masterflow Pro, Drawmer has created a mastering oriented processor with unequaled musicality to rival the best of the analog world.

With Analog In/Out and Digital In/Out, AES/EBU and SPDIF connectors, the DC2476 Masterflow Processor features full 24-bit word length and sampling frequencies of 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96kHz. Other ports include a Word Clock In/Out and a MIDI In/Out/Thru.

A Quick Overview of the 2476's Features

INPUT STAGE: With auto gain management. Gain controls with a fully automatic limiter makes it impossible to overload and prevents clipping.

DYNAMIC "SPECTRAL" EQ: Full band parametric EQ with manual and threshold dependent (dynamic) boost or cut. This can be used for de-essing functions, as well as Dynamic Spectral EQ enhancement or Drawmer's unique "Transient Enhancement" circuitry. Controls are Frequency, Bandwidth, Boost/Cut, Floating Threshold, Dynamic Boost/Cut, Attack and Release.

MAIN EQ: Full band parametric "Analog Modeled EQ" with +/- 18dB boost/cut, plus a limiter to prevent overload through the EQ stage. Low and High band filters are Peak/Dip or Shelf selectable, and Mid band is Peak/Dip only. All Peak/Dip filters are 32Hz-22Hz adjustable in as small as 0.02 octave steps and bandwidth is adjustable from 0.08 Octave to 4 Octaves. Shelving Filter has Frequency and Boost/Cut Controls.

At this point, each channel is then split into three bands, "low", "Mid" and "hi" with fully adjustable crossover frequencies.

THREE-BAND EXPANDER: Program Adaptive(R) for setting Threshold, Ratio, Attack, and Release Range. Each Band has a Programme Adaptive' (auto) control, which optimizes Ratio and Attack/Release to suit dynamics of the incoming material, plus Threshold, Ratio, Attack and Release control.

THREE-BAND "BOOTSTRAP" COMPRESSOR: Designed to naturally pull up signals toward -I dBfs maximizing level and is Programme Adaptive'. Each band has Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release and Gain.

THREE-BAND STEREO WIDTH: This feature can reduce the stereo image width, in any one or all of three frequency bands, but not increase it. Useful if someone has an image which is too wide. Also useful for bass frequencies to keep them near center. A "width" control per band.

THREE-BAND TUBE MODELING: Not a real tube, but a complex multi-band algorithm modeled after real world tube behavior, including dynamic characteristics. It gives exactly the same characteristics as a pentode tube amplifier. Increases level and dynamically adds harmonics at the same time. One Drive control per band.

OUTPUT SECTION: Adds the three-bands back together.

BAND SUMMING OUTPUT STAGE: With three-band level controls. Includes Auto Fader, with adjustable fade time and a choice of three fade shapes. Truncation and rounding to 8, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24-bit with three dither options at up to 48K and one at 96K.

Factory and user patches stored internally and/or on a plug-in RAM card. MIDI port for external control included. Future upgrades to include an outboard interface between a DC2476 and a PC for downloading product upgrades via the Web. All functions are available at 96K - you lose nothing.

For more information, visit www.transaudiogroup.com.