Retro Instruments Doublewide is a single-channel tube compressor designed from the ground up for the 500 series, taking two slots in a rack. The Sta-Level was the starting point, but the design stands on its own: compression is performed by four new-old-stock 6BJ6 variable-mu tubes in a fully complementary push-pull configuration. The tubes are arranged across two gain stages working with two Cinemag transformers, and input and output are fully floating and transformer balanced.
Genuine variable-mu tubes in a 500 rack
Most compressors in the 500 format produce their tube character with transistors or with DSP. Here the gain reduction is done by the tubes themselves, in push-pull, which yields the compression signature of the company's full-sized units. Attack and recovery times are continuously variable, and a hard-wire bypass switch on gold-plated contacts lets you compare processed and clean in one move, without changing routing in the rack. The compressor works on bass, vocals and whole mixes, though the last of those calls for two units.
Two time constants for two kinds of material
Like the Sta-Level and the 176 before it, the Doublewide offers Single and Double modes. Single is the slower of the two and earns its place taming a harsh vocal or an unruly bass without the compressor audibly stepping into the material. Double uses dynamic, program-controlled attack and recovery timing, which suits drums and other fast transients better. The tubes are self-biased and need no user adjustment, there are no internal controls at all, and meter-zero trim is reachable from the side of the unit. A dedicated circuit limits current inrush and component stress when power is applied.
KEY FEATURES
- Single-channel tube compression in a two-slot 500-series module
- Four new-old-stock 6BJ6 variable-mu tubes in push-pull
- Fully complementary signal path across two gain stages
- Two Cinemag transformers, fully floating balanced input and output
- Continuously variable attack and recovery time
- Single and Double time constants
- Hard-wire bypass switch with gold-plated contacts
- US-made Simpson gain reduction meter
- Stainless steel chassis, gold-plated edge connector
- Side-accessible meter zero trim
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: single-channel variable-mu tube compressor, 500-series format
- Rack space: two slots
- Gain reduction tubes: 4x 6BJ6, US new old stock
- Topology: fully complementary push-pull, two gain stages
- Transformers: Cinemag, fully floating input and output
- Controls: continuously variable input and output level, fixed threshold
- Attack and recovery time: continuously variable
- Time constants: Single and Double
- Bypass: hard-wire, gold-plated contacts
- Tube biasing: self-biased, no user adjustment
- Chassis: stainless steel
- Built and tested in the USA
