TK Audio M/S Station Mastering M/S Processor

TK Audio M/S Station is a multi-function mastering and mix bus processor that packs four tools into two sections. The first is a parallel insert with M/S, the second combines an elliptical EQ, a stereo width control and an advanced cue system. The design is inspired by circuits by Wayne Kirkwood, used by permission.

Your favourite EQ in M/S and with blend

Many treasured processors, vintage ones in particular, have neither M/S nor a mix knob. The insert section encodes the signal to mid (L+R) and side (L-R), so the centre with bass, kick and vocals goes through a different unit than the panned sides. The blend has 16 steps from dry to wet, and Blend Split gives separate controls for mid and side. The sections are linked from the factory, but removing four internal jumpers lets you split them, placing the insert earlier in the chain and the EEQ, width and cue at the very end.

A focused low end and controlled width

The elliptical EQ makes everything below a selected frequency mono, from 36 to 302 Hz in 16 steps. It is a technique from vinyl mastering, where too much bass in the side channel makes the needle bounce and distort, and in a digital master it gives a tighter, more focused low end. The 12 dB filter in the side channel comes with phase correction in the mid channel to keep channel separation high. The width control runs from mono to 200% in 41 steps, and the cue section lets you monitor L, R, stereo, M, S, the insert blend and the signal carried by the EEQ.

KEY FEATURES

• Four tools: M/S insert, elliptical EQ, stereo width and cue
• Parallel insert with 16-step blend
• Blend Split: separate blend for mid and side
• Elliptical EQ (low end mono-maker) with 16 frequencies
• Width control from mono to 200%, 41 steps
• Passive relay-based cue section
• Sections can be unlinked with internal jumpers
• Insert section with its own balanced inputs and outputs

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• EEQ frequencies: 36, 38, 40, 43, 47, 51, 55, 60, 68, 76, 87, 101, 124, 154, 204, 302 Hz
• Cue: Left, Right, Stereo, Mid, Side, Insert cue, EEQ cue
• Max input and output level: +26 dBu
• Input impedance: 20 kOhm, output impedance: 68 Ohm
• Frequency response: 20 Hz to 80 kHz +/-0.1 dB
• Insert section: THD+N dry 0.00022% at +4 dBu, S/N dry 103 dB
• EEQ section: THD+N 0.0004%, S/N 98 dB, crosstalk better than 70 dB
• All sections active: dynamic range 115.5 dB, THD+N 0.0005%
• Power: 115 V or 230 V, 15 VA consumption