Sound Skulptor TS500 User manual

www.soundskulptor.com
Document revision 1.1 – Last modification : 21/09/16
Sound Skulptor
TS500 Tape Simulator
User manual
T ank you for purc asing t e TS500 Tape Simulator. We ope t at t is tool will enric your work tec nically and
artistically.
Please note t e security warnings below before you use t is product.
Security
Like any electrical devices t at are mains powered, t e TS500 case must not be opened by an unqualified person.
T e TS500 Tape Simulator is an electrical device t at produces some eat. It must be installed in a ventilated area
w ere t e eat can be naturally removed.
Like any electrical device, t e TS500 must not be in contact wit any kind of liquids. In case of incident (beer, rain or
ot er) immediately disconnect t e TS500 and ave it cleaned/dried by a qualified person.
Description
T e TS500 includes t e electronics of a vintage tape recorder wit input transformer, variable gain input stage, pre-
emp asis stage, recording amplifier, constant current driven tape ead, playback amplifier, NAB de-emp asis stage and a
pure class A output stage driving t e output transformer.
T e TS500 can simulate a tape recorder rolling at 3 different speeds: 7.5 ips, 15 ips and 30 ips. Eac speed gives a
different frequency response.
T e tape can be c osen between 3 formulations giving 3 levels of saturation from lig t to eavy.
Installation
T e lunc box (or rack ) osting t e TS500 must be installed in a well ventilated area. Class A circuits are known be
produce eat. Do not omit t e 2 fixing screws on t e module front plate before moving. T e weig t would put too muc
pressure on t e back connector.
Warning: Avoid installing t e TS500 next to a device t at radiates eavy electromagnetic fields, suc as a power
transformer. T e TS500 circuits are sensitive and um noise could be induced.
Connections
T e TS500 connects to t e rear female XLR for t e audio source and to t e rear male XLR for output.
Pin 1 = Ground, Pin 2 = Hot, Pin 3 = Cold.
Copyrig t ©2016 SoundSkulptor

www.soundskulptor.com
Document revision 1.1 – Last modification : 21/09/16
1. DRIVE potentiometer
Adjusts t e input gain of t e TS500. T e potentiometer action is directly visible on
t e peak-meter as well as on t e effect intensity.
2. Tape speed 7.5”-15”-30”
Modifies t e bandwidt and t e ead bump frequency in t e way a tape recorder
rolling at 7.5, 15, 30 ips would do.
3. Tape saturation
3 tape formulations giving 3 saturation levels from [-] less to [~] medium to [+] more
saturation.
4. BIAS/EQ
Defines ow t e bias and EQ settings of t e recorder will correct t e frequency
response defaults.
Left position: no correction, you get t e ead bump and ig frequency roll off,
Centre position: ead bump only,
Rig t position: full correction, no ead bump, no roll off.
5. Bypass switc
OFF: t e effect is disconnected. T e signal still goes t roug t e input and
output transformers.
MUTE: output is muted.
ON: T e effect is on.
6. Meter
T e ig resolution meter is a tool t at lets you calibrate t e simulation and
get repeatable results. T e clip LED at t e top indicates t at t e signal is
clipping in t e input stages.
7. OUTPUT potentiometer
Adjusts t e output level and allow compensating t e level c anges induced by
t e DRIVE potentiometer. It as no effect on t e simulation.
In use
T e TS500 as several simultaneous effects on t e sound.
Some distortion is produced at low frequencies by t e magnetic material. It is mostly t ird armonic and it as t e effect
of reinforcing t e low end perception. It is present at fairly low levels and increases wit signal amplitude.
T e ultrasonic frequencies are filtered. T is removes some ars ness to t e sound and brings roundness.
At ig levels, a frequency dependent limiting effect is produced by t e emp asis/de-emp asis circuits. Above +4dB,
saturation appears affecting t e ig frequencies first. T e result is a ig frequency roll-off after de-emp asis on t e
level peaks.
T e speed switc modifies t e frequency response:
7.5 ips: low frequencies are privileged
15 ips: balanced response
30 ips: tig t low end and extended ig s
On a stereo mix signal, t e TS500 effect s ould be used wit moderation, t e vu-meter staying mostly in t e green.
On a c annel signal it is possible to pus t e TS500 more. T e effect is remarkable on percussive sounds w ic tolerate
ig modulation levels. T e result is a very warm compression effect.
Copyrig t ©2016 SoundSkulptor