Sound Performance Lab Gain Station 8 2383 - Manual (Page 6)

6 GainStation 8
This cutting-edge technology ensures that signals recorded
with the GainStation 8 have more presence and substance and
will easily cut through a mix even at lower levels. Extremely
low-frequency signals are tight and transparent with clear into-
nation. Percussive transients are interpreted more precisely,
which leads to a clearer rhythmic content and in turn a more
solid rhythmic performance and perception.
If the GainStation 8 is used as a preamp, musicians will imme-
diately notice that they hear and feel what they are playing
much better, which leads to improved playing and a better
recording. The track will have more punch and dynamics, greatly
improved presence and almost palpable detail. In short, the
instrument sounds incredibly authentic and alive. Beta-tests
with the GainStation 8 showed that all instrumentalists enjoyed
playing more and in many cases were truly amazed at what their
trusty instrument was capable of.
Given this improvement in the input signal, one is much less
inclined to equalize and compress—in many cases you will prob-
ably find that you can do without additional processing, which
not only saves an enormous amount of time and processor
power, but also has an extremely positive effect on the final
result.
The GainStation 8 itself offers effective sound-shaping capabil-
ities at recording, most notably via the tube stage, which can
be completely bypassed or continuously added to the preamp
circuit, allowing everything from extremely subtle “warmth“ to
a very noticeable tube saturation effect. The integrated limiter
can be used to protect an internal or external AD converter
from clipping, or for example to add punch to drum tracks,
which in turn reduces or in many cases even eliminates the
need for subsequent compression. Put simply, the more tracks
are recorded with the GainStation 8, the more solid and trans-
parent—and easier to mix—the entire recording will be.
Introduction