While we're on the subject, will there really be a cranium?! :p I'm imagining some robotic engineer or something...

‘THORAX’ is the new valve channel strip soon to be released by Sebatron.
It is :
Valve Mic pre and D.I. , passive equalizer followed by opto-compressor….(also functional as a pre)

‘THORAX’ is very near completion. :cool:
The preamp has been well sorted. :d:

Yes there will be a CRANIUM Freaky…….think about it.

CRANIUM at this stage is a dual valve and solid state mic pre ….switchable between topologies.It is also equipped with a switchable parallel/series configuration switch which will allow you to run the appropriate gain stages in series or parallel.
The unit also features a single V.U meter that can be switched to monitor channel one
or channel two , or the average between the two.
Due for release in a few months. ;)

Any info on costs for both units???

Seb,

Cranium sounds like it's gonna be one hell of a product....... :tu:

:p:

Rod

Costs?….
..lemme work it out at the end. :D

THORAX looks like around the vmp-4000e …as far as costs go.

CRANIUM is a bit more ‘consumer’ , … a bit more ‘product-like’ shall we say…
….maybe around 2000e… if I can fit it in. ;)

THORAX continues to evolve gracefully:
I’ve spent almost a full week on the A/R factor , now I have to consolidate the circuit changes. I’ve added three extra gain stages and extra RC networks to the control voltage bus of the opto-coupler.
Be Bop A Lola. :w:

Both sound yummy! I can hardley wait! :tu:

Well I’ve been going quite a while now , and I’ve made some major tweaks.
The pre now rolls off around 60 khz which is pretty cool….after input transformer.

10 hz to 60 khz +/- 2 db.
In one mode it hits around 88 khz before roll off.

It’s amazing how +2 db at 60 khz can make all the difference…..
… gives a kind of ‘ completeness ‘ to the upper register ….
More in your face with detail.
Keep in mind the logarithmic nature of the audio spectrum as the distances between points appear closer higher up.

These are better specs than my vmp range.

There’s a little dip around 3.3 khz to 6 khz ,… which is why I call it THORAX …I guess.
This takes all the brittleness out of brittle.

The comp is feed-forward type , located after the E.Q.
I’m getting about 30 – 35 db of infinity to one….. before 10:1 or something like that.

Total clean gain of both components (comp and pre ) in the vicinity of 80 – 90 db. :d:

If the pursuit were an exercise in the perception of the ‘Canine ‘ frequency and completely flat response , the unit would no doubt end up sounding like an RNP or Mackie pre….One of the same species.
Undeniably a wide bandwidth …. but there’s already enough of that out there. :cool:

MUSIC ALWAYS PREVAILS

:w:

Hmm, ~Seb~, talking to yourself the last couple of days? Kind of slow here, maybe you need to give away some more gear :-) But since it's quiet here I'd like to take the chance to say how much I'm enjoying using the vmp2000e and to thank you for the personal note you sent asking how it was going. I was impressed and gratified to see the level of commitment it showed. I have many pennies to save thanks to Apple pretty much forcing me into a g5 and all of the attending software upgrades, but will look forward to the release of Thorax. Thankfully, good sounding hardware doesn't need updating :-)

I live literally across the street from the Atlantic here in SC, USA, and we have a nasty hurricane coming, so I have to pack up everything and head for the hills. I'll check back from points unknown to see if there's more news. Cheers.

Hello SEBATRON!!!
How is the progress with the THORAX going? I am soooo in love with the vmp 4000 I have I am sitting on the edge of my seat in anticipation of the release of the THORAX with all the improvments you have mentioned. I feel like a kid waiting for the last day of school before summer vaction. What is the status of the THORAX??? Kurt

[ September 25, 2003, 02:23 AM: Message edited by: Kurt Foster ]

Man, I second that Kurt! I did some children voice-overs with the vmp 4000 last week and it was so nice. Really impressed Seb. Can't wait to have a THORAX here.

Keep up the fine work. :c:

Originally posted by Sebatron:

A certain musical tone that cannot be quantified in specification.
THE TONE OF SOUL.

:) At last the connection is made. Ruler flat, non distorted signal paths are available to preserve the musical character of the original sound. Sound from gear designed for musical quality.

History shows the evolution from gear that took the bite out of vinyl to gear with near perfect square wave reproduction, low IM, and THD, back to gear that takes the bite out of digital.

Pass the rubber hammer please, I want to remember this moment. :d:

Really glad you are here Seb!

--Rick

I just LOVE my 4000e. I keep going to it first.

And last.

It really has "soul".

Bowisc

So make the Thorax happen.

Those cases are collecting a lot of dust.

Bowisc

The first handful of THORAX have left the lab…
…and I’m collecting all the relevant information from the current users to make any adjustments tweeks etc…
Unfortunately it’s a drawn out process but it will mean a super product.

I have a brief quote from the lucky barstard who bought numbers one and two….

“The recording session turned into a party and I am quite shabby today. We
had a toast to you in my backyard.
I now understand you food / organic references - the sound is just so
wholesome. Last night I had this pro muso who couldn't stop himself - the
sound is so good it just makes you want to play.
Everybody likes the styling and the green lights!
Overall the level of fidelity is just superb and the features are really
well conceived. I can't find anything at all that is not useful. I find the
compressor very subtle - not slow and pumpy. I also find the ratio control
does not dig in aggressively. It is so easy to do good and almost impossible
to do evil with it.
Bass - Never heard better - the eq is just super. I understand why you
monitor loud.
Line 6 - modelling guitar into D.I- I did not think that this thing could possibly
sound this good. Really - I could dial up get the sweetest acoustic
sounds, mellow jazz, biting rockabilly, and big rock sounds. The THORAX
just seems to make up what was lacking.
Vocals - I did get a beautiful rich sound with my Rode NT1000. On the very
first session I recorded a more human / intimate sound than I ever have.
You seem to hear the person not the machine.
Thorax loves a sm57 alright. ”

You see… two problems already…. :cool:

:w:

I read with interest in the post above how this guy (cant remember his name) never thought his line6 whatever it is could sound so good.

Well if anyone is wondering believe it!! I have the VMP4000E and was blown away completely with how it made my J station sound, which is another guitar amp modelling gizmo.

I still love real amps for the real thing, always will, but the J has gone up in use here rapidly purely through how the VMP makes it sound, I really couldnt believe the improvement, sounds like a different box totally. Anyhoo, my 2c....

Originally posted by timster:
I read with interest in the post above how this guy (cant remember his name) never thought his line6 whatever it is could sound so good.

Well if anyone is wondering believe it!! I have the VMP4000E and was blown away completely with how it made my J station sound, which is another guitar amp modelling gizmo.

I still love real amps for the real thing, always will, but the J has gone up in use here rapidly purely through how the VMP makes it sound, I really couldnt believe the improvement, sounds like a different box totally. Anyhoo, my 2c....

I have to agree here too. Tried the J-Station and heard some very interesting improvements. Keyboards and drum-machines also get a very unique flavah.

Bowisc

Seb, my brazilian Australian "friend" sems to have disappeared. If he were an audio engineer I would say he decided to keep it with him.
No phone , no emails etc etc.
Would you please when you have one minute of your precious time try to call him or look for his home phone number
thanks

Sebatron is in new York for the AES show...