THE NEW tfpro P38EX
The flagship tfpro P38 stereo mastering compressor, after 4 years of manufacture, has become a recognised and wonderfully effective tool for stereo bus compression, drum tracks, complete mixes and final mastering; it achieves a warm analogue sound, and a depth that's missing from digital mixes.
The new P38EX retains the warm opto circuitry; in fact it has all the functions of the 'Edward', plus a revised front face, and advanced functions so that today's engineers can use this superior compression in new ways.
An engineering trick that has developed over the last couple of years is to introduce EQ and even dynamics into the compression sidechain.
The new tfpro P38EX has an additional switch on the front panel giving sidechain access via jack sockets on the rear panel.
A further trick (unintentionally invented by Ted Fletcher himself!) is to mix an element of uncompressed signal with the compressed output; the effect of this is to produce a compressed sound without destroying the transients. In fact, the P38 compressor does this anyway; it is one of its major advantages as a mastering compressor and is a function of the opto circuitry invented by Ted.
But now engineers can use the effect to extremes with the P38EX as it has a 'full sweep' mix control on the front panel.
The function is to mix in an element of the incoming stereo signal after it has been pre-amplified by the P38EX input stage. This provides a direct mix signal that is corrected for phase and volume level.
Both the old and the new models feature the successful additional input gain switching (for high levels of compression), soft limiting for maximum mastering level, a variable width control and balance adjust as well as full control of compression from the lightest touch to the fiercest punch.
The original P38 gives great range to compression effects, added tightness, a great holding together with warmth and presence.
The new P38EX has all that and added functionality, and is available now.