The SPL Track One Mk3 Premium is a high-quality recording and mixing channel strip with a wide range of processing options for audio signals. For easy operation, there are several high-quality rotary potentiometers and switches on the front panel for setting the desired values and actions. In addition to the "normal" version of the Track One Mk3, the "Premium" version features Lundahl transform ers for the microphone input. The transformer significantly enhances the sound and also provides a gain of up to +14dB, which must then be added to the scaling!
Functions and controls
The Track One Mk3 Premium has two separate preamplifiers. One is the microphone preamp with 48V phantom power, which is activated via the 48V switch, and the other is an instrument preamp. Both pre-amps are designed for a sound-neutral, open and transparent characteristic so that no unwanted aspects are added to the input signal. The microphone pre-amplification can be adjusted from up to 63dB via the gain control, allowing even demanding microphones to reveal their full quality. Line signals can be pre-amplified in a range of -12dB and +22dB, and instrument signals in a range of 0dB and +35dB. The"Line/Inst" function offers the option of processing line signals, such as an analog signal from an audio interface, with the effects of the Track One Mk3 Premium and then recording them again. Also located in the pre-amp section is a high-pass filter with the ability to reduce subsonic noise at 6dB per octave below 80Hz.
In the de-esser section there is an S-reduction control and an "On" switch for switching the filter on and off. The knob can then be used to reduce disturbing S-sounds on vocal tracks as desired. The S frequencies are detected and mixed with the main signal in a phase-inverted manner, whereby the S frequencies are simply deleted from the main signal and can then no longer be heard or are reduced. If an S-sound is detected, a small LED lights up on the right-hand side of the device. This is only active after switching on the de-esser and works independently of the set reduction value.
The Track One Mk3 Premium also comes with a compressor/limiter section. To activate this, the "On" switch must first be activated. The compression knob is used to set a threshold value between 0dB and -20dB, which is then used as the upper limit for the compression. If a level exceeds this value, the compressor intervenes and regulates this level peak so that it fits within the defined dynamic range. If the level is reduced, this is shown visually in 1.5 dB steps on the gain reduction display, which is located on the far right of the device. The make-up gain control, on the other hand, raises the level, which has been reduced by the overall level reduction caused by compression, to the set level. A value from 0dB to 20dB can be set, to which the level is raised again after compression. To turn the compressor of the Track One Mk3 Premium into a limiter, it is necessary to press the limiter switch. This switches the device from compression mode to limiter mode, whereby the compression control is still used to control the threshold. The limiter of the Track One Mk3 works as a soft limiter. The attack and release times of the compressor/limiter are set automatically by the device and thus adapt perfectly to the input signal.
