Tegeler Audio Manufaktur _ Magnetismus II [Review]

Seb / S-Tek from AG – KW puts this VCA Compressor / Transient Shaper through its paces..

The Magnetismus II from Tegeler Audio Manufaktur, located in Berlin, is a VCA based Compressor with an  integrated Transient Shaper. The concept is to form the outgoing transients behind the Compressor to glue them better in the mix like a Tape Reel.

The Compressor part works fast, clean and very well like a normal VCA based compressor without coloring the sound. Apart from “attack” and “release”, all typical elements of a compressor are there. Attack and Release is combined in the “Time” knob which has a control range from 1 to 9, with higher numbers you get a slower attack and release times. There is no option to change the settings to a faster attack and slow release or a slow attack and short release times in example to safe transients while compressing. But for those who need an allround compressor for nearly everything in the mix, you’re right with the Magnetismus 2.

The fastest attack time is 7ms and the fastest release time is 11ms. That is good enough for drums and percussion. If you change the Ratio knob to OFF there will be no compression. Ratio has the following values: 1.5:1, 2:1, 4:1, 8:1 and LIMIT. So you can also use the Mangetismus 2 as a limiter and that works great as well. Steps between all values are also easy to use because of the stepped potentiometers – quite nice for mastering!

The Transient Shaper is described in the manual as follows..

With the Flux Mode Option you can change the width of transients that will be curved and edited by the Transient Shaper. The option Eisen has the biggest width while Nickel has the smallest amount. The transients will be pushed first to cut them down and curve or bend after that. You will get a similar sound like Tape Reel.

I can confirm that it works well for bass heavy material or songs with a lot of high end. Eisen, Kobalt, Nickel are the options available and they sound different for different material. I think Eisen is the best for bass heavy material or to bring back an analogue feel and warmth to harsh sounding digital songs, because the high ends will be lower leveled there and the whole range of mids and basses then receive a nice little distortion, giving it a rounder result.

In combination with the make up gain on higher levels for mild distortion or total dEsTRoYiNG, the flux function is KILLER! With the compression, if you’ve lost some high ends, you can try FLUX Mode in Kobalt or Nickel mode to bring back the highs. It sounds similar to an exciter or tape saturation. With shelving, the highs depend on value and intensity.

Wav sound examples available from Archive.org

Also published in German by AG-KW on their blog

Pro
– Nice look and feel.
– Typical VCA based clean sound. Magnetismus II is also great as a Sub/Grouping or Buss Compressor.
– Big and bright VU meter.
– Stepped Knobs and Potentiometers.
– Flux / Transientshaper is a real added value.
– Gain reduction and VU meter for Output and Flux Level separated.
– Make Up Gain and Output Knobs also seperated. Output is your Master Level and Make Up gain is only the intensity, which goes into FLUX or for saturation and distortion.
– Distortion with Make Up Gain sounds phat.
– Ratio and/or Threshold on level zero and you can use it as normal Preamp / Saturator.
– Flux also useable without using Compressor function.
– Bypass will not mute the whole unit (good for inserts, the sound will only go through input – output).

Cons
– Timing indicator could be better. You have to consult the manual.
– No different Attack and Release times possible.
– No Pre/Post mode for FLUX/Transient Shaper.
– The digital LED chain for showing you the gain reduction is not very useful. They should improve it like a 1176LN,  where the VU-Meter shows the gain reduction or output next time.This metering will be better for the FLUX level.
– Only XLR on the rear side. Some Neutrik Combi jacks would be better (XLR / TRS) and not much more expensive.
– Layout of knobs on front panel is a bit confusing the first time.
– No reference for the Threshold Level.

Price
ca. 1250,00 EUR

Tegeler Audio Manufaktur
http://www.tegeler-audio-manufaktur.de

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S-Tek / AG – KW

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