Crane Song HEDD Mastering AD/DA Converters with Legendary Tape Sat Effect
Crane Song HEDD Mastering AD/DA Converters with Legendary Tape Sat Effect
Conversion plus the tape effect
The Crane Song HEDD is a mastering AD/DA converter with something no other converter offers: Dave Hill's Pentode, Triode and Tape Emulation algorithms running in the digital domain at the point of conversion.
The tape control
Turn the Tape control up a few units and transient peaks soften exactly the way they do on a well-aligned machine — the master gets louder without a limiter and without losing punch. It is one of the most-used single controls in our entire chain.
Pentode and triode
Pentode adds odd-order edge and presence; triode adds even-order warmth. On a modern master a small amount of triode is often all that separates a mix that sounds "digital" from one that sounds finished.
How it sits in our chain
The Prism Sound Dream ADA-8XR is our main DAC and ADC on the Maselec MTC-2 and the feed to the Trinnov. The HEDD is one of the alternatives on both sides of that: a selectable DAC option out of the MTC-2, and a selectable ADC option for capture when the tape, pentode and triode colour belongs on the record rather than the Prism's neutrality.
Hardware info
Hand-built in Wisconsin in small numbers, the HEDD is a premium mastering converter and the tape section alone justifies its place.
Hear it on your record
Book a master
This chain is available on every stereo and stem master we deliver from Manchester.