Flavour DAC into the Maselec MTC-2
The Violectric V800 is not just a reference digital-to-analogue converter — it is a colour DAC, deliberately chosen to sit as a flavour stage ahead of the Maselec MTC-2 mastering transfer controller. When a stem or stereo mix is routed back into the analogue chain for final moves, the V800 provides the musical first impression: dense, slightly relaxed, and naturally three-dimensional.
Why a dedicated flavour DAC
The capture path at Dimension Mastering is already handled by the Maselec MTC-2 and PMC conversion, but the return path benefits from a different voice. The Violectric brings a sense of weight and low-end solidity without masking detail. Going into the MTC-2, it lets us commit final analogue processing moves while hearing the file as a finished record rather than as a session print.
In use
Used as an alternate DAC feeding the Maselec MTC-2, the V800 is switched in when the material calls for a warmer, more saturated monitoring perspective before final decisions. It feeds the same Crane Song Avocet and PMC IB2 SE mains, but with the analogue gain structure and colour of the MTC-2 in between, it becomes part of a two-stage chain: digital-to-analogue via Violectric, then level, pan and transfer via Maselec.
How it sits in our chain
Default conversion in and out of the Maselec MTC-2 is Prism Sound, which also feeds the Trinnov for monitoring. The V800 is one of three alternative DAC options on the MTC-2 alongside the Crane Song HEDD and Benchmark DAC1 — chosen when a mix wants weight and body rather than the Prism's straight reference read.
Hardware info
German-built four-channel reference conversion, positioned as a flavour DAC in the Dimension Mastering chain rather than a transparent utility box.
Hear it on your record
Book a master
This chain is available on every stereo and stem master we deliver from Manchester.