Creme Bus Compressor and Mastering Equalizer

The Creme combines a passive EQ based on the Pultec principle and a high end bus compressor in a single device.

Many successful mixing engineers share one thing in common: They mix with a compressor and EQ in the master channel. The EQ is usually set to subtly boost the bass and treble, while the bus compressor compresses the sound by a couple of dB. This gives the engineer an idea of how the mix will sound after mastering, even still during in the mixing stage. It also helps in finding the right volume balance for individual sounds (especially vocals).

The Creme puts the very best of both functions into one device. The passive EQ has been reduced down to the most popular applications: Bass boost, to give greater definition to the bass, and treble boost, to give the mix the necessary shine. The boost has been made switchable to enable total recall and to reduce the boost to more appropriate levels for use on the master channel.

The bus compressor has a few additional functions such as a low-pass filter for the side chain and an additional ratio of 1.5:1 for especially subtle compression.

The placement of the EQ and compressor in the mix can also be switched.

Similarly, the Creme is suitable for use in mastering aswell.

The Compressor

Do you want to softly and inaudibly balance the track or give it a particular rhythmic signature? The Creme’s VCA compressor can do all this.

It´s characteristic and powerful sound can bring every mix to the next level. The compressor can really work hard, giving your mix a more noticeable open and brilliant sound.

The compression is very harmonic in nature, the sound always remains transparent, and the individual instruments find their own place in the mix. The often lamentable loss of high notes in compression simply doesn’t happen here – rather, the signal sounds like it has already been fed through an exciter.

The basses sound like a unified whole and refined with lean dynamics.

The switchable high-pass filter in the side chain ensures that, when required, even heavy bass sounds don’t lead to pumping.

The Equalizer

Passive equalizers with their elaborate circuits with coils and capacitors are still among the most popular sound makers in master compression.

We chose the filter circuitry from the original Pultec for good reason, as it already made our Classic Equalizer a high-performance sound machine.

No other type of EQ manages to sound as good in almost any matter of setting. Soft and silky highs that deserve the name. A bass boost that gives the mix a solid foundation and thrust, without squashing everything into an indistinct nothingness.

We took the filter circuitry from the original Pultec and carefully updated it. Unnecessary controls have been replaced by fixed values. Similarly, unnecessary frequencies have been removed from the mix bus.

All controls have been replaced with rotary switches for greater precision. Limiting the range of settings possible to reasonably required values has made these adjustments much more precise. This gives the Creme its accurate stereo tracking features.

The result is an EQ you really have to hear. Hear it only once, and you’ll forever miss its absence. If you’ve never heard it, it’s that EQ that you’ve always been looking for.

Key Features

Equalizer

Passive EQ (Pultec style)
Bass boost frequencies: 20-30-60-100+140+200 Hz
Bass boost level: 0-5 dB switchable
High boost frequencies: 10-12-16-18-20-24 kHz
High boost level: 0-5 dB switchable

Compressor

Lowcut filter: 60-120 Hz
Attack: 0,1-0,3-1-3-10-30 ms
Release: 100-300-600 ms-1,2s-Auto
Ratio: 1,5-2-4-10
Stepped Potentiometers
Freqency responce: 20 – 40.000 Hz +/- 1,5 dB
Balanced inputs and outputs
Internal power supply with toroidal transformer
Height: 88,4 mm (2U), width: 483 mm, depth: 250 mm

For audio professionals and discerning enthusiasts, achieving an accurate and uncompromising sound reproduction is paramount. The Tegeler Audio Creme studio monitors are engineered to meet the highest standards of sonic fidelity, providing an essential tool for mixing, mastering, and critical listening. When clarity, precision, and dynamic control matter, these monitors deliver a transparent and balanced audio experience that allows you to make confident decisions in your audio work.

One of the standout features of the Tegeler Audio Creme monitors is their expansive frequency response, ranging from 20 Hz to 40 kHz. This means you hear the full spectrum of sound from deep bass to ultra-high frequencies well beyond the standard human hearing range. For the user, this translates into a detailed and nuanced monitoring environment where subtle details and harmonic overtones become audible, ensuring mixes translate well across all playback systems. The high dynamic range of 110 dB ensures that the monitors can handle quiet passages and loud transients without distortion, preserving the integrity of your audio content.

The monitors are designed with a maximum input level of +22 dBu and output level of +24 dBu, along with an input impedance of at least 10 kΩ and output impedance under 600 Ω. Practically, this means the monitors can be integrated seamlessly into professional audio setups, accepting strong input signals without clipping while maintaining optimal signal transfer. The impedance specifications ensure compatibility with a wide range of audio interfaces and preamps, minimizing any loss or coloration of the signal.

Power consumption and operational efficiency are also thoughtfully addressed. Operating on either 230 V~/50 Hz or 115 V~/60 Hz, with a slow-blow fuse rated at 500 mA, the Tegeler Audio Creme monitors consume less than 25 watts during use. This low power draw not only reduces operational costs but also contributes to quieter performance with less heat generation, which is crucial in maintaining a stable and distraction-free studio environment. The physical design is compact yet professional, occupying 2 U of rack space with dimensions of 88.1 mm in height, 483 mm in width, and 250 mm in depth, making it suitable for both dedicated studios and versatile project rooms.

These monitors excel in various studio applications, from detailed audio mixing and mastering to sound design and critical listening sessions. Their precision and clarity allow sound engineers to detect and correct issues that might otherwise be missed on lesser monitors. Whether you are working on music production, post-production for film, or broadcast audio, the Tegeler Audio Creme ensures that what you hear is an honest representation of your work, giving you the confidence to finalize projects with accuracy.

In summary, the Tegeler Audio Creme studio monitors combine superior technical specifications with practical design considerations to deliver a highly reliable monitoring solution. Their wide frequency response, high dynamic range, and robust electrical characteristics make them an indispensable asset for any professional audio environment. Investing in these monitors means investing in the quality and precision of your audio production, enabling you to achieve mixes that stand up to the highest industry standards. With the Tegeler Audio Creme, you can trust that every detail is faithfully reproduced, empowering your creative decisions with clarity and confidence.