frederic
New member
Symetrix 488 Dynasqueeze
I'm going to type a large blurb because this unit fits a specific need rather than a more generic "anyone would want this" type of role in a recording studio. I'm selling it not because it's broken or damaged, but rather I'm really not using it anymore as my analog/digital hybrid pro-studio is long gone, and my home studio is completely digital. You should see my lightpipe snakes
Anyway, this unit was marketed towards studios having analog consoles, with digital recorders whether Adat, tascam, or hard drive based. As you know digital recorders are awesome in clarity, media life, and repeatability, but often don't sound as "warm" as their analog reel to reel brethren. This device, was designed to bridge the gap bring more analog warmth to your tracks recorded on your digital recorder.
This translates to higher average recording levels, increases presence, level matching with consoles and recorders, and the unit has a minimum component signal path which in it's day was "the bomb". Nowadays, there are many comparible units, but they aren't eight channels like the Symetrix 488.
Maximum compression is 38db, the outputs are selectable between -10db and +4db so it works well with pro and consumer grade recording equipment, and all eight compressors are "soft knee". The inputs are balanced TRS and the outputs are unbalanced TS jacks (all our quarter-inch phone jacks if that wasn't obvious).
When I was using this unit constantly, I used it for a different purpose, actually. At the time my pro studio consisted of an 8-bus analog console, and two 24 track analog recorders. This Symetrix unit sat on the outputs of the eight busses, between that console and a small digital mixer, which gave s/pdif out to a CD recorder. This was our studio's attempt to keep the analog warmth as far down the "pipes" as possible, and it worked very well I might add. So I used it more in a mastering environment more than a mixing environment - but it's equally useful in either process.
One feature that I found to be critical - which may or may not interest you - is that the power supply is built in - no wall wart. I hate wall warts, and I always have gone out of my way to avoid them when possible. Instead, it uses an ordinary computer power cord which of course I will include (though it's probably not the original cord - I've moved twice since my pro studio went away).
I don't have the original box, or the orginal manual, however I will gladly print out, email, or make available via FTP to the buyer the PDFs of the manual, the specification sheet, and the two pages of schematics. Yes, that's right, I have the schematics.
There are some minor scratches on the top of the unit, all the way in the back, and there is a slight amount of rack rash because when it was installed in my long-gone pro studio whoever mounted it didn't use the plastic washers like they were supposed to. It's clean otherwise.
$400 plus actual shipping from the 07067 zip code, I am in north-central NJ.
Please note that I have always had a ton of problems with PM's for some reason, and I apologize for that. I think it's because I use "Lynx" in text mode under linux rather than Windows... but that's another story. You can email me directly if you are interested: frederic (at) midimonkey (dot) com, I generally read my email every day.
Note: I'm spelling all this out because of the recent "possible fraud" going on with some sellers here and people's fear that everyone selling could be a dirtbag. I've been here since 2000 and have approximately 2300 posts to my name... so hopefully that by itself resolves the "Fred's not a dirtbag seller" fear
I'm going to type a large blurb because this unit fits a specific need rather than a more generic "anyone would want this" type of role in a recording studio. I'm selling it not because it's broken or damaged, but rather I'm really not using it anymore as my analog/digital hybrid pro-studio is long gone, and my home studio is completely digital. You should see my lightpipe snakes
Anyway, this unit was marketed towards studios having analog consoles, with digital recorders whether Adat, tascam, or hard drive based. As you know digital recorders are awesome in clarity, media life, and repeatability, but often don't sound as "warm" as their analog reel to reel brethren. This device, was designed to bridge the gap bring more analog warmth to your tracks recorded on your digital recorder.
This translates to higher average recording levels, increases presence, level matching with consoles and recorders, and the unit has a minimum component signal path which in it's day was "the bomb". Nowadays, there are many comparible units, but they aren't eight channels like the Symetrix 488.
Maximum compression is 38db, the outputs are selectable between -10db and +4db so it works well with pro and consumer grade recording equipment, and all eight compressors are "soft knee". The inputs are balanced TRS and the outputs are unbalanced TS jacks (all our quarter-inch phone jacks if that wasn't obvious).
When I was using this unit constantly, I used it for a different purpose, actually. At the time my pro studio consisted of an 8-bus analog console, and two 24 track analog recorders. This Symetrix unit sat on the outputs of the eight busses, between that console and a small digital mixer, which gave s/pdif out to a CD recorder. This was our studio's attempt to keep the analog warmth as far down the "pipes" as possible, and it worked very well I might add. So I used it more in a mastering environment more than a mixing environment - but it's equally useful in either process.
One feature that I found to be critical - which may or may not interest you - is that the power supply is built in - no wall wart. I hate wall warts, and I always have gone out of my way to avoid them when possible. Instead, it uses an ordinary computer power cord which of course I will include (though it's probably not the original cord - I've moved twice since my pro studio went away).
I don't have the original box, or the orginal manual, however I will gladly print out, email, or make available via FTP to the buyer the PDFs of the manual, the specification sheet, and the two pages of schematics. Yes, that's right, I have the schematics.
There are some minor scratches on the top of the unit, all the way in the back, and there is a slight amount of rack rash because when it was installed in my long-gone pro studio whoever mounted it didn't use the plastic washers like they were supposed to. It's clean otherwise.
$400 plus actual shipping from the 07067 zip code, I am in north-central NJ.
Please note that I have always had a ton of problems with PM's for some reason, and I apologize for that. I think it's because I use "Lynx" in text mode under linux rather than Windows... but that's another story. You can email me directly if you are interested: frederic (at) midimonkey (dot) com, I generally read my email every day.
Note: I'm spelling all this out because of the recent "possible fraud" going on with some sellers here and people's fear that everyone selling could be a dirtbag. I've been here since 2000 and have approximately 2300 posts to my name... so hopefully that by itself resolves the "Fred's not a dirtbag seller" fear
I've tried it and also found a Lynx for windows, it was fast. I used to use Lynx back in the day, when I used winsock on 3.1 and dial up to Unix shell on Panix, back when the web was non-commercial....