by Claudio

Sep 28, 2016

The Swift is a two-channel valve equaliser from Thermionic Culture that it combines circuit design derived from the famous EMI Redd desk and the Pultec equaliser.

As you would expect from Thermionic Culture this is an all-tube unit, handmade in Britain, built like a tank and designed for excellence.

WATCH THE SWIFT IN ACTION ON OUR VIDEO:

The main panel is divided into seven sections, each one with independent controls. From left to right the sections are laid out as follows:

Bass – Mid cut – Mid lift – Presence – Treble – Air – Filters

The Swift also has independent gain controls for each channel, 6dB attenuators, as well as bypass switches. This unit is really intuitive to operate, it’s got plenty of controls and an impeccable phase correlation, which makes it perfect for both mixing and mastering applications.

The Swift EQ

The unique presence control is unlike any EQ of this class: it’s great to increase the impact of vocals, guitars and drums, superb to augment perceived loudness, and free from harshness or artefacts.

The high-pass filter works really well in conjunction with the bass control to obtain that famous Pultec EQ effect, where the low end can be boosted and be attenuated at the same time, to obtain a more compact and fuller bass.

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The air parameter is subtle, yet very effective for achieving that sense of shine on vocals, acoustic instruments and programmed material.

The level of distortion is amongst the lowest you can find on a modern EQ and the unit sounds overall very warm, natural and exciting. We have found it to work really well on an instrument and vocal buses, mix bus and when EQing for enhancement.

THERMIONIC CULTURE THE SWIFT: CONTROLS

Bass
Range: ±11dB
Curve type: shelving
Frequency: selectable 50Hz or 100hz.

Mid Cut
Range: -5, 10 or 15 dB
Frequency: selectable 1, 2, 3 or 4.5 kHz

Mid Lift
Range: +8, 10 or 17dB
Frequency: selectable 1, 2, 3 or 4.5 kHz

Presence
Range: +4dB
Frequency: selectable 0.9, 2 or 4kHz

Treble
Range: ±11dB
Curve type: shelving
Frequency: selectable 7kHz or 12kHz

Air
Range: +5dB
Frequency: 7KHz- 30kHz

High Pass Filter
12dB/Oct- 6dB down at 12, 24, 48 or 68Hz

thermionic-culture-the-swift-frequency-response-bass-hi-pass-filters

thermionic-culture-the-swift-frequency-response-mid-cut-mid-lift

thermionic-culture-the-swift-frequency-response-air-presence-treble

THERMIONIC CULTURE THE SWIFT: SPECS
Frequency Response- +0.5 / -1 dB 12 Hz to 40 kHz
THD (measured at 1kHz &100Hz)- At +4 dBu 0.01%
Noise (below max o/p level –MOL)- -115 dB
Gain- -10.5 to +3 dB in 0.75 steps
Input impedance- 10 kΩ
Output impedance- 250Ω

– DIMENSIONS:
48.26cm (width) x 13.34cm (height) x 43.00cm (depth)
– WEIGHT:
7kg
– PRICE (new):
UK = £2,750
USA = $3,399
EUROPE = €3,499
– PRICE (used):
UK = none found
USA = none found
EUROPE = none found

Download the Thermionic Culture “The Swift” User Manual in PDF format here.
Download the printable recall sheet template here.

For more information about Thermionic Culture’s The Swift please visit: http://www.thermionicculture.com/index.php/products/the-swift-detail

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