ATC-2 quick specs. It is in a 2U chassis. It has two high-quality mic preamps and line amps, with both XLR and 1/4” ins and outs in the rear and two high-impedance instrument inputs on the front panel. The mic preamps also have phantom power, and claimed frequency response is up to 40 kHz. The mic input gain has a 60 dB range, ideal for all types of mics, including low-output ribbons. The compression controls are above the EQ controls, and they are the usual attack, release, variable ratio and make-up gain. The EQ section has a 50 Hz high pass filter (where hum lives in England), a -15 to +15 low end (60 or 120 Hz switchable), a low- mid sweep (100 Hz to 1.5 kHz), a high-mid sweep (1 kHz to 15 kHz) and finally a -15 to +15 high end (8 kHz or 12 kHz switchable). There are no Q controls for the EQ stages. The two meters are switchable between gain reduction and output levels. There are switches to insert EQ and compression, to enable phantom power and to couple the two independent compressors. This unit is solidly built, and it looks great.
Recordings of both electric and acoustic guitar sounded great due to the wide range of all the ATC-2’s controls. It has the ability to record ultra-hi-fi or as gritty as you want.
The concept behind the ATC-2 is a return to solid-state circuitry as an alternative to the current proliferation of outboard gear turbo-charged with tubes. I remember that tape in the 70’s was truly warm and noisy (not as good as present-day formulas), and you had to fight to preserve clarity. So many recordings in the 70’s were made through equalizers, preamps, and compressors that Toft’s new ATC-2 emulates. Although the unit is solid-state, the low-end EQ is sweet and warm, and the high-end is clean and shimmering. The compressor can be transparent or very punchy.
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