Crane Song Trakker Compressor

Crane Song

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Product Code: 9999-01687
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The Crane Song Trakker Compressor is a high quality Single Channel Discrete Class A Compressor-Limiter. Functioning either as a musically transparent compressor or as a vintage compressor-limiter, the Trakker can create distinct new sounds or maximize existing ones.

The Crane Song Trakker Compressor has adjustable threshold, attack, release, knee shape, and makeup gain controls. In addition to these controls, a function switch allows the selection of transparent operation or vintage operations such as optical, air optical, soft knee, and hard knee - each with four different amplifier/gain control sounds. The amplifier/gain control sounds are Transparent, Vintage (tube or old style class A), Transparent with VCA artifacts and Vintage with VCA artifacts.

The front panel contains a 22 element VU meter with over load indicator to show gain reduction and allow accurate monitoring of output levels. In the link mode the master unit controls all functions of the slave units except for make-up gain. An additional feature of the Crane Song TRAKKER is the ability to link up to 8 units for surround mixing.

The Crane Song TRAKKER is a maximum-versatility toolkit for solving real-world recording, broadcast, and sound reinforcement problems with the utmost attention to signal quality. From single channel operation to bus compression, the Crane Song TRAKKER can provide an artistic choice of sounds at the flip of a switch.

Crane Song Trakker Compressor Features

  • High quality Single Channel Discrete Class A Compressor-Limiter
  • Functions either as a musically transparent compressor or as a vintage compressor-limiter with selectable hard or soft knee
  • Maximum-versatility toolkit for solving real-world recording, broadcast, and sound reinforcement problems with the utmost attention to signal quality
  • Adjustable threshold, attack, release, knee shape, and makeup gain controls
  • Function switch allows the selection of transparent operation or vintage operations
  • Amplifier/gain control sounds are Transparent, Vintage (tube or old style class A), Transparent with VCA artifacts and Vintage with VCA artifacts
  • Front panel contains a 22 element VU meter with over load indicator
  • Ability to link up to 8 units for surround mixing

Crane Song Trakker Compressor Specifications

  • Input:
    • Type: Floating, Balanced
    • Maximum Input Level: +25 dBm
    • Connectors: XLR; Pin 2 is Sig + , Pin 3 is Sig. , Pin 1 is GND
  • Output:
    • Type: Floating, Balanced
    • Maximum Output Level: +25 dBm
    • Connectors: XLR; Pin 2 is Sig + , Pin 3 is Sig. , Pin 1 is GND
  • Side Chain Connections:
  • Type: Floating, Balanced
  • Balanced Connections: Made by Using a DB-9 Male Connector (Loop Insert, Must be Normaled Back to TRAKKER
  • Unbalanced Connections: Made by Tying the SIG Pin to the GND Pin
    • Connection as Input: Tie at the Signal Source
    • Connection as Output: Tie at the TRAKKER XLR Connector
  • Power: 100, 120, 230,240 volt; 50/60 Hz; 45 watts
  • Fuse Types: MDL .4A Fuse for 100V & 120V, MDL .2A Fuse for 230V & 240V
  • Pilot Lamp: # 7335
  • Shipping Weight: 19 lbs. (8.6 kg)
  • Depth Behind Panel: 10 Inches Plus Cabling
  • Panel Height: 1 Rack Space

Crane Song Trakker Compressor Includes

  • Crane Song Trakker Compressor

2 Reviews Hide Reviews Show Reviews

  • 5
    Swiss-Army knife of compressors
    Gregory Houser

    In a word it's versatile. This is a great do-whatever-you-want to it piece of gear that ought to be a must have in any professional studio. It's built like a tank, but more importantly, it's flexible enough to be useful in most any situation that calls for a compressor. Additionally (as is noted by the manufacturer and several of the more notable names that have reviewed this on sites like GearSlutz, and on countless blogs, etc.), the Trakker has this cool little ability to mimic several other well-known compressors and limiters (I tested this, following the instructions to mimic the 1176 blackface; end result is that I had a very difficult time distinguishing between the Trakker and an actual 1176 that was also sits in my studio... very cool).

  • 5
    Versatility and useful
    Stuart Martin

    Alan Moon suggested these to me two years ago. Since then my studio business has grown tremendously, and these are a consistent part of my mastering and mix signal chain (usually through a Cranesong HEDD and preceded by a TC M6000 MK2, etc). Dave Hill has designed a "swiss army knife" compressor that provides great fidelity, but it also can be aggressive (try the HARD KNEE setting with a 0.1uF cap in the sidechain connector; the snare sound in "Christine" or "Shock Me" comes to mind). Definitely useful and appreciated (www.stonebridgemusic.com).

What We Think

avatar

The Crane Song Trakker really should be a serious compressor for consideration for anyone in the market for an optical style compressor that also craves a lot of control. There are sixteen total compression characters selectable from the Trakker's Character selection switch on the front panel. By following some of the example settings from Crane Song's website, we were able to very quickly dial up some pretty convicing emulations of some rather famous (and sometimes much more expensive as is the case with the Fairchild) compressors. All that aside, the Trakker really allows you to dial in on the total compression characteristc, which is something not traditionally something possible with most optical style compressors. Also, the linking capabilities of the Trakker make it a fantastic choice as for stereo and surround work mixing work. This compressor sounds so good and is so useful that we had a hard time sending it back.

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