The Sum Adjust family, the star of the Teknosign lineup, is made up of four professional summing amplifiers: the Sum Adjust Classic, Sum Adjust LT, Sum Adjust Junior and Sum Adjust PRO. The best of two worlds: the analog of the '80s and the digital of 2016.
Photo 1: Teknosign's demo rack with some of its products and a computer for controlling the units digitally
16-channel analog amplifier
The Sum Adjust Classic is a fully analog sixteen-channel professional amplifier offering continuously variable attenuation and pan control thanks to a switch or pot under each channel. It also features a custom toroidal transformer, an EMI filter and a modular design. Each channel is mounted on a single board specially designed with Surface Mounted Technology, a technology that allows small parts to be mounted very close together in order to optimize the audio traces.
The unit has a balanced linear power supply, plus an auxiliary output and input for connecting other units. Claudio Furno, technical director of Teknosign, introduces the amplifier by saying that «every audio professional knows that no matter how sophisticated the “mixing box” is, it will never deliver the sound of '70s consoles. The reason is the —seemingly simpler— process of sound transmission, which is a sum of audio signals. Digital mixes lack something: nuance, detail and precision. When the process is carried out in analog, the differences are obvious. With the Sum Adjust Classic you can have the best of analog recording studios on your digital workstation. The result is unmatched».
The best of two worlds: analog and digital
The other members of the Sum Adjust Family also have unique features aimed at living up to their slogans «the best of both worlds» and «digitally controlled analog circuits». In addition, this year the amplifier family has gained new members: the new Gain mic preamp and the On Air studio monitor (display), which have the advantage of being digitally controlled from the other units via a switch. The Sum Adjust Junior, meanwhile, is one of the Italian company's key products, an amplifier that delivers the best analog sound. Inspired by mid-1980s consoles, each channel of the Sum Adjust Junior is equipped with a digital audio attenuator offering a whopping sixty-four different attenuation steps. Each channel is mounted on a board designed, once again, with Surface Mounted Technology. And as a major new feature, it can be controlled via a special plug-in and a bidirectional USB port.
* Photo 2. Sum Adjust Junior, the key model in the Sum Adjust range, a professional 16-channel analog unit with "digital Total Recall"
The technology used to balance and attenuate the inputs allows rigorous level control without any degradation of the audio signal. The advantage of summing and controlling the overall balance in analog is that the final mix is deep and precise, something impossible to achieve with a digital desk. Another advantage of the Sum Adjust Junior, inspired by Total Recall consoles, is the ability to control the unit via a plug-in inside the DAW. It also makes it possible to create different mixes for each audio track and save them in the plug-in's memory, as well as automate every parameter.
A pro version for tight budgets
The Sum Adjust LT has the same audio features as its little brother, the Junior. Its aim is to satisfy professionals on tight budgets without them having to sacrifice the quality of their mix. To cut costs, the input channel attenuators have been removed and there's just one on the master output. Even so, the ability to link channels on the stereo bus remains. It also shares many features with the Sum Adjust Junior. That makes the LT perfect for combining with larger units or for complementing other professional amplifiers.
For studio and live recording
Another member of the family is the Sum Adjust PRO: based on the same core as the Junior and the LT, this sixteen-channel amplifier has a few extra features that make it a perfect tool for both studio and live recording.
* * PHOTO 3. Sum Adjust PRO. Professional product in the “Sum Adjust” family, ideal for studio and live recording.
It's also equipped with a two-digit seven-segment display above each channel showing the exact attenuation in dB. It has three masters —both stereo and mono—, 16 XLR inputs, two Tascam DB25 inputs, an additional input for adding more units and an external master insert where other devices can be connected. The amplifier is also equipped with an external output for a VU metering unit that Teknosign will bring to market in the coming months.
Pro mic preamp
GAIN, for its part, is a two-channel mic preamp that lets you control gain and attenuation. In addition, four buttons per channel provide a 20 dB pad, 48V phantom power, Phase Reverse and mic or instrument selection. It also has a custom transformer and an op-amp on each channel, along with a toroidal transformer for the power supply.
* Photo 4. Teknosign GAIN. Fully analog two-channel PRO mic preamp, class A with digital control
Keeping recordings free of interference and noise
The Noise Buster is a professional power conditioner that helps keep recordings free of interference and noise. This unit aims to improve sound quality by eliminating clicks, pops and background hum. It can also keep the voltage under control, with a three-digit seven-segment display, feeding six 2000W outlets.
* Photo 5. The “Noise Buster” power conditioner, an essential element in home studios. It protects recordings from noise present on the mains
Message display connected to the DAW
On Air is a professional multipurpose studio (visual) monitor that provides great visibility even from a distance. It connects to a digital audio workstation (DAW) via a USB cable that sends different messages. It's also possible to display any alphanumeric text associated with a MIDI note recorded in the sequencer. This makes it possible to send specific information to session musicians or singers. In addition, via the remote control option, On Air can be connected from a distance with an Ethernet cable.
* Photo 6. Teknosign On Air. A 16-character alphanumeric display that can be controlled from the DAW itself, via USB or Ethernet
16 XLR - Tascam DB25 multi-adapter
The XLR adapter is a simple unit that provides 16 XLRs on Tascam DB25 connectors. This unit can be connected via DB25-DB25 (Mogami, Proco or Redco) to any product that supports Tascam, Fostex or Digidesign DB25.
* Photo 7. Teknosign. Patchbays with XLR connectors on the front (M, F, X) and DB25 on the back. Like a cable, but rack-mounted.
