Dangerous Music is introducing its next-generation 2-BUS-XT 16-channel mastering-grade analogue summing mixer. The single rack space 2-BUS-XT summing amp delivers the spacious sound stage and sonic performance for which Dangerous Music is renowned and introduces new transformer-driven circuitry that offers unique custom coloration capabilities.
Fully re-engineered from its predecessor, the new 2-BUS-XT leverages the six-layer board summing circuitry of the 2-BUS+, designed by company co-founder Chris Muth, to produce super wide stereo imaging and ultra-high-resolution depth of field with tons of headroom. Unlike other summing units that inherently impose a colour signature on the audio sources, the 2-BUS-XT allows users to dial in as little or as much complexity and excitement to their tracks as they wish via two custom colour circuits, also designed by Muth.
The transformers in the new colour circuits were chosen following extensive listening trials and subtly introduce 2nd order harmonics to produce lower mid-range warmth while preserving top-end articulation. A variable Coherence control creates dimensional asymmetry by progressively elevating the harmonic content by bringing up the detail as the levels are reduced then blending the result with the source mix, in a similar manner to parallel compression. The colour circuitry may be assigned to one or both of channels 15 and 16 or to the mix buss or assigned to an aux send from the DAW. The associated switches offer a true hard-wire bypass of the colour circuitry.
Two mono buttons across input pairs 1-2 and 9-10 enable sources such as vocals or kick drum to be solidly anchored to the centre of the stereo mix. A sum level output trim enables users to manually fade a mix in real time or set the level before A-to-D conversion and final mix buss processing.
Multiple 16-channel 2-BUS-XT units may be stacked to accommodate higher channel counts through the external input. The unit may additionally be paired with the Dangerous 2-BUS+ to give users a total of five different analogue colour circuit options or with the D-BOX+ to add comprehensive monitor control and 24 channels of summing.
Previewed at the recent NAMM Show and scheduled to begin shipping in Q4 2022, the new 2-BUS-XT may be pre-ordered from any Dangerous Music dealer.