Crane Song STC-8
Discrete Class A stereo compressor / peak limiter
Compressor / Limiter$4,449Manufacturer list price
Specifications
- Type
- Compressor / Limiter
- Description
- Discrete Class A stereo compressor / peak limiter
- Topology
- discrete Class A audio path, proprietary VCA-less/optical-less gain-control circuit, switchable 'KI' mode second-harmonic enhancement
- Signal path
- Analog
- Channels
- 2
- Channel format
- true stereo or discrete independent dual-mono (front-panel switchable)
- Form factor
- 2U rackmount
- Rack units
- 2
- Powered
- yes
- Power (W)
- 55
- Frequency response
- 5Hz-55kHz (Hara mode)
- Introduced
- 1996
- Country of manufacture
- USA
Details
Controls: Threshold, attack (fast/slow), release (fast/slow + program-dependent release), limiter ceiling and make-up gain, mode switch (KI sound), stereo/dual-mono link, ~9 stored presets
I/O: Balanced, transformerless XLR inputs and outputs
Notable use: Widely used in mastering and broadcast for overload protection and vintage-style compression coloration
Notes: Price varies notably by dealer/aggregator: figures found ranged from ~$3,515 to $4,449; used $4,449 ('retails new' per aggregator) as the best available figure — flagged as approximate street price, not confirmed MSRP. A mastering variant, STC-8/M, is sold as a separate current SKU (see other catalog entry).