SPL® Vitalizer MK2-T Plug-In

developed by SPL

Add Clarity and Life to Your Mixes with the Legendary SPL Vitalizer.

The SPL Vitalizer MK2-T plug-in for UAD-2 is a spot-on emulation of the popular tube-based Vitalizer MK2-T hardware unit, a longtime staple of top mixing and post-production engineers. Offering a patented technology for giving program material greater perceived loudness and clarity without unnatural artifacts, the Vitalizer provides independent Bass and Mid-Hi processing that works in both the time and frequency domains to effectively unmask overlapping sounds. As both a fixative and an enhancement tool, the Vitalizer MK2-T plug-in is a mixing must-have.

Features

• Provides a patented technology for program material optimization, unmasking overlapping sounds in a mix
• Intuitive independent Bass and Mid-Hi processing
• Adjustable soft and tight low-frequency Bass enhancement
• Mono, stereo or multi-channel operation
• Extremely easy to understand and use
• Developed for the UAD-2 Powered Plug-Ins platform by SPL
• Requires a UAD-2 DSP Accelerator Card or Apollo Interface available from authorized dealers worldwide
• View All Features

Often imitated but never duplicated, the SPL Vitalizer applies psychoacoustic and audiometric principles to audio without unnatural artifacts — processing only the original signal to verifiably improve overall output. By shifting louder frequencies slightly in time, quieter and formerly overlapping sounds are "unmasked" and made audible. Patented filtering techniques highlight the richness of the audio signal, while the Vitalizer plug-in's interactive parameters make it possible to shape sounds in a musical and effective way, bringing life to tracks. Specifically, music and speech are made clearly distinguishable and comprehensible, loudness is enhanced, and the entire soundscape becomes wider.

History
SPL Vitalizer hardware units have been a fixture in high-end mixing, mastering, and post-production studios for years.The SPL Vitalizer MK2-T hardware is a popular revision which utilizes two 12 AX 7 LPS-double triode tubes. One of them is used within the Mid-Hi Tune filter to give the mid frequencies greater transparency with a soft, unobtrusive sound. The second tube is used within the Stereo Expander, where the stereo image not only gains more width, but also more depth and richness, thanks to pleasant tube harmonics.

Parameters
As with all Vitalizer units, the SPL Vitalizer MK2-T plug-in is very easy to use. Straightforward controls for Drive, independent Equalization (Bass and Mid-Hi), Processing level, Low Cut filter with Intensity, Stereo Expansion, and Output allow set up in seconds. The Bass control lets you choose between dry, percussive bass sound (Tight) or a punchy, deeper sound (Soft). Importantly, bass is accentuated without unnaturally emphasizing low-mid frequencies, and an easy-to-use compressor complements the Bass section.

In Use
The Stereo Vitalizer MK2-T is especially designed for recording, mastering, cutting, and post production work. Used on complete mixes or being inserted into subgroups to treat specific parts of a mix, the Stereo Vitalizer MK2-T plug-in will perform the same task as esoteric and costly hardware equalizers often used for audio sweetening, but with greater tonal flexibility and at a much lower cost. A Vitalizer MK2-T mono version is also included in this package, perfect for creating huge kick drum sounds, cleaning up acoustic and electric guitars, and briging out vocals. 

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Product Parameters

• Drive adjusts the input level to the plug-in from –20 dB to +6 dB
• Bass offers emphasis of two different colors of the low end, variable from "Soft" to "Tight"
• Compression lowers the threshold and increases the ratio of the soft-knee compressor, variable from 0 (Off) to 20 (Max)
• Mid-Hi Tune adjusts the primary filter cut-off frequency, variable from 22 kHz to 1.1 kHz
• Process adjusts the intensity of the effect generated by the Bass and Mid-Hi Tune filters, variable from 0 (Off) to 20 (Max)
• LC-EQ adjusts the cut-off frequency of the LC-EQ filter, variable from 2 kHz to 20 kHz
• Intensity adjusts the amount of the LC-EQ effect mixed with the original signal, variable from 0 (Off) to 20 (Max)
• Stereo Expander adjusts the intensity of the stereo expansion effect, variable from 0 (Off) to 20 (Max)
• Output adjusts the output level of the final combined dry signal and effect, variable from –20 dB to +6 dB
• A/B/C/D Setting buttons store and recall four independent control settings
• Active switch bypasses entire SPL Vitalizer circuit for comparison to original unprocessed signal

See the UAD Instance Chart here

SPL Vitalizer MK2-T Manual.pdf

UAD System Manual

UAD Plug-Ins Manual

UA 2012 Product Catalog.pdf