Millennia STT-1 Single Channel Multi Function Vacuum Tube and Solid State Music Recording System

The Origin STT-1 is a single channel music recording system offering a selection of Millennia's core vacuum tube -or- solid state circuits at every function, including mic preamps, line input with gain, opto-compressor/limiters, parametric equalizers, DI instrument input with gain, and opto-de-essers.

Virtually every function is available with 100% Class A, all-discrete J-FET solid state topology or 100% Class A, all triode vacuum tube topology, each topology selectable with the touch of a button. The Origin also offers a choice of transformer-coupled or transformerless audio paths, all switch selectable.

ORIGIN has been called the Mambo Combo* of all-in-one recording channels and could very quickly become among the only front-end analog paths you'll ever need. With over 130 different product combinations in one 2U rack chassis, and the associated range of sonic possibilities, the STT-1 is designed for the producer/engineer/musician who doesn't have large blocks of time to spend patching and repatching racks of analog front-end gear trying to achieve "that sound." Now, in one chassis, it's possible to easily and quickly patch Class-A vacuum tube equipment with Class A discrete solid state equipment, transformer-coupling and non-transformer coupling, various inputs and outputs; it's -all- here in one compact chassis. The STT-1 vastly expands the range of every artist's sonic pallette at a price/performance level previously unknown in professional audio.

For example, select the transformerless M-2 vacuum tube mic preamp feeding the NSEQ discrete solid state parametric EQ. Or select the transformerless solid state line level input feeding the vacuum tube gain amplifier, routed into the vacuum tube TCL compressor and vacuum tube NSEQ parametric EQ. Or plug an electronic instrument (guitar, bass, etc..) into the vacuum tube DI input and feed this to the solid state gain amplifier, and compress it with the TCL solid state opto-compressor. Or use the acclaimed HV-3 solid state mic amplifier, the choice of top audio professionals worldwide, routed via transformer-coupling to both the direct mic preamp output and NSEQ solid state parametric EQ and solid state de-essing circuits.

2001 TEC Award Nomination

Studio Sound (UK) Reader's Choice

PAR "Reviewers Pick" Award

PAR Excellence Award

To select the vacuum tube mic preamp, line input gain stage, EQ, compressor/limiter, or de-esser, simply press the appropriate front panel switch(es). To use the discrete solid-state mic preamp, line input gain stage, EQ, compressor/limiter, or de-esser, press the switch(es) again. Twin Topology! To use the input transformer, press the associated switch. For transformerless operation, press the switch again. Perhaps we should call it Triple Topology. All circuit topologies are designed to deliver a musical optimization of their inherent character. Special vacuum tubes are also available for greatly enhanced euphonic character.

Twin Topology products also sport new cosmetics. The ORIGIN offers unique illuminated push-button switches, hand-machined solid aluminum knobs, extruded and radiused 3/8" thick face plate which is processed in an artistic 'platinum-crackle' finish (optional) looking something like an aged spruce guitar top. There's even a stylish "TT" (Twin Topology) logo deeply engraved into every panel. A standard "laquer-look" gloss black cosmetic finish is also available at standard cost. * thanks to Robert Freidrich at Telarc International

Product Highlights

TWIN MIC PREAMP PATHS — M-2b VACUUM TUBE & HV-3 SOLID STATE TWIN OPTO-COMPRESSOR PATHS — TCL VACUUM TUBE & DISCRETE SOLID STATE (& PASSIVE) TWIN PARAMETRIC EQUALIZER PATHS — NSEQ TUBE & DISCRETE SOLID STATE TWIN DE-ESSER PATHS — VACUUM TUBE & DISCRETE SOLID STATE (& PASSIVE) TWIN LINE LEVEL PATHS (XLR in) — TUBE & DISCRETE SOLID STATE GAIN TWIN INPUT COUPLING — WITH & WITHOUT "COLORFUL" AUDIO TRANSFORMER VACUUM TUBE INSTRUMENT "DI" INPUT (1/4“ high impedance) — ROUTE VIA TUBE & S/S GAIN EFFORTLESS, LIFELIKE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE AT ALL DYNAMIC LEVELS CONSTRUCTED FOR LIFE, COSMETICALLY APPEALING HIGH VOLTAGE, CLASS-A, DISCRETE MINIMALIST DESIGN GOLD CONNECTORS, SWITCHES, TUBE SOCKETS, AND RELAYS SILVER / TEFLON POWER WIRING, NEGLEX OXYGEN-FREE AUDIO WIRING

Product Specifications

STT-1 "ORIGIN" Owner's Manual STT-1 "ORIGIN" Front Panel Reset Template STT-1 "ORIGIN" Rear Panel Lo-Res Rendering STT-1 "ORIGIN" Signal Flow Block Diagram

NSEQ-2 Stereo Parametric Equalizer "Q" RANGE Q = 0.4 to 4.0 Fully Sweep Adjustable MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL + 32 dBu (balanced) MAXIMUM INPUT LEVEL (EQ FLAT) + 29 dBu MAXIMUM INPUT LEVEL (EQ FULL BOOST) + 14 dBu FREQUENCY RESPONSE +0 / -3 dB sub 2 Hz to beyond 300 kHz FREQUENCY RESPONSE, +0 / -.15 dB sub 5 Hz to beyond 80 kHz MAXIMUM EQ BOOST (21 step detented) +15 dB MAXIMUM EQ CUT (21 step detented) -15 dB EQ FREQUENCIES (four band) Identical to NSEQ THD + NOISE, 20 Hz - 30 kHz, All bands switched in < .009%, typ < .003 % (VT or SS) SLEW RATE, +27 dBu Out > 50 Volts per microsecond HARDWIRE E.Q. BYPASS SWITCH? Yes HARDWIRE BYPASS SWITCHING ON INDIVIDUAL EQ BANDS ? Yes TWIN TOPOLOGY EQUALIZER Switch In: Pure Class-A Discrete J-FETs Switch Out: Pure Class-A Triode Tubes

Unless stated, all measurements are balanced into 100k ohm load on a calibrated Audio Precision System One.

HV-3B Stereo Microphone Preamplifier MINIMUM GAIN 9 dB MAXIMUM GAIN 65 dB (up to 78 dB on rqst) FREQUENCY RESPONSE +0 / -3 dB sub 1 Hz to 300 kHz FREQUENCY RESPONSE, STEREO DEVIATION < .04 dB NOISE @ 60 dB Gain, 10 Hz - 30 kHz, Input Common -133 dB EIN NOISE @ 60 dB Gain, 10 Hz - 30 kHz, 50 Ohm Source -130 dB EIN NOISE @ 60 dB Gain, 10 Hz - 30 kHz, 150 Ohm Source -128 dB EIN TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION + NOISE, 35 dB Gain, 10 Hz - 20 kHz, +27 dBu Out < .0009%, Typ .0005% (5 PPM) INTERMODULATION DISTORTION (50 Hz & 7 kHz) 35 dB Gain, +27 dBu Out <.0009% PHASE RESPONSE 35 dB Gain, 50 Hz - 20 kHz, +27 dBu Out < 2 degrees deviation PHASE RESPONSE, STEREO DEVIATION 35 dB Gain, 20 Hz - 40 kHz, +27 dBu Out < 1/2 degree deviation COMMON MODE REJECTION RATIO 35 dB Gain, 10 Hz - 20 kHz, 100 mV C.M. > 70 dB, Typ > 85 dB SLEW RATE 35 dB Gain, +27 dBu Out > 25 Volts per microsecond MAXIMUM INPUT LEVEL 9 dB Gain, 20 Hz - 40 kHz +23 dBu* MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL 9 - 65 dB Gain Range, 20 Hz - 40 kHz +32 dBu STEREO (INTERCHANNEL) CROSSTALK 35 dB Gain, 1 kHz, +27 dBu Both Outputs Better than -120 dB (> 20 Bits) INPUT IMPEDANCE @ 20 Hz 6,700 Ohms INPUT IMPEDANCE @ 20 kHz 6,800 Ohms OUTPUT IMPEDANCE 24.3 ohms (x2) B&K (DPA) MIC POWERING +130 VDC, max, direct (non-phantom) powered PHANTOM POWERING +48 VDC, +/- 2 VDC POWER CONSUMPTION, MAXIMUM 10 Watts POWER REQUIREMENTS 115/230 VAC, 50/60 Hz DIMENSIONS 19" W x 12" D x 1.7" H

* Approximately equivalent to the output of a B&K 4012 microphone in a 145 dB SPL soundfield. - Unless stated, all measurements are balanced into 100k ohm load on a calibrated Audio Precision System One.

M-2B Transformerless Stereo Vacuum Tube Microphone Preamplifier MINIMUM GAIN 14 dB MAXIMUM GAIN 50 dB FREQUENCY RESPONSE +0 / -3 dB 4 Hz to 130 kHz FREQUENCY RESPONSE, STEREO DEVIATION < .10 dB NOISE @ 50 dB Gain, 10 Hz - 30 kHz, 150 Ohm Source -116 dB EIN TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION + NOISE, 30 dB Gain, 10 Hz - 20 kHz, +0 dBu Out < .02% PHASE RESPONSE 35 dB Gain, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, +26 dBu Out <10 degrees deviation PHASE RESPONSE, STEREO DEVIATION 35 dB Gain, 20 Hz - 40 kHz, +27 dBu Out <1 degree deviation COMMON MODE REJECTION RATIO 30 dB Gain, 1 kHz, 100 mV C.M. Better than 60 dB SLEW RATE 30 dB Gain, +27 dBu Out >20 Volts per microsecond MAXIMUM INPUT LEVEL +20 dB Gain, 20 Hz - 40 kHz (no pad required) +20 dBu MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL 14 - 50 dB Gain Range, 20 Hz - 40 kHz, Min 10k Ohm Load > +35 dBu STEREO (INTERCHANNEL) CROSSTALK 30 dB Gain, 1 kHz, +0 dBu Both Outputs Better than -70 dB INPUT IMPEDANCE, Phantom Input 3,800 Ohms INPUT IMPEDANCE, DPA (B&K) High Voltage Input 9,000 Ohms OUTPUT IMPEDANCE (transformerless vacuum tube) 120 ohms B&K POWERING +130 VDC, max, direct (non-phantom) powered PHANTOM POWERING +48 VDC, +/- 2 VDC POWER CONSUMPTION, MAXIMUM 50 Watts POWER REQUIREMENTS 100/120 - 200/240 VAC selectable, 50/60 Hz DIMENSIONS 19" W x 12" D x 3.5" H

Unless stated, all measurements are balanced into 100k ohm load on a calibrated Audio Precision System One.

TCL-2 Stereo Compressor / Limiter THRESHOLD RANGE Infinite to +20dBu, Continuously Adjustable MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL > + 32 dBu MAXIMUM INPUT LEVEL + 30 dBu OUTPUT GAIN CONTROL Continuously Adjustable FREQUENCY RESPONSE +0 / -3 dB sub 2 Hz to beyond 100 kHz NOISE (20 Hz - 22 kHz) -87 dBu (SS), -82 dBu (VT) ATTACK RANGE 2 mS to 100 mS, Continuously Adjustable RELEASE RANGE 100 mS to 3.0 S, Continuously Adjustable COMPRESSION RATIO RANGE minimum 1.4 : 1 maximum 30 : 1 Continuously Adjustable

THD + NOISE, 20 Hz - 30 kHz < .01%, typ .003 % (VT or SS) COMMON MODE REJECTION RATIO, 10 Hz - 20 kHz, 100 mV C.M. > 50 dB, Typ > 75 dB DYNAMICS BYPASS FOR EACH CHANNEL? Yes METER GAIN REDUCTION or VU SELECTION? Yes STEREO LINKING SWITCH? Yes INPUT IMPEDANCE 25k Ohms MINIMUM OUTPUT LOAD IMPEDANCE 300 Ohms (SS), 1k Ohms (VT) RECOMMENDED MINIMUM LOAD 600 Ohms (SS), 3k Ohms (VT) OUTPUT IMPEDANCE < 5 ohms (SS), < 300 ohms (VT) TWIN TOPOLOGY AMPLIFIERS Switch In: Pure Class-A Discrete J-FETs Switch Out: Pure Class-A Triode Tubes

POWER CONSUMPTION, MAXIMUM 55 Watts POWER REQUIREMENTS 100/120/200/240 VAC, 50/60 Hz DIMENSIONS 19" W x 12.5" D x 3.5" H WEIGHT 25 pounds