Tegeler Audio Creme

The Tegeler Audio Creme is a 2U stereo bus processor pairing a passive Pultec-style equalizer and a high-end VCA compressor in a single unit, designed to bring mix bus and mastering-grade processing to studios working at any scale. The passive EQ uses filter circuitry derived from the original Pultec topology, reduced to the most practical applications for bus work: bass boost across six selectable frequencies and treble boost across six selectable frequencies, each switchable up to 5 dB for reliable recall and appropriately scaled levels on a master channel. The VCA compressor covers a wide range of dynamic control with six attack settings, five release options including auto, and ratios from 1.5 to 10, with a sidechain high-pass filter at 60 or 120 Hz to prevent low-frequency pumping. The order of EQ and compressor in the signal chain is switchable, and all controls use stepped potentiometers for consistent session recall, making the Creme a practical and versatile tool for mixing and mastering engineers in Los Angeles and beyond.

Key Features

• Passive Pultec-style equalizer — simplified for the mix bus — the EQ section is built on the filter circuit of the original Pultec but refined for bus applications: controls not needed at the sum stage have been replaced by fixed values, the available frequency range has been narrowed to the most useful positions, and all controls use rotary switches for precision and recall. The result is a passive EQ that sounds musical at virtually any setting, with smooth bass boost and silky high-frequency enhancement that integrates naturally into the mix without hardness or fatigue.
• VCA compressor with full parameter control — six attack settings (0.1–30 ms), five release options (100 ms–1.2 s plus Auto), and four ratio settings (1.5, 2, 4, 10) give precise control over compression character. The 1.5:1 ratio is particularly suited to transparent, barely-perceptible bus glue, while higher ratios bring more assertive dynamic shaping without sacrificing the clarity of individual instruments in the mix.
• Sidechain high-pass filter — 60 / 120 Hz — the switchable sidechain filter reduces the compressor’s sensitivity to low-frequency content, keeping bass-heavy program material from triggering pumping artifacts and maintaining a consistent dynamic response across the mix.
• Switchable EQ and compressor order — the position of the EQ and compressor in the signal chain can be swapped, allowing either section to shape the signal first depending on the processing goal and the material being worked on.
• Passive EQ always active — placing the Creme in a mix bus channel during mixing gives an ongoing preview of how the combination of subtle EQ and light compression will affect the final sound in mastering, making it easier to balance individual instruments and voices in the context of a processed mix.
• Stepped potentiometers throughout — all controls are stepped for repeatable, session-accurate settings without manual logging or recall sheets.
• Internal power supply with toroidal transformer — the self-contained toroidal power supply reduces noise and simplifies rack integration.

Specifications

• Format: 2U rackmount
• Dimensions: 2U × 19.02″ W × 9.84″ D (H: 3.47″)
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz–40 kHz (±1.5 dB)
• EQ — Bass Boost Frequencies: 20 / 30 / 60 / 100 / 140 / 200 Hz
• EQ — Bass Boost Range: 0–5 dB
• EQ — High Boost Frequencies: 10 / 12 / 16 / 18 / 20 / 24 kHz
• EQ — High Boost Range: 0–5 dB
• Compressor — Sidechain Low-Cut: 60 / 120 Hz
• Compressor — Attack: 0.1 / 0.3 / 1 / 3 / 10 / 30 ms
• Compressor — Release: 100 / 300 / 600 ms, 1.2 s, Auto
• Compressor — Ratio: 1.5 / 2 / 4 / 10
• Maximum Input Level: +22 dBu
• Input Impedance: ≥10 kΩ
• Output Impedance: <600 Ω
• Maximum Output Level: +24 dBu
• Dynamic Range: ≥110 dB
• Voltage: 230 V~/50 Hz or 115 V~/60 Hz
• Fuse: 500 mA slow-blow
• Maximum Power Consumption: <25 W