Chroma 500 Series Twin Tone-Amp

Question? Check the FAQ.

Overview

Chroma is the world's first 500 series audio processor withTwin Tone-Amp architecture and the ability to accept real analog plugins for expanding its feature set. Answering the call for a single channel Silver Bullet, Chroma delivers with its twin topology (A or N) line processor and mic amp, but adds an exciting twist - an analog plugin slot acceptingColour Modules. This featureallows additional processing and effects to be inserted into the signal path and mixed with Chroma's classic 'A' or 'N' inspired MOJO Amps.

Features

  • Mic or Mix/Line mode
  • 48V phantom power
  • Polarity reverse
  • Mix/Line Gain: 0 to +26 dB, +26 to +52 dB (High Gain mode)
  • Mic Gain: +8 to +34 dB, +34 to +60 dB (High Gain mode)
  • Colour Drive: -6 to +18 dB
  • Colour Mix: crossfade blend of processed and dry signal
  • Baxandall Tone boost EQ
    • LF (+3 dB): Pultec-inspired Subsonic (30 Hz) and Bass (60 Hz) frequencies
    • HF (+4 dB): Presence and Air frequencies
    • Vintage: softens high frequency response to emulate vintage British consoles
  • Custom American made transformers
  • ROGUE FIVE discrete op amps designed by Louder Than Liftoff, conforming to standard 2520 footprint
  • Signal present indicator and bi-directional meter
  • All circuit components chosen by ear for maximum MOJO

Made by tone geeks for tone geeks. Designed and assembled in Silicon Valley, California.

Documentation

Audio Samples and Demos

FAQs 

When will you have more stock?
As of 3/1/21 we are accepting new orders from the current production run.  See the shipping estimates below. 
When will I be charged for my order?
You will be charged when you submit your order at checkout.
When will you be ship my order?
Rogue Planet Command typically processes and ships new orders in 5-7 days in the order in which they are received once items are in stock.  You will receive a shipping confirmation email once your order ships.  We will update this FAQ with new information as necessary.
How much progress have the droids made building this awesome new product so far?
As of 3/1/21, PCB assembly is complete.  Major components like transformers, L-brackets, faceplates and knobs are in stock.  The droids are in the process of performing mechanical integration, test, and calibration.
How long does it take to manufacture a product like Chroma?
It generally takes 5-6 weeks to have PCBs made and assembled, 4-6 weeks to have the faceplates and metal L-brackets fabricated and finished, and about 2 weeks for final assembly and calibration, assuming there are no delays. Once all that is complete (about 8-10 weeks total), we box up the units and ship them out to customers all over the planet.

Press


Do More With Less

While towering racks of vintage gear are impressive to behold, the reality for most of us making music is that we need versatile tools that facilitate our increasingly hybrid workflows.  One-trick ponies take up valuable real estate in the rack.  We need tools that allow us to work quickly and deliver musical results throughout the entire production process.

A Silver Bullet for the 500 Series

After spending the last three years developing and building the Silver Bullet, we figured it was time to make that technology available as single channel option best suited for use as a mic preamp and in multiple bus processing setups.  Thus Chroma was born.  Its Twin Tone-Amp™ architecture and Tone Shaping EQ is derived from the very circuits used in the acclaimed Silver Bullet and has been adapted for the 500 Series format.

Twin Tone-Amp™ Architecture

At the heart of Chroma are two Mojo Amps inspired by classic large format consoles – American (A), and British (N).  These Mojo Amps lend their characteristic sonic footprints to any signal passing through the circuit.  Like the Silver Bullet, Chroma is the only processor of its kind that allows you to enable A or N sonics at the push of a button.  Auditioning these two signature sounds during a session no longer requires re-patching or swapping preamps.

Mix Bus Processor and Mic Preamp in One

Chroma was designed with hybrid workflows in mind just like its big brother, the Silver Bullet.  These days gear needs to be versatile on both the front end and the back end.  Featuring MIX and MIC modes, Chroma is both a line level processor, and a microphone preamp.

Line Level Applications:

  • Mix / 2-Bus mojo
  • Stem / Bus processing
  • Tracking channel
  • Colour module host – add compression, EQ, distortion, saturation, delay…

Microphone Preamp:

  • Dual modes: A or N
  • +8 to +60 dB of gain
  • Phantom Power and Polarity Reverse
  • Optimized to reveal full potential of ribbon and dynamic mics

Expand With Analog Plugin Modules

Chroma allows you to further expand its sonic versatility and to create a custom channel strip by installing analog plugins called Colour modules.  A wide variety of fully assembled analog plugins affordably priced from $79 - $129 are available, and are easily installed in the Colour Module slot on Chroma’s printed circuit board – no tools required.   Just insert your favorite Colour Module into the slot, adjust the drive (C-DRV), and blend (C-MIX) the processing with the dry signal to taste.  When EQ modules are installed in Chroma, the C-MIX knob functions as a variable amount of boost and cut depending on the module.

Louder Than Liftoff offers the following analog plugins for Chroma:

  • Pentode - a subminiature tube saturator
  • Implode - the world’s smallest 1176 compressor
  • Pulse - a textured tape echo/delay
  • Rogue Tec Air - a Pultec HF shelving EQ
  • Mass Drivr - a classic American channel inspired by the API 325 Line Amplifier
  • Royal Blue - a classic British channel inspired by 80-series Neve consoles
  • FET Filter - a FET buffered tone-shaper with low shelf, high pass, and mid EQ
  • Super Filter (NEW) - High and low pass filter set with saturation

Many other third party modules are also available from the DIY Recording Equipment store

Other exciting new analog plugin modules from Louder Than Liftoff are also in development and will be announced in the future.

Tone Shaping

Having the ability to shape tone with broad strokes can be just what the doctor ordered to get your tracks to pop in a mix. To round out the feature set, Chroma features switchable Baxandall High Frequency (HF) and Low Frequency (LF) EQ boosts derived from drBill’s favorite Silver Bullet settings for sweetening and enhancing individual tracks or mixes.  The user can select PRESENCE or AIR, and SUB or BASS frequencies via onboard jumpers.  The HF switch can be programmed to add the Silver Bullet’s VINTAGE filter as well.

Premium Components and Build Quality

We chose every component in Chroma by ear for maximum mojo and its sonic synergy with the rest of the circuit.  Our meticulous development process involved both empirical measurement and real-world studio use to validate the design.  We also leveraged what we learned designing and building the Silver Bullet and Chop Shop.  In this design you will find high end parts from Nichicon, Panasonic, Vishay, Susumu, Wima, TI, and Analog Devices.  All audio path resistors are 0.5% or 0.1% thin film types for low distortion and noise.  Chroma features custom American wound transformers and our very own Rogue Five discrete op amp in the Mojo Amps circuits.  Other components like switches, knobs, meter window, and faceplate are sourced from American suppliers.  Our PCBs use high temperature Tg 170 material for long-term reliability.  The entire assembly is RoHS compliant (lead free).  All assembly and testing is performed right here in Silicon Valley.



Chroma with Colour Modules

Chroma Block Diagram

Customer Reviews

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Policies & FAQ

14-day No Hassle Return Policy

Try out our gear in your studio and, if within 14 days you're not satisfied, let us know and we'll issue a refund.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be "like new" and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging with all original materials (power supply, power cord, product card, etc.).  Please refrain from racking 19 inch rackmount gear during this trial period so that the faceplate and enclosure don't get scratched.

To complete your return, just give us a call or shoot us an email, and we'll send you instructions for packing up your unit and shipping it back.  Please note that you will be responsible for return shipping costs and we ask that you insure the unit for its full retail value to protect against loss or damage.  You are responsible for ensuring the products arrive safely at our shop.  Once we receive and inspect the unit we will issue a refund for the purchase price less the cost of shipping.  Units received in any condition other than "like new" may be subject to a restocking fee.

  Click here to email us

World-Class Shipping

We ship to (just about) any address in the world via USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL Express. When you place an order, we will estimate shipping delivery times for you based on your location and the shipping option you choose.  Delivery time estimates are given on the checkout page.  Once payment is approved, in stock products, other than Silver Bullets will ship out from Rogue Planet Command within 2-3 business days.  We ship Silver Bullets within 7-10 business days.  Once an order ships you will be sent tracking information via email and/or Facebook Messenger (if selected at checkout).  Please coordinate with the shipping company to have your package held for pickup if you know you will not be home when the package is expected to arrive.

Please note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are dimensional weight-based. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, weights may be rounded up to the next full pound.  We may substitute UPS for FedEx ground service and vice versaWe also may upgrade UPS and FedEx ground service to USPS Priority Mail if we are feeling extra nice.  

Also note that international customers are required to pay all import duties and taxes required by their respective countries.  When filling out customs forms we declare the actual purchase price.  Please do not ask us to declare lower values.

If you reside outside of North America, we highly recommend DHL Express when ordering a Silver Bullet for the quickest delivery and with zero customs headaches.  If you are in Canada we recommend selecting USPS instead of FedEx or UPS since the customs process is easier and less money.

We require a signature for all Silver Bullet orders to help ensure you safely receive the package.

Need More details?

  Click here to email us

FAQ

When can I expect to receive a response to my email or phone call?

Most emails or phone calls will receive a friendly reply within 24 hours, and often within just a few hours.  However, sometimes we get sucked into the glorious nebula of designing and building products.  Or need to do laundry, shop for groceries, or sleep.  We appreciate your patience as we balance the demands of our intergalactic commitments, and try to enjoy time off on the weekends.  Please don't be upset if an email you sent on Friday evening doesn't get returned until Monday or Tuesday morning.

Do you have Silver Bullets in stock?

Please check the FAQ tab on the Silver Bullet product pages for up-to-date information about stock, production status, and shipping dates.

How much will it cost to ship my order overseas?

Our shopping cart has a shipping calculator that is configured to estimate shipping to anywhere in the world.  All you have to do is add a product to the cart and then click the cart icon in the upper right corner of your browser.  At that point you can select your country, province, and enter your postal code.  A list of available shipping options will be displayed after you click Calculate Shipping.  As mentioned above, international customers are responsible for paying all import duties and taxes for their respective countries.

What shipping option do you recommend for European customers?

If you are ordering a Silver Bullet or 500 series module, we highly recommend that you select DHL Express shipping.  DHL acts as the customs broker and offers exceptionally quick door-to-door service.  We've been seeing packages arrive in the UK in 4-5 days.  There is no hand off with local postal services like there is with USPS so you will know where your package is every minute of the day by accessing the tracking information. They will require you to pay all customs and import taxes before delivering the package to your door.

My country charges high import taxes.  Can you adjust the customs value to help me out?

Sorry, but no.  As a rule, we declare the actual purchase price on all customs forms.  Defrauding a foreign government is not a wise business move.

Do you accept wire transfers, ACH payments, or Paypal as forms of payment?

We only accept payment through our online store using major credit and debit cards at this time.

How are you guys able to sell products of this quality level at these impossibly affordable prices?

We simply reject the notion that a middleman like a dealer or distributor needs to come between the guy that designs and builds the gear and the artist that uses it.  By adopting a direct sales model we have been able to pass that savings onto our customers.  Do you really want to pay 30% more for your gear?  All we ask in return is that you make lots of great music and help spread the word about our company and products.

Can I have my favorite pro audio dealer get me a Silver Bullet?

Sure, if you want to pay more money for our products.  See the question above.  Our pricing model does not allow for typical dealer margins.  Really.  If you'd like to order 10 Silver Bullets we'd be happy to give you a sweet discount though.

I just bought a used unit from some dude online.  Can I have the seller send it to you first to check out?

As a policy, we decline to get in the middle of third party transactions on used gear.  If you receive the unit and it requires repair please contact us and we can go over service options.  

What in the bloody galaxy is Void Corp?

Void Corp is a character in the Louder Than Liftoff universe.  Some of our products are made as limited edition Void Corp versions with a black aesthetic.  Click the link for more info.

It would be really cool if you guys had t-shirts.  Can you make me one?

Yes.

I have a question that you didn't answer here.  Where can I get more info?  

Try our Support page and knowledgebase.

 

Louder Than Liftoff reserves the right to refuse selling our products to anyone that is hateful, sexist, bigoted, racist, homophobic, or just a meanie in general.  Be kind to each other and the planet.  And vote.