Freqtube FT-1 Add tube warmth to your mix / mastering

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00:00 Intro
00:53 How it works?
02:21 Analog mastering
06:07 Mixing Scenario
08:43 Kick, Bass and Master Bus
12:53 freqtube ft-1 vs plugins
16:05 Why I bought it?

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Freqtube is a hardware tube processor. Audio from the computer to the device and back is transmitted via the USB-C port. This means that on the way to the device the digital signal is converted to analog, and on the way back to digital again. And I will say right away that the conversion is completely transparent and works at 32-bit resolution, but more details on this in a moment. All we need to do is install the drivers and run the dedicated plug-in of the same name from the audio editor or DAW.

The front panel of the device has eight freely configurable potentiometers and a color LCD screen. But all in all, it's just an addition, it's not needed at all. I could put this device somewhere in the back or even hide it. Of course, the device requires mains power, but I didn't expect it to be different, after all, there are real lamps working inside!

This is a relatively new product, I think I first heard about it in 2022 at the Berlin Superbooth fair. I have heard about similar solutions based on a Thunderbolt connection, but the Australian company Freqport managed to create a product that works based on a USB connection and there are plans for further devices, they can be called analog plug-ins.

Pros
beautiful tube saturation that warms the low end and midrange I find impossible to achieve with any of my 1000 software plug-ins
very wide range of applications: from subtle tube mastering, ear-pleasing brightening, warming up bass regions, bringing vocals to life, drum bus saturation and parallel saturation and compression, adding harmonics to kick or bass, to tube distortion
convenient operation via USB connection, without additional cables, or the need to use up physical inputs and outputs, buying a new audio interface or ADAT expansion.
the processor, although hardware, is operated in the same way as other plug-ins, with recall of settings and automation of parameters.
it is possible to us 4 lamps in various configurations, 2xstereo, 1xstereo and 2xmono or 4x mono
transparent conversion (around 120dB dynamics) and very low noise level
repeatable sound, the effect is the same every time, consistent with the settings saved in the session
the processor can be operated using potentiometers, but it can also be placed out of view so as not to take up space on the desk
easy start-up and ultra-stable operation, after turning on the device is recognized by the system and ready for operation, not a single problem or glitch occurred during a month of testing
the lamps look nice
I heard you can connect more devices to one computer
Cons
precise setting, e.g. of the output gain, requires really precise movements, because the slightest movement is a movement of 1 or 2 dB.
with very strong saturation, slight differences between channels appear (but you really have to crank it up and set extreme saturation fot that to occur)
tubes lifespan is limited to a few or a maximum of several thousand hours, but then I guess you can change the tubes and they are relatively cheep.