MindPrint T-COMP -- 2-Channel Tube Compressor + Tube Saturation

{
  "schema_version": "capability-outboard-v1",
  "id": "mindprint-tcomp",
  "name": "MindPrint T-COMP -- 2-Channel Tube Compressor + Tube Saturation",
  "maker": "MindPrint (TC Electronic / Music Group)",
  "clone_of": null,
  "clone_of_note": "Original MindPrint design (introduced 1999 per manual p.3 date 'St. Wendel, October 1999'). Not a clone or homage. The unique design pairs a THAT-VCA compressor with a 12AX7A tube saturation stage that has its own dedicated drive control.",
  "device_class": "channel_strip",
  "device_class_subtypes": [
    "compressor",
    "distortion"
  ],
  "device_class_subtypes_note": "Per the capability-outboard-v1 §C rule, channel_strip is the primary class for multi-class outboard. The T-COMP couples a soft-knee VCA compressor with a 12AX7A tube-saturation distortion stage that has its own dedicated drive (Tube Sat) and saturation indicator -- two independently addressable processing classes on one channel. NOTE: The capability-outboard-v1 §C example text describes Mindprint T-Comp as 'channel_strip even though its mic-pre dominates use', but the manual (pp.5, 7, 10 Specifications) confirms the T-COMP is LINE-LEVEL ONLY (22 kΩ balanced line in; no microphone preamp stage). The 'mic-pre' reference in the schema doc is an authorship artifact; the channel_strip classification is still appropriate via the compressor+distortion combination.",
  "topology": "THAT-VCA + 12AX7A tube saturation stage, soft-knee",
  "topology_note": "Manual p.5 §1.2: 'Powered by a high-quality THAT-VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplifier) which has been fine-tuned to interact with the tube'. Manual p.7 §2.3: 'two high-quality tubes; these are responsible for the unique sound' (type 12AX7A per p.7 Tube section). The architecture chains the VCA-compressor stage and tube-saturation stage so each can be controlled independently (Threshold/Ratio for compression; Tube Sat for distortion).",
  "channels": 2,
  "linkable": true,
  "linkable_note": "Manual p.7 §2.2 Compressor Section: 'Link: This button switches the control circuit of the two channels to stereo mode. If you want to process stereo signals, be sure to activate this button.' Manual front-panel diagram (p.4) shows a centre LINK button + LINK ON LED that joins the A + B detectors for true-stereo compression behaviour; the channels otherwise operate independently (dual-mono).",
  "params": {
    "compressor": {
      "threshold_db": "-28..+2",
      "threshold_db_note": "Manual p.7 §2.2: 'This knob adjusts the threshold of the compressor within a range of +2 dB to -28 dB'. Manual p.10 Specifications confirms 'THRESHOLD: adjustable from +2dB to -28 dB'. Rotating fully CCW (along with COMP ON off) is the documented way to fully deactivate the compressor.",
      "ratio": "1:1..inf:1",
      "ratio_note": "Manual p.7 §2.2 + p.10 Specifications: 'RATIO: adjustable from 1:1 to 1:infinity'. Front-panel detents at 1.2, 1.7, 2.5, 3.5, 5, 8, 25, infinity (panel diagram p.4). The infinity ratio is a documented limiter behaviour ('basically a limiter setting' p.7).",
      "attack": "0.1..150 ms",
      "attack_note": "Manual p.10 Specifications: 'Attack: adjustable from 0.1 ms to 150 ms'. Front-panel detents at 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 30, 50, 100, 150 ms (panel diagram p.4).",
      "release": "5..2000 ms",
      "release_note": "Manual p.10 Specifications: 'Release: adjustable from 5 ms to 2000 ms'. Front-panel detents at 5, 100, 150, 200, 300, 500, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000 ms (panel diagram p.4).",
      "knee": "soft",
      "knee_note": "Manual p.5 §1.2: 'the T-COMP uses something called soft-knee compression ... the compression rate is increased continuously. When the signal level finally exceeds the threshold value, it is compressed at the ratio that you have dialed in. ... compress signals heavily, these are not crushed into submission, but gently squeezed'. Soft-knee is the only available characteristic (no hard/soft switch).",
      "makeup_gain": true,
      "makeup_gain_note": "The Output Level knob (per channel) functions as the makeup-gain control: 'Controls the output level of the processed signal. When the effect is switched off, this knob has no influence on the signal. Since the knob Output Level influences the wet or processed signal exclusively, you can use it to set the processed signal to the same level as the unprocessed signal' (manual p.8 §2.1). The Input Gain knob in the input section affects ALL inputs (line + digital) and is not channel-specific (manual p.6).",
      "output_gain_db": null,
      "output_gain_db_note": "The Output Level knob's gain range is not explicitly specified in the manual. The level meter (switchable to OUTPUT via Output to Disp.) scales to OVER at signal-clip; nominal target is the +6 dB mark (manual p.5). Set to null rather than guess a range.",
      "auto_mode": true,
      "auto_mode_note": "Manual p.6 §1.3 + p.7 §2.2: 'Adaptive: ... activates the automated, signal-dependent attack and release time control feature. The Attack and Release controls remain active and are used to shape how the automated adaptive circuit responds.' This out-performs typical compressor auto-modes by keeping the manual Attack/Release controls active as a tuning layer over the program-dependent times.",
      "sidechain_external": false,
      "sidechain_external_note": "No external sidechain insert. The Filter switch is an INTERNAL sidechain filter (300 Hz HPF on detector); not user-routable to external processing.",
      "sidechain_filter": "300 Hz HPF on detector",
      "sidechain_filter_note": "Manual p.7 §2.2 + p.10 Specifications: 'Filter: This button switches the sidechain filter of the compressor on. When the filter is activated, frequencies lower than 300 Hz have less influence on compression' (FILTER Frequency: 300 Hz per Specs). The filter is detector-only and has no influence on signal-path frequency response or timbre (manual p.6 §1.4).",
      "gain_reduction_meter_stages": 12,
      "gain_reduction_meter_stages_note": "Manual p.5 §1.2: 'the amount of reduction is displayed in a 12-segment LED meter located above the compressor controls'. Per-channel (channels A + B have separate GR meters; panel diagram p.4)."
    },
    "distortion": {
      "kind": "tube",
      "kind_note": "Manual p.7 Tube section: 'tube (type 12AX7A) can add anything from a touch of silky analog warmth to unmistakable tube saturation'. Two 12AX7A tubes total (one per channel per manual diagram p.4 showing TUBE SAT controls A + B).",
      "drive": "0..100%",
      "drive_note": "Front-panel Tube Sat knob (per channel) rotates 0..100%, producing 'adjustable between 0.1% and 10%' THD per manual p.10 Specifications. Below ~50% the overtone content rises subtly; above ~50% the tube enters audible saturation; fully open produces distinct distortion (manual p.6 §1.5). The Sat LED tricolour indicator (green/yellow/red) tracks saturation depth.",
      "tone": false,
      "tone_note": "No dedicated tone control. The tube saturation incidentally produces 'Treble boost: from 0 dB to 2 dB between 4 kHz and 22kHz' (manual p.10) as a function of the Tube Sat setting, but this is a built-in characteristic of the saturation stage, not a user-controllable tone knob.",
      "mix_wet_dry": false,
      "mix_wet_dry_note": "No wet/dry mix control on the distortion stage. Tube saturation is fully serial with the compressor (post-VCA). The Comp On button can bypass the compressor section but the tube saturation stage is part of the always-on signal path when the unit is powered."
    }
  },
  "io": {
    "audio_in": {
      "format": [
        "xlr",
        "trs"
      ],
      "balanced": true,
      "impedance_ohms": 22000,
      "inst_zi": false,
      "note": "Manual p.7 §3.1 + p.10 LINE IN: 'Combined XLR (pin 1 = ground; pin 2 = +; pin 3 = - ) and 1/4\" phone jack (tip = +; ring = -; sleeve = ground). Input type: electronically balanced and floating. Input impedance: 22 kOhm. Sensitivity: 0 dB. Maximum input level: +20 dB.' Per channel A + B; no mic preamp."
    },
    "audio_out": {
      "format": [
        "xlr",
        "trs"
      ],
      "balanced": true,
      "impedance_ohms": 220,
      "note": "Manual p.7 §3.2 + p.10 LINE OUT A/B: 'Output type: electronically balanced & floating. Output impedance: 220 Ohm. Maximum output level: +20 dB.' Both XLR and 1/4\" jacks may be used simultaneously as a distributor/splitter (balanced cables required; unbalanced simultaneous use not permitted, p.7)."
    },
    "sidechain": {
      "send": false,
      "return": false,
      "format": null,
      "per_channel": false,
      "_note": "No external sidechain insert. The INSERT jacks (rear panel, per channel) are SIGNAL-PATH inserts (post-input-gain, pre-compressor) for splicing external processing inline; NOT a compressor sidechain. Documented separately via panel.json REAR_IO + capability.io.insert convention (not modeled in io.sidechain to preserve sidechain's compressor-only semantic)."
    },
    "stereo_link": true,
    "bypass": "relay",
    "bypass_note": "Manual p.7 §2.3 Tube and Mains Switch: 'In addition to switching the AC power supply on and off, the mains switch also activates the hard-wired bypass of the T-COMP. When the device is switched off, the Line In and Line Out circuits are linked directly; the signal bypasses the device completely. The hard-wired bypass is also activated automatically in case of power failure'. Per-channel Comp On button bypasses the compressor section only (tube saturation stage remains active when Comp is off, p.6 §1.5).",
    "operating_level": [
      "+4dBu"
    ],
    "operating_level_note": "Professional +4 dBu nominal (Sensitivity: 0 dB; Max input: +20 dB per p.10). No +4/-10 dBV switch on the unit. The +6 dB mark on the level meter is the recommended peak headroom target (manual p.5).",
    "rack_format": "1U",
    "rack_format_note": "Manual p.10 General Specifications: 'Rack dimensions: 19\", 1 U. Dimensions: 19\" wide (482 mm) by 1.75\" high (44 mm) by 9.4\" deep (238 mm).'"
  },
  "meters": [
    {
      "kind": "gain_reduction",
      "stages": 12,
      "range_db": "1..22",
      "shared": false,
      "_note": "Per-channel 12-segment LED gain-reduction meter located above the compressor controls (manual p.5 §1.2 + panel diagram p.4). Scale per panel diagram: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 16, 22 dB. Indicates amount of attenuation applied by the compressor."
    },
    {
      "kind": "input_output_level",
      "stages": 13,
      "range_db": "-14..+14 (OVER)",
      "shared": false,
      "_note": "Per-channel switchable input/output level meter (Output to Disp. button per channel, p.6 §2.1). Scale per panel diagram p.4: 14, 8, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 (yellow), 8 (yellow), 14 (red), OVER (red). Yellow segments indicate headroom; red segments indicate clipping risk. Target peak is the +6 dB mark for both input and output (manual p.5)."
    }
  ],
  "performance": {
    "bypass_per_channel": true,
    "bypass_per_channel_note": "Per-channel Comp On switch (manual p.6 §2.1: 'Comp On: Turns the T-COMP's compression effect on. When you switch the effect off, the input signal is routed directly to the device's output.'). When off, the compressor stage is removed but tube saturation remains in the signal path.",
    "auto_release": true,
    "auto_release_note": "Mirrors params.compressor.auto_mode (Adaptive button) -- carried here per the schema convention when the device exposes the auto-control affordance prominently on the panel."
  },
  "provenance": {
    "manual_path": "manuals/dynamics--mindprint-tcomp-manual.pdf",
    "confidence": "high",
    "last_verified": "2026-05-27",
    "manual_pages": [
      3,
      4,
      5,
      6,
      7,
      8,
      10
    ],
    "verify_via": "SM46 single-seat manual extraction. P8 rack-tier completion (4-device cluster).",
    "verify_note": "Manual-grounded extraction from manuals/dynamics--mindprint-tcomp-manual.pdf. Line-level 2-channel device pairing a THAT-VCA soft-knee compressor with a 12AX7A tube-saturation distortion stage that has its own drive control (Tube Sat). Classified as channel_strip per the capability-outboard-v1 §C example (channel_strip for multi-class units), with subtypes [compressor, distortion] reflecting the actual processing chain (compressor → tube). One schema-doc consistency finding routed via discoveries.jsonl: schema-outboard-v1 §C says 'Mindprint T-Comp = channel_strip even though its mic-pre dominates use' but the manual confirms the T-COMP is line-level-only (22 kΩ balanced line in, no mic preamp); the channel_strip classification is still appropriate but for a different reason (compressor+distortion combo, not preamp+dynamics). No schema fields invented for this device -- all values map to existing capability-outboard-v1 §A blocks. Output Level knob's gain range left null (manual doesn't specify); the Tube Sat treble-boost side-effect (0..2 dB @ 4-22 kHz) is documented in distortion.tone_note as it isn't a user-controlled tone parameter.",
    "fields": {
      "device_class": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 3
      },
      "device_class_subtypes": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 7
      },
      "topology": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 5
      },
      "channels": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 5
      },
      "linkable": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 7
      },
      "params.compressor.threshold_db": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 7
      },
      "params.compressor.ratio": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 10
      },
      "params.compressor.attack": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 10
      },
      "params.compressor.release": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 10
      },
      "params.compressor.knee": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 5
      },
      "params.compressor.makeup_gain": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 8
      },
      "params.compressor.auto_mode": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 6
      },
      "params.compressor.sidechain_filter": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 7
      },
      "params.compressor.gain_reduction_meter_stages": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 5
      },
      "params.distortion.kind": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 7
      },
      "params.distortion.drive": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 10
      },
      "io.audio_in.format": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 10
      },
      "io.audio_in.impedance_ohms": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 10
      },
      "io.audio_out.format": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 10
      },
      "io.audio_out.impedance_ohms": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 10
      },
      "io.stereo_link": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 7
      },
      "io.bypass": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 7
      },
      "io.rack_format": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 10
      },
      "meters.0.stages": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 5
      },
      "meters.1.stages": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 4
      }
    }
  }
}