In 1987 Steve Firlotte established Inward Connections, bringing years of experience to the marketplace by designing his own line of audio products aimed at the discriminating professional. His initial offering was the Vac Rac TM modular tube audio system which set the pace for products to come, including the DMS Discreet Monitoring System which was the first-time that a control room monitor module was redesigned to fit into a 19" rack unit. The Vac Rac modular system was the result of collaboration by Firlotte and renowned audio designers Steve Barker and John Hall. Hall is the 2006 recipient of the AES Silver Medal Award for his outstanding achievement in the field of audio engineering and his SPA690 Discreet Class A Amp Block is used exclusively in Inward Connections products.
In the late 1990s, Steve Firlotte and Ian Gardiner of Boutique Audio and Design began working together. They soon discovered Steve's expertise in electronic design complemented Ian's mechanical design and fabrication skills. Their first major recording console project was the F & G Dymaxion 24X24X8 Tube/Discreet Mixing Console with 8-Channel Tube Side Car built for Danny White of Sixteen Ton Recording in Nashville, Tennessee (see photo below). This hybrid tube/transistor console was such a success they then built other custom consoles for clients such as Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Weezer, Daniel Lanois and other major artists.
TSL-5
Stereo Optical Tube Limiter
The Inward Connections TSL-5 is the latest incarnation of the classic Inward Connections Vac Rac limiter design. This limited edition unit adds new features to the previous TSL models without altering the core sonic signature engineers have come to revere – Smooth, optical limiting presented with the euphonic character and warmth of tubes.
The TSL-5 adds a 6-postion ratio control and 3-position detector high pass filter to give the classic TSL optical tube limiter circuit even more dynamic shaping abilities than ever before. The TSL has always been known for transparent compression/limiting that never gets over the top. With the new ratio control the TSL-5 serves up a whole new menu of compression characteristics. Which means this is no one trick pony.
The TSL-5 is limited to just 20 units worldwide and is the farewell to the Vac Rac series.
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Bad Boy
500 Series VCA compressor
Inward Connections knows a thing or two about putting big sound in small packages. The Bad Boy compressor is no exception.
The Bad Boy 500 Series VCA compressor picks up where its predecessors, the VC500 and VOGAD, left off. It provides a huge range of compression timing options, allowing users to dial in attack and release to suit almost any source imaginable. This versatile circuit is also coupled to the famed VF600 discrete amp blocks and an all-new Wet/Dry Mix circuit, allowing tonal settings never before available on an Inward Connections VCA compressor.
With its range of ratios, array of timing options and integrated Mix control, the Bad Boy is ready to tackle any source. It's ready to work whether it's leveling gentle acoustic guitars, smashing drums, tightening the mix bus, or even mastering. The Bad Boy is a good thing for any 500 Series rack
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THE BRUTE ll
Stereo-linkable, 1RU rackmount version
The Brute is Inward Connections' most popular offering to date. It borrows the ultra-smooth opto-cell circuit of the flagship Vac Rac TSL-4 and pairs it with the VF600 discrete amp block, making the Brute a tremendous value. It smoothly controls transients while adding vibe and character with an airy quality. For 500 Series users it has become a near instant classic the world over.
For non-500 Series users, that revered sound is now available in a stereo-linkable, 1RU rackmount version, the Brute II. The Brute II's new, rugged steel chassis leaves plenty of room for features not previously offered in its 500 Series predecessor. The most notable new features are built-in Wet/Dry Mix control, internal linking and four Ratio settings to choose from. These new features open new doors for tracking and mixing possibilities. The Brute II is the optical limiter for every engineer.
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