T.C. electronic - Finalizer 96K Audio component

The legendary hardware Finalizer 96K, originally released in the late 1990s/early 2000s, was designed as a true integrated digital mastering chain. It brings together in a single unit equalization, multi-band dynamics processing, limiter, expander, normalization, stereo imaging processing, and sample rate conversion.

It is a device of particular interest for mastering, mixing and finalizing recordings, but also for a studio installation that combines analog and digital equipment.

It delivers real presence, punch (notably on kick drums) and thickness to electronic music or tracks that are a little too sparse.

All settings can be stored in memory and recalled via MIDI messages.

The TC Electronic Finalizer 96K remains, today, an interesting machine for anyone who wants to work with a standalone hardware mastering processor, without relying exclusively on plug-ins.

Its large display, high-resolution bar graphs and front-panel controls allow immediate visualization of levels and gain reductions and direct work on the machine itself.

Main features
- Processing up to 24-bit / 96 kHz
- 24-bit A/D and D/A converters
- 3-band dynamics processing
- Multiband compressor
- Multiband limiter
- Multiband expander
- 5-band parametric equalizer
- Dynamic equalizer / De-Esser
- Normalizer with Soft Clipping
- Spectral Stereo Image: adjust the stereo image independently on three bands
- M/S encoder/decoder (Mid/Side)
- Digital Radiance Generator, designed to reproduce an analog-style harmonic coloration
- Possibility to insert an external analog processor in the signal chain
- Real-time sample rate conversion
- Wizard function simplifying automatic tuning of processing
- Phase analyzer, Peak Hold Meter and calibration signal generator
- Factory presets and 128 user memories.

Analog inputs and outputs on balanced XLR, with a maximum level of +22 dBu.

For digital: AES/EBU on XLR, S/PDIF coaxial RCA, S/PDIF optical Toslink and ADAT Lightpipe, with Word Clock input. The unit also features MIDI In/Out/Thru and a PCMCIA slot for saving/exchanging settings.

The Finalizer 96K accepts sample rates of 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96 kHz and enables sample rate conversion. In 96 kHz operation, its analog frequency response extends up to about 45 kHz (-3 dB).

Physical specifications
19-inch rack format – 1U
Dimensions: 483 × 44 × 208 mm
Weight: approximately 2.35 kg