Dangerous Music CUTTER Vinyl Mastering Transfer Console

Your mixes’ optimal path from tape to vinyl

Dangerous Music CUTTER is optimized for transferring from analog tape directly to vinyl. A mastering lathe needs to be fed two identical, yet separate, stereo signals: one for the preview computer that determines the size and shape of the groove to be cut, and one for the cutting head. CUTTER is designed to satisfy this requirement. In fact, it’s identical to Dangerous Music’s MASTER — with the exception that every XLR connection supports six pins rather than three. So you can route one signal to the lathe computer and an identical one to the cutter head. For flexibility in integrating into your studio setup, CUTTER ships with a complete selection of 6-pin to 3-pin pair breakout Y cables. For the ultimate in versatility, the rear panel is equipped with two stereo inputs, three stereo outputs (the third intended to feed your monitors), and three stereo send/return loops for external processing.

For the analog purist

While some engineers may be content to run their mastering operations digitally, world-class mastering suites generally rely on analog mastering gear for the best sonic results. While one might think “in-the-box” mastering is more expedient or cost-effective, top-drawer analog equipment like CUTTER is an investment in quality for the long haul. Think about it: there’s no DAW, plug-ins, version compatibility issues, operating system quirks, expensive upgrades, and a host of other hassles to contend with. Just great sound, day in, day out; year after year. CUTTER is the nucleus of your mastering rig. With its thoughtful I/O and included breakout cables, it pulls all your analog gear together into an elegant setup that delivers the streamlined workflow and superior sound quality previously available only to big-ticket professional mastering houses with mega-buck custom consoles.

From the analog mastering experts at Dangerous Music

Dangerous Music’s product designer Chris Muth spent years designing custom equipment for many of the world’s top mastering engineers and facilities. These professionals demand both a mastering-grade audio path and an intuitive feature set, and this became the baseline for all Dangerous Music designs. The mission: to provide innovative hardware that solves the problems of the DAW-based hybrid studio. At Sweetwater, we immediately recognized the value of Dangerous Music products to professionals whose livelihoods depend on their gear. Simply put: if you’re a professional mastering engineer, CUTTER belongs in your rack.

Dangerous Music CUTTER Vinyl Mastering Transfer Console Features:

• All-analog, purist, audiophile-grade circuit path
• All connections are balanced 6-pin XLR, +4dBu nominal operating level
• 2 stereo inputs, 3 stereo outputs (one for monitoring)
• 3 insert loops (2nd insert capable of M-S matrix operation)
• Included selection of 6-pin to 3-pin pair breakout Y cables
• Input and Output controls: +/– 5dB in 0.5dB steps
• Input Monitor Offset: -2 to +8dB in 0.5dB steps
• Width control: -4 to +6dB in 0.5dB steps
• Attenuator accuracy: > 0.01dB
• THD+Noise in audio band: < 0.0018%
• IMD 60Hz + 4kHz 4:1 < 0.0025%
• Crosstalk rejection: better than 111dB @ 1kHz
• Headroom: > +27dBu, +23dBu in the matrix under worst case conditions
• Frequency response: better than 0.2dB down @ 1Hz and 100kHz
• Noise floor: < -92dBu total energy in audio