TC Electronic C300 Dual Stereo Compressor/Gate

We've spent years researching and developing the art of compression, supplying top quality processing to world class engineers. In fact, it's likely you've heard world-renowned TC compression on most of your favorite records and movies. Now you can get TC quality compression with the C300.

But we didn't stop there. C300’s new source-based architecture takes the drudgery out of compression and lets the box do the work for you. The history-proven compression knowledge we’ve packed into the C300 includes advanced features like multi-band and parallel compression you won't find in any other product in this category.

C300 dual stereo gate/compressor
C300 is an easy to use dual engine dynamics processor that gives you superior compression/limiting and gate/expansion feasibilities. It features flexible control of the signal path, 16 gate/expander and 16 compressor/limiter audio-optimized presets with intelligent TC multi-band and full-band technology, innovative new style compression, state-of-the-art TC quality, and an extremely intuitive and straightforward user interface that gives you access to complex and comprehensive dynamic processing with a few buttons and simple operations only.

C300 is mainly meant to be used in insert applications.

Optimized presets
The C300 gives you source-based presets that are tailor-made for various types of sources. Depending on the preset you select you have access to intelligent TC full-band- or multi-band technology.

The C300’s multi-band processing is built on a state-of-the-art TC algorithm that bases it’s calculations on the incoming source, and that’s why it’s called source-based. A multi-band compressor, as opposed to a full band compressor, acts differently on different frequency bands. This means that each frequency band actually has its own little compressor working on it, with unique settings like threshold, ratio, attack and release. If you for instance prefer a steep compression on the lower frequencies, a soft compression on the mid frequencies, and a bright and light compression on the higher frequencies, you should use a multi-band compressor.

The C300 comes with several presets that are fully optimized for this kind of compression and you’ll be surprised just how easy multi-band compression can be.

New style compression – an innovative approach to compression
We've analyzed the decisions that world class engineers make when they compress and compiled them inside the C300, offering you a completely new approach to working with compression. Now you can take a compressed signal and mix it with a dry signal and enhance all details in the music, just by turning the mix knob. Instead of pressing down the signal peaks it preserves all the higher dynamics when you play loud, and at the same time it brings out all the details from the lower end of the signal. Try to apply parallel compression on a drum kit. You’ll soon discover that all the lower details are smacked in your face, while still preserving the bells and high dynamics of the snare and cymbals “uncompressed”, so to speak. And the really cool thing about it is that the C300 makes parallel or new style compression the easiest thing in the world – just select source preset, and you’re up and running!

Simple, intuitive and straightforward
The entire user interface has been laid out to be simple, intuitive and straightforward. All non-essential knobs and tweaking options have been cut away and replaced with innovative combinations and expansions of parameter indicators and knobs. For instance, the gate and the compressor are both controlled with the same knob, giving you improved and much faster access to important parameters.

The sound of TC
The C300 gives you highly advanced TC algorithms that will process your sound with extreme precision, ultimate audio quality and outstanding performance. State-of-the-art audio converters are built-in, ensuring that your transition from analog to digital and back is in the very best quality.

To many, TC is synonymous with superior and excellent quality. And for a reason; over the years, the entire music and audio industry has celebrated and awarded TC Electronic for its outstanding products.

Flexible control of the signal path
The C300 comes with a flexible routing feature that gives you all combinations of parallel and serial link modes. Stereo serial mode allows you to process a composite full-mix signal on both engines simultaneously, virtually giving you an extra device. With the C300 you can insert a stereo full-mix signal into one engine, e.g. compress it, and then send the stereo signal into the second engine, and e.g. limit it, and then send out a processed full-mix stereo signal. What this gives you is the full use of stereo processing on two serial connected engines, something that’s not normally attainable from this type of dynamics processor.

In normal dual/mono mode you’ll either use one engine as a compressor and the other as a gate – or both engines as compressors or gates, having two individually processed mono signals coming out from each engine. Or, you’ll link the two engines together, and e.g. use the first engine to compress the signal, and then the second engine as a limiter, sending out a processed mono signal.

Main features C300

Dual engine compressor or gate
High resolution input and gain reduction metering
Precision gating – ultra fast and click free
Balanced 1/4” jack I/O

Threshold LED indication
True dual mono, stereo or serial operation
16 source specific compression presets
16 gate presets sidechain tailored to match input source

High-end studio quality
Instant operation – select source and go!
Full on gating and compression mode
Multi-band compressor for maximum transparency
Digital S/PDIF I/O - for digital console connection
Dual band expansion - for non-percussive sources
Parallel compression - add extra punch to your drums
Precision de-essing