TC Electronic PowerCore PCI

(Originally written by fabrice.fargues/translated from Audiofanzine FR)

Four 100-MHz DSP, it provides "enough" plug-ins and high-class reverbs...
Used with a Powermac G5 2x2 GHz, 8Gb RAM...
Cubase 4

UTILIZATION

It can't be easier to setup with Mac OS 10.4.9, just plug the card (thank you Apple for the easy access), insert the CD-ROM, follow the instructions and there you go... I haven't had any compatibility problems... Kudos!

GETTING STARTED

Easy to use... The one thing to criticize would be the user's manual. It's too short and you'll need time to get to know every parameter. It seems you have to "learn by doing", especially when it comes to TC electronics specific parameters...

OVERALL OPINION

I've owned it for less than one month. I wanted a UAD-1 card because of the reputation of some of its plug-ins. But I found this card at an extremely low price... The reverb effects are sumptuous, the 247C has a wonderful color (and thus won't fit every style), the Voicestrip reproduces vocal warmth very well... In short: if you try it you'll want it. Your mixes will get a deep sound and lose that cold "chemical" color produced by Cubase plug-ins (although some of them are great for certain things). You'll rediscover the sound character of some reference-class hardware processors... I'm thinking about adding a second card, an mkII (with 4 x 150MHz DSPs) so that I can use the fabulous VSS3 reverb...

Watch out: addictive product......

4 CaDance 100MHz DSP, has "sufficient" for plugs, reverb upscale ...
Ub used on powermac G5 2x2 GHz, 8GB of ram ...
Cubase 4

UTILIZATION

Mac OS X.4.9, nothing more simple, you install the card, thank you Apple for ease of access, insert the CD rom, we follow the explanations, and bump ... I had no compatibility issues ... Happiness

GETTING STARTED

No worries of use ... The only problem, the manual of plugs, French course, but too succinct, we groped a little time to know the "color" of each parameter is a bit like an empirical method, especially when it comes in specific settings TC electronics ....

OVERALL OPINION

I for 2 years. I opted for a UAD-1 plugs by some "reference", but I found this card at a price lower divinely ... The reverbs are simply gorgeous (it's still TC), the 247C is colored to perfection (he failure to his advantage, that it will not fit everywhere), the voicetrip is quite effective ... In short try, is to adopt, your mix can finally take the depth, the sound loses this aspect "chemical", cold, that we have with the plugs provided with cubase4 (some are nonetheless remarkable in certain situations), there is a little grain of some machines "hardware" reference ...

To discover the possibilities of reverb "made in TC", at a reasonable cost, there is no better ... But when you listen to a reverb VSS3, we begin to dream of powercore6000, and when it was, you break the piggy bank, and dark on the M6000 ... In short we need a beginning, and this card is a must to discover the world of DSP cards (this one is still dedicated reverb) as well as the timeless UAD1 (very complementary to me ...). You'll never work again with "Freeverb" and other ...