DOCtron IMC-500 brings Stimming’s Mastering Chain to 500-series
The IMC is now available as a 500-series module
The DOCtron IMC-500 is now available as a 500-series module! This is a truly amazing addition to your lunchbox for both live and studio use.
Martin Stimming’s Instant Mastering Chain was originally designed in collaboration with DOCtron as a master bus processor for his live performances.
The original IMC features Trident-style shelving filters, API 2500-style compression, and saturation from Lundahl transformers. With this unique combination, you can increase the overall punch of your mix with subtle or more aggressive colouration.
DOCtron IMC-500
Essentially, the controls the IMC-500 features all the same controls as the desktop module. This includes the ability to bypass the compressor and EQ sections individually, and the choice of feed-forward or feed-back compression.
The fundamental difference is that the original IMC was specifically designed for live electronic music performance. This means it has a headphones preamplifier and unbalanced RCA outputs to take you directly into the venue’s Pioneer DJ mixer.
Besides the IMC’s hefty price tag, the lack of balanced outputs was a major gripe for studio users and deterred many from adding the IMC to their setups. Many even claimed that you could build a chain of 500-series modules for cheaper.
Now, with the IMC-500 this is no longer a factor, as the standard 500-series chassis comes standard with balanced outputs. Yes, the price is still high for a single module. However, the combination of EQ, saturation, and compression is a rare one.
It’s still a considerable investment if you add the cost of the average 500-series casing, but you get a more versatile processing module with capabilities far beyond the scope of its original design. What’s more, you can still use the IMC-500 in live sound situations if you need to.
Pricing and availability:
The IMC-500 is currently available from Thomann.
![](https://cdn.gearnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/doctron-imc-500-widget.jpeg)
More about the DOCtron IMC-500:
- DOCtron IMC official page
- Martin Stimming official artist page
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- DOCtron IMC-500: DOCtron
- doctron-imc-500-widget: Thomann