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Handsome Audio New Products Page

ZULU 500 SERIES

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Zulu 500

  • Classic Passive Analog Tape Emulation in 500 series form factor.

  • Custom Handsome Audio input and output transformers (Designed by LMI).

  • Custom Handsome Audio knobs

  • Fully stepped controls using spring-loaded mechanical rotaries and a 4-position slide switch for flawless recall.

  • 3 classic tape machine circuits form the backbone of Zulu's ITD (Iterative Tone Design) which allows Zulu to emulate the behavior of numerous tape machines and tape formulas, even in combinations that are mechanically impossible ie: cassette tape on a 1/4"mastering 2 track machine. 

  • New Bias design and B control (Bright/Dark). An expanded take on Bias that allows for original behaviors and an expanded behavior dynamic that further exaggerates bass vs treble proportions. 

  • New Enhance design featuring 12 positions of harmonically excited dry vs wet. 

  • Updated Headroom control featuring 2 additional settings (LP - between Lo and Pro machine headroom and PH - between Pro and Hi machine headroom), further expanding the tone shaping and compression palette available. 

  • Tape Calibration on the front panel for ease of adjustment.

  • User-selected jumpers to adjust (Tape Opamp behavior (Vintage Vs Modern), Enhance scale (Original vs Gradual) and Calibration behavior (TK and EX). Default setting is the Original Zulu configuration.

  • Revolutionary modular Brass Knuckle connector, for ease of installation into 500 series chassis. 

  • Custom Handsome Audio Retro Thumbscrews. 

  • Handsome Audio Mousepad

  • All controls feature high-tolerance components for precise matching between units. 

  • Despite featuring completely passive circuits, Zulu only incurs 4.7db of signal loss! Easily offset by increasing input gain or digital makeup gain. 

  • Compatible with line-level analog signal and friendly to high input levels. 

  • Compatible with API, RND, Fredenstein, BAE, Midas, Heritage Audio and Handsome Audio 500 series chassis.  Please inquire with any questions. 

  • NOTE: Not compatible with Cranbourne 500R8 and 500ADAT chassis.

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HAPPY REEL

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  • 4 Space chassis, designed for Handsome Audio and LMI 500 series units.

  • Compatible with Zulu 500 and LMI Prime.

  • Uses a 12 pin socket system for connecting the Handsome Audio and LMI modules to the chassis, using 12 pin ribbon cables (supplied with Zulu 500 and LMI Prime). 

  • Rugged Steel chassis.

  • Regulated 16V DC Power Supply (for future designs). *Power per slot "on demand," via jumpers.

  • Quality XLR IO connections. 

  • High Quality Rubber feet for table top use. 

  • Includes 2 Handsome Audio branded spacers and 4 gold thumbscrews for module/spacer installation. 

  • Includes 24V2A DC adapter.

  • Modules not included. â€‹


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This thing sounds brilliant. Very happy with it. There seems to be a massive range of sounds to get out of it. I've been experimenting mainly with drums, and it's really great in parallel, completely smashing them to get a rich, real sound. When you mute the track with the Zulu processing on it and go back to the plain drum sound, it is lifeless by comparison. I can't wait to try this on piano, guitar and analog synths too. And then to run it through on the master. Such a musical piece of gear!

I wanted to wait a bit to leave feedback since there aren't a TON of reviews about this piece of gear (which I am honestly surprised at). This thing is AMAZING! I have it set up as an external send/return that I can route audio to from any channel or group in my DAW. For drums, if you're making hip hop or any other genre where the drums need to KNOCK, this is like a secret weapon. I've tried a ton of different VST emulations of analog tape, and none of them get close to this.

The Zulu has been a massive game changer for all of my mixes. As my first piece of hardware, I would recommend this beyond anything else. I struggled for months trying to decide where to put my money and this thing was exactly what I was hoping for in a piece of gear. The change is obvious and instant the second you have it hooked up. Even more, it will tell you exactly what's going wrong with your mix pre-Zulu. The headroom is incredible - and with some UAD unison pre's, it's been perfect!

An awesome box! Works with pretty much any material you throw at it and has all the range you need. From rounding the outer edges of a mix to destroying an instrument channel. If you’re a 60s and 70s obsessive like myself and want to give modern music that tasty sonic nostalgia, this is your tool.

Francesco G.

Kenneth M.

Andru F.

Paul B. 

Robert H.

I received my unit a day early A+, it sounds awesome! A+, it works flawlessly! A+, it’s passive and made in America! Love it!!! Best tape emulation I’ve ever experienced ( I’ve experienced many). Keep up the great work Lang!

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