TLA-50 Tube Leveling Amplifier Operating Instructions

What is a leveler?

The main difference between a leveler and a compressor is that the leveler has no individual control of threshold and slope (ratio); these functions work together and interact with each other completely as a function of the same control. The result is a very easy-to-use signal processor that controls the dynamics in a musical and intuitive manner. Mixing with the TLA-50 Using a standard insert cable plugged into the insert jack on the mixing console, run the send (tip) to the input of the TLA-50 and the return (ring) to the output of the TLA-50. For example: insert cable on vocal channel on mixing board -> tip to TLA-50 in and ring to TLA-50 out Warming with the TLA-50 Set the TLA-50's gain reduction to "0" with the unit in "In" mode (not bypassed). All audio will then pass through the vacuum tube without compressing. Adding a small amount of compression at this point will increase the high frequency response. Stereo linking Two TLA-50's can be linked to process stereo signals. When two units are linked this way, the leveling action will be the same on both units. The TLA-50 with the most compression will always control the other unit. For example: connect a standard ¼" cable between the stereo link jacks on two TLA-50's -> set all controls exactly the same on both units -> set the BYPASS switch on both units to LINK

Using the TLA-50 with an external instrument preamp or mic preamp: Using the TLA-50 with an external instrument preamp (such as the TD-100) or microphone preamp (like the 2BA-221) is a simple, in-line connection. Simply run the output of the preamp into either the ¼" or XLR input of the TLA-50 and run the output of the TLA-50 into the recording or playback device. For example: bass out -> TD-100 instrument input -> TD-100 ¼" TRS balanced output -> TLA-50 ¼" input -> TLA-50 ¼" output -> DAW interface input De-essing with the TLA-50 Plug a TRS insert cable into the side chain jack on the back of the TLA-50. Plug the send (tip) of the insert cable to the input of an EQ, and the return (ring) of the cable to the EQ output. Boost the frequencies on the EQ that you want to compress (de-ess). For example: 2BA-221 output to TLA-50 input -> FeQ-50 inserted on side chain access on TLA-50 -> output of TLA-50 sent to recording device -> 3.3kHz boosted on FeQ-50

Ducking with the TLA-50: Send the output of the "lead" program material into the side chain return after inserting the TLA-50 on the "background" program material. For example: TLA-50 inserted on rhythm guitar channel on mixer -> output of lead guitar channel sent to side chain input Mounting the TLA-50 Use the SRK-100 from Summit Audio to mount one or two TLA-50's. They will also fit into a standard rack shelf although they tend to sag under the weight of these pieces.