Valve Classics

1 2 3 4 5 7 9

1 Depth and detail are the characteristics of the

VP-1 Preamp stage, which accepts mic, instrument and

line level signals. The mic input is transformer
balanced and offers a choice of pentode valve (as in
the PA-1 pentode preamp) or class A signal paths.
MONO VALVE PROCESSOR Switchable phantom power, phase reverse, 30dB pad
and variable high pass filter are provided. Input gain
In recent years, the analogue At TL Audio we’ve long is variable in 10dB steps with a 15dB trim control, and
Drive and Peak LEDs indicate the level of valve drive
voice processor has become an recognised the benefits of this and clipping respectively.
indispensable direct link between approach, having included high
2 The Expander/Gate section offers precise and
microphone and multitrack quality mic preamps on every responsive VCA control of signal dynamics, and
recorder, enabling engineers to Valve Classics product since the features fully variable adjustment of threshold, attack
and release. This stage is bypassable for easy A/B
capture the highest quality vocal original EQ-1 Dual Valve comparison, and a four segment bar graph meter
sound on tape or hard disc - Equaliser was launched in 1993. indicates the degree of gain reduction.

without the compromises in The VP-1 is the newest processor 3 The De-esser stage employs high quality VCAs to
allow effective but natural reduction of sibilance. De-
sound quality that most mixing in the Valve Classics range, and esser depth, frequency and bandwidth are all fully
consoles impose. combines all the best elements of variable. The de-esser section has a bypass switch
and status LED, and a four segment bar graph meter
Going straight to multitrack the PA-1 pentode preamp, C-1 indicates the amount of de-esser gain reduction.
through a well designed voice compressor and both EQ-1 and
4 The super-smooth Compressor stage comes with
processor has unlocked the true EQ-2 equalisers to create a truly both valve (as in the C-1 compressor) and optical
potential of microphones and flexible and spectacular sounding compression circuits, and offers control of threshold,
ratio, attack, release and gain make-up. Both hard
transformed the sound of modern valve front end for any audio and soft knee characteristics are provided, and a
vocal recordings. system. switchable ‘Hold’ circuit reduces LF distortion. The
compressor section is bypassable for easy A/B
comparison.
5 Sweetness and warmth comes via the four band valve
The VP-1 features DIGITAL INTERFACING EQ section, which utilises four frequency LF/HF
seven valve stages, run shelving as per the original EQ-1 equaliser, with two
from a stabilised 250V The optional DO-1 digital output fully parametric mids identical to the EQ-2. The EQ
DC supply. The first card offers simultaneous AES, can be switched ‘pre’ or ‘post’ the compressor stage.
stage is a Siemens SPDIF and TOSLINK optical outputs, The EQ section is bypassable.
EF86 pentode in the along with a Wordclock input. The 6 The output limiter employs an optical gain control
front end of the stage with adjustable threshold to provide responsive
bit rate is variable between 16, 20
yet natural control of output peaks - making it ideal
A TOUR OF THE FRONT PANEL

preamp, followed by
and 24 bits, and the sample rate is switchable for preventing overload in digital recorders. The
six Sovtek
ECC83/12AX7A stages -
between 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96kHz. limiter is bypassable and an ‘active’ LED indicates
when limiting is taking place. A stereo link switch is
one in the secondary provided - this allows two VP-1s to be joined for stereo
stage of the preamp, operation, and ensures that the compressor and
one in the compressor TOTAL CONNECTIVITY limiter control voltages of the two units are linked,
and four in the EQ The VP-1 connections are designed for total flexibility: thus preventing image shift.
section.
7 An output level control offers full attenuation through
. Balanced XLR mic and line inputs

7
to +15dB of gain - thus acting as an output fader for
direct-to-multitrack recording.
. Balanced XLR line output
VALVE 8 A large back-lit VU meter can be switched to read
. Unbalanced jack line inputs and input gain, output gain and gain reduction. An ‘o/p
STAGES +10’ setting pads the meter reading down by 10dB to
outputs permit very high output levels to be effectively
monitored.
. . TRS insert point (post preamp)
9 The optional digital output comes with variable word
. TRS side-chain insert point length and sample rate, supporting up to 24bit/96kHz,
in AES, SPDIF and optical formats. A wordclock input
. Stereo Link connector on TRS jack is provided and metering is included for output level
and for External Lock confirmation.
. Front panel instrument input

“The VP-1 is everything you’d hope it might be” “The dream machine of recording channels”
// STUDIO SOUND // FUTURE MUSIC
Valve Classics
Our Valve Classics products have been a part of some of the most influential
recordings of recent years, and have become a fixture in many world class facilities.
Warm and smooth, with flexibility and user-friendliness built in, the Valve Classics
are the cream of our signal processing products.

. 2 channels of soft . Sidechain insert

C-1 knee valve

compression
. Balanced mic and
line level inputs
points
. Continuously
variable input gain,
threshold, ratio,
DUAL VALVE COMPRESSOR . Balanced line level
attack/release and
outputs, switchable gain make-up
The C-1 still maintains its position front panel instrument inputs mean for -10dB or +4dB . Dual mono/stereo

MAIN FEATURES
as the most flexible, polished a keyboard or guitar can feed operation link modes

sounding high end compressor on straight into the C-1 with a . Unbalanced jack I/O . VU metering of
connections output level or gain
the market today, and now has minimum of fuss. reduction
. Stereo front panel
thousands of enthusiastic users Whether the C-1 is tracking vocals instrument inputs . 2 triode valve stages
right across the world. All controls and instruments, or adding with gain control and per channel - one in
sensitivity switch the preamp and one
are continuously variable, high roundness and warmth to a in the compressor
. Switchable 48V
quality onboard preamps allow complete mix, it will become an phantom power & section, run from
internal 250V DC
direct-to-tape recording of indispensable part of your signal 90Hz filter
supply
microphone sources, and stereo path within hours.

. Balanced . Switchable high and

PA-1 transformer coupled

mic preamps
. Front panel
low pass filters
. Phase reverse switch
on channel B
instrument inputs
. VU metering of
DUAL PENTODE VALVE PREAMP . Balanced line output level, along
outputs, switchable with Drive and Peak
The PA-1 is our top of the range mic weight and presence. for +4dB or +18dB LEDs
MAIN FEATURES

pre, and offers a significant Employing an all-valve transformer operation

. Three valve stages
improvement over any solid state balanced front end with secondary . Line outputs per channel (one
duplicated on pentode and two
console preamp in any price range. triode valve stages, the PA-1 is the unbalanced jack triode stages), run
All microphones - from an natural choice for any track laying or connections from internal 250V
DC supply
inexpensive dynamic to a top quality direct-to-tape recording situation - . 48V phantom power
condenser - produce a fuller, more and makes the perfect partner for . Switchable input
gain control with +/-
open and more vibrant sound when today’s generation of digital HD 12dB trim
fed through the PA-1, and recorders. . Rotary output faders
instruments take on an added

“The C-1’s sound quality is sublime” “The C-1 sounds great…it definitely has its own sound”
// SOUND ON SOUND // AUDIO MEDIA
 www.tlaudio.co.uk
“Bass sounds run through the “I liked the EQ-1. It was easy
C-1 were warm, fat and huge, to use, well built and
without excessive boominess affordable.
from overshoot” Highly recommended”
Mix Magazine Radio World

. LF band gives +/- . Balanced line

EQ-1 12dB shelving @

60Hz, 120Hz, 250Hz
or 500Hz (12dB/oct)
. LM band gives +/-
outputs, switchable
for -10dB or +4dB
operation
. Front panel mono
LIMITED EDITION DUAL VALVE EQUALISER 12dB peaking @
250Hz, 500Hz, 1kHz
instrument input (for
guitars, basses etc)
The EQ-1 is the product that back in other current Classic range partners, or 2.2kHz (Q=0.5)
. 48V phantom power
1993 originally re-defined affordable bringing its visual appearance bang . HM band gives +/- . Cascade switch for 8
12dB peaking @ band mono operation
valve technology, and since being up to date. 1.5kHz, 2.2kHz,
discontinued in 1998 we have Each EQ band offers a choice of four 3.6kHz or 5kHz . Insert point on each
channel (between
MAIN FEATURES
(Q=0.5)
received many requests to resurrect carefully selected frequencies, mic preamp and EQ
. HF band gives +/-
what has now become a classic which combined with gentle slopes 12dB shelving @
section)

design. So eight years after the and broad curves gives the EQ-1 an 2.2kHz, 5kHz, 8kHz or . Four triode valve
12kHz (12dB/oct) stages per channel -
original launch it’s back for a strictly instantly warm, musical sound. one in the preamp
limited edition production run of 500 High quality onboard mic preamps . Balanced section and three in
microphone and line the EQ stage, run
pieces! and an instrument input on channel level inputs with from internal 325V
Entirely faithful to the original in its A mean the EQ-1 is perfectly suited variable gain control DC supply
internal design, the new EQ-1 sports to both tracking and mixdown . Unbalanced jack I/O
connections
the same cosmetic styling as its duties.

. LF & LM bands . Balanced mic and

EQ-2 variable from 30Hz to

3kHz
. HM & HF bands
line inputs
. Balanced line
outputs
variable from 1kHz to
. Insert point on each
DUAL PARAMETRIC VALVE EQUALISER 20kHz channel (between
. Bypass switch on mic preamp and EQ
The EQ-2 boasts two channels of mode” switch - when activated, the each individual band section)
parametric valve equalisation - EQ controls of channel A can be . Each band offers +/- . Front panel
MAIN FEATURES

which in conjunction with variable used to process the channel B 15dB of gain and instrument inputs
variable Q between
high and low cut filters offers signal as well - ideal for precise 0.5 and 5.0
. 48V phantom power
unlimited control of any audio equalisation of stereo sources and . Peaking/shelving
. Stereo mode
source. Also featuring a pair of the overall mixes. switch on both LF . 6 triode valve stages
and HF bands per channel - one in
acclaimed TL Audio mic preamps Quite simply we believe that the EQ- each EQ filter and
and front panel instrument inputs, 2 is one of the best sounding and . Variable low and high two in the output
cut filters stage, run from
the EQ-2 is perfect for tracking any most versatile equalisers currently
. Variable input and internal 250V DC
vocal or instrument source. Another available! output level controls supply
brilliant refinement is the “stereo
®
“The EQ-2 was fast, flexible and best of all - musical”
// MIX MAGAZINE
“The PA-1 improved virtually every sound”
// AUDIO MEDIA
TLAudio