Add the warm sound of classic Summit Audio compression to your music with the TLA-50 Tube Leveling Amplifier. This single channel tube leveling amp will warm your signals like nothing else.
The TLA-50 features side chain access, stereo linking with another TLA-50, switchable attack and release times, fully adjustable gain and gain reduction control and accurate VU metering with OL indication. Anything but sterile, the TLA-50 imparts a flattering tone on anything passing through it with its soft-knee and program dependent transition characteristic. Get the sound the pros have been using for 20+ years, the sweet and musical sound of the Summit Audio TLA.
Summit Audio TLA-50 Features :
- "Soft knee" and program dependent transition characteristics
- XLR +4dB input and output, -10dB 1/4" in (unbalanced) and out (balanced)
- Automatic level matching for interfacing -10dB and +4dB devices
- 3 position attack and release settings
- Continuously variable gain and gain reduction controls
- VU metering of input level or gain reduction
- Overload indication
- Side chain access on ¼" TRS jack
- Stereo linkable with another TLA-50
- Internal high voltage power supply
- One 12AX7A/ECC83 vacuum tube
- Hand crafted in the USA
- Backed by Summit Audio's 3 Year Warranty
Summit Audio has been designing compressors/ leveling amplifiers for nearly 25 years, with the TLA series as the very first product to hit the market with the Summit Audio name. Summit knows compressors, and they ARE the TLA company. Accept no substitutes.
Despite its diminutive size, the TLA-50 is every bit deserving of its TLA heritage. What else would you expect from Summit Audio? Based on the same compression cell as the iconic TLA-100A, the TLA-50 exhibits the same soft knee and program dependent compression characteristic with only a slightly different signal path and metering from its big brother. To make it more versatile in a wide variety of wiring configurations we have also included a plethora of inputs and outputs, including both +4dB XLR in and out and -10dB 1/4" in (unbalanced) and out (balanced), plus side chain access and stereo linking on 1/4" jacks. And this is not a 'pared down' Summit unit; the TLA-50 features the same high quality you can expect from any of our products. That means that only top-of-the-line connectors, switches, and pots that are built to last a lifetime, as well as the highest quality components, are used throughout.
The Summit Audio TLA processors are vital for any and all vocal processing. Just ask the professionals (and watch our video interviews, especially Al Schmidt) and you'll hear the TLA name again and again. Now with the TLA-50 we are able to get that revered Summit Audio TLA sound in a more affordable and portable package for your studio or live sound rig. Try your TLA-50 on bass as well, plus kick drum when tracking or inserted when mixing. Great tones abound! It's almost impossible to make the TLA-50 sound bad so that YOU always sound good!
All the warmth of that classic Summit Audio tube sound at an unreal price.
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.
Rackmounting 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.
The History of Summit Audio :
Summit Audio began their foray into the professional audio world in 1979. A few years later, Summit Audio released the original TLA-100 tube leveler that would later evolve into the highly sought after TLA-100A, still manufactured today unchanged after twenty years, and whose signature sound has graced countless songs and albums to date.
Now a real force in the audio world, Summit Audio's foundation of high value, no compromise products with intense testing and unparalleled commitment to its customers needs is the perfect launching pad for a bright future of innovative and interesting products, all with a commitment to excellence and a passion for creating inspirational audio products.
As Summit evolves with the dynamic world of professional audio, they still stick to their basic traditions of solid reliability, precise manufacturing and integrity in everything they do.
Each Summit Audio product is crafted, manufactured and tested exclusively in the United States to the most exacting standards, utilizing human ears in addition to the best available test equipment along with years of combined experience and customer input.
Having built a reputation upon superb and reliable products, professionals worldwide trust Summit Audio for their critical studio applications.
