Topic: Has anyone ever run a KORG tp-2?

[KLowe]

This looks pretty cool.  A tube pre with all the joys of 24/96.  Does anyone on TS.com have experience running this box? 

What do yall think of the specs?

http://www.korg.com/gear/info.asp?a_prod_no=TP2&

I know it is 9v AC which could be a problem...but I'm cool with lugging around the big assed AC power supplies.

Opinions???

[rowjimmy]

heh. i was just looking at that somewhere... ebay? maybe.
I wonder how it sounds...

here's the link to the one on ebay: http://tinyurl.com/y5ylkw

I like the meters, especially...

[Roving Sign]

Looks cool - I never really use DC so - AC is cool with me...

Yeah - I like the VU meters - I really miss the old Sony D5 meters...

[Church-Audio]

This looks pretty cool.  A tube pre with all the joys of 24/96.  Does anyone on TS.com have experience running this box? 

What do yall think of the specs?

http://www.korg.com/gear/info.asp?a_prod_no=TP2&

I know it is 9v AC which could be a problem...but I'm cool with lugging around the big assed AC power supplies.

Opinions???

I don't see any switch to bypass the built in optical compressor I would have a real problem with that as for most live recordings I don't want compression the other problem would be even if you were to use compression in a live show how could you hear the end result to know how much to add or take away also missing is a ratio knob for setting the compression ratio so even if you did want a 1:1 I don't see a way of dialing that in.

[rowjimmy]

I don't see any switch to bypass the built in optical compressor I would have a real problem with that as for most live recordings I don't want compression the other problem would be even if you were to use compression in a live show how could you hear the end result to know how much to add or take away also missing is a ratio knob for setting the compression ratio so even if you did want a 1:1 I don't see a way of dialing that in.

From the user's manual:

11. Compressor sensitivity knob
This specifies the audio level where the compressor begins to kick in.
Turning the knob toward the right will increase the sensitivity, so that
compression will be applied even at low levels.
If you don’t want to apply compression, turn this knob all the way to
the left.

so there it is.

edit to add this:
http://www.korg.com/downloads/pdf/TP2_E1.pdf

[KLowe]

Pardon my ignorance...but just what does Optical Compression do?

I'll google it later tonight...but if anyone can describe it in a nutshell that would be great.



buy it row Jimmy!  Do it!  do it!

You would be the coolest kid on the block with the blue tubes and the VU meters!   

[Church-Audio]

Pardon my ignorance...but just what does Optical Compression do?

I'll google it later tonight...but if anyone can describe it in a nutshell that would be great.



buy it row Jimmy!  Do it!  do it!

You would be the coolest kid on the block with the blue tubes and the VU meters!   

An optical compressor uses a photo cell and a light source in one package, the light is powered by your input level. The brighter the light the more move voltage the photo cell produces. This voltage is then fed to something called a VCA or voltage controlled amplifier, this amp adjusts the output level by the amount of voltage present on its input. This is how most optical compressors work, some use vacuum tubes some use transistors, but all optical compressors use light as a part of the signal detection circuit. There are exceptions to this rule but for 90% of the optical compressors that is the bases of there design.



Chris Church

[KLowe]

Well,
Hooked by the VU meters and the Tubes.  Gonna try it out against the Wmod UA-5.

[Church-Audio]

I don't see any switch to bypass the built in optical compressor I would have a real problem with that as for most live recordings I don't want compression the other problem would be even if you were to use compression in a live show how could you hear the end result to know how much to add or take away also missing is a ratio knob for setting the compression ratio so even if you did want a 1:1 I don't see a way of dialing that in.

From the user's manual:

11. Compressor sensitivity knob
This specifies the audio level where the compressor begins to kick in.
Turning the knob toward the right will increase the sensitivity, so that
compression will be applied even at low levels.
If you don’t want to apply compression, turn this knob all the way to
the left.

so there it is.

edit to add this:
http://www.korg.com/downloads/pdf/TP2_E1.pdf

I would never use a preamp that has a compressor in it that can not be hard bypassed, the reason being that compressors even optical ones that are in the circuit are always in active unless they can be bypassed. The potentiometer is a threshold not a true bypass, so even though it is "off" not bypassed, it's still active, and I would bet anything still changes the sound because of the VCA it uses.
Compressors are great when you need them and great when you want to color the sound but not great when your not looking for color your looking for accuracy.

Chris Church

[rowjimmy]

I would never use a preamp that has a compressor in it that can not be hard bypassed, the reason being that compressors even optical ones that are in the circuit are always in active unless they can be bypassed. The potentiometer is a threshold not a true bypass, so even though it is "off" not bypassed, it's still active, and I would bet anything still changes the sound because of the VCA it uses.
Compressors are great when you need them and great when you want to color the sound but not great when your not looking for color your looking for accuracy.

Chris Church

Excellent point.
I might would considet this for home-studio work but not as a full time piece of gear. my next gear purchase is more likely to be a clean preamp. a/d not required.
Stereo may also be optional.