KORG TPB-2 - Manual (Page 3)

1. Parts and their function
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1. INPUT 9, INPUT 10 jacks
These are balanced inputs that combine XLR jacks and 1/4” TRS
phone jacks.
Unbalanced phone plugs may also be connected to the 1/4” jacks.
If you are using a condenser mic requiring phantom power, connect it
to the XLR jack.
1/4" TRS phone jack
XLR jack
2: HOT
1: GND
3: COLD
If you are using a guitar or the line output from an instrument,
connect it to the TRS phone jack.
GND COLD HOT GND HOT
Balanced phone plug Unbalanced phone plug
2. Phantom power switch/LED
This switch supplies +48V phantom power to condenser mics. The
LED will light if +48V power is being supplied. Power is supplied
only to the XLR jack. Turn this off (LED dark) if you’re using a
dynamic mic.
If a condenser mic is connected or disconnected with the phantom power
switch on, damage to your equipment may occur. For this reason, always
turn the phantom power switch off before connecting or disconnecting a
condenser mic.
3. Gain trim knob
This knob adjusts the input gain. If the PAD switch is on (pushed in),
the range is +14 – –34 dBu. If the PAD switch is off, the range is –12 –
–60 dBu.
4. Hi-Z switch
This switch changes the impedance level of the TRS phone jack to
high impedance. It is on when the switch is pushed in. Turn this
switch on when connecting a high output impedance device such as
guitar or bass.
5. PAD switch
This switch lowers the level of the input signal by 26 dB. The pad is
on when the switch is pushed in. When a line level input source is
connected, turning the pad on will allow the gain trim knob to have a
wider useful range of adjustment.
6. Compressor mode switch
This switch changes the compressor’s response speed. Use the Fast
setting for short sounds such as drums or percussion, and the Slow
setting (press the switch in) for more sustained sounds, such as
vocals.
7. Low cut switch
This switch activates a 70 Hz –6 dB/oct low cut filter.
Use this to reduce unwanted low-frequency content. The filter is on
when the switch is pressed in.
8. Level meter
The meter shows the audio level. If the needle moves into the red
area above 0 dB, this indicates that digital clipping is occurring.
Set the gain trim knob and the compressor sensitivity knob to prevent
the needle from exceeding 0 dB.
9. Gain reduction LED
This LED will light when gain reduction is being applied by the
compressor.
10. 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.
11. Link switch
Press this switch in to link the two channels together for use with
stereo sources. When linked, compression will be applied equally to
both channels whenever either channel exceeds the compressor’s
sensitivity threshold, preserving the stereo imaging.
2. Operation
2-1. Assigning the input
The inputs of the TPB-2 will show up as Input 9 and Input 10 on your
D32XD/D16XD. The audio sources connected to the TPB-2’s inputs can
be assigned to any of the mixer channels. (See D32XD/D16XD owner’s
manual, p.42 “1. Inputting audio to the mixer”)
Preamp input INPUT 9 is shown as the
icon, and INPUT10 is shown
as the icon.
•Access the MIXER, INPUT/OUTPUT/CH ASSIGN, “Ch Assign”
tab page.
•Select “SOURCE” for the channel you want to assign, and use the
buttons to select . You can also use the value dial or the
+/– keys to make this selection. In the same way, select for
another channel.
2-2. Adjusting the input level
When you’ve finished making your connections, watch the TPB-2’s level
meter while you use the gain trim knob to adjust the level. Set the trim
knob so that the level meter needle does not exceed 0 dB when the
loudest sound is input.
If the level meter goes beyond 0 dB even when the gain trim knob is
turned all the way toward the left, press the PAD switch and then use
the gain trim knob to adjust the level.
Normally if the needle goes beyond 0 dB, digital clipping has occurred, caus-
ing distortion. You should set the level so that it does not exceed 0 dB.
2-3. Using the compressor
urn the compressor sensitivity knob all the way to the left so that the
compressor is not being applied.
Use the gain trim knob to raise the level so that the meter slightly
exceeds 0 dB during the loudest input passages.
Slowly turn the compressor sensitivity knob toward the right. The gain
reduction LED will begin to light, indicating that the compressor is
being applied.
While watching the level meter, continue turning the compressor
sensitivity knob until the level does not exceed 0 dB during the loudest
input passages.
If you want to apply a lot of compression to intentionally “squash” a
vocal, use the gain trim knob to raise the input level further, and turn the
compressor sensitivity knob toward the right to increase the compres-
sion.
By using the gain trim knob to raise the preamp level appropriately, you can
saturate the vacuum tube, generating analog overtones to enrich the sound
in conjunction with the compressor.