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TAMPA Manual
version: Tampa-081602
Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Temporal Harmonic Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Dual Optical Servo Compressor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Your TAMPA’s Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Front and Rear Panel Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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• Balanced/unbalanced TRS instrument input Introduction • 24-bit digital S/PDIF and AES/EBU output for direct connection to your digital recording gear Congratulations on your purchase of the TAMPA, designed and • 20dB gain switch for an amazing maximum system gain of 66dB manufactured by M-Audio. TAMPA is a professional, single channel • 20dB passive output pad switch microphone/instrument preamp unlike any other.That’s because our design •Low-cut switch to eliminate rumble team set out to dis
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9. LOW CUT: Rolls off 12dB per octave at 80Hz and below when engaged. Use this to avoid rumble from passing traffic, footsteps and so forth. Figure 2 - TAMPA Back Panel Features 10.COMPRESSOR IN/OUT: Engages/disengages the TAMPA’s entire compressor stage. When disengaged, TAMPA’s compressor circuitry is removed from the signal path. 11. COMPRESSOR IN/OUT INDICATOR: Lights when the COMPRESSOR IN/OUT switch is set to the “IN” position to indicate that the compressor is on and is part of the signal
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Connecting Your Tampa’s Outputs Figure 4 - TAMPA to Mixer Line Input (XLR Out) The TAMPA is a microphone and instrument preamplifier, outputting a line- level analog and/or digital signal. It may be connected to a variety of devices, such as the line input to a computer sound card and other types of recording equipment, the line inputs of a mixing console, or the digital inputs of a sound card or D/A converter. NOTE: The balanced configuration will yield 6dB more level than the unbalanced confi
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Power-Up Procedure TAMPA Controls Normal power-up procedure would be to turn on the TAMPA first, and Setting Levels then the rest of the gear in the signal chain, with power amps or powered TAMPA has the ability to provide a massive 66dB of gain. Due to TAMPA’s speakers being last. Temporal Harmonic Alignment technology, higher overall levels (also called 1. Turn off or turn down the volume on your monitors and/or the other gear “soft clipping”) bring increased levels of harmonics that commonly
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About Soft Clipping and the 20dB Pad Switch: Feel free to experiment with this feature. It may be something that you choose to use with one instrument or mic and not another. It’s up to you Soft clipping (often referred to as tube saturation in tube gear) is often and your particular taste and needs. desirable to add the perception of warmth to a recording.TAMPA exhibits a gradual soft clipping characteristic, where distortion increases with signal NOTE: The 20dB PAD only affects the analog outp
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high frequencies more than the low frequencies produced by passing traffic after the signal passes the threshold setting. In general, ideal attack time or overhead jets. Low frequencies can also be prominently produced when settings are a function of the type of instrument and inherent transients. someone bumps a mic stand or taps their feet.TAMPA has a built-in low For instruments like string and bass that exhibit slower attack, a slower cut filter that rolls off frequencies of 80Hz and below a
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Typical Settings Electric Guitar and Bass (Sustaining) Threshold: Set to realize -10dB or greater of consistent gain reduction Following are some starting points for different types of compression Ratio: 10:1 applications. As with many things in the audio realm, experimentation is Attack: Medium required due to the differences between instruments, performers, style, Release: Very long microphones, recording environments and production styles. Remember to test dynamic extremes in the source mater
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TAMPA Specifications Technical Support & Contact Information For additonal help, contact M-Audio Technical Support by telephone Preamp Specs (626-445-7556, 9-5 PST M-F), by fax (626-445-8407) or by e-mail • Mic input:XLR with variable impedance loading (2400/1200/600/300 ohms) (support@m-audio.com). • Instrument input (TRS): 200K balanced / 100K unbalanced • Digital outputs:AES/EBU and S/PDIF 24-bit mono (44.1/48/88.2/96kHz) If you have any questions, comments or suggestions about this product,
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Your TAMPA’s Warranty Notes: M-AUDIO warrants this product, under normal use, to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of One (1) Year from date of purchase, so long as: the product is owned by the original purchaser, with proof of purchase from an authorized M-AUDIO dealer and, the product has been registered to the original purchaser, the purchaser having returned to M-AUDIO the completed product warranty card. This warranty explicitly excludes power supplies and includ
