TL Audio 5013 - Manual (Page 11)

operation would be to set the input gain so that the drive LED is regularly
illuminating, with occasional lighting of the red Peak LED on transients.
If the input and output gain controls are set to their centre (0dB) positions and
there is no EQ boost applied, the Peak LED will illuminate some 8dB after the
Drive LED has reached its full intensity. However, it is possible to add gain
further down the chain (EQ boost or output level gain), which will cause the
Peak LED to illuminate at a lower level of Drive. This situation implies that a
high level of “clean” signal is present, without driving the valves hard.
Remember that it is possible to apply huge amounts of gain to the input signal,
since all four bands have up to 15dB of gain available - in addition to both
input and output gain controls. If a large amount of EQ is applied on one or
more bands the Peak LED can be easily lit, and in this case you will need to
compensate by easing back on the output gain control.
4.5 Equalisation.
Before switching the EQ into circuit, it is advisable to set the cut/boost controls
to their centre, or flat, position. Each channel of EQ is brought into circuit with
the overall “EQ-ON” push switch positioned to the far right of the unit. A green
LED signals “EQ-ON”.
The four bands of EQ per channel are labelled as LF (low frequency), LM and
HM (low and high mid frequency) and HF (high frequency). However, the
frequency variation available on each band allows overlapping of two, or more,
bands into the same frequency range. This arrangement allows maximum
flexibility, permitting reduction of a narrow band whilst simultaneously boosting
an overlapping broader band of frequencies, for example. Used individually or
in combination, the filter bands allow comprehensive equalisation of any audio
signal.
The typical response curves and the effect of the control setting variations are
shown in the specification section of this manual. The 5013 has a notably wide
bandwidth of 10Hz to 40KHz.
4.6 Cut/Boost
Control.
Each of the four EQ bands has a +/- 15dB gain control that is used to apply
cut or boost at the frequency selected by the Frequency control. Often, EQ-ing
is as much about cutting frequencies as it is about boosting them, and
removing excessive bass or mid frequencies from signals to help them sit
better in the mix is a common recording technique. On the other hand TL
Audio EQs are renowned for being very musical - and very forgiving - so you
may find yourself being able to apply a lot more boost than other EQs, and the
sound will still retain its quality and not be destroyed - as is often the case on
cheap or poorly designed EQ sections, particularly when pushed hard.