In this review I will be taking a close look at the Ivory 2 series 5052 stereo valve processor made by TL Audio. This is a 3U, two channel unit comprising a compressor, EQ and peak limiter on both. After reading the spec I was eager to see if the 5052 was all I hoped. I was not disappointed! Having quickly and easily made all of the possible connections I tested the unit on a wide veriety of applications.
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<br>The 5052 has three Sovtek ECC83 dual triode valves making up to six valve stages. One in each of the pre-amp, compressor and EQ sections, repeated on both channels.
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<br>With valves glowing I fed the audio into the 5052 and the "Drive" LED let me know the valves were working (illuminating from +6 to +16dBu). Line inputs are via balanced XLR, switchable +4/+18dBu (this also goes for balanced mic inputs with switchable +48v phantom power) and unbalanced via 1/4" jack, switchable -10/+4dBu. The unit also has two instrument inputs on the front with a gain range of 0dB to +40dB. All inputs have phase reverse, 90Hz high pass filter and a bypass for the compressor, EQ and limiter as a group. The mic inputs also have a -30dB pad.
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<br>VU's
<br>The backlit VU's I found to be extremely accurate and the 4 point centred switch made it very easy to distinguish what the unit is doing at every part of the chain. Switching is between input / output levels and compressor / limiter gain reduction. The 10dB meter pad switch is also effective when monitoring input and output levels.
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<br>Compressor
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<br>The compressor is equipped with a hard/soft knee switch, EQ side-chain switch as well as the usual threshold, ratio, gain make up, attack and release. I was very impressed overall with the sound. Lovely and smooth on vocals, crunchy on bass drums and warm across a whole mix. The compressor was very easy to use especially with the attack / release pots not being dented, thus making it easy to dial in exactly what I wanted. In fact the only dented pots on the 5052 are on the input / outputs in the "0" centres and on the EQ "0" gain parameters.
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<br>EQ
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<br>The EQ itself is four band with switchable peak / shelve on the LF and HF and parametric bandwidth on the LM /HM frequencies.
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<br>LF: +/- 15dB 30Hz to 1kHz, Q = 1.5
<br>LM: +/- 15dB 50Hz to 1k5Hz, Q = variable 0.7 - 7
<br>HM: +/- 15dB 1kHz to 12kHz, Q = variable 0.7 - 7
<br>HF: +/- 15bD 3kHz to 20kHz, Q = 1.5
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<br>Having a valve in the EQ stage, as well as the compressor and limiter, gives a rich sound to the EQ which I really like. The EQ can be positioned pre or post compressor and individually by-passed like the compressor and limiter.
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<br>Limiter
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<br>The limiter is on a pull to activate pot, post fader, and has a threshold of 0dBu to +20dBu. Once pulled, the adjacent green LED lights up to show the limiter is on and as I roll back, the red LED lights as the limiter starts to kick in. Switching over the VU's to monitor the limiter, the gain reduction showed accurately. This is a "brick wall" action limiter and after testing it with the compressor, EQ etc I tried using it just on its own, by-passing everything else in the chain, bar the pre-amp. The results were very smooth. Even pushing it far beyond the usual degrees of limiting, it created some interesting effects, but still maintained the warm sound of the pre-amp tubes.
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<br>Stereo linking
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<br>At this point it's worth mentioning that the 5052 can be stereo-linked on the compressor, EQ and limiter functions. Channel 1 then becomes the master for both channels and not having to fiddle to get the same compressor, EQ or limiter settings on both sides, is a real bonus. I was hoping that all of channel 1's functions would mirror to the slave but there are a few functions that aren't included. The phase reverse and pad are not linkable but this isn't so much of an issue. For me, the input and output gains should be an option. Although you may not want to use this function in all applications it would be nice to have it there. Maybe we'll see it on the next model?
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<br>Verdict
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<br>The overall sound is excellent! Warm, punchy, clean with no noise. Just running audio through the 5052 pre-amp seems puts a glow / edge to your music even without putting the EQ, compressor and limiter into the chain. I like the layout, the VU's (especially the switching between inputs, outputs and gain reduction on the compressor, imiters)............... In fact I'm finding it hard to pick out anything I do not like about the 5052. If I had to pick a downside, although small, it would be that you can move the EQ pre / post the compressor but there is not a facility to move the limiter within the chain. I know it would usually appear at the end but it would be nice to have the option to move it elsewhere for certain effects. Having said that, this is a dual channel unit so it is perfectly feasible to run the audio through it twice. So not really much of a downside.
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<br>As an added bonus, you can also purchase the optional DO-2 24 bit A to D converter output card. Providing outputs from channels 1 and 2 to the SPDIF phono output.
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<br>Weighing in at £1800.00 this is a high-end processor with high-end results. At this price a stereo channel strip / processor of this calibre would be hard to match elsewhere. I've found it a pleasure to use and really enjoyed testing it. The build quality is excellent and although at 3U it's a little larger than all the others in the Ivory 2 family I'm glad TLAudio didn't compromise ease of use for size. I believe this would be an invaluable addition to any recording facility.
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<br>For those of you that would like to hear the A B comparisons from this review, I have uploaded an assortment of mp3s to our website. www.graphicnature.co.uk. They are listed in the site's media section under "TLAudio". Alternatively, I have also uploaded the real WAV versions to our server for which please get in contact with us if you would like to hear them.
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<br>About the Author: For excellant professional advice talk to Chris Frost and his team at Graphic Nature Recording Studios Ltd:<a href="http://www.graphicnature.co.uk" rel="nofollow">Compressor Units</a>
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วันอาทิตย์ที่ 25 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2552
Snap the Perfect Moment With a Casio High Speed Pocket Camera
Ever since I read about the Casio high speed camera, I was fascinated by its features. The camera promised 1000 frames per second (fps) photography at incredible 1/40,000 sec. speed! I weighed the pros and cons of getting the normal 20x optical zoom model or the pocket version. The pocket version had a lower optical zoom of 5x but there could be more fun carrying it innocuously to parties and social functions. So I ordered the Casio Exilim Ex-FC100 camera from a shop in New York and received it by UPS within a few days.
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<br>I opened the box and looked at the small 156g camera which was about the size of a normal cell phone, just a little wider and thicker. But on closer look, there seem to be many buttons on it which looked unfamiliar to me.
<br>The first remarkable difference is that the movie mode has its own dedicated ON-OFF record button separate from the normal shutter button for taking pictures. This facilitates the taking of snapshots even when the movie clip is being shot!
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<br>Just below the movie record button is a rotary toggle to change from standard to high definition HD mode. The camera is capable of taking a HD movie at 1280x720 pixels at 30 fps. The STD mode supports high speed movies at 210 fps, 420 fps and 1000 fps. As you climb higher on the fps scale, the size of the image reduces proportionately. The size of the image at 480x360 pixels at 210 fps is acceptable format for YouTube.
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<br>I tried shooting the flight of pigeon at different speeds, and was surprised at the 1000 fps movie clip. The recorded slow movement of the wings was a pleasure to watch. It displayed how nature has perfected its flying machine; you can see it at YouTube: 7RC2W97_yz0. I recorded a man walking at 210 fps and it unfolded the walking movements which were not evident at normal speed. The movie of a bird flying in the sky at 420 fps was also fun to see.
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<br>But I soon discovered the limitation of the high speed function. The built-in flash did not support high speed and therefore shooting HS indoors or at night does not give the desired results. The clips are grainy due to high ISO and don't look that great. The high speed function is therefore useful in shooting sports and interesting movements at outdoor settings preferable in sunlight or really bright light. I shot a movie of the flight of a butterfly in my garden at 420 fps. The movie turned out to be an art film! My jerky hand movements were smoothened by the high speed into a smooth flowing composition! See it on YouTube at 7Q_wZVawYMA.
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<br>After exploring the movie mode, I went on to see what the camera does for the snapshots. I searched for the normal aperture and speed priority settings, but did not find any. The exposure therefore is completely automatic and the camera selects the best exposure by setting the aperture, speed and ISO (in auto mode) on its own. There is nothing manual setting about it.
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<br>What requires manual settings are a host of options related to speed. Looking at these features you know that it is a versatile high speed camera with potential ability to give you the perfect shot every time. When an event is happening at a fast pace, it is very difficult to capture the right moment. By the time you press the shutter button, you may have missed the exact moment. There are 3 ways by which the camera helps you overcome this hurdle: (1) by offering you a selection from a series of 6M images taken at upto 30 fps just before and after clicking the button; it does that in high speed continuous shooting CS mode or (2) by getting the camera to show you the action in slow motion for you to click at the right moment. When you point and shoot at an object by pressing the button "Slow" located at the top left, the camera begins to record images for the time period chosen by you which can be 1, 2 or 3 seconds. The camera then plays out the stored images slowly at speed chosen by you within the scale of 1 to 8. As the images are played on the screen you have plenty of time to click the right moment of the event by pressing the shutter button. Only the frame which you click is saved on the camera. And finally (3), by capturing and saving multiple pictures at 1 fps in the normal speed continuous mode. The camera takes and saves the 9M sized images as long as the shutter button remains pressed. You can then select the shots that you like. All these three modes give you ways to capture images over the duration of the event so that you do not miss out the precise moment. I found that this was the unique and most useful ability of the camera.
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<br>On the mundane duty of the camera to take 9M single frame shots, the quality of the pictures at normal settings was not satisfactory. I found that I needed to set Quality at Fine, Sharpness at +2, Saturation at -1 and Contrast at +1 to obtain good shots comparable with my Panasonic camera. The other picture parameters are easy set quickly. Press the button on the bottom right labeled BS which stands for Best Shot. Thumbnail images showing different scenes like outdoor, shade, portrait, high contrast etc. open up on the screen. Just match the scene you are going to shoot with corresponding one and viola; all the settings are automatically done.
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<br>Overall, I find that the camera can be used to capture a series of pictures covering the time-span of the event from which selection could be made. This is a unique solution to capture the right moments which makes our chosen photographs more eye-catching and free of mis-timed shots. I really do not know whether there is any practical value in everyday photography for its ability to make slow motion movies with high speed recording, though it's an interesting gimmick. It may have some specific applications in analyzing the movements of sportsmen and actors. The ability of the camera to do HD movies is positively a welcome feature. The EX-FC 100 is undoubtedly a significant step forward in camera innovation. Casio merits applause for launching such a creative camera in the market. As for me, it's the camera that I would be carrying in my pocket wherever I go.
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<br>About the Author: The author Dilip Dahanukar studied engineering in India and management in the USA. His interest in photography and technology has resulted in this article. He has written many books available on Amazon. He spends his weekends in his forest-garden abode in the hills in India. Visit the webpage of the author: <a href="http://www.authorsden.com/dilipsdahanukar" rel="nofollow"> 'Dilip Dahanukar'</a>
<br>
<br>
<br>I opened the box and looked at the small 156g camera which was about the size of a normal cell phone, just a little wider and thicker. But on closer look, there seem to be many buttons on it which looked unfamiliar to me.
<br>The first remarkable difference is that the movie mode has its own dedicated ON-OFF record button separate from the normal shutter button for taking pictures. This facilitates the taking of snapshots even when the movie clip is being shot!
<br>
<br>Just below the movie record button is a rotary toggle to change from standard to high definition HD mode. The camera is capable of taking a HD movie at 1280x720 pixels at 30 fps. The STD mode supports high speed movies at 210 fps, 420 fps and 1000 fps. As you climb higher on the fps scale, the size of the image reduces proportionately. The size of the image at 480x360 pixels at 210 fps is acceptable format for YouTube.
<br>
<br>I tried shooting the flight of pigeon at different speeds, and was surprised at the 1000 fps movie clip. The recorded slow movement of the wings was a pleasure to watch. It displayed how nature has perfected its flying machine; you can see it at YouTube: 7RC2W97_yz0. I recorded a man walking at 210 fps and it unfolded the walking movements which were not evident at normal speed. The movie of a bird flying in the sky at 420 fps was also fun to see.
<br>
<br>But I soon discovered the limitation of the high speed function. The built-in flash did not support high speed and therefore shooting HS indoors or at night does not give the desired results. The clips are grainy due to high ISO and don't look that great. The high speed function is therefore useful in shooting sports and interesting movements at outdoor settings preferable in sunlight or really bright light. I shot a movie of the flight of a butterfly in my garden at 420 fps. The movie turned out to be an art film! My jerky hand movements were smoothened by the high speed into a smooth flowing composition! See it on YouTube at 7Q_wZVawYMA.
<br>
<br>After exploring the movie mode, I went on to see what the camera does for the snapshots. I searched for the normal aperture and speed priority settings, but did not find any. The exposure therefore is completely automatic and the camera selects the best exposure by setting the aperture, speed and ISO (in auto mode) on its own. There is nothing manual setting about it.
<br>
<br>What requires manual settings are a host of options related to speed. Looking at these features you know that it is a versatile high speed camera with potential ability to give you the perfect shot every time. When an event is happening at a fast pace, it is very difficult to capture the right moment. By the time you press the shutter button, you may have missed the exact moment. There are 3 ways by which the camera helps you overcome this hurdle: (1) by offering you a selection from a series of 6M images taken at upto 30 fps just before and after clicking the button; it does that in high speed continuous shooting CS mode or (2) by getting the camera to show you the action in slow motion for you to click at the right moment. When you point and shoot at an object by pressing the button "Slow" located at the top left, the camera begins to record images for the time period chosen by you which can be 1, 2 or 3 seconds. The camera then plays out the stored images slowly at speed chosen by you within the scale of 1 to 8. As the images are played on the screen you have plenty of time to click the right moment of the event by pressing the shutter button. Only the frame which you click is saved on the camera. And finally (3), by capturing and saving multiple pictures at 1 fps in the normal speed continuous mode. The camera takes and saves the 9M sized images as long as the shutter button remains pressed. You can then select the shots that you like. All these three modes give you ways to capture images over the duration of the event so that you do not miss out the precise moment. I found that this was the unique and most useful ability of the camera.
<br>
<br>On the mundane duty of the camera to take 9M single frame shots, the quality of the pictures at normal settings was not satisfactory. I found that I needed to set Quality at Fine, Sharpness at +2, Saturation at -1 and Contrast at +1 to obtain good shots comparable with my Panasonic camera. The other picture parameters are easy set quickly. Press the button on the bottom right labeled BS which stands for Best Shot. Thumbnail images showing different scenes like outdoor, shade, portrait, high contrast etc. open up on the screen. Just match the scene you are going to shoot with corresponding one and viola; all the settings are automatically done.
<br>
<br>Overall, I find that the camera can be used to capture a series of pictures covering the time-span of the event from which selection could be made. This is a unique solution to capture the right moments which makes our chosen photographs more eye-catching and free of mis-timed shots. I really do not know whether there is any practical value in everyday photography for its ability to make slow motion movies with high speed recording, though it's an interesting gimmick. It may have some specific applications in analyzing the movements of sportsmen and actors. The ability of the camera to do HD movies is positively a welcome feature. The EX-FC 100 is undoubtedly a significant step forward in camera innovation. Casio merits applause for launching such a creative camera in the market. As for me, it's the camera that I would be carrying in my pocket wherever I go.
<br>
<br>About the Author: The author Dilip Dahanukar studied engineering in India and management in the USA. His interest in photography and technology has resulted in this article. He has written many books available on Amazon. He spends his weekends in his forest-garden abode in the hills in India. Visit the webpage of the author: <a href="http://www.authorsden.com/dilipsdahanukar" rel="nofollow"> 'Dilip Dahanukar'</a>
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