Telonics TCA-500C 15-1U, TCA-500C 12-MINI, TCA-500C 15-MINI, TCA-500C 12-1U, TCA-500C-1U User Manual

...

Telonics TCA-500C Combos, Mini-

15-1U COMBO

12-1U COMBO

12-

MINI

COMBO

SPEAKER

ENCLOSURE

HEAD

UNIT

SUPER

TWIN

COMBO

SPEAKER

ENCLOSURE

Combos, Head Unit, Preamplifier

and External Speakers

User Manual

TCA-500C

TCA-500C-1U

TCA-500C

MINI-15 EXTERNAL

MINI-12 EXTERNAL

TLF-PRE500

LITE-FLIGHT

PREAMPLIFER

SYSTEM

TCA-500C 212

PB-009289 Rev E. 2018.02.16

MPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

CAUTION: Risks of electrical shock – DO NOT OPEN

CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove from cabinet. No user

serviceable parts inside. Refer Servicing to Telonics service personnel.

WARNING To prevent electrical shock or fire hazard, do not expose this appliance to rain or moisture. Before using appliance, read the operating guide for further warnings.

WARNING:

** HIGH SOUND LEVELS CAN IRRIVERSEABLY DAMAGE YOUR HEARING **

A single brief exposure to a high noise level can permanently damage your hearing. Hearing damage can also occur gradually at much lower noise levels, if there is enough exposure over time. Evidence suggests the risk of damage to hearing occurs when the level exceeds 85dB. An example of 80dB might be an alarm clock and 90dB a lawn mower. Current evidence suggests ears can tolerate up to 2 hours of exposure at 91dB, but damage can occur with only 1 minute of exposure at 112dB. Levels of 110dB on a bandstand are frequently recorded. Whenever you use this apparatus carefully evaluate the sound level. In a band situation

PROTECT YOUR HEARING.

Note excessive headphone and in-ear monitor levels can also

ALWAYS

damage hearing. Carefully evaluate and minimize the level when using the headphone output.

Do not operate near heat sources, such as radiators. Protect cords from being walked on or pinched. Do not use the apparatus with a damaged or frayed lead. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms. Unplug this apparatus when unused for long periods of time. No naked flame sources should be placed on the apparatus.

Telonics TCA-500C Combo Amp

PB-009289 Rev E

ABLE OF CONTENTS

Important Safety Information .................................................................. 2

Table of Contents ...................................................................................... 3

Electromagnetic Compatibility & Warranty ........................................... 4

Introduction .............................................................................................. 5

Front Panel ............................................................................................... 7

Rear Panel ............................................................................................... 22

TCA-500C 15” Mini-Combo (Internal Speaker) Amp Control

Functions ................................................................................................ 32

TCA-500C 12” Mini-Combos (With External Speaker) Amp Control

Functions ................................................................................................ 33

TCA-500C Head Unit (only) Amp CONTROLS Functions &Jacks ... 34

TCA-500C Combo Amp Setup Settings: ................................................ 35

TCA-500C Thermal Management System ............................................ 37

Frequently Asked Questions .................................................................. 39

(Optional) External Control Units ....................................................... 41

Handy Patch MIDI Controller MC100 ................................................. 43

Using Small “Stomp Box” Effects Units with the TCA-500 series

Amplifiers ................................................................................................ 46

How To Be A Tone Master – Subtractive Equalization ....................... 48

Telonics Tilt-Back Foot .......................................................................... 50

Mechanical Data .................................................................................... 51

Electrical Data ........................................................................................ 52

Mechanical Outline Drawings ............................................................... 53

Telonics TCA-500C Combo Amp

PB-009289 Rev E

Electromagnetic Compatibility & Warranty

EMC/EMI

This equipment has been assessed for radiated and conducted emissions compliance with reference to FCC Part 15 Class B and EN61000-6-3 standards and found to comply with the limits. This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

This device complies with Canadian Interference regulations CAN ICES-3(B)/NMB-3(B).

Note: These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment (including the PSU), off and on, the user is encouraged to try correcting the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between equipment and the receiver.

• Connect the equipment PSU to an outlet on a circuit different from the one to which the

receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

CAUTION: All warranties and certifications are null and void if this equipment is opened and tampered with in any way.

Warranty

We warrant this product to be free of defects in materials or workmanship for a period of one year after delivery to the original purchaser. Our obligation under this warranty is limited to the replacement or repair of any part or parts which prove upon our examination to be defective. This warranty does not apply to damage resulting from transportation, misuse, abuse, or alteration.

Telonics TCA-500C Combo Amp

PB-009289 Rev E

NTRODUCTION OF THE TELONICS

RONT PANEL (COLOR LABEL OPTION SHOWN

EAR PANEL

TCA-500C

)

Congratulations on purchasing one of the world’s finest professional instrument combo amplifiers! The TCA-500C combo amplifier is a state of the art audiophile quality unit designed and built with the latest and best sounding technologies. It has been carefully engineered to provide every function and convenience possible within its cost/benefit ratio, for the professional musician. There is a reason for every function provided. The user is encouraged to read this manual in order to achieve the highest level of performance provided by these capabilities.

The TCA-500C combo amplifier gives you dramatically better control of your sound. The result is transparent smooth clean sound, tight bottom end and silky highs. It is designed to accommodate many different instruments and as such, its controls cover a wider range of options than previously offered to the professional musician. Accordingly, for any given instrument, the controls may ‘feel’ more sensitive when adjusted for a specific instrument. For this reason, the user is encouraged to make smaller adjustments while listening carefully. Final adjustments should always be made with the ear, without regard to where one “expects” the knob to be.

Telonics TCA-500C Combo Amp Features:

• Superb string separation at all volume levels. No muddiness!

• All pure analog, main signal chain. No digitization of your sound thru A/D or D/A

converters.

• Pre EQ Insert for EQ or 3-wire Pot Pedal hook-up.

• Warm tube-like, even-order harmonic sound with crystal clear highs.

• Ultra low noise – studio quality.

• Exceptionally high headroom.

• High output level available on demand.

• 500 Watt Power Amp section.

• Studio Pre-EQ parallel effects loop with adjustable SEND and RETURN levels to

accommodate any EFX unit(s) (rear panel mounted).

• Built in reverb with front panel level control and remote control jack.

Telonics TCA-500C Combo Amp

PB-009289 Rev E

ELONICS

• Overload LED indicator.

• Master Wet/Dry fader control – controls internal effects and parallel EFX loop.

• Built-in “TBro” effect with remote control jack.

• Pedal Switch jack on rear panel allows switching “TBro” and Reverb remotely.

• Special “Blend” EQ control for personalizing your tone or adjusting for venue. (Once

properly adjusted, Master volume and Blend are generally the only adjustments used).

• Auxiliary AC power outlet, switched with main power switch.

• Special Power On/Off circuit to minimize “pops” and speaker damage.

• Built in high output headphone amp with separate volume control.

• Super quiet Mute circuit with LED indicator.

• Digital Thermal Management System.

• 24 volt DC jack on front panel to power Telonics 24 VDC FP-100 foot pedal.

TCA-500C C

ONTINUED

OMBO AMP FEATURES:

)

• 24 VDC or 9 VDC auxiliary power socket option on rear panel to power external effects units (9 VDC on Mini-Combo Models).

• Balanced XLR Direct output for stage and studio use. Includes ground lift switch.

• Analog modeling for Direct Out for live venue or studio use, with preset modeling.

• Buffered tuner output (front panel) - active full-time, even when mute is ON.

• Auxiliary stereo input (on rear panel) for home practice or solo gigs with front panel level

control. For CD/mp3 players or for use as a second effects RETURN. Also routed to DI for recording.

• Rear Mounted Power Amplifier On/Off switch for preamp-only use in Studio.

• Highest Quality Telonics NEO Speaker (12 or 15 inch).

• 1U rack space provided which may be used for EFX Units, tuners, etc.

• Built-in cabinet-wide LED lighting for low light venues with back panel switch to control

On/Off and brightness level.

• Telonics designed Tilt-Back Foot for ease of viewing and access to controls

• Highly abrasion-resistant outer surface, durable Baltic Birch plywood construction

throughout. Made for years of trouble free use.

• International versions available for export that comply with CE and RoHS directives.

• Proudly made in the U.S.A. by musicians and engineers.

Telonics TCA-500C Combo Amp

PB-009289 Rev E

TCA-500C C

OMBO AMP CONTROL FUNCTIONS, JACKS, & INDICATORS

RONT PANEL

24VDC Output

Input

NOTE:

Input Gain

and

Red Overload

LED

This socket provides an isolated 24 volts DC to power up the FP-100 foot pedal. It accepts a special twist lock plug for a secure connection of power to the pedal. A power lead with locking connectors is supplied with the TCA-500C Amplifier.

High impedance (1Meg Ohm) instrument input - will not load down your guitar pickup or adversely affect your tone. It accepts a standard 1/4 inch type TS (Tip and Sleeve) Mono plug for guitar level signals.

Prior to adjusting the following controls it is best to start out with the EQ controls flat. Check to see that the Bass, Mid Level, Treble, Blend, and Dry/Wet controls are at zero (0).

This control sets the gain for the first amplification stage. And is used in conjunction with the MASTER LEVEL control, it also affects the level for the Insert (Pre EQ) “Send” jack and the maximum level to the EFX Send jack (both of which are on the rear panel). Start at 3 or 4 and adjust as needed.

It’s important to understand the function of this control as its setting impacts other controls and the overall sound. When a guitar signal is fed into the amplifier, it is necessary to increase the signal level to minimise noise that might be added in the following stages. Typically, guitar pickups with a high output require a lower gain setting and pickups with a low output required a higher gain setting.

In the lower right-hand corner of the Input Gain box is a red (Input/EQ Overload) LED that indicates when an overload is occurring in the preamplifier stage. If this LED flashes on frequently, or stays on while the guitar is played, the Input Gain setting is too high and should be reduced in order to avoid distortion of your sound.

Telonics TCA-500C Combo Amp

PB-009289 Rev E

TCA-500C C

Input Gain

and

Red Overload

LED

(continued)

NOTE: For the best EQ result, make sure the Blend control is at zero (0) while adjusting the Bass, Mid, and Treble tone controls.

OMBO AMP CONTROL FUNCTIONS, JACKS, & INDICATORS

RONT PANEL (CONTINUED

)

The following text describes how the Input Gain should be set with a typical arrangement:

i) We assume that in most cases, the output of your guitar connects to

your volume pedal input and the output of your volume pedal connects to your amplifier (Note; always use good quality leads for these

connections and try to ensure they’re no longer than they need to be to reach the jacks. Make sure they are not a trip hazard).

ii) With the Master Level control set to 1, your volume pedal set to

maximum and Input Gain control set to 1, play some nice big chord groups slightly harder than you would normally play; slowly increase the Input Gain control until the Overload LED just starts to occasionally flash, then reduce the Input Gain control until it ‘just’ ceases to flash as you strike the chords.

iii) You have now set the optimum level for the Input Gain control. You

should not need to adjust the Input Gain control unless you change your guitar or volume pedal. We suggest you note this setting.

A common mistake is to see players using the Input Gain to control output volume. The problem with this is the Input Gain control affects the level sent to the effects unit, so once adjusted as outlined above, it need not be moved. Use the Master Level control to adjust the amplifier volume as needed.

Always use the Master Level to control output volume after the Input Gain control has been adjusted as outlined above.

Telonics TCA-500C Combo Amp

PB-009289 Rev E

TCA-500C C

Bass Level

Mid Level

OMBO AMP CONTROL FUNCTIONS, JACKS, & INDICATORS

RONT PANEL (CONTINUED

)

(Note: See pages 33 and 34 for common settings.)

Controls low frequency response. Turning clockwise will boost the bass up to +22dB. Turning counterclockwise will decrease the level down to -16dB. Start at 0 (flat) and adjust to taste. Note that it is a common error to boost the bass excessively, as this dulls the character of the strings. Remember that it is always best to use “Subtractive Equalization” as discussed later in this manual. i.e., instead of boosting the Bass, reduce the Mids and/or Treble. A simple check for excessive bass boost is to listen closely as you strike a lower string repeatedly. Start with the Bass Level control set at -4 or -5. While listening to the character of the string, advance the Bass Level control slowly clockwise. At some point (usually around +1 to +3, the character of the sound will change and will sound like more of a “thud” and have a muted quality. For most people, that is too much bass boost, so back off the control counterclockwise slightly until the sound is once again clear and clean.

It is necessary that the user understand that the Mid Level and Mid Frequency controls work ‘together’.

mid-range frequency shaping; they are perhaps the most important tone

shaping controls and they ‘must’ be set properly to achieve a balanced sound. These controls allow the player to compensate for the ear’s normal

increase in sensitivity to mid-range frequencies and the guitar’s resonance around those frequencies.

The Mid Level control determines the amount of effect which the Mid Frequency control has on your sound. It sets a boost or cut in the mid-range frequencies, which are selected by the Mid Frequency control. Mid Level is adjustable from -20dB cut to +5dB boost. If you were to set the Mid Level control to Zero dB (3 o’clock knob position), the Mid Frequency control would ‘do nothing whatsoever” to your sound, it would have NO effect on your tone.

These two controls are used together to set up the

Telonics TCA-500C Combo Amp

PB-009289 Rev E

TCA-500C C

Mid Level

(continued)

Mid Frequency

OMBO AMP CONTROL FUNCTIONS, JACKS, & INDICATORS

RONT PANEL (CONTINUED

Since the mid-range frequencies are tiring to the human ear, it is almost always necessary to CUT or reduce them. The Mid Frequency control allows the user to choose the center frequency at which the mid frequencies are reduced, to suit his or her ear.

)

The following text describes how the Mid Level and Mid Freq controls should be set for steel guitar:

i) We assume the Input Gain control has already been set. Set the Bass

Level control to 0, the Treble Level control to 0, the Blend control to 0 and the Master Level control to 2. All effects should be OFF.

ii) Now set the Mid Level control fully clockwise (+5) and set the Mid Freq

midway (600 Hz). Note when you pick a string the Overload LED may flash; don’t adjust the Input Gain control. Note that the overload monitoring circuitry monitors both the output of the gain section and the EQ section; because we’ve set the Mid Level control to full boost it causes the overload.

iii) Ensure the combo speaker is pointed towards your ear. Pick one or two

strings in the center string grips and slide the bar over the normal range of the fret board you would use. As you are doing this, tweak the Mid Freq control up and down around the 400 to 800 region; it’s handy to have a friend rotate the Mid Freq control as you play. At one point over the region you might possibly notice, no matter where you are on the fretboard, a ‘honky’ midrange sound is heard that’s a little unpleasant on the ear. It does take practice and time to learn how to detect this point, so don’t be concerned if it’s not clear the first time you attempt this. Note the Overload LED may help detect this point, quite often it flashes more as you hit area’s where’s there’s more resonance.

Once you have found the honky, excessive ‘middle’ sounding frequency, rotate the Mid Level control to around the 10 o’clock position (-12dB). As you play your guitar tweak the Mid Level control up and down around this point until it sounds balanced in the mid-range. Generally, the most suitable setting is between -15 dB and -12 dB for most people. Don’t worry about setting the bass and treble controls until you’re happy that the mid-range is the best it can be.

Always, Always, make the above adjustments with the Bass and Treble controls at zero.

Sets the frequency at which the Mid Level control has an effect. Several frequency intervals between 375 Hz and 1400 Hz are marked. Its effect is determined by the setting of the Mid Level control. Proper adjustment is achieved as outlined above.

Telonics TCA-500C Combo Amp

PB-009289 Rev E

TCA-500C C

Treble Level

OMBO AMP CONTROL FUNCTIONS, JACKS, & INDICATORS

RONT PANEL (CONTINUED

Adjusts the high frequency level of the sound generated by your instrument. Start at 0 (flat) and adjust to taste. Turning clockwise boosts the level of highs up to +16dB, turning counterclockwise cuts the level of highs down to -16dB.

)

Note: We always recommend using the minimum amount of Bass and Treble tone shaping to achieve the sound you desire. These controls are very powerful; they can greatly cut or boost the gain of the lower and higher frequencies. If an extreme setting of this control is required to achieve a balanced sound you may have an issue with your Mid Level and Mid Frequency control settings, or with your guitar pickup, leads & volume pedal.

After setting the Bass Level, Mid Level, Mid Freq and Treble Level controls we suggest you note the settings.

Blend As indicated earlier this control should be at zero (0) while setting the EQ.

Only set this control after you have set all the other tone controls.

This is to be used as a sonic “shading” control and, like any seasoning, a little goes a long way. Start at 12 o’clock. Clockwise yields a “Mooney” bright aggressive sound; counterclockwise gives you a mellow, darker tone.

The Blend control is initially one of the most confusing settings to understand… until you start using it. After using the combo for a few gigs you may find it’s the only tone control you need! Once the bass, mid and treble controls have been set the amplifier might be considered as calibrated to your style and guitar sound.

As you rotate the Blend control clockwise you’ll notice the treble increases and the bass decreases. As you rotate the Blend control counterclockwise you’ll notice the treble decreases and the bass increases.

This control is like a ‘one stop shop’ compensating for the affect the room acoustics has on the overall sound. It’s quite remarkable how a small tweak of this control can sweeten up your sound in a live performance situation. And being a single control it’s easy to remember where you started before you started tweaking.

Normally, players leave this control at zero and only adjust it slightly between +1 and -1 to compensate for the venue (room size, crowd size, bandstand configuration (even for relative humidity changes, as sound propagates differently with humidity changes).

NOTE: See the TCA-500C Combo Amp Setup Settings section for starting values for

different types of settings.

Telonics TCA-500C Combo Amp

PB-009289 Rev E

TCA-500C C

Master Level

TBRO

Reverb Level – Rev ON button

OMBO AMP CONTROL FUNCTIONS, JACKS, & INDICATORS

RONT PANEL (CONTINUED

)

Sets the overall output level of the Combo Amp. Adjust this after you have set the Input Gain and EQ. This is your main volume control knob – to be adjusted as necessary as you play a gig. For normal size venues, the customary range is between 6 and 8 or less.

The Master Level control sets the overall signal level sent to the power amplifier (PA). Adjustment of this control will not affect the Direct Out level. This allows players to adjust their own stage level without affecting the signal level sent to the mixing desk – a handy feature!

This push button switch will activate a “TBro” type effect. The green “TBro” ‘ON’LED will light when TBro is active. The Foot Switch connector on the rear panel can be used to turn the TBro function Off and On if the TBRO pushbutton switch on the front panel is pushed On (in). If either this switch or an external switch is in the Off position, the effect will remain Off. (When an external/remote switch is not used, the default is On. (See back panel Foot Switch)

The Reverb Level control determines how much of the internal reverb signal is applied to the Wet/Dry Fader control. The input level to the reverb circuit is affected by the Input Gain control level (as mentioned earlier). The reverb input is a combination of the dry input after the EQ controls and the Post EQ EFX Return signal (rear panel).

Telonics TCA-500C Combo Amp

PB-009289 Rev E

TCA-500C C

Reverb Level – Rev ON button

(continued)

OMBO AMP CONTROL FUNCTIONS, JACKS, & INDICATORS

RONT PANEL (CONTINUED

)

The Rev push button switch will activate the internal reverb circuit. The green LED will light when the reverb is active. The Foot Switch connector on the rear panel can be used to turn the internal reverb Off and On if the Rev pushbutton switch on the front panel is pushed On (in). If either this switch, or an external switch, is in the Off position, the reverb will remain Off. When an external remote switch is not used, the default is On. (See back panel Foot Switch)

The built-in reverb is useful if you don’t have an effect processor installed. It can be switched On/Off from the front panel using the Rev ON button or by remote control using the Footswitch jack on the rear panel. The reverb sound has been preset to a general ambience algorithm; the Reverb Level control adjusts the amount of reverb introduced.

The built-in reverb signal is added to the signal returning from the EFX Return jack that feeds the Wet side of the DRY/WET Fader. This means, the DRY/WET Fader must have a proportion of Wet signal set or the built-in reverb will not be heard. I.e. if the DRY/WET Fader is set fully Dry no reverb will be heard.

If the TCA-500C is used with a 19” rack effects processor, (such as a Lexicon MX-200, a T.C. Electronics G-Major/II, or other 1U space multieffects unit), we would recommend the built-in reverb be turned off and patches set up on the effects processor; the reverb algorithms of a good quality effects processor should be superior to the built-in reverb.

1U 19” Rack Space – (Note: The 1U Rack Space is not available on the Mini-Combo units.) The TCA-500C has a built in rack space

below the main amplifier chassis. If no effects processor is installed in this space a blanking plate should be installed. On the rear panel a mains switched outlet is provided to power up the effects processor; 50W max. Although the general thought behind providing this space is to enhance the reverb and delay effects, almost any 1U unit no more than 8 inches or 200mm deep could be installed in this space.

Telonics TCA-500C Combo Amp

PB-009289 Rev E

Telonics TCA-500C Combo Amp

PB-009289 Rev E

TCA-500C C

Reverb Level – Rev ON button

(continued)

DRY/WET Fader

OMBO AMP CONTROL FUNCTIONS, JACKS, & INDICATORS

RONT PANEL (CONTINUED

)

An optional remote switch box for steel guitar (and a remote foot switch for other instruments) is available for rapid remote control of the TBro and Reverb functions. The usage of these optional accessories is outlined later in this manual. A TRS (Tip-Ring-Sleeve, 3- conductor) Stereo cable is necessary to connect most multi-effect units to an external control box or foot pedal.

This fader controls the ratio of “dry” (without effects) and “wet” (with effects) signals sent to the Master Level control. Counterclockwise is dry, clockwise is wet.

DRY/WET FADER – EFX SEND + LEVEL (rear panel) - EFX RETURN + LEVEL (rear panel) – The Dry/Wet Fader and rear panel

effects loop is a very powerful feature that allows effects to be added to the analog signal chain in a number of ways. The level sent out to the effects unit can be adjusted using the EFX Send Level on the rear panel. This is adjustable to drive effect inputs from,

-30dB to +4dB; the +4dB setting generates the highest output. It’s very important to ensure the TCA-500C Overload LED just starts to blink BEFORE the effects processor input level reaches its maximum input level or clipping point. The average user can easily ensure the correct and proper EFX send level by looking up the preferred level in the manual for the appropriate multi-effects units and setting the EFX RETURN and EFX SEND controls on the TCA-500C to specified levels. Normally these levels will be -10 dBu, -8 dBu, -4 dBu, 0 dBu or +4 dBu. The TCA-500C provides the ability to match virtually any high quality EFX units.

The level returned from the effects unit can be reduced or boosted using the EFX Return Level on the rear panel. This is adjustable over the range from, -30dB to +4dB; the +4dB setting applies the highest gain to the returned signal. This level should be adjusted so the effects processor output doesn’t cut or boost the signal; we call this ‘unity’ gain. A good way to check this is to set the effects processor to ‘bypass’: Then set the DRY/WET Fader fully Wet and then fully Dry, you should notice virtually no change in volume; adjust the EFX Return Level to achieve this.

Telonics TCA-500C Combo Amp

PB-009289 Rev E

TCA-500C C

DRY/WET Fader

(continued)

OMBO AMP CONTROL FUNCTIONS, JACKS, & INDICATORS

RONT PANEL (CONTINUED

)

Your effects send and return levels should now be optimised. We suggest you note the settings.

Series Effects Loop Mode

By setting the Dry/Wet Fader fully Wet, mono effects can be introduced in a series chain i.e. the entire signal passes through the effects loop and no thru signal is added to the effected signal. This mode is useful where compression or modulation effects need to be added.

Most effects processor manufacturers recommend series mode, there is however a down side when using effects processors as part of series chain. To generate high quality effects requires complex mathematics and powerful processors, and time to perform the calculations. This introduces a small delay as the signal passes through the effects processor; this delay is called ‘latency’. A high performance processor like the T.C. Electronics G-Major/2 introduces a delay of about 1.6 milliseconds into the signal chain.

If you consider reverb or delay effects this latency has negligible effect, as the effect you are using is in fact delay based itself. But in a series chain effect arrangement the straight through signal will also be delayed by 1.6 milliseconds. There is considerable debate whether or not this delay can be detected by the player. In tests we’ve carried out, comparing series and parallel effects patches, it is our opinion that it is, in fact, detectable by some players. For this reason we would therefore not recommend using effects processors in a series mode that introduce latency.

Telonics TCA-500C Combo Amp

PB-009289 Rev E

TCA-500C C

DRY/WET Fader

(continued)

OMBO AMP CONTROL FUNCTIONS, JACKS, & INDICATORS

RONT PANEL (CONTINUED

)

Parallel Effects Loop Mode

By setting the Dry/Wet Fader at a mid-way point, the dry or thru signal will be mixed with the effected signal. Typically a 12 o’clock position is a good starting point.

The EFX Return Level should be adjusted so the effects processor adds a typical effect level when the Dry/Wet Fader is in the 12 o’clock position. Note the effects processor patch settings will also affect this level; good noise / headroom practice must be considered when developing patches.

In parallel mode the dry or thru signal is passed within the TCA-500C and only the effected signal is returned by the effects processor. When developing patches for parallel mode use, it is essential that the effects processor is not allowed to pass an unaffected or straight through signal. If this occurs, the true thru signal will mix with the latency delayed thru signal and generate a modulated dry signal. This might in some situations sound nice while setting up the patch, but in a live performance or recording situation this often corrupts the general EQ, messing up the natural sound of the instrument.

A well configured parallel effects loop, with a suitably configured delay and reverb effect only being returned, enhances the natural sound of the steel guitar and most other instruments. The T C Electronics G-Major/2 effects processor has some suitable routings with good control of both the effect mix and effect level, for both delay and reverb. A number of patches have been developed for this unit to be used with the TCA-500C.

The ability to adjust the Dry/Wet Fader to control the effects level in a live performance situation is another advantageous feature of parallel mode.

Telonics TCA-500C Combo Amp

PB-009289 Rev E

TCA-500C C

Direct Out

Level – Gnd Lift

OMBO AMP CONTROL FUNCTIONS, JACKS, & INDICATORS

RONT PANEL (CONTINUED

)

This level adjustment will allow you to match the D.O. signal you are sending, to the proper level required by the mixer board or recording device. Most line level devices are either +4dB or -10dB. You can adjust for either, however, you can also adjust your Direct Output signal low enough for microphone inputs with below -30dB adjustment- this is an unusual capability. This allows you to use your high quality balanced XLR Direct Output with low end mixer boards which only provide mic level inputs. (A very handy capability when you walk into a new venue cold and have no idea what the sound person might have to work with.)

The D.O. in the TCA-500C is analog modeled to deliver to a flat response system, a very closely EQ’d approximation to what is output from the combo speaker in its cabinet.

The signal sent from the XLR connection is balanced line and male gendered (standard XLR out). The GND Lift push button (rear panel) allows the combo earth to be separated from the DI earth to assist with hum ground loop issues. The front panel Direct Level control allows the signal sent to the desk/house board to be easily adjusted over a wide range.

Note: when the Power Amp On/Off switch (rear panel) is Off (i.e. no sound is output from the combo speaker, but the headphones output is still active), the D.O. output remains ON because the preamplifier section is ON.

Telonics TCA-500C Combo Amp

PB-009289 Rev E

Aux Level (Stereo)

TCA-500C C

The Auxiliary level control is used to set the level of background/track music from MP3 players, CD players or other audio sources.

This input accepts a standard ¼ inch TS or TRS plug. Most MP3 players require a 1/8 inch TRS plug. Accordingly, a 1/8 inch-to-1/4 inch TRS cable is supplied with the TCA-500C. Some CD players still utilize separate RCA jacks and therefore require a dual RCA plug (male) to ¼ inch TRS plug cable. These are readily available at most home entertainment electronics stores and are generally stocked at Telonics as well.

As such, the Auxiliary Input is not designed for low-level instrument signals. HOWEVER, it may also be used as a second channel input from an external source such as a preamp and/or effects chain. For example, a musician who doubles on a second instrument might connect the output of a preamp, compressor and/or other EFX units following his instrument to the Aux input on the rear panel of the TCA-500C, thus providing for quick switching to a Tele, MandoCaster, mandolin, or other instrument.

Note: the Aux Input ties in after the EQ and Dry/Wet controls. You can only control the level of this signal.

OMBO AMP CONTROL FUNCTIONS, JACKS, & INDICATORS

RONT PANEL (CONTINUED

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Telonics TCA-500C Combo Amp

PB-009289 Rev E

+ 43 hidden pages

Telonics TCA-500C 15-1U, TCA-500C 12-MINI, TCA-500C 15-MINI, TCA-500C 12-1U, TCA-500C-1U User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual