Thermionic Culture ROOSTER-2 Users Manual

The Rooster device and logo copyright © 2007 Jon Bailes. All rights reserved.

©Thermionic Culture Ltd., May 2014 1

WARNING

For your personal safety, please read this operating manual and
warning thoroughly before using the equipment.

This unit must be installed in such a manner that operator access
to the mains plug is maintained. Where the product is to be rack
mounted, this may be achieved by having access to the
disconnection device for the whole rack.

To reduce the risk of electric shock, it is essential that the unit is
disconnected from the mains supply before removing the cover.

Please also note that the power supply capacitors within this unit
can remain charged even after the mains supply has been
disconnected. It is essential that these capacitors are discharged
after the mains supply has been disconnected and the covers
have been removed.

In the event that this unit has been dropped or has suffered an
impact, an electrical safety test must be carried out before
reconnection to the mains supply.

This equipment is not intended for use in explosion hazard
environments. It must be used and stored in studio conditions,
such that the ambient relative humidity does not exceed 80%, nor
is the temperature to be allowed to drop to a level, which would
cause dew point to be reached.

Please ensure that adequate ventilation is provided and that the
ventilation slots are not obstructed. When rack mounting this
equipment, a fan may be required to provide sufficient airflow.

It is not advisable to operate this equipment if all valves are not in
place and working, as voltages will rise and components may
overheat and fail.

©Thermionic Culture Ltd., May 2014 2

CONTENTS

Section Page

1 Introduction 3
2 Controls and meters 4

2.1 Phase switch 4

2.2 I/P switch 4

2.3 DI socket 4

2.4 I/P level control 4

2.5 Base lift control 4

2.6 Mid/Hi lift control 5

2.7 2.5k/4k/Hi switch 5

2.8 Mid Cut control 5

2.9 Bass Cut switch 5

2.10 LPF switch 6

2.11 Mode switch 6

2.12 Attitude switch 6

2.13 O/P level control 7

2.14 Off/48V switch 7

2.15 Meters 7

3 Operational hints and tips 8
4 Connections 9
5 Servicing and maintenance 10

5.1 Valves 10

5.2 Operating voltages and fuses 10

6 Specification 11

©Thermionic Culture Ltd., May 2014 3

1 Introduction

The Rooster 2 is a valve device dedicated to bringing
together three facilities in one unit. It provides a high quality
Mic / DI / Line pre-amp, suitable for any type of microphone,
DI or line source. Then comes a unique sounding award
winning EQ section, specially designed by Vic Keary,
comprising broad but very useable frequency bands with a
‘vari slope’ curve for bass and top. This is also a feature of
the Earlybird 2 series of mic-amps. Finally, the ability to
change the amount of distortion, or THD, of the unit as a
whole is provided by the “Attitude” control, combined with the
‘Mode’ switch. All of these features are available on both of
the unit’s 2 channels.

The Rooster 2 will provide everything from a warm, clean
sounding valve mic-pre, suitable for any application, to a
characterful overdriven processor with powerful EQ, as
adaptable for adding dirt and edge to mics as it is for
mixdown treatment.

The user has control over the amount of THD that The
Rooster 2 will add to the signal as well as the kind of
harmonics included in that THD. This is achieved by using a
5654 pentode valve. The control over gain given to the user
can also be used to obtain more or less THD included in the
output signal. In addition to this the EQ section can be used
to tailor the sound of the distortion at high THD levels or it
may act as a more conventional tone control at low distortion
settings.

©Thermionic Culture Ltd., May 2014 4