3
How to use your TS-2
First, set the red voltage selector switch to match the AC voltage in your area (115/230).
There are two silver toggle switches on the front of the power supply. The POWER
switch is on the left, under the red pilot lamp. The STANDBY switch is on the right,
under the green pilot lamp. After all the proper connections have been made (see section
above), lift the POWER switch. The red pilot will illuminate. This begins heating the
vacuum tube and prepares the microphone to produce a signal. After ten to fifteen
seconds, you can lift the STANDBY switch. The TS-2 will soon begin to output an audio
signal from the 3-pin XLR jack. It requires about five minutes for the microphone to
warm up completely, though a period of fifteen minutes is recommended to assure that
the TS-2 has fully stabilized and has attained its optimum operating temperature. At this
point, the microphone body may feel warm to the touch. This is normal. One of the
features unique to the TS-2 is the ability to adjust the warmth of the microphone. The
warmth adjustment of the microphone is enabled by moving the CAL toggle switch out
of the CAL (calibrated) mode. This will switch on the HEATER VOLTAGE control
located above the CAL switch. Adjustment of the HEATER VOLTAGE control will
allow custom tailoring of the microphone to your exact requirements. A precision meter
will allow you to repeat your custom sonic settings. If you decide to take a break from
using the microphone, you can lower the STANDBY switch until you return. This will
help to extend the life of the vacuum tube. Note: it is not recommended that you leave
the mic in its standby mode (POWER switch up and STANDBY switch down) for
periods longer than thirty minutes. When you are finished using the TS-2, switch it off
and store it in its case. There is no harm in using the microphone for very long periods of
time but do not leave the microphone running continuously. Some people feel that tube
microphones should be left on at all times. This is not true. A vacuum tube has a finite
service life and you will be using it up unnecessarily if you do this.
Application
The TS-2 is a large diaphragm, condenser microphone with vacuum tube electronics. It
features a continuously variable pattern selector which is located on the microphone
body. You may alter the polar pickup pattern of the microphone from omni-directional to
figure eight. The 12 o’clock position is cardioid and is the most commonly used pattern.
To change the pattern, simply rotate the pattern selector knob to customize the
microphones pickup pattern for your specific application. This can be done with the
microphone turned on without causing any damage to the unit. Use the cardioid pattern
in situations where you desire to pickup specific sound sources, such as one guitar within
an ensemble, or only the higher strings of a piano. You can also use the cardioid pattern
when you wish to reduce the acoustic presence of the space in which you are working,
such as reducing crowd noise during live recording. Use the omni-directional pattern
when you wish to pickup a wider area, such as a group of backing vocalists. Also, use
the omni-directional pattern when you wish to include more of the acoustic character of
the space in which the microphone is being used, such as in concert halls that have
outstanding acoustics. The TS-2 can be used in very loud sonic environments without
significant distortion. If you hear distortion from the microphone, engage the “mic pad”
on your mixer, or move the pad selector switch located on the rear of the microphone
