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TVS PROSPECTUS

The TVS line of sound processors has emerged from a number of years of research into the sound of original tube-based tape echo units such as the famous Meazzi Echomatic series. The echoes from these vintage units is characterised by a warm, singing quality that, up until now, has not been available from the modern day solid state equivalents.

We have found that this comes from the way that the circuitry affects both the dry (or direct) signals as well as the way the echoes (or wet) signals are produced and mixed back. Our Tape Voicing Systems (TVS) have been developed to address this problem, with particular application to guitar inputs. They all use valves (tubes) in the direct sound path and are available in one of three versions.

Two of these (the TVS1 and TVS2) require use of a separate unit such as an Alesis or Zoom to produce the echoes while the top of the line model, the TVS3 uses in-built analogue delay lines to produce the echoes and is a completely self contained unit. All have been developed using original tape echo systems such as the Meazzi, as the point of comparison.

TVS1

The TVS1 is the lowest cost model and operates only on the direct signal. However, it also overcomes the problem that the inputs of most modern echo units (such as the Alesis Q2/20 or Zoom RFX 2000/2200) are not optimised for guitar inputs, often making the sound quite dull. Comparing the sound of a guitar fed directly into a Zoom or Alesis with that when the guitar is plugged into the TVS1 and then onto the echo unit is quite amazing. It brings back the life and sparkle to the sound and adds to its timbre.

While the echoes are of course just as produced by the Alesis/Zoom/Atlantis/Amtech (supplied by the user) with whatever patches are used (e.g. EFTP or others as available on sites such as Echotapper), the overall sound is much closer to that heard on recordings produced during the vintage tape/tube era.

An image of the TVS1 is shown below.

The TVS1, TVS2 and TVS3 are supplied in similar enclosures and a TVS1 or TVS2 can be upgraded to a higher spec unit at some later time, should that be desired. The TVS1 has two controls on the front panel; one to adjust the drive level (which affects the timbre) and one to switch in a bass cut filter (to give the sound on many of the early Shadows recordings). The level of echo etc is set by the Alesis/Zoom/Atlantis/Amtech echo unit. The TVS1 plugs directly into the mains power.  

TVS2

The TVS2 includes additional circuitry which emulates the way that tape systems produce and colour the echoes. An Alesis Quadraverb Plus, GT, Q2 or Q20 unit (supplied by the user)is still used to produce the delayed signals, these signals are further modified by additional circuitry to accurately emulate the whole magnetic drum or tape recording system. This requires the use of patches specially developed to suit the additional circuitry. The Alesis is used in a parallel effects loop so that the dry signal integrity is fully preserved and enhanced, as with the TVS1.

A CD ROM is included which provides 30 patches that cover all of the operating modes of the original Meazzi Echomatic I and II, some Binson, Echoplex and Roland Space Echo (as used in some later Shadows numbers, for example) and Echolette patches. Other patches will be developed from time to time (based upon user requests and feedback) and will be provided as free updates for a period of 12 months from purchase.

The patches need to be loaded into the Alesis using one of the midi patch programs such as Qclick, Quadraverb Patcher or SoundQuest. Alternatively, TVS Specialty Products offers a service to download the patches into the User’s Alesis (including loading them into the bottom of the user memory to preserve any EFTP patches already loaded).

The result is exactly the same warm, singing echoes produced by the original Meazzi Echomatics. The TVS2 has four front panel controls: one to adjust the drive level (indicated by a led VU meter), one to switch in a bass cut filter, one to adjust the overall level of the echoes and one to adjust the duration of the echo repeats (feedback). Like the TVS1, it plugs directly into the mains for power.

A picture of the  TVS2   is shown below.

TVS3

The top of the range TVS3 takes this line of development to its ultimate conclusion. It incorporates all of the advances of the TVS1 and TVS2 and in addition includes in-built analogue delay lines to produce the echoes.

However, unlike other analogue echo units currently available, it also offers complete programmability of the echoes. It is supplied with 30 patches already installed, which again cover all of the operating modes of the original Meazzi Echomatic I and II and some Binson, Echoplex, Roland Space Echo and Echolette patches.

As with the TVS2, updates will be provided for additional patches as they are developed in response to user feedback. Modification of the patches or programming of new echoes is via a serial link to a PC/laptop using a program supplied. Up to 100 patches can be stored.

The result is a completely self contained unit which gives you the sound of a tape echo unit but without the hassles of tape loop and tape head maintenance, and with the additional benefit of simple and instantaneous patch selection so important for live performance. A Screen shot of the TVS3 Patcher program is shown below:  

An image of the  TVS3 is shown below.

The TVS1 and TVS2 are supplied in similar enclosures and can be upgraded to a higher spec unit at some late time, should that be desired.  The TVS3 has the same controls as the TVS2, and in addition has a backlit LCD display and three pushbutton switches for patch selection and programming. An optional footswitch is also available for sequential patch selection. This incorporates a large and clearly visible patch number readout for live performance.

See below the latest batch of TVS models about to be despatched:

TVS3 PEDAL

The TVS3 pedal allows remote patch selection and patch pre-selection using up, down and load footswitches that copy exactly the push button functions on the front of the TVS3. A large LED display indicates the patch selected. A patch pre-selected is indicated by the patch number and illumination of the decimal points on the display. For more dramatic indication of patch pre-selection, a blinking high intensity led can also be enabled. With the footswitch in place, patches can be changed using both the buttons on the TVS3 and the footswitch, and both the TVS3 display and the footswitch display follow accordingly. It comes with an 8m lead with secure screw fastened plugs at each end.

See picture below: