TAMPA Professional Preamp/Compressor

The TAMPA is based on M-Audio's Temporal Harmonic Alignment technology, a revolutionary process that corrects the phase alignment of overtones to achieve the perceived warmth of tubes at a solid-state price. TAMPA includes a built-in, best-of-class dual optical-servo compressor/limiter and true VU meters to display output and compression gain. With S/PDIF and AES/EBU digital output (24 bit at up to 96kHz), it allows you to connect directly to recorders or sound cards remaining completely in the digital domain. Other features include a variable impedance input selector for optimal matching with vintage mics and professional Class A electronics throughout.

About Temporal Harmonic Alignment
While most engineers agree that tube-based pre-amps sound better than solid state, tube-technology prices place these devices outside the reach of many musicians. The TAMPA engineering team began addressing this problem by evaluating what distinguishes tubes aurally. Unlike most solid state electronics, tube-based devices strike the ear as having such a warm sound because the added midrange harmonics have the same temporal (phase) relationship as natural mechanisms like strings, drumheads, and vocal chords. This results in a sweet spot that makes vocals, guitars, and other midrange-rich content sound especially pleasing. TAMPA's unique new Temporal Harmonic Alignment technology produces that same phase relationship found in both tubes and nature. And unlike tubes (or tube modeling), TAMPA's sweet spot spans the full audio spectrum.

About Dual Optical-Servo Compression
3 fundamental challenges plague engineers in designing compressors: distortion, noise, and accuracy. The VCA technology used in inexpensive compressors exhibits less than professional specs on all 3 counts. Simple optical-servo technology is much quieter and more accurate, yet has its own issues with distortion. The more expensive dual optical-servo technology is used in high-end compressors because it yields low noise, consistent accuracy, low distortion, and exceptional transparency. TAMPA incorporates both a dual optical-servo compressor/limiter and microphone/instrument pre-amp in one affordable package.