An award-winning preamp/limiter from a trusted brand
The Langevin Dual Vocal Combo is a 2-channel microphone preamplifier with 2 shelf equalizers plus 2 channels of electro-optical limiters. The combo is the result of suggestions from Langevin customers to combine two of the most popular Langevin signal processors and make the price irresistible, half the price of the VOXBOX combo in fact, for 2 channels of great sounding all discrete channel strips. Seem interesting? This includes VU meters, individual phantom power, limiter linking and time proven circuitry. This is an ideal box for musicians and engineers on a budget and is equally at home in a big league recording studio, mobile recording truck, or live gig. The Langevin DVC has the reliability, functionality, and the sound without any of the complexity— the essential features without the "sea of knobs."
The Mic Preamps are transformer coupled (hand wound by Manley Labs) with 50 dB of gain provided by pure discrete transistor circuits, same as found in the stand-alone Langevin Dual Micpre. 48-volt phantom power can be applied to each input XLR independently and the switches are a locking type to prevent accidents. New to this unit are the front panel 1/4" Direct Instrument inputs. A little discrete circuit from our tech Paul Fargo gives these inputs the appropriate input impedance (150Kohms) and provides about 40 dB of gain.
The Equalizers are comprised of a low frequency shelf that can be switched to either 40 Hz or 80 Hz and a high frequency shelf that can be set for 8 KHz or 12 KHz. Very tasty choices! These shelves are continuously variable from -10 dB to +10 dB of gain. Of course, the Langevin EQ can be completely switched out with the BYPASS switch making it easy to make a choice.
The Limiters are the discrete transistor version of the Manley ELOP Limiter (same as the Langevin stand-alone version). This type of limiter is superb for vocals and a wide range of instruments from basses and guitars to synths and room mics. When it comes to tracking and fast set-ups, the lack of a multitude of controls is a real feature. You can simply set up the Threshold and Gain controls and expect that the limiter will do the right thing without a lot of tweaking. The Langevin Limiters have Threshold and (make-up) Gain controls, a Link switch for stereo and a pair of toggles that switch the VU meters to "Gain Reduction" or "Output Level". These are true stereo limiters without the usual problems of left/right matching common to other stereo opto based limiters.
The back panel has XLR mic inputs paralleled with 1/4" TRS jacks that feed the mic pre stage. By popular request Langevin has added separate 1/4" TRS micpre outputs which "normal" into the 1/4" TRS limiter inputs so they can be permanently wired into a patchbay. Now there are "Direct Outputs" from the Mic Preamp/EQ stage so one can indeed use the mic preamps and the Limiters as 4 separate sections. The main outputs are available as either transformerless balanced XLR or unbalanced 1/4" Tip-Sleeve jacks. The solid 14 lb. 2U chassis is 19" x 3 1/2" x 10" and sports a billet 1/4" thick machined faceplate. The Langevin DVC has scored in all the magazines, including Electronic Musician's 2001 Editor's Choice Award!
