The Abbey Road Mic
The Chandler Limited TG Microphone is a solid-state large-diaphragm condenser microphone that carries forward the rich legacy of EMI Abbey Road Studios innovation. In addition to its cardioid and omni polar patterns, the TG Microphone employs a unique feature set consisting of an onboard Dual Tone System, EMI Tape Equalizer, 50Hz/90Hz highpass filter, 10dB pad, and outboard power supply to deliver unrivaled versatility and sonic character. Much like a classic tube mic, the TG Microphone's use of a dedicated PSU — rather than 48-volt phantom power — is integral to its huge, lifelike sound.
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A sound that rivals the classics
If you're coveting the sound of classic vintage microphones like the U47, U87, FET47, and C414 for your recordings, then you'll love the TG Microphone. In close cooperation with Abbey Road Studios, Chandler Limited developed the TG Microphone's unique onboard EMI Tape Equalizer and Dual Tone System that allow you to tailor the mic's tonality for results that favorably compare to the above-mentioned classics.
The Tape Equalizer
The Tape Equalizer circuitry is adapted from the NAB/IEC Tape EQ found on vintage EMI TG mastering consoles, and it works wonders in the TG Microphone. Originally used to compensate for tapes played back on machines aligned to the opposing standard, the TG Microphone's repurposed Tape Equalizer lets you shape the sound at the source, eliminating the need for further processing (and the attendant signal degradation) downstream. The sound-shaping possibilities are further extended when the Tape Equalizer is combined with the selectable 50Hz/90Hz highpass filter.
The Dual Tone System
The Dual Tone System modifies the TG Microphone's input stage and extends the mic's versatility to accommodate a broad array of sources. System A is classic TG mid-forward, while the alternative B voicing accommodates high SPLs and is the preferred setting wherever you would normally reach for a FET47. Combined with the Tape Equalizer, the Dual Tone System yields 10 unique voicings.
The TG story
If you're wondering about the origin of the "TG" product designation, then allow Sweetwater to illuminate. The story begins in 1958. EMI London, as Abbey Road Studios was then known, had a staff of innovative recording and technical engineers and racks of the best gear available at the time; much of it either heavily modified — or designed from scratch — by EMI technicians. The Beatles, of course, were the most famous beneficiaries of EMI's technical prowess. Their early records were recorded on EMI REDD .37 valve consoles built by EMI Central Research Laboratories in the late 1950s, while the updated REDD .51 handled their mid-'60s output — including Sgt. Pepper.
The introduction of 8-track recording and the increasing sonic experimentation of a new generation of artists demanded new technology; thus, a new EMI-designed desk made its debut in 1968. With 24 mic inputs, eight buses, four echo sends, two cue sends, and — for the first time ever — a compressor/limiter (in addition to EQ) on every channel, the TG12345 console was substantially larger and more capable than the REDD desks, and driven by transistors rather than tubes, its sound was dramatically richer and more highly detailed. The "TG" prefix was a nod to EMI's corporate predecessor, "The Gramophone" company. The TG12345 was put to the test in Studio Two the following year on the Beatles' Abbey Road album.
The groundbreaking sound quality of the solid-state EMI TG12345 recording and mastering consoles left its mark on legendary albums by the rock royalty of the era. Four generations of the TG12345 served Abbey Road clients (the studio had changed its name in honor of the Beatles album) through the 1970s, recording countless hit records and film scores before being retired from service in 1983.
Chandler Limited TG Microphone Features:
- Solid-state large-diaphragm condenser mic
- Cardioid and omnidirectional polar patterns
- Onboard Dual Tone System, EMI TG Tape Equalizer, 50Hz/90Hz highpass filter, 10dB pad
- Includes a shockmount, a dedicated PSU, a 25' Mogami 4-pin cable, and a wooden storage case
- Quality crafted by Chandler Limited in Shell Rock, IA
