TC Electronic Level Pilot: Maximum Monitor Control, Minimum Fuss and Cost

As more musicians discover the wonders of desktop music production, so more are losing direct hands-on control of their monitors. With many DAW set-ups control of monitors is dependant on the computer being powered up, and even then volume levels are often set with a mouse. This inhibits a musician's ability to control levels easily and at crucial times like when a computer crashes or if they need to mute or lower levels fast. Attempts at a solution have, until now, been expensive, messy and clumsy.

Enter Level Pilot, a stylish, high-resolution volume solution that fits into any active speaker set-up quickly and easily and with a minimum of clutter and wires. Level Pilot is a simple, convenient and great sounding way to control levels, and is ideal for all musicians whether they have small home studio set-ups or pro recording facilities. Level Pilot is shipping now and retails for $119.

Practical, elegant, beautiful — Level Pilot is a high quality, analogue, stereo volume control that works independently of the computer or audio interface, so no matter what happens the musician has complete control over their volume levels in all situations and at all times. Level Pilot features a solid and compact 'slip-free' design that fits into any active desktop (or even live set-up) without the need for an extra power supply, and employs quad-core cabling to minimize untidy cabling. Level Pilot's sturdy and luxurious aluminum design makes it bold enough to remain within sight and reachable at all times, and it fits practically and beautifully into any set-up to enhance the music production process.

High Resolution, low noise With any digital to analog recording set-up it is important to keep the resolution as high as possible at all times throughout the digital signal chain. Digitally controlling the levels prior to the last digital to analog conversion a common practice used by most audio interfaces, digital mixers and digital audio devices reduces the resolution of the conversion, so degrading the final signal quality. Level Pilot allows musicians to control the volume levels after the conversion, enabling maximum resolution without sacrificing audio quality.

Level Pilot is an elegant, convenient and great sounding solution, enabling total control over monitor levels with minimum fuss and cost.

Level Pilot — the key features:

• High-resolution analogue volume control Level Pilot puts immediate level control exactly where musicians need it right at their fingertips. It does this by using a renowned Bourns potentiometer to ensure accurate, high-resolution analog control over monitors at all times. Most audio interfaces, digital mixers and other digital audio devices are restricted to digital attenuation of the output signal, reducing the digital-to-analog converter resolution, ultimately rendering a poorer output sound quality. Using Level Pilot as an analog level control after the DAW helps maintain sonic integrity of the audio signal while keeping level control right there at the musician's fingertips.
• Exceptional clarity in the signal path Level Pilot uses components and circuitry that optimize signal-to-noise ratios. There are no buffers, batteries, transistors or other tone-sucking components in there so all that comes out of it are pristine, high-fidelity audio signals.
• Compact, sleek and sturdy design Level Pilot not only feels like a level control that can be relied on, it also comes with a brushed aluminum finish to give it a luxury look and a smooth, ergonomic feel.
• Computer-independent operation Many level control solutions draw additional power from the computer to enable level attenuation not so with Level Pilot, which can be operated completely independently of the audio source, be it computer or any other line-level device. In fact, Level Pilot requires no power to operate, ensuring that quick and direct control over monitors is always possible.
• Balanced and unbalanced compatibility This makes Level Pilot a real life-saver, fitting into most of today's analog setups and allowing high quality level control in an endless number of applications.
• 'Slip-free' rubberized base plate Level Pilot feels solid under hand, and the additional slip-free rubberized base plate ensures that Level Pilot stays exactly where it's needed.
• Quad-core fully balanced XLR connectivity Level Pilot comes with its own discrete quad-core cabling to ensure perfect stereo imaging and left-right tracking with no messy cabling to clutter up the desktop.

Level Pilot Tech Specs:

• Cabling: Fully balanced quad-core cable
• Connectivity: 2x Female / 2x Male XLR
• Potentiometer: Bourns stereo, fully balanced
• Power requirements: None
• Bottom surface: Rubberized 'slip free'
• Range: Off 0dB damping
• Dimensions: Top W: 45mm, Bottom W: 60mm, H: 50mm
• Finish: Sandblast Aluminum