TC Electronic Level Pilot C Volume Knob for monitors

[Clark Westfield]

Anybody using the TC Electronic Silver aluminum volume knob for their monitors?

Do you love it or hate it?

Is it durable? Will it hold up To daily use?

 

[Clark Westfield]

Anybody?

 

[And I]

Never heard of this product before you mentioned it. I have no use for it, my speakers run off my my audio interface which has its own volume knob. Even if I had multiple sources for my speakers, this product wouldn't work as it only has one set of stereo ins and outs... i'd get something like the Mackie Big Knob.

As for what folks think of it, there are about 60 reviews for it on Amazon. None on sweetwater... I'd guess no one who reads this forum is using it.

 

[silky smoove]

When shopping for a monitor controller I looked at this briefly. Very briefly. It's basically featureless. If all you're trying to do is get a remote volume knob and don't mind cabling through another analog connection it might do the job just fine. Not enough information on it to know if it will color your signal path, but given how simple it is and how low the price point is, I suspect it will not be transparent. They make an 1/8" and an XLR version. If possible I'd go with the XLR.

That said, I'd still choose one of the more fully featured monitor controllers over this every time. I went with an Audient Nero, and there are great options from Drawmer at a similar price point. The Mackie Big Knob used to get reviewed poorly because it was not transparent in the signal path. I see they have newer re-designed models which might do a better job, but I have no experience with them. The old Presonus Central Station got a lot of praise, except when using the remote as it routed audio to the remote and then back to the rack unit, and the results were not transparent. Since you're evidently looking for a remote volume knob I wouldn't suggest one of these either.

 

[Clark Westfield]

I have a very basic studio setup.

No mixing board or complex studio programs.

Just an iPad or laptop hooked up to decent Adam monitors.

I decided to pull the trigger and received it this morning. Heck, it’s only $48 bucks.

For what I’m doing it works well.

I kept fumbling with adjusting the volume with the keyboard or iPad.

It works great! It just a volume knob. Very basic.

Definitely better when bass playing.

For what I’m doing, seems to be better than it was.

 

[silky smoove]

What are you using for an audio interface to your laptop and iPad? Does it not already have a volume knob?

 

[Clark Westfield]

The computer is a pain to adjust the volume with the the bass hanging around my neck.

The monitors have their own individual knobs, but they are both on the backside of the speaker.

Half the time I hit the wrong keyboard buttons. The iPad is even worse with tiny buttons. Then if the iPad upside down, the buttons are backwards and it almost turns into a Frisbee.

I know this is totally redundant and sounds like a frivolous, silly impulse purchase, but man it’s been great the few hours I have been using it in the studio.

For something under $50, I think it is a great addition.

 

[silky smoove]

The computer is a pain to adjust the volume with the the bass hanging around my neck.

The monitors have their own individual knobs, but they are both on the backside of the speaker.

This doesn’t answer my question, which I’m just asking out of curiosity. I’ll ask in a different way: Which audio interface are you using to drive your studio monitors?

I know this is totally redundant and sounds like a frivolous, silly impulse purchase

Not at all. If it adds the functionality you need it’s a worthwhile purchase.

 

[Clark Westfield]

I’m not sure what you mean by interface.

I have the monitors with a rca jack in to a Y splitter 3.5mm plug, to the TC Electronic volume controller to the laptop audio output.

Like a giant pair of headphones.

I hope this answers your question.

 

[Clark Westfield]

I just looked at a few videos. Did not know what an interface was.

I am using not interface in my setup.

I’m using my computer for just music playback and metronome/drum machine.

I will not be doing any recording, so I have it simple.

 

[And I]

yup, no audio interface involved, just using the headphone out on your computer / tablet. makes sense.

If you did plan on doing any recording, I would have suggested a 1-channel audio interface rather than this volume-knob-only device, as you'd get a mic preamp, a line amp, a high-z instrument input, a headphone output, and low-latency input monitoring capabilities in addition to the volume knob. There are several decent options in the $100 ballpark.

 

[Clark Westfield]

I’m really naive when it comes to this stuff.

All new terminology that I’m sure I do not need.

So far, so good. I’m sure one day I’ll record something, and I’ll go shopping again.