PAIR Of Custom Shure Level Loc Clones 500 Modules LVL LOK 500

Up for sale is a pair of Shure Level-Loc clones in 500 format. These were built using the design and info from a user on the GroupDIY forum called “irfrench”.

• Input: Sets the input gain to the compressor circuit.

• Pad: This is an attenuation pad that sits in front of the input control. The original circuit expects mic level, but this design is meant for line level signals - so we need some attenuation. The normal setting is 20dB, but this can be increased to 30dB and 40dB to allow more headroom. It works well on most sources when left at the default 20dB setting.

• Comp: This is a combined threshold and makeup gain control. Setting it to ‘MORE’ lowers the threshold, resulting in more compression, and compensates with added makeup gain. You can go even further with the ‘MOST’ position. This control is the same functionally as the ‘Distance Selector’ on an original Level-Loc.

• Release: The fast setting is the stock Level-Loc release time. You also have medium and slow options, for more pumpy compression.
  

• Mix: Allows you to blend the compressor output with the dry signal, so you can dial in parallel compression in the unit. 

• Bypass: This takes the compressor (and mix control) out of circuit.  There is space in the front panel for an indicator LED. When I built these units, I could not get the LEDs to work consistently. The LEDs were dual-colour red and green, and when they did work they looked a bit bright and garish to me so I left the units without them. 

I have recorded a short video to demonstrate the general sound/functions of the unit. 

Please be aware that these units and hand-built clones, and lack some of the sturdiness of commercial 500 modules. The front panel is plastic rather than metal. The compressed signal is quite noisy, although this is inherent to the Level-Loc design and all Level-Loc clones have this high noise floor. The compressed signal generally ends up being a fair bit louder than the dry signal, so a lot of the useful blending range is in the first half of the mix knob’s rotation. 

I can provide all the relevant schematics and build notes that I have for these units, to aid in any future mods/repairs. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

Please check out my other listings, I'm selling rack gear, 500 gear, mics and other pro audio stuff in the coming weeks.