TL Audio

TL Audio

Also known as: Tony Larking Audio

Unclaimed

TL Audio is a British manufacturer of valve (tube) hybrid studio equipment, founded by Tony Larking in the early 1990s. The company began by restoring and reselling vintage Neve and Trident recording consoles before partnering with David Kempson, an ex-Neve designer, to develop original products. Their first creation, the EQ-1 Dual Valve Equaliser, launched in 1993 and filled a gap in the marke...

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TL Audio is a British manufacturer of valve (tube) hybrid studio equipment, founded by Tony Larking in the early 1990s. The company began by restoring and reselling vintage Neve and Trident recording consoles before partnering with David Kempson, an ex-Neve designer, to develop original products. Their first creation, the EQ-1 Dual Valve Equaliser, launched in 1993 and filled a gap in the market for affordable new-production valve processors at a time when vintage units like the Pultec and Fairchild had become prohibitively rare and expensive.

TL Audio's product range spans several tiers: the Classic series for professional studios (including the C-1 Dual Valve Compressor, PA-1 Pentode Preamp, EQ-2 Parametric Equaliser, and VP-1 Valve Processor), the Ivory and Ivory 2 series for project studios (including the 5001 four-channel preamp, 5050 preamp/compressor, and 5051 mono voice processor), and the Crimson solid-state line. The company also produced valve mixing consoles — the flagship VTC (Valve Technology Console), the mid-range M4, and the compact M1 TubeTracker — which found homes in professional studios worldwide, including Abbey Road Studios.

Based in Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, TL Audio built a reputation for making valve warmth accessible at realistic price points. Their gear has been used by artists and producers including Coldplay, Brian Eno, Sting, and Tori Amos. The "TL" in the name stands for Tony Larking, the company's founder, who later applied the same valve expertise to the consumer hi-fi market with the Fatman Audio brand.

TL Audio has 28 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Effects Processors, Preamps, and Mixers. Their gear is featured by 27 artists, with the strongest followings in Electronic, Rock, and Pop. Notable users include Martin Glover, Damon Albarn, and Justin Broadrick. Most TL Audio products sit firmly in the high-end, boutique range.

Artists Who Use TL Audio

Martin Glover uses 2 TL Audio products

Martin Glover

Bassist, Music Producer · Killing Joke

Damon Albarn uses 1 TL Audio product

Damon Albarn

Singer, Guitarist · Gorillaz

Justin Broadrick uses 1 TL Audio product

Justin Broadrick

Singer, Guitarist · Napalm Death

Underworld uses 1 TL Audio product

Underworld

Music Producer · Freur

Venetian Snares uses 1 TL Audio product

Venetian Snares

Music Producer · Speed Dealer Moms

Joris Voorn uses 1 TL Audio product

Joris Voorn

Music Producer

Janne Wirman uses 1 TL Audio product

Janne Wirman

Keyboardist · Children of Bodom

DJ Quik uses 1 TL Audio product

DJ Quik

Rapper, Music Producer · The Fixxers

Max Richter uses 1 TL Audio product

Max Richter

Composer

Bibio uses 1 TL Audio product

Bibio

Music Producer

Morcheeba uses 1 TL Audio product

Morcheeba

Music Producer

Robbie Chater uses 1 TL Audio product

Robbie Chater

Guitarist, Music Producer · The Avalanches

Leftfield uses 1 TL Audio product

Leftfield

Music Producer

Jacob Bugden uses 1 TL Audio product

Jacob Bugden

Guitarist, Music Producer

Chase & Status uses 1 TL Audio product

Chase & Status

Music Producer

Tzusing uses 1 TL Audio product

Tzusing

Music Producer, DJ

DJ Mehdi uses 1 TL Audio product

DJ Mehdi

Music Producer

Alexis Taylor uses 1 TL Audio product

Alexis Taylor

Singer, Guitarist · Hot Chip

Tosca uses 1 TL Audio product

Tosca

Nightmares on Wax uses 1 TL Audio product

Nightmares on Wax

Composer, DJ

Community setups featuring TL Audio

Show yours
daveboulden

daveboulden

Gear IQ 79

oxygenartstudio

oxygenartstudio

Gear IQ 112

madt3o

madt3o

Gear IQ 382

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