The Black Lion Audio Level-Loc is a modern revival of one of the most infamous compressors ever made. Originally released by Shure in the 1960s, the Level-Loc was a straightforward, affordable limiter designed for speech reinforcement in live sound and broadcast environments. While it did its job reliably, its rough and ready approach to compression soon caught the attention of studio engineers looking for something far more colourful.
Over the years, its crude, aggressive sound became a sought-after tool for adding bite, grit, and raw power, especially to drums, turning it into a cult favourite. As demand surged, the original units became harder to find and increasingly expensive on the second-hand market, with software emulations attempting to fill the gap.
Now, Black Lion Audio has partnered directly with Shure to bring the Level-Loc back, preserving its attitude and sonic identity while addressing the practical limitations of vintage hardware. The new Black Lion Audio Level-Loc offers all the brutal compression and rich harmonic saturation of the original, now combined with modern studio-friendly features that make it more versatile and reliable than ever. From its fixed heavy compression ratio to its distinct “Distance Selector” threshold control, this reissue stays true to the source but adds refinements that open it up to a wider range of applications.
A Mix control makes parallel compression instantly accessible, while a switchable release mode offers fast and slow options, something the original never had. The input is handled by a combo jack that accepts both mic and line level signals without the need for adapters, and output connectivity includes both the original XLR and a newly added TRS jack with high and low impedance options. Phantom power and a built-in 50 dB pad are also included, making it fully compatible with modern condenser microphones.
Whether used for gritty parallel drum compression, bold vocal saturation, or full-throttle overdrive, the Black Lion Audio Level-Loc delivers exactly what its reputation promises: unapologetically aggressive compression and a thick, gritty character that transforms clean signals into something far more visceral. Crank the input, dial in the mix, and discover why this oddball limiter became one of the most beloved secret weapons in studio history.
Black Lion Audio Level-Loc Features
- Creative compression, saturation and distortion processor
- Faithful reissue of the original Shure Level-Loc developed in partnership with Shure
- Mix control for parallel compression
- Combo input jack for mic and line level sources
- TRS and XLR output options with high and low impedance selection
- Phantom power and integrated 50 dB pad
- Selectable fast and slow release times
- Fixed heavy compression ratio for authentic vintage character
