The DI-4019 is a stand-alone version of the product DE-206 "Level-Matic", which was part of the so-called "Voice-Matic automixer" system from IRP. The purpose of the device was by no means for use in the studio area but in meeting rooms , where the speakers' microphones were mixed using an automatic microphone mixer. I had specified these products many times and really appreciated their performance at live events. It is a leveller with an infinitely long release time. This means the following: a talker enters the stage and speaks into the microphone, a (correctly set) Levelmatic device reduces the total gain of the automixer by approx. 5 dB. If the talker speaks at a constant volume, the Levelmatic device remains at -5 dB. The special thing is that the gain remains at -5 dB even when the talker leaves the speaker's desk. This means, in contrast to a compressor, the gain does not increase when there is no audio signal: So there is no increase of the room's background noise. If the next talker comes who speaks less loudly, the Level-Matic increases the gain and goes to -1 dB, for example. The reinforcement remains here until the next talker appears. If he is very loud, the Level-Matic reduces the volume to a maximum of 10 dB. Overall, the Levelmatic ensures a relatively constant speaker level during an event with several talkers, without the unpleasant breathing of a compressor.
The negative side of the device is a relatively high distortion factor, especially with strong gain reduction. At least that was my subjective impression; I never measured it. This is not audible with live voice amplification, but you can hear it on the tape recordings if you pay attention to it.
In my opinion the device is not suitable for (transparent) studio recordings.
A similar leveller with an infinitely long release time was available from IED (optional module 120P in their 4400/4800 series automixers).
ns