To obtain warranty service for your
PC-Pre
, call, write, or Email to ARX
or the dealer you purchased it from. They will give you the correct
address to send your unit to. Have your sales receipt showing date of
purchase handy, and include a copy of it with the unit. Please pack it up
well - we are not responsible for any damage caused by unsuitable packing
during shipment. Send the unit to us pre-paid, by a delivery service like
FedEx, UPS, DHL or any other service that can track the shipment. We
will return it to you freight paid. If you have any questions, or any part of
this is unclear, please write to ARX Systems in the country of purchase, or
to the address below.
PO Box 15,Moorabbin, Victoria 3189, Australia. Phone: +61 (0)3 9555
7859 Fax: +61 (0)3 9555 6747
You can Email the factory at:
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ARX Systems (ARX) warrants to the first purchaser of this
PC-
pre
product that it is free from defects in materials and workman-
ship under normal use and service. ARX’s sole obligation under this
warranty shall be to provide, without charge, parts and labour
necessary to remedy defects, if any, which appear within twelve
(12) months from date of purchase; and to supply parts only for
the life of the product to the original purchaser. ARX shall not be
responsible for parts that have been discontinued by the original
manufacturer
This is our only warranty. It does not cover finish or appearance
items, nor does it apply if the unit has been, in ARX’s sole judge-
ment:
• Subjected to misuse, abuse, negligence or accident;
• Repaired, worked on, or altered by persons not authorized by ARX,
• Connected, installed, adjusted or used otherwise than in accord-
ance with the instructions supplied by ARX.
This warranty gives you and us specific legal rights, and you may also
have other rights which can vary from state to state.
INTERNATIONAL LIFETIME WARRANTY
Starting Recording
1. Connect the microphone(s) to the
PC-pre
. If they are condenser
mics needing Phantom power, press the phantom switch IN. If they
are dynamic mics, then don’t. If you are unsure of what type you
have, here’s the rule:
If it works OK without Phantom power,
then it’s a dynamic microphone
2. Set the front panel Level controls initially at 0dB. If you know you
have a card which is set to +4dB, then turn the output control to
that setting. High end cards can have internal jumpers to set the
nominal level, so check your documentation.
3. Open up the Control Panel/Sounds and Audio Devices Properties in
Windows, (or similar utility on Macs) and check the settings on the
Audio Properties/Recording. Set the volume slider at around 75%
(¾ way to the Right) as a starting point.
4. Set the
PC-pre
Input Gain at 20 - 30 dB as a starting point, then
open up your audio software and start the RECORD process. Make
sure you can see the meters.
5. Try the traditional sound engineer’s “Check 1 - 2” into the
microphone, and watch (a) the levels on the screen, and (b) the
Overload LED on the front of the
PC-pre
. If it lights up, reduce
the Input Gain. If the levels are too low on the screen, increase the
Input Gain slightly until the level improves. If the onscreen levels are
still too low, and the Input Gain is around 30-40+, increase the
Output level on the
PC-pre
until the level gets better. It’s a matter
of trial and error initially, until you are used to the interaction
between the
PC-pre,
sound card, and the audio software.
6. Different microphones will require different Input Gain settings, as
will singers with louder and softer voices, and louder and softer
instruments. It’s a good idea to create a page of different settings
that you can refer back to for speed.
7. You can use the jack input of the combo connector to plug a line
input (eg guitar) into the
PC-pre
. You can either go in direct -
straight out of the guitar, or through any effects pedals you have.
Just be aware of the extra noise these devices can add, which may
require some subtle noise-gating once you have the track recorded.
8. Don’t worry about getting maximum level on to the hard disk. You
just need a good sounding clean signal that is loud enough, but not so
loud that you risk going into the red/overload state. See ‘About
Digital Recording’ below
PC-Pre2 Specifications
Input Impedance
Mic 2K Ohms Balanced; XLR type Pin 1 Audio Ground, Pin 2 +, Pin 3–
Line 25 KOhms Balanced, ¼" TRS jack Tip +, Ring– Sleeve Ground
Phantom Power Voltage
+48 V DC on XLR Pins 2 and 3
Max Input Level
Mic +15 dB, Line +20 dB
Input Gain
6 dB Minimum, variable to 50 dB Maximum
Overload Indicator
Measured at all Gain points throughout the
circuitry
Output Noise
-90 dB Unweighted, -97 dB 'A' weighted
(Measured with Gain at nominal 20 dB)
Frequency Response
20 - 20 KHz ± 0.25 dB
Distortion
100 Hz 0.0085%; 1 KHz 0.008%; 10 KHz 0.0083%
(Measured with Mic Gain 20 dB, Output 0 dB)
Output impedance
150 ohms
Maximum output level
+20dB
Distortion Max
0.1% prior to clipping
Output Connectors
Single Mono RCA with Channels A and B mix
Insulated 6.5mm jack with Channels A and B mix.
Wired Tip: +, Sleeve: Ground / Earth
Dual Insulated 6.5mm jacks
Wired Tip: +, Sleeve: Ground / Earth
Power Requirements
12v Connection from computer or external
power supply
Size
146mmW x 42mmH x 142mm D (5¼"W x 1¾H x 5"D)
Weight
Under 1 Kilo (2.2 lbs)
About Digital Recording (a VERY short primer!)
If you’ve ever recorded on to a tape deck or cassette deck, you’ll be aware
that it’s usually OK to let the needles bounce into the red OCCASION-
ALLY. In fact, it often sounds bigger and fatter this way, thanks to the soft
analog tape distortion.
Digital recording is different. Once the level hits the red that’s TOO
MUCH. Digital audio has no analog type headroom. Maximum level is just
that - maximum, which means absolutely no more. Any attempt to go
over 0dB will result in a horrible crackling sound, which is probably not the
effect you’re looking for!
Your mission, Jim, is to get the cleanest, best sounding signal you can onto
the hard disk, and leave the audio massaging and sweetening to the mixing/
post-production process.
Most audio recording programs have extensive compression, limiting, EQ,
pitch control, tube-sound and other filters built in, so you can do and re-
do all this until you find the magical sound you’re looking for.
The ARX
PC-pre
is designed to be there when inspiration strikes, ready
and waiting in your computer to capture that magic.
Please Note
Although the PC Pre has been created for easy use with both Mac and
PC computers, it is also super easy to use as a front end for any other
recording or production system. As long as there is provision for line level
signals to be connected, the PC-pre will deliver superb audio