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5.2.1 Vocals

Preamplifier

Preamp Gain: +38

Input Selector: Mic 

High Gain: Out

Phase: Out

48V: If needed

Filter: In 

High Pass Frequency: 80 

Compressor

Threshold: -5dB

Compression Ratio: 4:1

EQ->Comp: Out

Meter: In

Compressor: In

Attack: 10 O’clock

Release: 10 O’clock

VU Meter Gain Reduction:  -3dB to -5dB 

(adjust preamp gain, threshold and com-

pression to get more or less gain reduction)

Note: For a “punchy” singer use faster 

attack. For a tighter sound use faster attack 

and faster release. 

Equalizer

Bass (level): 0 (Center Detent)

Bass Hz: N/A (not applicable)

Low Mid (level): Center Detent

Low Mid Hz: N/A 

Low Mid Hi-Q: Out  

Low Mid x10: Out  

High Mid (level): 0 

High Mid Hz: N/A  

High Mid Hi-Q: Out  

High Mid x10: Out  

Treble (level): +6dB  

Treble Hz: 32kHz  

SC->Mids: Out  

Equalizer: In  

Applications

Page 25

Avalon Vt-737sp Operation Manual

Summary of Contents for VT-737SP

Page 1: ...u u m Tu b e D i s c r e t e P r e a m p l i f i e r O p t o c o m p r e s s o r E q u a l i z e r Operation Manual 2016 Avalon Industries Incorporated Release 2 0 DE S I G N AVA LON P U R E C L A S...

Page 2: ...V T 7 3 7 S P Avalon Industries Inc 3715 Cahuenga Blvd Studio City CA 91604 Tel 949 492 2000 www avalondesign com Operation Manual...

Page 3: ......

Page 4: ...ons 23 5 1 Typical Setups 23 5 1 1 Recording 23 5 1 2 Mixdown Tape Based 24 5 1 3 Mixdown DAW 24 5 1 4 Mixdown Mastering DAW 24 5 1 5 Mastering Tape Based 24 5 2 Application Settings 24 5 2 1 Vocals 2...

Page 5: ......

Page 6: ...triode vacuum tubes and 100 discrete Class A circuit topologies The Vt 737sp combines a transformer coupled dual vacuum tube preamplifier with a tube opto compressor and a high voltage discrete Class...

Page 7: ...nuously variable threshold level compression ratio attack and release controls can be easily adjusted to achieve a variety of useful dynamic effects from soft compression to hard knee limiting The cho...

Page 8: ...connector Inside view of Vt 737sp 1 2 Features Natural balanced musical performance 100 discrete pure Class A operation Three simultaneously available inputs Vacuum tube opto compressor Four Band act...

Page 9: ...card 4 Operation Manual Keep the packaging materials in case you need to ship your unit for warranty service Note Your must fill out and send in your war ranty card in order to receive warranty and t...

Page 10: ...jack on the front panel If your microphone needs phantom power push in the button labeled 48V Switch the input selector knob to indi cate which input you are using mic for the microphone input instrum...

Page 11: ...2 1 Set up Guide Page 10 Avalon Vt 737sp Operation Manual Quick Start up...

Page 12: ...requency range so you can experiment with the compressor and equalizer Set all push button switches to their disen gaged or non illuminated position 1 INPUT Set to 0 center position Adjust OUTPUT cont...

Page 13: ...ull counter clockwise 30dB ATTACK full counter clockwise Fast RELEASE full clockwise Slow This is full compression with fast attack and slow release You can probably hear the com pressor pumping or br...

Page 14: ...tor should ever be used with this unit 3 3 AC Voltage Selection Before connecting the Vt 737sp to the AC supply check the OPERATING VOLTAGE located on the rear of the chassis in the AC inlet connector...

Page 15: ...rted in a floating type shock mounted flight case Although the Vt 737sp is well shielded against moderate electrical and magnetic feilds care should be taken to avoid areas that are in proximity to la...

Page 16: ...be connected simul taneously but only the source that is selected by the INPUT switch is active Boosts overall gain of the input preamplifier section by 8dB in Line mode and 18dB in Mic or Instrument...

Page 17: ...5dB to 10dB with center detent at 0 dBu Inserts equalizer into signal path When disen gaged equalizer section is hard wire bypassed by a sealed silver contact relay 1 4 unbalanced phone jack High impe...

Page 18: ...or This gives flexi bility to achieve different sounds Putting the EQ before the compressor will give the signal a more squashed or tighter sound than if the EQ follows the compressor Push button swit...

Page 19: ...jack Used for linking compressor sections of two Vt 737sp s for stereo operation Male XLR 3 connector line output of unit Balanced DC coupled capable of 30dB into 600 ohms Female XLR 3 connector Activ...

Page 20: ...nity center 0 and disen gage all push button switches When the VU meter is disengaged it measures output signal level 3 Turn the PREAMP control fully counterclock wise minimum level 4 Set the OUTPUT c...

Page 21: ...on To create tighter distortion by also overdriving the Equalizer section 1 Follow steps 1 4 in previous example and continue 2 Make sure the OUTPUT control is fully counter clockwise minimum 3 Press...

Page 22: ...d the compressors will com press the same The unit with most aggressive compression parameters is the master Set one unit s compression ratio to 1 1 and then use the other unit master to set the compr...

Page 23: ...evious section 2 Engage the SC MIDS switch the LOW MID and HIGH MID Frequencies are routed into the control circuit for the compressor The amount of gain in the mid bands represents the amount of side...

Page 24: ...sss frequencies only Now you can go back and switch the SC MIDS out and sweep and listen and also work with the VU meter readings to pin point the exact amount of desired de ess Remember to always tru...

Page 25: ...gs The following are a few example settings for the Vt 737sp to be used as starting points for specific applications You will most likely need to adjust the settings given here for your recordings bec...

Page 26: ...reamp gain threshold and com pression to get more or less gain reduction Note For a punchy singer use faster attack For a tighter sound use faster attack and faster release Equalizer Bass level 0 Cent...

Page 27: ...ack 7 O clock Release fast VU Meter Gain Reduction 3dB to 5dB adjust preamp gain threshold and com pression to get more or less gain reduction Equalizer Bass level 3dB Bass Hz 150Hz Low Mid level 0 Lo...

Page 28: ...n Attack fast Release fast VU Meter Gain Reduction 5dB adjust preamp gain threshold and com pression to get more or less gain reduction Equalizer Bass level 4dB Bass Hz 60Hz Low Mid level 5dB Low Mid...

Page 29: ...hreshold N A Compression Ratio N A EQ Comp N A Meter Out Compressor Out Attack N A Release N A Equalizer Bass level 0 Bass Hz N A Low Mid level 4dB Low Mid Hz 240Hz Low Mid Hi Q Out Low Mid x10 Out Hi...

Page 30: ...ttack N A Release N A Equalizer Bass level 3dB Bass Hz 30Hz Low Mid level 4dB Low Mid Hz 200 Low Mid Hi Q Out Low Mid x10 Out High Mid level 5dB High Mid Hz 14kHz High Mid Hi Q Out High Mid x10 In Tre...

Page 31: ...preamp gain threshold and compres sion to get more or less gain reduction Equalizer Bass level 3dB Bass Hz 150Hz Low Mid level 0 Low Mid Hz N A Low Mid Hi Q Out Low Mid x10 Out High Mid level 3dB Hig...

Page 32: ...r In Attack fast Release fast VU Meter Gain Reduction 3dB adjust preamp gain threshold and compres sion to get more or less gain reduction Equalizer Bass level 0 Bass Hz N A Low Mid level 4dB Low Mid...

Page 33: ...Attack fast Release fast VU Meter Gain Reduction 3dB to 5dB adjust preamp gain threshold and compres sion to get more or less gain reduction Equalizer Bass level 5dB Bass Hz 30Hz Low Mid level 4dB Low...

Page 34: ...VU Meter Gain Reduction 2dB adjust preamp gain threshold and com pression to get more or less gain reduction Equalizer Bass level 0 Bass Hz N A Low Mid level 4dB Low Mid Hz 200Hz Low Mid Hi Q Out Low...

Page 35: ...whereas high imped ance mics are limited to about 20 feet High impedance microphones and pickups require a transformer or buffer amplifier when they are used with low impedance inputs and orlong mic...

Page 36: ...hones Microphone is a generic term that is used to refer to any element which transforms accoustic energy sound into electrical energy the audio signal Microphone selec tion and placement during recor...

Page 37: ...bon cuts the magnetic lines of force in the air gap and the voltage is thereby induced in the ribbon 6 5 Preamplifiers A preamplifier is used to boost the signal of a low level instrument or microphon...

Page 38: ...in the input level will result in a 1 dB increase in the output level Compression Variables Defined Most compressors are controlled by four main functions Threshold Ratio Attack and Release Threshold...

Page 39: ...te frequency bands A parametric equaliz er consists of frequency selection gain cut control and a bandwidth or Q control for each frequency band A four band paramet ric as found in the Vt 737sp consis...

Page 40: ...the Vt 737sp as an insert for compression and EQ A Yes The Vt 737sp is perfect as an insert of a recorded signal such as vocals guitars key boards acoustic piano drums etc Many engi neers use their Vt...

Page 41: ...ic bills Q Will the Vt 737sp continue to work when I travel to different countries A Yes The power supply on the Vt 737sp has selectable voltages 100V 120V 220V and 240V It is very easy to change the...

Page 42: ...n and lifeless Q What are the main difference between the Vt 737sp s mic preamp and Avalon s AD2022 or M5 mic preamps A The Vt 737sp is a vacuum tube preamp with compression and equalizer The AD2022 d...

Page 43: ...s not securely plugged in Check cable No power Fuse blown due to power surge or improper AC voltage setting Replace fuse and check AC voltage setting page 13 No sound XLR cable not in correct input on...

Page 44: ...737sp please check the following list of problems and corresponding suggested solu tions Tube Related Symtoms The following list are symptoms of a failing vacuum tube If you are experiencing these sym...

Page 45: ...recommends Sovtek 6922 vacuum tubes for your Vt 737sp Replacement of tubes should be performed by an authorized Avalon technician Meter Calibration and Alignment The VU meter can be easily adjusted to...

Page 46: ...stortion THD IMD 1kHz 0 5 Unit Bandwidth 1 to 200kHz Frequency Response 10 to 40kHz 0 2dB VU meter and gain reduction 0VU 4dBu and gain reduction to 20dB Hi cut filter Variable 6dB per octave 40Hz to...

Page 47: ...10 1 Vt 737sp Recall Sheet Technical Information Page 46 Avalon Vt 737sp Operation Manual...

Page 48: ...10 2 Vt 737sp Block Diagram Technical Information Page 47 Avalon Vt 737sp Operation Manual...

Page 49: ...his one 1 year period all labor charges will be paid by the customer 2 Avalon will supply at no charge new or rebuilt replacements for any defective mechanical switches potentiometers or moving parts...

Page 50: ...o obtain a Return Authorization Number RA from Avalon To obtain an RA number in the USA only 1 Visit www avalondesign com and submit a request for service form 2 Once submitted our service department...

Page 51: ...in an audio circuit clipping A cause of audio distortion that is the result of excessive gain requiring the peaks of the audio signal to rise above the capabili ties of the circuit compressor In effe...

Page 52: ...EQ curve A graph of the response of an equal izer with frequency on the x horizontal axis and amplitude level on the y vertical axis Equaliz er types and effects are often named after the shape of the...

Page 53: ...essional of 10dB semi pro consumer mastering The processing and transfer of a final sequenced or mixed audio tape to a medium for duplication mic level The typical level of a signal from a microphone...

Page 54: ...r the attenuated signal to return to 63 of its original uncompressed level resistance The opposition to the flow of DC current in a wire or circuit ribbon microphone A microphone that uses a diaphragm...

Page 55: ...s expensive to build but under certain circum stances is more susceptible to noise unbalanced line A cable having only one con ductor plus a surrounding shield in which the shield is at ground potenti...

Page 56: ...Glossary Page 55 Avalon Vt 737sp Operation Manual...

Page 57: ...Glossary Page 56 Avalon Vt 737sp Operation Manual...

Page 58: ...Avalon Industries Inc 3715 Cahuenga Blvd Studio City CA 91604 Tel 949 492 2000 www avalondesign com...

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