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AUTOCOM PRO MDX1400

the midrange/tweeter range caused by high-energy bass signals! This statement, as paradox as it may seem

at first, can be explained with the fact that especially low-frequency signals with high amplitudes can overload

the power supplies in the amplifier(s). The resulting clipping (cutting off of signal peaks) produces high-energy

distortion (upper harmonics), which is abruptly added to the midrange/tweeter signals. For this reason, “weak”

power amps, in particular, must be protected by a limiter in their “input dynamics”.

4.2.2 Protection Of A System With An Active Crossover

For systems using active crossovers, there are two ways to use the BEHRINGER AUTOCOM PRO. The unit

may be inserted between the console output and the crossover input. In this application, the BEHRINGER

AUTOCOM PRO will process the entire audio frequency spectrum.
Alternately, the BEHRINGER AUTOCOM PRO can be inserted between the output of an active crossover and

the input of a power amplifier. In this application it will only affect a specific range of frequencies. This

application is particularly suited to protect the most fragile components of a multi-way speaker system against

harmful signal peaks. For example, when your tweeters keep on going up in smoke all the time, the entire

system should be operated at lower sound pressure levels or the tweeters should be replaced by other models.

Using the AUTOCOM PRO in the corresponding tweeter band avoids overloading and thus damage to the

speakers.

4.2.3 Improving The Sound Of A Processor System

A processor system is understood as a PA system which contains a special active crossover whose outputs

are linked via separated power amplifiers to the loudspeakers. Each band has its own limiter whose task it is

to limit dangerous signal peaks to a certain level. This process avoids overloading the subsequent power

amplifier or destruction of the loudspeaker.
In some units, the crossover frequencies in the crossover unit are further changed during high signal levels to

achieve a “loudness contour” suited to the human hearing. But in many cases, this function leads more to a

disturbance than to an improvement of the sound quality.
If the AUTOCOM PRO is preceding this system, the signal peaks can be eliminated before they reach the

limiters of the processing system. The sound quality therefore remains natural and free of side effects caused

by the changing frequencies of the crossover.

4.3 The AUTOCOM PRO In Broadcast

The main aim of processing sound recordings for commercial radio and television is to achieve a maximum

transmission volume at all costs. Owners of these radio and television stations strive to get bigger audience

ratings, because principally, radio programs whose reception is louder than the average are preferred by the

listener. By achieving a bigger audience, the broadcast station gains more money from the increasing number

of promotion companies placing adverts.

What Is Volume?

Volume is defined as the relationship between the average level of program material to peak-to-peak level, in

response to amplitude and duration. The higher the average level and the time it remains at a high level, the

louder the program material will be perceived by the listener.
If you want to run your broadcast station at maximum average volume, proceed as mentioned in chapter 6.1.2

“The AUTOCOM PRO In Mastering”. Please make sure that the maximum peak level is below the threshold of

the transmitter’s limiter, otherwise this could lead to very hard and audible use of the transmisson limiters.

Keep in mind that a heavy increase in average volume by means of compression always leads to a loss in

dynamics and an increased perception of side effects. The intense use of all functions of the AUTOCOM PRO,

including sidechain filtering, IKA, Attack and Release time constants, results in higher average volumes, free

of distortion and side effects.

4. SPECIAL APPLICATIONS

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Summary of Contents for Autocom Pro MDX1400

Page 1: ...D AUTOCOM PRO MDX1400 www behringer com ENGLISH User s Manual Version 1 4 June 2001 Downloaded from www Manualslib com manuals search engine...

Page 2: ...rs that produce heat Power Source The appliance should be connected to a power supply only of the type described in the operating instructions or as marked on the appliance Grounding or Polarization P...

Page 3: ...portant member of the BEHRINGER family With your highly competent suggestions for new products you ve greatly contributed to shaping our company and making it successful In return we guarantee you unc...

Page 4: ...lows for inaudible elimination of disturbing noise signals s Dynamic Enhancer for compression dependent equalization s Extremely low noise operational amplifiers and high grade VCA s s High quality de...

Page 5: ...uplication 17 4 1 1 The AUTOCOM PRO In Digital RecordingAnd Sampling 18 4 1 2 TheAUTOCOM PRO In Mastering 18 4 2 TheAUTOCOM PROAs AProtective Device 18 4 2 1 Protection Of ASystem With A Passive Cross...

Page 6: ...ncept of a hard knee compressor with the characteristics of a soft knee approach This program dependent regulation scheme forms the prerequisite both for inaudible and musical program compression and...

Page 7: ...packaging and its contents for any signs of physical damage which may have occurred during transit If the unit is damaged please do not return it to BEHRINGER but notify your dealer and the shipping...

Page 8: ...f channel 1 take over the functions of channel 2 Should you wish to use the SC EXT function in stereo mode then be sure that both SC RETURN jacks are connected to the external control signal and that...

Page 9: ...ttack and release controls will function 10 The OUTPUT control allows for the increase or decrease of the output signal by a maximum of 20 dB Thus a level loss due to the compression or limiting proce...

Page 10: ...t between Off and 6 Dynamic enhancement allows you to replenish any high frequencies lost through the compression process for absolutely natural sounding dynamics control Enhancement is only added whe...

Page 11: ...ression Levelling Limiting Clipping Now that the functions of the individual sections have been clearly explained we would like to acquaint you with more terms and relationships of the dynamics proces...

Page 12: ...nt on the program material The response characteristics of conventional expanders tend to cut into the signal abruptly and the result of this is unacceptable most of the time Gain changes become audib...

Page 13: ...Now turn the control clockwise until all unwanted noise is removed and only the sound of the desired instrument can be heard To adapt the unit to the program material properly you can additionally cho...

Page 14: ...fined threshold The reverberation can be controlled by using the THRESHOLD control and the RELEASE switch The decay characteristics of the instrument can be controlled using the release switch so that...

Page 15: ...h IN SC EXT switch OUT SC MON switch OUT INTERACTIVE switch IN SC FILTER switch OUT THRESHOLD control 20 dB RATIO control 3 1 AUTO switch IN OUTPUT control 0 dB Tab 3 2 Initial settings for the compre...

Page 16: ...ame effect is experienced when processing reverberated or ambient sounds The solution commonly used to this basic problem is either to reduce the compression ratio or to slow down the attack time so t...

Page 17: ...one should always take care to utilize the full dynamic range of the tape recorder DAT recorder etc Principally it is possible to control the recording level by riding faders which means with low lev...

Page 18: ...AT recorder Now increase the recording level of the recorder back to unity The result is a clearly louder recording without any loss of sound 4 2 The AUTOCOM PRO As A Protective Device Sound system di...

Page 19: ...the loudspeaker In some units the crossover frequencies in the crossover unit are further changed during high signal levels to achieve a loudness contour suited to the human hearing But in many cases...

Page 20: ...ive amount of high frequency information within the program material as in a normal compressor the VCA is activated and the overall level is reduced As this type of compression affects the whole frequ...

Page 21: ...ick actions Generally it can be said that relatively high threshold settings prevent the overall sound from being impaired and lead to the compression of solo instruments or very loud sounds 5 2 4 Emp...

Page 22: ...requencies are equally affected we term this white noise It is fairly obvious that electronics cannot function without components Even if special low noise components are used a certain degree of basi...

Page 23: ...control is simply not fast enough to be satisfactory t P dB 20 0 20 40 60 80 Clipping Headroom Operating level Effective SNR Noise floor Fig 6 2 The interactive relationship between the operating lev...

Page 24: ...fect noise will be masked and thus becomes inaudible as soon as considerably louder sound signals in the same frequency band are added Nevertheless the further the level that the desired signal decrea...

Page 25: ...ty Please ensure that only qualified persons install and operate the AUTOCOM PRO During installation and operation the user must have sufficient electrical contact to earth Electro static charges migh...

Page 26: ...z 0 0 5 dB Frequency Response 0 35 Hz to 200 kHz 0 3 dB Noise 95 dBu unweighted 22 Hz to 22 kHz THD 0 008 typ 4 dBu 1 kHz Gain 1 0 04 typ 20 dBu 1 kHz Gain 1 IMD 0 01 typ SMPTE Crosstalk 100 dB 22 Hz...

Page 27: ...ement LED display 1 2 4 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 dB Input Output Level 12 element LED display 30 24 18 12 6 0 3 6 9 12 18 dB Expander Gate Threshold 2 LEDs for under and above Function switch LED indi...

Page 28: ...RINGER 2 If the product needs to be modified or adapted in order to comply with applicable technical or safety standards on a na tional or local level in any country which is not the country for which...

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