Dan Dugan Sound Design E, User Manual

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Dugan Model E User Guide
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Chapter 4: Operation
4.1 How it Works
The Dugan Model E Automatic Mixing Controller uses the Dugan Speech System™, a
patented and trademarked automatic mixing function. The Dugan Speech System dis-
tributes the gain of one open microphone over the entire system, maintaining a natural
one-mic ambience. It is essential to distinguish this behavior from the annoying fluctuation
of levels and uneven ambience in a conventional gating system.
The system automatically manages any number of live mics in an unpredictable dialogue
situation. When one person speaks, the system rapidly fades that mic’s gain up and the
others down. When the speaker pauses, all mics fade down so they sum to equal one
mic at full gain. The result sounds like handing one mic around among the speakers.
When several people talk at once, the gain is shared. This makes all mics sound normal
when used but prevents buildup of noise or feedback.
Figure 4-1
Figure 4-1 shows the Speech System in action, with four snapshots of a three-mic system.
• The first frame shows no one speaking; the sound levels at all mics are low. The
system fades all channels to a medium gain that sums to the equivalent of one mic
at full gain.
• The second frame shows one person speaking. The system automatically fades his/
her gain to full, while the other two inputs are turned down.
• The third frame shows a different person speaking. The system automatically fades
his/her gain to full, while the other two inputs are turned down.
• The fourth frame shows two people speaking simultaneously. The system automat-
ically shares the gain between them, while the other input is turned down.
Sound levels
at mics (dB)
Frame 1 Frame 2 Frame 3 Frame 4
40
50
60
70
Resulting
automix
gains (dB)
-30
-20
-10
0