Harman dbx 160SL Owner'S Manual Download Page 1 | Manualshive

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Stereo

Compressor/Limiter

160SL

Owner’s Manual

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Summary of Contents for dbx 160SL

Page 1: ...Stereo Compressor Limiter 160SL Owner s Manual ...

Page 2: ...ipment only to the power source indicated on the equipment rear panel To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock refer servic ing to qualified service personnel or equivalent If connected to 240V supply a suitable CSA UL certified power cord shall be used for this supply SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS NOTICE FOR CUSTOMERS IF YOUR UNIT IS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER CORD WARNING THIS APPLIANCE SHALL BE CONNECTED ...

Page 3: ...ject to the following two conditions this device may not cause harmful interference and this device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation Operation of this unit within significant electromagnetic fields should be avoided use only shielded interconnecting cables U K MAINS PLUG WARNING A molded mains plug that has been cut off from the cord i...

Page 4: ...topPlus 4 Connection To Your System 7 Operating Controls 8 Front Panel Description 8 Rear Panel Description 13 Operating Notes 17 OverEasy and Hard Knee 16 Using the Compression Control 16 Using the Stereo Couple Switch 17 Using the Auto Switch 17 Setting the Attack and Release Controls 17 Using PeakStop PeakStopPlus 18 Specific Applications 19 Sidechain Applications 20 Technical Support Factory S...

Page 5: ...urers produce tape optimized for specific bias frequencies and studio technicians align tape recorders heads according to these specifications in order to take full advantage of the tape recorders electronics and the magnetic tape s ability to record sound on its magnetic particles The upper limit of useable dynamic range is determined by the levels of the internal operating voltages if they are e...

Page 6: ...e for level changes which are caused by inconsistent microphone techniques on the part of the player or to restrict the natural dynamic range of voices or instruments to achieve a more even level Although compressors and limiters perform similar tasks one essential point makes them different Limiters abruptly limit the signal above a certain level while compressors control the signal gently over a...

Page 7: ...ngs threshold Operating Level Headroom Clipping Noise Floor Clipped signal heavily dist Audio levels below here are not hea 10 0 10 20 time 10 0 10 20 time input dBu Figure 2 Figure 3 input dBu 10 0 10 20 time 10 0 10 20 time output dBu output dBu The difference between compression and limiting is shown visually below In the first diagram below compression squashes the signal Its peaks are lowered...

Page 8: ...compressor this is of no serious consequence However in a limiting situation where we are restricting the peaks of our signal to a maximum operating level to avoid distortion in subsequent devices a slow attack time is not acceptable This would result in very fast high frequency signal transients passing through unaffected by gain reduction These transients could then cause distortion in the follo...

Page 9: ...ance of the VCA in any environment Precision 0 1 and 1 metal film resistors Gold palladium nickel board to board connectors Jensen transformers Gold plated Neutrik XLR connectors Rare earth magnet relays with gold contacts in a hermetically sealed nitrogen environment Military grade glass epoxy circuit boards Double shielded Toroid transformer ensures no self generated power supply noise enters th...

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Page 11: ...on Never remove the cover There are no user serviceable parts inside Make connections via XLR connectors Plug in AC power cable and power ON the unit Note Check the line voltage printed on the rear panel of the 160SL and verify that it is correct for your area Two Basic Compressor Setups A Channel One shows processing of a group or aux main output Signal goes to the 160SL input from the output ins...

Page 12: ...ude volume or level above which compression occurs In OverEasy mode the threshold of compression is defined as the approximate middle of the OverEasy region The markings around the Threshold control are measured in dBu where 0dBu 775V and range from 40dBu 7 8mV rms on the low end to 30dBu 24 5V rms at the high end of the scale Thr eshold LEDs These LEDs above the Threshold control indicate the rel...

Page 13: ...econd slow release time A very fast attack setting control maximum counterclockwise will cause the compressor to act like a peak limiter even though RMS detection circuitry is used Slower attack settings cause the compressor to act like an RMS or averaging detecting compressor limiter To achieve inaudible compression it is advisable to work with program dependent attack and release times Auto mode...

Page 14: ...care has gone into the design of the PeakStopPlus limiter to keep it acoustically transparent Appropriate use of it can protect your gear while keeping the signal free of artifacts A bi color LED associated with both the Stop Level control and the PeakStopPlus switch indicates when PeakStopPlus is activated By pushing the PeakStopPlus switch to the IN position the LED lights in a green color when ...

Page 15: ...hard clipping will occur due to the maximum output level of the 160SL 30dBu VU Meter The custom designed analog meter is made to serve 3 different functions first it measures the amount of input signal presented at the input connector corresponding to its channel Second it measures the output signal at the output connector after all processing has taken place including output gain Third it shows t...

Page 16: ... amount of gain reduction resulting from the settings of both the compressor and PeakStopPlus limiter Ste reo Couple Switch and LED This switch activates the stereo linkage between channels one and two When the switch is in the IN position the two channels of the 160SL are linked together and the oversized yellow LED directly above the switch lights to indicate the selection In stereo mode channel...

Page 17: ...e switch Figure 3 Figure 4 20 time 20 time INPUT OUTPUT INPUT OUTPUT CHANNEL ONE CHANNEL TWO A B 2 1 3 Jensen Output Transformer Jensen Output Transformer 10k 1W GND Switch GND Switch BALANCED FLOATING OPERATION UNBALANCED FLOATING OPERATION Chassis Ground Chassis Ground Chassis Ground Ground Switch open Unbalance Switch open Ground Switch open Unbalanced Switch closed 6dB drop in output level Jen...

Page 18: ...signal from the 160SL to the outboard gear in the sidechain loop ie dbx 20 or 30 Series Graphic Equalizer or digital delay See the section marked Operating Notes for more information on the sidechain functions of the 160SL The audio is processed and sent from the output of that device back to the 160SL via the Return connector XLR female As the signal is brought back into the 160SL its RMS level i...

Page 19: ...rd included with the 160SL Connect this cable to any 50Hz or 60Hz AC power source of the correct line voltage for your area Make sure this voltage is also correct for the voltage marked on the back of the 160SL Always make AC power connections with the AC power switch in the OFF position see above The 160SL consumes a maximum power of 50 watts Warning Be sure to verify both your actual line voltag...

Page 20: ...5 0 5 15 20 10 INPUT LEVEL dB OUTPUT LEVEL dB 15 10 5 0 5 15 20 10 RED Below Threshold Above Threshold Over Easy Range G R E E N AMBER Using The Compression Control When an input signal is above the threshold reference level the setting of this control determines the number of decibels by which the input signal must change in level to produce a 1dB increase in the signal level at the output of the...

Page 21: ...r automatic or manual operation When the Auto switch is IN Auto mode the LED indicator lights and the 160SL automatically adjusts its attack rate and release time to suit the program envelope This Auto mode sets the 160SL for the same attack and release characteristics as dbx Models 160 161 162 163 and 164 compressor limiters the LED indicator above it turns OFF and the front panel Attack and Rele...

Page 22: ...ve the maximum output level of the 160SL PeakStopPlus is made up of two seperate parts The first stage is the Instantaneous Transient Clamp which clamps the signal with a soft logarithmic clamp function This logarithmic function assures that the signal will not exceed the level set by the PeakStopPlus Level control by more than 2 dB typically and that it will not introduce harsh artifacts The seco...

Page 23: ...ssion It is also possible to separate certain vocals or instruments from a mono program already mixed by frequency weighted compression Using your EQ to reduce feedback in live settings You can use your 160SL and an EQ a dbx 20 or 30 Series graphic EQ to reduce feedback in clubs or halls by placing the 160SL at 1 hard knee and a low threshold Increase the output gain until the first feedback ring ...

Page 24: ...qualizer causes them to be suppressed in the audio signal A relatively high threshold setting can allow normal sounds to be unaffected while solo and very loud sounds are held back Of course when compression does occur the level of the entire program is affected Depending on the threshold setting lower level fundamentals or harmonics will not cause compression and the program is not subject to the...

Page 25: ...determined by monitoring the 160SL s threshold indicator LEDs Multi way speaker systems If a single compressor is to be used with a multi way speaker system i e before the crossover after EQ the system operator is faced with the problem of keeping levels below the point of destruction of the most sensitive part of the system If for example mid range drivers are frequently damaged the whole system ...

Page 26: ...Such sources can be balanced or unbalanced this is no problem for the 160SL Microphones and bass guitars like guitars typically have low level outputs and must be pre amplified before feeding the line level inputs of the 160SL Instruments like keyboards typically produce a line level signal and can be connected directly from the instru ment s output to the 160SL s input Patch bay In the studio the...

Page 27: ...g material if it is available Mark the package with the name of the shipper and with these words in red DELICATE INSTRUMENT FRAGILE Insure the package properly Ship prepaid not collect Do not ship parcel post Warranty This warranty is valid only for the original purchaser and only in the United States 1 The warranty registration card that accompanies this product must be mailed within 30 days afte...

Page 28: ...ession Attack Release Output Gain OverEasy Ground Unbalance Sidechain Bypass Sidechain Send Sidechain Return Pin 1 Lift Jensen Output Transformer Above Auto Below Peak LED Input Output Level Gain Reduction Limiter Threshold Input Level Output Level PeakStopPlus Intelligent Predictive Limiting Timing RMS Level Detector RMS Level Detector Compressor Control RF Filter RF Filter RF Filter Rectifier Re...

Page 29: ...nced or unbalanced SYSTEM PERFORMANCE 0 1dB Bandwidth 20 Hz to 20 kHz 0 0 1dB no gain reduction unity gain 1 0dB Bandwidth 4 Hz to 40 kHz 0 1 0dB no gain reduction unity gain Frequency Response 2 Hz to 200 kHz 0 3 0dB no gain reduction unity gain Noise 92dBu unweighted 20 Hz to 20 kHz measurement bandwidth Dynamic Range 122dB THD Noise 0 008 typical at 4dBu 1kHz unity gain 0 05 typical at 30dBu 1k...

Page 30: ...lights for signals 27dBu Output Monitors the output signal and shows its level on the VU meter Peak indicator lights for signals 27dBu GR Monitors the compressor and PeakStopPlus limiter and displays the total amount of gain reduction on the lower scale of the VU meter Pin 1 Lift Rear Panel Lifts pin 1 of the input XLR from chassis ground Unbal Rear Panel Unbalances the output A 6dB drop in level ...

Page 31: ... or 220 240VAC 50 60Hz Power Consumption 50 Watts maximum Fuse 100V T 500mA L 250V 5mm X 20mm 120V T 500mA L 250V 5mm X 20mm 220 240V T 250 mA L 250V 5mm X 20mm Mains Connection IEC 320 Receptacle PHYSICAL Dimensions 3 5 H X 19 W X 11 25 D Weight 14 4 lbs 6 5 kg Shipping Weight 18 9 lbs 8 6 kg Note 0dBu 0 775V RMS All Trademarks and Registered Trademarks are the property of their respective owners...

Page 32: ... South Sandy Pkwy Sandy Utah 84070 Phone 801 568 7660 Fax 801 568 7662 Int l Fax 603 672 4246 Questions or comments E mail us at customer dbxpro com or visit our website at www dbxpro com 5018577 C 10 03 20 ...

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