The Two Page, Two Minute Guide To Getting Started
_____________________________________________________________
2
Step 8:
On the right side of the front panel, set the Ratio switch to BP (fully counterclockwise) in order
to temporarily bypass the 6176 limiter / compressor section. Set the Meter switch to PRE so that the
meter displays the output level of the signal leaving the 6176 preamp section.
Step 9:
Power on the 6176. The purple LED above the power switch will light up.
Step 10:
If a microphone requiring 48 volts of phantom power is connected to the 6176, turn on the
+48V switch (up position).
Step 11:
Unmute your speakers and begin monitoring the 6176 Compressor line output. Use the 6176
front-panel Input Select switch to select the connected source and then apply input signal while
slowly increasing the Level control to approximately 7. You should now be hearing signal.
Step 12:
While watching the 6176 meter, set the preamp Gain switch (on the left side of the front
panel) so that sufficient signal strength is achieved. Experiment with differing degrees of preamp
Gain and Level to hear the various amounts of coloration the 6176 can impart to your signal. For the
cleanest, most uncolored signal, set the Gain switch to its lowest usable setting with Level set
between 7 and 10. If you are using a microphone and you hear distortion even at the lowest Gain
level, employ the -15 dB pad to reduce the input level. If you are using a connected microphone or Hi-
Z instrument input, experiment also with various impedance settings to achieve optimum tonality for
your source signal.
Step 13:
Experiment with the effect of the 6176’s high and low shelving filters on your source signal.
Step 14:
Now it’s time to activate the limiter/compressor section of the 6176 on the right side of the
front panel. Begin by setting the Input and Output knobs to approximately 5 (12 o’clock position) for
unity gain. Then set the Ratio to 1 (or, alternatively, turn the Attack knob past its fully
counterclockwise position so that it clicks). In this mode (a compression ratio of 1:1), signal passes
through the limiter/compressor section, thus adding “color,” but with no gain reduction. Compare the
difference in tonality between ratios of BP and 1.
Step 15:
To hear the effect of the 6176 gain reduction circuitry,
select different Ratios of 4, 8, 12, 20, and ALL. (ALL mode
duplicates the overdrive that occurs when all four ratio buttons
on an original 1176 are pushed in simultaneously) and varying
the Input level and Attack and Release times. Note that, unlike
many other devices, the 6176 attack and release times are faster when their associated knobs are
turned clockwise, and slower when they are turned counterclockwise. Set the Meter switch to GR in
order to view the amount of gain reduction being applied to the signal. Note that as you increase the
amount of gain reduction (by raising the Input level and/or selecting higher ratios), the overall signal
may be attenuated. If necessary, you can make up the difference by turning the Output knob
clockwise. Change the Meter switch to COMP in order to view the final output level. A meter reading
of 0 corresponds to an output level of +4dBm at the 6176 output.
Step 16:
Set the JOIN/SPLIT
switch in the center of the front panel to its down (SPLIT) position. In this
mode, the internal connection between the output of the 6176 preamp section and the input of the
limiter/compressor section is broken, so that each section functions as an independent device, each
with its own dedicated input(s) and output.
Because the 6176 is a tube device, it needs several minutes to achieve stable operating
temperature. During warm-up, audio quality may vary slightly.
For more information, refer
to the “Front Panel” and
“Rear Panel” sections on
pages 3 – 9.
