OWNERS MANUAL SAFETY RELATED SYMBOLS protective grounding wire or disconnect the wiring of protective grounding terminal. · Operatng Condtons The symbol is used to indicate that some hazardous live terminals are involved within this apparatus, even under the normal operating conditions. The symbol is used in the service documentation to indicate that a specific component shall be only replaced by the component specified in that documentation for safety reasons. Protective grounding terminal. Alternating current /voltage. Hazardous live terminal. ON: Denotes the apparatus is turned on. OFF: Denotes the apparatus is turned off, because it uses the single pole switch, be sure to unplug the AC power to prevent any electric shock before you proceed with your service. WARNING: Describes precautions that should be observed to prevent the danger of injury or death to the user. CAUTION: Describes precautions that should be observed to prevent danger of the apparatus. WARNING · Power Supply Ensures the source voltage matches the voltage of the power supply before turning ON the apparatus. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time. · External Connecton The external wiring connected to the output hazard ous live terminals requires installation by an instructed person, or the use of ready-made leads or cords. · Do not Remove any Cover There are maybe some areas with high voltages inside, to reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove any cover if the power supply is connected. The cover should be removed by qualified personnel only. No user serviceable parts inside. · Fuse To prevent a fire, make sure to use fuses with specified standard (current, voltage, type). Do not use a different fuse or short circuit the fuse holder. Before replacing the fuse, turn OFF the apparatus and disconnect the power source. · Protectve Groundng Make sure to connect the protective grounding to prevent any electric shock before turning ON the apparatus. Never cut off the internal or external This apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing and that no objects filled with liquids, such as vases, shall be placed on this apparatus. To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture. Do not use this apparatus near water. Install in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat. Do not block any ventilation openings. No naked flame sources, such as lighted candles, should be placed on the apparatus. IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS · Read these instructions. · Heed all warnings. · Follow all instructions. · Keep these instructions. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer. · Power Cord and Plug Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at the plug, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus. · Cleanng When the apparatus needs a cleaning, you can blow off dust from the apparatus with a blower or clean with a rag etc. Don't use solvents such as benzol, alcohol, or other fluids with very strong volatility and flammability for cleaning the apparatus body. Clean only with a dry cloth. · Servcng Refer all servicing to qualified personnel. To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not perform any servicing other than that contained in the operating instructions unless you are qualified to do so. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as the power supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped. CONTENTS MAXCOM SPECIFICATIONS .................................................................................... iii AUDIO INPUT ......................................................................................................... iii INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 1 FEATURE LIST .............................................................................................................................. 1 THE DESIGN CONCEPT .......................................................................................... 2 THE VCA .................................................................................................................................... 2 INPUTS ....................................................................................................................................... 2 INSTALLATION ......................................................................................................... 3 UNBALANCED/BALANCED OPERATION .......................................................................................... 4 MAINS CONNECTION .................................................................................................................. 4 CONTROLS ............................................................................................................ 5 FRONT PANEL LAYOUT OF THE MAXCOM ....................................................................................... 5 REAR PANEL ......................................................................................................... 7 THE BACK PANEL LAYOUT OF THE MAXCOM ................................................................................. 7 OPERATION ......................................................................................................... 8 ......................................................................................................... 8 ............................................................................................................ 8 EXPANDER/GATE SECTION COMPRESSOR SECTION BBE SECTION ..............................................................................................................................10 COMPRESSION EFFECT ...............................................................................................................10 THE LIMITING EFFECT ..................................................................................................................10 APPLICATIONS ...................................................................................................... 11 MAIN APPLICATIONS AND INITIAL SETTINGS.................................................................................... 11 EXPANDER/GATE SECTION ......................................................................................................... 11 THE COMPRESSOR FUNCTION ......................................................................................................13 LIMITER FUNCTION .....................................................................................................................14 SPECIAL APPLICATIONS .......................................................................................... 15 THE MAXCOM AS A PROTECTIVE DEVICE .......................................................................................15 EXTERNAL SIDECHAIN APPLICATIONS ..........................................................................................16 SERVICE ....................................................................................................................................19 WARRANTY .................................................................................................................................19 MAINTENANCE ...........................................................................................................................19 SPECIFICATIONS MAXCOM SPECIFICATIONS AUDIO INPUT Type ....................................Active balanced XLR and 1/4" jack Impedance ..............................60k ohm balanced Maximum input level ...............+21 dBu balanced and unbalanced AUDIO OUTPUT Type ....................................XLR and 1/4" jack Impedance ..............................1K ohm unbalanced Maximum output level ...............+21 dBu Frequency response ...............20Hz to 20KHz THD N% @ 1kHz, 4dBu ............0.05% IMD (SMPTE) @ 10dBu ............0.01% Noise & Hum unity gain ............93dBu Noise & Hum, fully off ...............97dBu Crosstalk @ 20kHz ..................85dBu CMR @ 1kHz ........................60dB COMPRESSOR SECTION Type ....................................Interactive Compressor Threshold ..............................Variable from -40dB to 20dB Ratio ....................................Variable from 1:1 to LIM Attack .................................Variable from 0.1ms to 200ms Release .................................Variable from 0.05s to 4s GATE SECTION Type ....................................Interactive Expander/Gate Threshold ..............................Variable from OFF to 15dB SONIC MAXIMIZER SECTION POWER SUPPLY ..............................AC 115V/230Vac 60/50Hz; DC 24V DIMENSIONS .................................483mm (W) x 217mm (D) x 44mm (H) 19.01 (W) x 8.54 (D) x 1.73 (H) WEIGHT..........................................3kg (6.61lb) INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION Congratulations and thank you for your purchase of the BBE MAXCOM. You have acquired an extremely efficient and universal dynamics processor. It's unique circuit design makes MAXCOM the ultimate dynamics processor: intelligent program recognition, interactive expander/gate and a fourth generation BBE® Sonic MaximizerTM. FEATURE LIST · SONIC MAXIMIZER Loudspeakers have difficulty working with the electronic signals supplied by an amplifier. These difficulties cause such major phase and amplitude distortion that the sound reproduced by speaker differs significantly from the sound produced by the original source. In the past, these problems proved unsolvable and were thus delegated to a position of secondary importance in audio system design. However, phase and amplitude integrity is essential to accurate sound reproduction. Research shows that the information which the listener translates into the recognizable characteristics of a live performance are intimately tied into complex time and amplitude relationships between the fundamental and harmonic components of a given musical note or sound. These relationships define a sound's "sound". When these complex relationships pass through a speaker, the proper order is lost. The higher frequencies are delayed. A lower frequency may reach the listener's ear first or perhaps simultaneously with that of a higher frequency. In some cases, the fundamental components may be so time-shifted that they reach the listener's ear ahead of some or all of the harmonic components. This change in the phase and amplitude relationship on the harmonic and fundamental frequencies is technically called "envelope distortion." The listener perceives this loss of sound integrity in the reproduced sound as "muddy" and "smeared." In the extreme, it can become difficult to tell the difference between musical instruments, for example, an oboe and a clarinet. BBE Sound, Inc. conducted extensive studies of numerous speaker systems over a ten year period. With this knowledge, it became possible to identify the characteristics of an ideal speaker and to distill the corrections necessary to return the fundamental and harmonic frequency structures to their correct order. While there are differences among various speaker designs in the magnitude of their correction, the overall pattern of correction needed is remarkably consistent. · INTERACTIvE COMPRESSOR The Interactive Compressor successfully combines the concept of a "Hard Knee" compressor with the characteristics of a "Soft Knee" approach. The "Soft Knee" mode with its "Soft" control characteristics is the basis of the "inaudible" and "musical" compression of the program material, while the "Hard Knee" function is a prerequisite both for creative and efficient dynamics processing and for limiting signal peaks reliably and precisely. This function is required to protect subsequent equipment against distortion. · THE AUTO FUNCTION The MAXCOM incorporates an AUTO function for intelligent program detection. With the help of the AUTO function, the attack and release times are derived automatically from the program material. Adjustment errors can therefore be effectively prevented. This feature lets you compress the signal heavily and "musically" in dynamic ra ...