MODEL 166XL COMPRESSOR G AT E ® A Harman International Company WARNING CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN FOR YOUR PROTECTION, PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING: WATER AND MOISTURE: Appliance should not be used near water (e.g. near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool, etc). Care should be taken so that objects do not fall and liquids are not spilled into the enclosure through openings. POWER SOURCES: 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: Precautions should be taken so that the grounding or polarization means of an appliance is not defeated. POWER CORD PROTECTION: Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against them, paying particular attention to cords at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the appliance. SERVICING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, the user should not attempt to service the appliance beyond that described in the operating instructions. All other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel. FOR UNITS EQUIPPED WITH EXTERNALLY ACCESSIBLE FUSE RECEPTACLE: Replace fuse with same type and rating only. MULTIPLE-INPUT VOLTAGE: This equipment may require the use of a different line cord, attachment plug, or both, depending on the available power source at installation. Connect this equipment only to the power source indicated on the equipment rear panel. To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, refer servicing to qualified service personnel or equivalent. A T T E N T I O N : RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE - NE PAS OUVRIR W A R N I N G : TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE The symbols shown above are internationally accepted symbols that warn of potential hazards with electrical products. The lightning flash with arrowpoint in an equilateral triangle means that there are dangerous voltages present within the unit. The exclamation point in an equilateral triangle indicates that it is necessary for the user to refer to the ownerÕs manual. These symbols warn that there are no user serviceable parts inside the unit. Do not open the unit. Do not attempt to service the unit yourself. Refer all servicing to qualified personnel. Opening the chassis for any reason will void the manufacturerÕs warranty. Do not get the unit wet. If liquid is spilled on the unit, shut it off immediately and take it to a dealer for service. Disconnect the unit during storms to prevent damage. U.K. MAINS PLUG WARNING A moulded mains plug that has been cut off from the cord is unsafe. Discard the mains plug at a suitable disposal facility. NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU INSERT A DAMAGED OR CUT MAINS PLUG INTO A 13 AMP POWER SOCKET. Do not use the mains plug without the fuse cover in place. Replacement fuse covers can be obtained from your local retailer. Replacement fuses are 13 amps and MUST be ASTA approved to BS1362. ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY This unit conforms to the Product Specifications noted on the Declaration of Conformity. Operation is subject 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. SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS NOTICE FOR CUSTOMERS IF YOUR UNIT IS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER CORD. WARNING: THIS APPLIANCE MUST BE EARTHED. The cores in the mains lead are coloured in accordance with the following code: DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY ManufacturerÕs Name: ManufacturerÕs Address: declares that the product: dbx Professional Products 8760 S. Sandy Parkway Sandy, Utah 84070, USA GREEN and YELLOW - Earth BLUE - Neutral BROWN - Live As colours of the cores in the mains lead of this appliance may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows: ¥ The core which is coloured green and yellow must be connected to the terminal in the plug marked with the letter E, or with the earth symbol, or coloured green, or green and yellow. ¥ The core which is coloured blue must be connected to the terminal marked N or coloured black. ¥ The core which is coloured brown must be connected to the terminal marked L or coloured red. This equipment may require the use of a different line cord, attachment plug, or both, depending on the available power source at installation. If the attachment plug needs to be changed, refer servicing to qualified service personnel who should refer to the table below. The green/yellow wire shall be connected directly to the unit's chassis. dbx 166XL conforms to the following Product Specifications: Safety: EN 60065 (1993) IEC65 (1985) with Amendments 1, 2, 3 EN 55013 (1990) EN 55020 (1991) EMC: Supplementary Information: The product herewith complies with the requirements of the Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC and the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC as amended by Directive 93/68/EEC. dbx Professional Products Vice-President of Engineering 8760 S. Sandy Parkway Sandy, Utah 84070, USA June 3, 1998 European Contact: Your Local dbx Sales and Service Office or International Sales Office 68 Sheila Lane Valparaiso, Indiana 46383, USA Tel: (219) 462-0938 Fax: (219) 462-4596 CONDUCTOR L N LIVE NEUTRAL WIRE COLOR Normal BROWN BLUE Alt BLACK WHITE GREEN E EARTH GND GREEN/YEL WARNING: If the ground is defeated, certain fault conditions in the unit or in the system to which it is connected can result in full line voltage between chassis and earth ground. Severe injury or death can then result if the chassis and earth ground are touched simultaneously. dbx 166XL COMPRESSOR / GATE MANUAL CONTENTS English INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 INSPECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 OPERATING CONTROLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 OPERATING NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 CONNECTING THE 166XL TO YOUR SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 TECHNICAL SUPPORT / FACTORY SERVICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Fran·ais INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 VRIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 COMMANDES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 NOTES D'UTILISATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 RACCORDEMENT DU 166XL AU SYSTEME DE SONORISATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 NOTES SUR L'INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 ASSISTANCE TECHNIQUE ET SERVICE USINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Deutsch EINLEITUNG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 KONTROLLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 BEDIENUNGSELEMENTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 BEDIENUNGSHINWEISE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 ANSCHLIE§EN DES DBX 166XL AN IHRE ANLAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 ANSCHLU§HINWEISE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 SERVICE UND KUNDENDIENST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Espa­ol INTRODUCCION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 INSPECCION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 CONTROLES OPERATIVOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 NOTAS PARA EL OPERADOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 CONEXION DEL 166XL AL SISTEMA DE SONIDO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 CONSIDERACIONES PARA LA INSTALACION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 ASISTENCIA TCNICA / SERVICIO DE FABRICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 dbx 166XL COMPRESSOR / GATE ® PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS INTRODUCTION Congratulations on choosing the dbx 166XL Compressor / Gate. The 166XL provides two channels of noise gating, OverEasy¨ or classic hard knee compression and PeakStop¨ limiting to give complete control of signal dynamics to studios, sound reinforcement companies, musicians, or anyone who needs quality processing quickly and easily. We recommend that you take a moment and read through the manual as it provides information that will assist you in using your unit to its fullest potential. Features Include: ¥ Stereo or Dual Mono operation of gating, compression and peak limiting. ¥ OverEasy¨/Hard Knee Selection - allows selection between our famous OverEasy compression curve and the classic ÒHard KneeÓ curve popularized by the original dbx 160, 161 and 162. ¥ Expander/Gate Circuit - with variable release time and +15dBu maximum threshold. ¥ Selectable Low Frequency Shelf (via Contour button) in the Sidechain Path - recommended when compressing mixed program material to prevent low frequency energy from Òpunching holesÓ in the sound. ¥ PeakStop¨ Limiting - provides control of maximum peak levels at the output of the 166XL regardless of any other control. PeakStop comes after the compression, gating and other circuitry including the output gain, so it sets an absolute limit for peak excursions before they reach the output. ¥ True RMS Level Detection - senses the power in the program in a musical manner, much as human hearing does, giving results superior to peak or average detection. ¥ Hardwire System Bypass Buttons on both channels - allow the audio to pass even if the unit is unplugged, and are also useful for comparing the processed and unprocessed signals. ¥ 10-Segment LED Display for GAIN REDUCTION (up to 30dB). ¥ Electronically Balanced XLR and 1/4Ó TRS Input and Output Jacks ¥ Separate Sidechain Inserts - enables an outboard processor or signal to control compression or gating. ¥ DC-Controlled Parameters - the signal does not pass thru any of the parameter controls. Instead a DC voltage controls all functions; this eliminates any possibility of potentiometer noise developing over time. INSPECTION Verify that the 166XL package contains the following: ¥ 166XL Unit ¥ AC Power Cord ¥ Operation Manual ¥ Registration Card OPERATING CONTROLS Front Panel GAIN REDUCTION (dB) BELOW ABOVE BELOW ABOVE -10 -20 -45 -10 -30 +10 0 1.3:1 2:1 4:1 -10 30 25 20 15 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 +10 +5 ABOVE +10 +15 -45 CHANNEL ONE -25 SC Enable OFF dBu +15 Contour Fast Slow -40 dBu +20 OverEasy 1:1 :1 Fast Slow Auto Fast Slow -20 dB +20 Bypass 0 dBu +20 Stereo Couple PEAKSTOP LIMITER MASTER THRESHOLD RELEASE EXPANDER/GATE THRESHOLD RATIO ATTACK COMPRESSOR RELEASE OUTPUT GAIN EXPANDER/GATE Section Expander/Gate THRESHOLD Control and LEDs (BELOW/ABOVE): Adjusting this control sets the level at which the gate will open and allow the signal at the input to pass through to the output. Turning the knob fully counterclockwise (to OFF) allows the gate to pass signals unattenuated, effectively bypassing the gate. Turning the knob fully clockwise causes the gate to attenuate input signals below +15dBu. The two Expander/Gate LEDs indicate the relationship of the input signal level to the threshold setting. The red LED lights when the signal is BELOW threshold, the green LED lights when the signal is ABOVE threshold. Note: The 166XL's expander/gate attack rate (which controls how fast the signal is restored after being attenuated) is internally set to be very fast - fast ...