User manual NADY TMP-3

MIC PREAMP OWNER'S MANUAL TMP-3 TUBE CHANNEL MIC PREAMP WITH EQUALIZER AND COMPRESSOR TMP-3 Tube Channel Mic PreAmp with Equalizer and Compressor Congratulations on your choice of mic preamps -- you have purchased one of the finest mic preamps on the market today. This unit was developed using the expertise of professional sound engineers and working musicians. You will find that your new NADY AUDIO TMP-3 has superior performance and greater flexibility than any other tube mic preamps in its price range. Please read this manual carefully to get the most out of your new unit. Thanks for selecting NADY AUDIO as your choice in mic preamps. FEATURES A great sounding, versatile single rack unit featuring a tube mic preamp, EQ section and compressor, the surprisingly affordable TMP-3 professional channel strip is perfect for enhancing any pro/home/project recordings. · Smooth, warm tube sound with superior clarity and transparency for truest audio · Mic Preamp Input section offers full complement of controls including switchable +30dB gain, 180° I/O phase reversal, +48V phantom power, and a Gain pot with Clip LED indicator selecting the proper incoming signal level · Three-band EQ section with low and high shelving filters and sweepable mids for precise frequency tailoring; Output Level control for adjusting overall volume from the TMP-3 main outputs · Natural sounding optical compressor section with threshold and ratio controls for accurate musical dynamics processing, VU gain reduction meter for monitoring the amount of signal compression, rear panel 1/4" TRS side chain I/O jack for external compression control, and In/Out bypass switch · Servo-balanced XLR and unbalanced 1/4" TS input/output jacks TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURES ................................................................................. 2 WARNING ................................................................................... 3 INSTALLATION .......................................................................... 4 CONTROLS AND CONNECTORS ............................................. 5 Front Panel .......................................................................... 5 Back Panel ........................................................................... 6 CONNECTION ............................................................................ 6 MIC PREAMP SETTINGS ................................................... 6 COMPRESSOR SETTINGS ................................................ 6 USING THE SIDE CHAIN ................................................... 7 EQUALIZER SETTINGS ..................................................... 7 USING THE PROCESSES TOGETHER ............................. 7 SPECIFICATIONS ...................................................................... 7 LEGAL INFORMATION .............................................................. 7 2 Serial # ___________________ Model # ____________________________________________ State _____________________ Zip _____________________ City _______________________________________________ Dealer's Name ______________________________________ Date of Purchase ____________________________________ WARNING An equilateral triangle enclosing a lightening flash/arrowhead symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product's enclosure which may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock. ATTENTION: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE NE PAS OUVRIR An equilateral triangle enclosing an exclamation point is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and service instructions in the literature enclosed with this unit. IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS When using this electronic device, basic precautions should always be taken, including the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. Read all instructions before using the product. Do not use this product near water (e.g., near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool, etc.). This product should be used only with a cart or stand that will keep it level and stable and prevent wobbling. This product, in combination with headphones or speakers, may be capable of producing sound levels that could cause permanent hearing loss. Do not operate for a long period of time at a high volume level or at a level that is uncomfortable. If you experience any hearing loss or ringing in the ears, you should consult an audiologist. 5. 6. 7. 8. The product should be positioned so that proper ventilation is maintained. The product should be located away from heat sources such as radiators, heat vents, or other devices (including amplifiers) that produce heat. The product should be connected to a power supply only of the type described in the operating instructions or as marked on the product. Replace the fuse only with one of the specified type, size, and correct rating. The power supply cord should: (1) be undamaged, (2) never share an outlet or extension cord with other devices so that the outlet's or extension cord's power rating is exceeded, and (3) never be left plugged into the outlet when not being used for a long period of time. 9. Care should be taken so that objects do not fall into, and liquids are not spilled through, the enclosure's openings. A. B. C. D. E. The power supply cord or the plug has been damaged. Objects have fallen into, or liquid has been spilled onto the product. The product has been exposed to rain. The product does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked change in performance. The product has been dropped, or the enclosure damaged. 10. The product should be serviced by qualified service personnel if: 11. Do not attempt to service the product beyond what is described in the user maintenance instructions. All other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel. 3 INSTALLATION To ensure years of enjoyment from your NADY AUDIO TMP-3 please read and understand this manual thoroughly before using the unit. INSPECTION Your TMP-3 was carefully packed at the factory in packaging designed to protect the units in shipment. Before installing and using your unit, carefully examine the packaging and all contents for any signs of physical damage that may have occurred in transit. (Note: Nady Systems is not responsible for shipping damage. If the unit is damaged, do not return to us, but notify your dealer and the shipping company immediately to make a claim. Such claims must be made by the consignee in a timely manner.) CONTENTS: · TMP-3 (verify that the unit's serial number is same as shown on shipping carton) · AC Power cord · Instruction manual · Warranty Card RACK MOUNTING The TMP-3 fits into one standard 19" rack unit of space (1 3/4"). Parts of the unit can become very warm during use. This is normal during operation. Care should be taken to ensure that there is enough space around the unit for cooling (at least 12" or 30cm). Do not place the TMP-3 on high temperature devices such as power amplifiers, etc., or the unit may overheat in operation. Also, do not place the unit on speakers as this may cause them to move and/or fall due to speaker vibrations. Although the unit's chassis is shielded against radio frequency (RF) and electromagnetic interference (EMI), extremely high fields of RF and EMI should be avoided. POWER CONNECTION The TMP-3 has an internal power supply and is designed to operate from an external AC source. Power requirements for electrical equipment differ from area to area. Be sure to confirm that the voltage selected by the voltage selector switch on the back panel is proper for your area (120 VAC/60 Hz or 230 VAC/50Hz) per the information below: Europe (except UK): 230V, 50Hz UK and Australia: 240V, 50Hz USA and Canada: 120V, 60 Hz For other areas, please check with local authorities. When ready to operate, plug the AC cord into the power source. Make sure that the unit is turned off before connecting to the AC power source to avoid possible loud transients which can damage your speakers or your ears, especially when monitoring with headphones. 4 CONTROLS AND CONNECTORS FRONT PANEL (2) (3) (4) (4a) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (1) Front Panel (1) POWER SWITCH Use this switch to power unit ON or OFF. The integrated LED will light when the unit is ON. Before turning on this unit, verify connection to the proper voltage AC source, check all connections and turn down the level controls of equipment connected to the outputs. (Note: The TMP-3 will not output audio for approximately 16 seconds after power up due to the time it takes for the tubes to warm up. Do not turn up the audio until after this warm up period to avoid possibly damaging speakers or your hearing due to improper level settings.) (2) +30dB GAIN/NORM SWITCH Use the +30dB GAIN/NORM switch to set the gain range of the INPUT CONTROL (2). When the switch is out, the TMP-3 operates in Normal mode, depressing the switch adds +30dB of gain. Push the switch in for microphone applications when more level is needed. (3) PHASE REVERSE / NORM SWITCH When the switch is in the Out position the output signal is normal. Depressing the switch reverses the phase of the output signal. In multi-microphone applications, mic placement can affect the phase of the signals. If your sound is "thin" or "not quite right", reverse the phase to correct the problem. (4) PHANTOM POWER SWITCH Use the PHANTOM POWER to supply power to all microphones requiring +48V phantom power. The TMP-3 phantom power is engaged and disengaged with this switch Phantom power is applied to pins 2 and 3 of the XLR INPUT (20) jacks when this switch is pushed in. To disengage phantom power, set the switch in the out position. PHANTOM POWER LED (4a) lights when PHANTOM POWER is engaged. (5) GAIN CONTROL Controls the amount of gain in the tube mic preamp circuit. This control adds from 0dB to +10dB of gain. (6) CLIP LED When lit, this LED indicates clipping or possible distortion in the mic preamp circuits. Reduce the GAIN CONTROL (5) so that this LED only lights occasionally. 5 (7) LOW LEVEL EQ CONTROL Adjusts level of low frequencies, from 20Hz to 150Hz. (8) MID LEVEL EQ CONTROL Adjusts level of mid frequencies, as selected by the MID SWEEP (9) control. This sweepable filter has a Q or width of 1. (9) MID SWEEP CONTROL Selects the frequency to be boost/cut by the MID LEVEL (8) control. Adjustable from 300Hz to 5KHz. (10) HIGH LEVEL EQ CONTROL Adjusts the level of high frequencies, from 10kHz to 20kHz. (11) IN/OUT SWITCH Switch for engaging the compressor circuits. The compressor is active when the switch is in. (12) THRESHOLD CONTROL Sets the point that the input signal must reach for compression to begin. (13) RATIO CONTROL This control sets the signal to compression ratio. This ratio relates to the amount of increase of input compared to output signal. Thus, for example, at a 1:1 ratio, a 1dB increase of input signal will result in a 1dB increase of out signal. At 2:1, a 2dB increase of input signal will result in only 1dB increase of output signal. At 8:1, an 8dB increase of input signal will result in a 1dB increase of output signal. (14) OUTPUT LEVEL VU METER The output level of the TMP-3 can be monitored using the analog OUTPUT LEVEL VU METER. The meter's 0dB marking represents +12dB at the XLR output and +6dBu at the 1/4" output. The output meter will also reflect any attenuation due to the output limiter when it is engaged. (15) OUTPUT CONTROL The OUTPUT CONTROL sets the output level of the TMP-3. When the control is fully counterclockwise, the output level of the TMP-3 is zero. Turning the control clockwise increases the level of the output to a maximum of +10dB of gain. This gain is in addition to the existing input gain. CONTROLS AND CONNECTORS REAR PANEL (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) Rear Panel (16) AC POWER CORD IEC CONNECTOR WITH INTEGRATED FUSE HOLDER This standard IEC power cord receptacle is used to connect the AC power to your unit. It features a built-in fuse holder for a 5 X 20mm, 0.5A/250V slow-blow fuse. If the fuse continuously blows, shut off the unit and have it serviced by qualified service personnel. (17) AC VOLTAGE SELECT SWITCH Before plugging in the power cord, check to see that the unit is set for the proper voltage for your area: ~115V(60Hz) or ~230V (50Hz). (Note: Use at the improper voltage can damage your unit and void the warranty.) (18) OUTPUTS Unbalanced 1/4" (6.3mm) and balanced XLR outputs (Note: Only one output (1/4" or XLR) can be used at one time. Do not connect to both at the same time, or the signal will be severely distorted.) (19) SIDE CHAIN 1/4" Tip-Ring-Sleeve Send/Return jack. Connect an insert cable to this jack and to a signal processor or other device to alter the action of the TMP-3 compressor. (20) INPUTS Unbalanced 1/4" (6.3mm) and balanced XLR inputs. (Note: Only one input per each channel (1/4" or XLR) can be used at one time. Do not connect to both at the same time or the signal will be severely distorted.) CONNECTION Make sure the TMP-3 power cord is properly connected to a grounded AC outlet. Note examples illustrating proper connection of microphones and instruments to the TMP-3. Do not use both inputs at the same time. After the TMP-3 has been properly connected, turn the POWER SWITCH (1) on. MIC PREAMP SETTINGS (2,3,4,5,6) For condenser mics, press in the PHANTOM POWER (4). Press the +30dB GAIN/NORM (2) switch in if you're sending a line level (+4dB) signal into the TMP-3. This helps prevent overload. Provide a signal to the TMP-3 by connecting either a microphone or an instrument to the INPUT (20). Adjust the GAIN CONTROL (5) while sending the signal. When the CLIP LED (6) lights more than just occasionally, reduce the GAIN CONTROL (5) (counterclockwise) one or two marks to achieve the proper level of incoming signal. COMPRESSOR SETTING (11, 12, 13) Press in the IN/OUT (11) switch to engage the compressor. Begin by setting the THRESHOLD (13) control high (around 3 o'clock) 6 +4dB Line Level Output. Do not connect to a Mic Input. Connect to mixer line-level input. +4dB Line Level Output. Do not connect to a Mic Input. Connect to mixer line-level input. and the RATIO (13) control low (fully counterclockwise). This is a very low compression setting. To increase the amount of compression, lower the THRESHOLD (12) control and increase the RATIO (13) control until the desired amount is achieved. processor such as an equalizer, the 1/4" RETURN plug connects to the signal processor Output. The signal in the SIDE CHAIN is not heard on the Output of the TMP-3, it only effects the action of the compressor. The higher the level of signal in the SIDE CHAIN, the more compression will occur. EQUALIZER SETTINGS (7,8,9,10) Connects to tip SEND Begin with all controls set at 0 or center detente position. This is the equivalent of a "bypass". Adjusting the LEVEL (15) controls will increase or decrease the amount of the indicated frequency range. The MID SWEEP (9) control adjusts the actual frequency Connects to ring RETURN that the MID LEVEL (8) control will adjust. USING THE PROCESSES TOGETHER Increasing the Mic Preamp GAIN settings to the point where slight distortion occurs will effect the overall frequency content of the output signal. EQ adjustments may need to be made. Experiment with different settings until you've achieved the desired sound. USING THE SIDE CHAIN (19) To use the SIDE CHAIN (19) to directly access the compressor circuitry you'll need an insert cable like the one shown above. The Tip-Ring-Sleeve stereo end plugs into the TMP-3 SIDE CHAIN lack. The 1/4" SEND plug connects to the Input of a signal SPECIFICATIONS Input Impedance: ................................................ 600 balanced, 50K TRS unbalanced (1/4") Output Impedance: ........................... 50K TRS balanced (1/4") Max Input Level: ...................... -15dBV XLR 600, +18dBV (1/4") Max Gain: ............................................................................. +65dB Max Output Level: ............................................................... +22dB Frequency Response: ................................... 20Hz-25KHz +/-3dB Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) + Noise: .......................... 0.1% Noise Floor: .......................................................................... -75dB Equalizer Boost/Cut: ......................................................... +/-15dB Equalizer Settings: ....................................... LOW SHELF: 150Hz HIGH SHELF: 10KH MID FREQUENCIES: 300Hz-5KHz, Q=1 Compressor Settings: ................ THRESHOLD: -30dB to +20dB; RATIO: 2:1 to 8:1 Indicators: ........................... PHANTOM POWER, CLIP, POWER, ANALOG VU METER Input/Output Jacks: ................... XLR balanced, 1/4" unbalanced, 1/4" TRS unbal. Side Chain Dimensions: ......................... 19" x 1.75" x 6" (483 x 44 x 162mm) Weight: ................................................................ 3.5 lbs.( 1.75 Kg) The specifications above are correct at the time of printing of this manual. For improvement purposes, all specifications for this unit, including design and appearance, are subject to change without prior notice. LEGAL INFORMATION NOTICE The information in this document is subject to change, as the Company may make changes to product in order to improve reliability, design, or function, without prior written notice. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the company. IN NO EVENT WILL THE COMPANY BE LIABLE FOR SPECIAL INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER ARISING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, SUCH AS LOSS OF PROFIT OR GOOD WILL, THAT MAY BE SUFFERED IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE OF THIS PRODUCT OR FROM THE BREACH OF ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY. LICENSE The Company grants the customer a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the software, if any, accompanying this product for internal use on a single computer system. The end user may make a single copy of the software solely for backup purposes; otherwise, no copies may be made of the software or any part thereof. No other license of any kind is granted to any part of the product or any of the intellectual property therein. 7 SERVICE FOR YOUR NADY AUDIO PRODUCT (U.S.) Should your NADY AUDIO product require service, please contact the Nady Service Department via telephone at (510) 652-2411, or e-mail at service@nady.com. (International) For service, please contact the NADY AUDIO distributor in your country through the dealer from whom you purchased this product. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SERVICE THIS UNIT YOURSELF AS IT CAN BE DANGEROUS AND WILL ALSO VOID THE WARRANTY. NADY SYSTEMS, INC. · 6701 SHELLMOUND STREET, EMERYVILLE, CA 94608 Tel: 510.652.2411 · Fax: 510.652.5075 · www.nady.com