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®
QUANTUM
DIGITAL
MASTERING
PROCESSOR
User Manual
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS WARNING FOR YOUR PROTECTION CAUTION PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING: RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK KEEP THESE INSTRUCTIONS DO NOT OPEN HEED ALL WARNINGS ATTENTION: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE - NE PAS OUVRIR WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS SHOCK DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE CLEAN ONLY WITH A DAMP CLOTH. The symbols shown above are internationally accepted symbols that warn of potential hazards with electrical products. Th
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS LITHIUM BATTERY U.K. MAINS PLUG WARNING WARNING A molded 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 CAUTION! MAINS PLUG INTO A 13 AMP POWER SOCKET. Do not use the mains This product may contain a lithium battery.There is danger of plug without the fuse cover in place. Replacement fuse covers can be explosion if the battery is incorr
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Table of Contents QUANTUM 4.13 TCM™............................................................41 Introduction 4.14 De-Esser ........................................................41 1.1 What is QUANTUM?.........................................ii 4.15 Normalization ...............................................42 1.2 Service Contact Info........................................iii 4.16 Output...........................................................42 1.3 Warranty..............................
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Table of Contents QUANTUM Figure Index Fig. 1.1 LCD Display ..............................................3 Fig 1.2 Signal Path..................................................4 Fig. 3.1 Stereo MultiBand Chain..........................20 Fig. 3.2 Stereo Broadband Chain ........................21 Fig. 3.3 Mono Chain Type ...................................22 Fig 3.4 Stereo Setup Selection .............................23 Fig 3.5 Stereo Setup Selection .............................24 Fig 4.1 VariK
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QUANTUM INTRODUCTION INTRO CUSTOMER SERVICE INFO What is QUANTUM? WARRANTY INFO ®
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Introduction QUANTUM Congratulations on your purchase of the dbx QUANTUM Digital Mastering Processor! For over INTRODUCTION 25 years, dbx has been the industry leader in dynamics processing. With the introduction of the QUANTUM, we apply our superior dynamics processing technology to the digital mastering process. This manual will be your guide to understanding the full functionality of the powerful QUAN- TUM, read it carefully. After you have become familiar with the unit, we encourage you to e
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Introduction QUANTUM 1.1 What is QUANTUM? (cont.) Imagine this scenario as an example. A client brings in a stereo mix on a sampling workstation. The mix is recorded at 96kHz/24-bit. In order to create a CD compatible mix you need to con- vert to 44.1kHz/16-bit. With the QUANTUM this is not a problem. Simply follow the instructions in the Application Guide in section 5. Whether you are going from the workstation to a DAW, DAT, or a stand-alone CD-R, the QUANTUM covers all the digital sample rate
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Introduction QUANTUM 1.3 Warranty (cont.) 4. dbx reserves the right to make changes in design or make additions to or improvements upon this product without incurring any obligation to install the same additions or improvements on products previously manufactured. 5. The foregoing is in lieu of all other warranties, expressed or implied, and dbx neither assumes nor authorizes any person to assume on its behalf any obligation or liability in con- nection with the sale of this product. In no event
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Section 1 QUANTUM Getting Started ®
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Getting Started Section 1 QUANTUM 1.1 Rear Panel Connections Analog Input/Output Connectors Each analog channel features both XLR and 1/4" TRS electronically balanced connections. They may be used in a balanced or unbalanced configuration. MIDI In and Out/Thru Connectors These connectors provide full MIDI functionality to the QUANTUM. The Out/Thru jack allows you to use the QUANTUM at any point in the MIDI chain. For a complete guide to all the MIDI and SYSEX functionality of the QUANTUM, see S
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Getting Started Section 1 QUANTUM 1.2 Front Panel (cont.) Analog Level Meters These meters monitor analog input and output. For more on meters refer to Section 3. TSE™ Audio Level Meters These meters monitor the level of Tape Saturation Emulation. Refer to Type IV™ in Section 3. LCD Display The large LCD display shows the program, curve, digital meters, parameters, and modules selected by the function buttons and the DATA WHEEL. Channel numbers Digital input / Program within program Chain elemen
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Getting Started Section 1 QUANTUM 1.2 Front Panel (cont.) When working with the sidechain EQ, or the in-line EQ, the curve window changes to show a graphical representation of the 5 parametric bands in a frequency grid. Your adjustments to the 5 bands are shown in real time. Additionally, the De-Esser has its own graphical way of displaying its parameters. The frequency is shown on the bottom, or X axis, and the low frequency rolloff is shown on the side, or Y axis. 1.3 QUANTUM Wizard The easie
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Getting Started Section 1 QUANTUM 1.5 Mastering and the Quantum The Quantum is a Mastering Processor that has many features: • Multiband compression • Multiband gating • Multiband limiting • Parametric equalizer • Normalize function with gain optimization • 8-24-bit dither with noise shaping These tools used together can give your recording studio the power to create the big sound associated with a mastered recording. Traditionally, mastering was accomplished by a combination of compression and
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Getting Started Section 1 QUANTUM 1.5 Mastering and the Quantum (cont.) Now that your bands are set up for your application, you monitor them and you hear how the sub-band (band one), is the ultra-low frequencies of the kick and bass as well as some of the guitar. The low band (band two), includes the electric and acoustic guitars, the bass, and some of the low vocal frequencies. The Mid band, (band three), contains the majority of the vocals as well as the mid range frequencies of the Mid ban
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Section 2 QUANTUM NAVIGATION ®
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Navigation Section 2 QUANTUM Control of each of the bands within the QUANTUM’s multiband dynamic modules is made NAVIGATION possible in two different ways. You may either use the “All page” or individual band adjust- ments. The “All page” is signified by a large “All” seen where the program number would nor- mally be. Adjusting settings in this page will adjust the settings in all four bands as a group. To control individual bands within the “All page” press the EDIT ALL/BAND button to cycle thr
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Navigation Section 2 QUANTUM 2.2 Broadband Compressor Navigating the "Broadband Compressor" Navigate through the Pages by depressing "Next Page" or "Prev Page" successively until arriving at the desired Page Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Compr On/Loc/Off Threshold Attack OverEasy® Ratio Hold Auto Loc/On/Off Gain Release ® QUANTUM User Manual 9
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Navigation Section 2 QUANTUM 2.3 Multiband Gate Navigating the "Multiband Gate" Navigate through the Pages by depressing "Next Page" or "Prev Page" successively until arriving at the desired Page Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Navigate through All Gate On/Loc/Off Attack Max Att Threshold Hold the bands by Bands Ratio Release depressing the "Gate" button successively until Band Band 1 On/Off Attack Max Att arriving at the Threshold Hold 1 desired band Ratio Release Band Band 2 On/Off Attack Max Att Thresho
