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MODEL 166XL
COMPRESSOR
G AT E
®
A Harman International Company
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WARNING FOR YOUR PROTECTION, READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS: CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK WATER AND MOISTURE: Appliance should not be used near water (e.g. near a bath- DO NOT OPEN tub, 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 ATTENTION: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE - NE PAS O U V R I R enclosure through openings. POWER SOURCES: The appliance should be connected to a power
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dbx 166XL COMPRESSOR / GATE MANUAL CONTENTS English INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 INSPECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 OPERATING CONTROLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 OPERATING NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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® 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 stu- dios, sound reinforcement companies, musicians, or anyone who needs quality processing quickly and easily. We recom- mend that you take a moment and read through the manual as it provides information that w
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dbx 166XL COMPRESSOR / GATE Note: The 166XL’s expansion ratio is internally fixed, at approximately 10:1. This ratio helps to eliminate the artifacts normally associated with common switch gates. Attenuation is >50dB. SIDECHAIN (SC) ENABLE Switch and LED: This switch enables the 1/4” TRS connector of the sidechain, allowing external processing of the detector signal. It has no effect if there is nothing plugged into the sidechain loop; however the switch will still light indicating the sidecha
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® dbx 166XL COMPRESSOR / GATE PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS Compressor RATIO Control: Rotate this control clockwise to increase the amount of compression from 1:1 (no compression) up to !:1 (no increase in output level, regardless of input level increases above threshold.) 1:1 Unity 1:1 +20 RED Above Threshold +20 +15 +15 2:1 2:1 +10 +10 4:1 4:1 +5 20:1 +5 0 :1 :1 0 RED Rotation Point Threshold -5 Above Threshold ! 5 -10 OverEasy Range !10 GREEN Below Threshold -15 !15 Below Threshold -15 -10
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dbx 166XL COMPRESSOR / GATE BYPASS Button and LED: Depress this button to “hard-wire bypass” the 166XL’s circuitry,(i.e., unaltered input signal will pass through the unit even if it is unplugged). Note that BYPASS works independently for each channel, even when the unit is stereo-coupled (via the STEREO COUPLE button). In Bypass mode, the input is sent directly to the output, bypassing the 166XL’s processing and controls and presenting unaltered input signal at the 166XL’s OUTPUT. Bypass mode
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® dbx 166XL COMPRESSOR / GATE PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS selected when interfacing with “semi-pro” or low level equipment, while a +4dBu level should be selected when interfac- ing with “pro” equipment. The switch simultaneously changes the operating levels for both the input and output circuits. Note that the switch is slightly recessed to prevent accidental switching of operating levels while plugging in or unplug- ging cables. OUTPUT (BALANCED) Jacks: The Tip/Ring/Sleeve phone jack and XLR-typ
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dbx 166XL COMPRESSOR / GATE ating perfectly in-sync playing and overdubbing among individual instruments or “fattening” a dynamically weak track). To create two distinct channels of bass guitar for your mix (by splitting the bass signal into two channels and syn- chronizing one channel of bass guitar with the kick drum), start by feeding one channel of bass directly into the mix and the other into the 166XL’s INPUT. Then key the gate with a signal from the kick drum (connected to the SIDECHAI
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® dbx 166XL COMPRESSOR / GATE PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS uration. Split the drum signal, sending one channel directly to the 166XL’s INPUT and the other channel to an equalizer (e.g., dbx’s 20 Series or 30 Series Graphic Equalizer). Then connect the equalizer’s output to the 166XL’s SIDECHAIN INSERT. The equalizer can be adjusted for boost with a peak of about 5kHz, causing the cymbal to be compressed on a very loud crash, stopping tape saturation at high frequencies, where there is less headroom.
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dbx 166XL COMPRESSOR / GATE vocalist’s whispers are heard more clearly. The OverEasy curve available with the 166XL permits a very high amount of compression (RATIO of 10:1 or greater) to be used in many situations. This allows dynamic speakers, vocalists and other musicians to concentrate on their presentation or performance without worrying about the ill effects of volume changes. Using Your EQ to Reduce Feedback in Live Settings (Indoor and Outdoor Concerts, Churches) You can use your 166XL
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® dbx 166XL COMPRESSOR / GATE PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS Increasing Sustain To increase the sustain of a musical instrument (e.g., a guitar or bass), use an equalizer in the Sidechain circuit and boost the EQ in the dominant frequency range of the instrument. Set the 166XL for slow Hard Knee compression, with a fairly low THRESHOLD and a moderate RATIO. Multi-Way Speaker Systems If a single compressor is to be used with a multi-way speaker system (i.e., before the crossover, after the EQ), the sys-
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dbx 166XL COMPRESSOR / GATE Using the SIDECHAIN INSERT The SIDECHAIN INSERT can be used to control the compressor or the expander/gate by signals other than the audio input (via an auxiliary device, such as an equalizer). Common Sidechain applications include keyed gating, frequency-sen- sitive gating and frequency-weighted compression. These topics are covered in detail in the previous pages of this manual. Certain Sidechain applications may require special cabling. For example, to set up you
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® dbx 166XL COMPRESSOR / GATE PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS Sound Reinforcement To compress a live mix or to protect loudspeakers, connect the 166XL between the source (mixing board or distribution amp) and the power amp(s). If multi-way loudspeakers with low-level electronic crossovers are used, the 166XL(s) should go after the crossover(s). For a stereo system, you can separately stereo couple the two high band crossovers, low band crossovers, etc. If limitations require that you use a single 166XL c
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dbx 166XL COMPRESSOR / GATE prepared to accurately describe the problem. Know the serial number of your unit - this is printed on a sticker attached to the unit. Note: Please refer to the terms of your Limited Two-Year Standard Warranty, which extends to the first end-user. After the warranty expires, a reasonable charge will be made for parts, labor, and packing if you choose to use the factory service facility. In all cases, you are responsible for transportation charges to the factory. dbx w
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® dbx 166XL COMPRESSOR / GATE PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS VÉRIFICATION S’assurer que l’emballage du 166XL contient les articles suivants : • 166XL Dynamics Processor • cordon d’alimentation secteur • manuel de l’utilisateur • carte d’enregistrement COMMANDES Face Avant Section NOISE/GATE Potentiomètre THRESHOLD (seuil) et témoins BELOW/ABOVE (au-desous/au-dessus) : Cette commande permet de régler le seuil à partir duquel la porte s’ouvre pour permettre le passage du signal à travers l’appareil. Tour
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dbx 166XL COMPRESSOR / GATE THRESHOLD : Ce potentiomètre permet de choisir un seuil de compression compris entre -40 dBu (7,8 mVeff) et +20 dBu (7,8 Veff). Lorsque la commande THRESHOLD de la section COMPRESSOR est réglée sur +20 dB, seules les pointes de signal les plus élevées subiront une compression (lorsque le sélecteur RATIO est réglé sur le taux de compression 1:1, alors le com- presseur est désactivé, quel que soit le niveau de seuil choisi). En mode Hard Knee (touche OVEREASY relâchée)
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® PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS dbx 166XL COMPRESSOR / GATE crête (bien qu'un circuit de détection de Valeur Efficace soit utilisé). Avec un temps d'attaque lent, le 166XL agit comme un com- presseur/limiteur détecteur de valeur efficace ou moyenne. Le bouton RELEASE permet de régler la vitesse à laquelle le signal retrouve son niveau d'origine. Le réglage varie de rapide (la compression suit de très près le programme), à lent (pour une compression très douce). Il n'existe pas de règle absolue pour rég
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dbx 166XL COMPRESSOR / GATE Section MASTER Touche et Led STEREO COUPLE : Cette touche permet de choisir entre les modes de fonctionnement stéréo et dual mono. Enfoncer la touche STEREO COUPLE pour fonctionner en mode stéréo, à savoir que le canal 1 (Channel 1) devient le circuit maître imposant ses réglages aux deux canaux. Le canal 2 devient alors « esclave » et toutes ses touches, commandes et Leds sont désactivées (à l’exception de sa touche BYPASS et de son indicateur GAIN REDUCTION). Il e
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® dbx 166XL COMPRESSOR / GATE PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS sion en permanence. Sa consommation électrique est très faible. Débrancher le 166XL s’il est prévu de ne pas l’utiliser pendant une durée prolongée. Avertissement : Veiller à bien vérifier la tension secteur et la tension nominale d’alimentation du 166XL, indiquée sur le tableau arrière de l’appareil. Le raccordement à une source d’alimentation inadaptée peut causer des dommages importants non couverts par la garantie. NOTES D’UTILISATION Sect
