Modulizer User's Manual PRODSP1200P
Table Of Contents
- TABLE OF CONTENTS
- 1. INTRODUCTION
- 1.1 The design concept
- 1.2 Before you begin
- 1.3 Control elements
- 1.3.1 Front panel control elements
- 1.3.2 Key combinations
- 1.3.3 Back panel
- 1.4 The effect algorithms
- 2. OPERATION
- 2.1 Effects structure
- 2.2 Selecting presets
- 2.3 Editing programs
- 2.4 Saving programs
- 2.5 MIDI control
- 2.5.1 "Modulation"-controller
- 3. APPLICATIONS
- 3.1 Level setting
- 3.2 Using the MODULIZER PRO in the aux bus
- 3.3 Using the MODULIZER PRO in the insert path
- 3.4 Using the MODULIZER PRO as an effects device for instruments
- 3.5 Using the MODULIZER PRO in a MIDI system
- 3.6 Saving data via MIDI
- 4. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
- 4.1 Digital audio processing
- 4.2 Reverberation and reflection
- 4.3 Audio dynamics
- 4.3.1 Noise as a physical phenomenon
- 4.3.2 What are audio dynamics?
- 4.3.3 Compressors/limiters
- 4.3.4 Expanders/noise-gates
- 4.4 Artificial harmonics generation
- 4.5 Tube technology
- 5. INSTALLATION
- 5.1 Rack mounting
- 5.2 Mains connection
- 5.3 Audio connections
- 5.4 MIDI connections
- 5.5 Operating level switch
- 6. APPENDIX
- 6.1 Parameter overview
- 6.2 Variation table
- 6.3 MIDI implementation
- 6.4 Default settings
- 6.5 Preset parameters
- 6.6 Specifications
- 7. WARRANTY
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The parameters:
VARIATION: Bass Frequency: this parameter controls the maximum frequency of bass components to be
retained in the mix signal.
EDITA: Gain: adjusts the level of the output signal by +/-6dB.
EDITB: Bass Pan: adjusts the panorama of the low-frequency range.
EDITC: Treble Pan: controls the stereo balance of the mix signal.
Compressor / Limiter
In broadcasting and recording studios signal levels often exceed the headroom of signal-processing devices
and must therefore be reduced in their dynamics to avoid distortion. This is done with compressors or limiters.
Although these devices perform similar functions they differ in one essential aspect:
Limiters limit signals abruptly above a certain threshold, while compressors provide a smooth control process
over a wider range. The limiter monitors the signal continuously and reduces its dynamics as soon as it
surpasses the threshold. Any signal level exceeding the threshold is immediately cut back to a safe value.
Compressors, too, monitor the program material and work with a threshold. However, they dont control the
signal abruptly as limiters do, but continuously. Once the signal has exceeded the threshold it is smoothly
reduced in level, independently of the amount of excess level. The compressor side-chain implemented in the
DSP1200P has a soft-knee characteristic.
The parameters:
VARIATION: Ratio: controls the ratio of input vs. output level for all signals surpassing the threshold. If set to
maximum, the DSP1200P works as a limiter.
EDITA: Threshold: adjusts the compressor threshold from -60dB to 0dB.
EDITB: Output gain: this parameter allows you to raise or lower the output signal in level by max. 24dB.
EDITC: Attack: the attack control determines the time the compressor needs to respond to signals that are
surpassing the threshold (5-200 ms).
EDITD: Release: controls the time the compressor needs to restore the original level, once the signal has
dropped below threshold (50-500 ms).
+ In all dynamics algorithms the Mix function is disabled: because a compressor processes the
entire signal, any other operating mode would make no sense!
Expander
Many audio signals are limited in their dynamics by nature. For example, recordings made outdoors usually
suffer from a high level of background noise (traffic noise, wind, etc.). Guitar pick-ups, amplifiers, etc. can
produce high noise levels or other sounds that inevitably limit the dynamic range of the wanted signal. Back-
ground noise of this kind is inaudible as long as the level of the processed signal is considerably higher than
the noise floor and hence masks the interference noise.
Expanders are used to effectively enlarge the dynamic range of signals by attenuating signals with small
amplitudes, which also reduces the background noise level.
The parameters:
VARIATION: Ratio: this parameter determines the ratio of input vs. output levels for all signals below
threshold.
EDITA: Threshold: adjusts the expander threshold within a range from -60dB to 0dB.
EDITB: Output Gain: allows for raising/lowering the output signal by max. 24dB.
EDITC: Attack: controls the time the expander needs to respond to signals that are below threshold
(5-200ms).
EDITD: Release: sets the time the expander needs to restore the original signal level (1:1) (50-500 ms).
1. INTRODUCTION