| Digital Dynamics Processor DDP Operator Manual ®
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|||| {{{{{ zzzz yyyyy ,,,,, DDP Digital Dynamics Processor Manual Contents Section 1: Introduction . . . . . . . . . . .2 Unpack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Quickstart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Section 2: The DDP Tour . . . . . . . . .3 Hardware . . . . . . . . . . Front Panel / Display Rear Panel . . . . . . . Signal Flow . . . . . . . Software . . . . . . . . . . . Setups and Programs Gate Section . . . . . . Compressor Section .
|||| {{{{ ® Section 1: Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of the dbx DDP Digital Dynamics Processor. For over 25 years dbx has been the industry leader in dynamics processing. With the introduction of the DDP, we take that same leadership into the digital domain. We are sure you will find the DDP able to meet all your dynamics control needs. This manual will be your key to understanding the full functionality of the powerful DDP. Read it carefully.
|||| {{{{{ zzzz yyyyy ,,,,, DDP Digital Dynamics Processor Section 2: The DDP Tour HARDWARE Front Panel INPUT / OUTPUT LEVEL dBu -36 -30 -24 -18 -12 -6 0 INPUT / OUTPUT LEVEL dBu +6 -24 -18 -12 -6 0 +6 +12 Digital Compressor / Limiter / De-esser / Expander / Gate / Parametric EQ with dbx Type IV™ Conversion System +18 DATA NEXT PAGE EXP / GATE COMPRESSOR LIMITER SELECT DE-ESSER SIDECHAIN / EQ UTILITY PREV PAGE PROGRAM STORE BYPASS POWER CH 1 0 -10 -10 +1
|||| {{{{ ® Section 2: The DDP Tour Signal Flow The following simple illustrations show how audio signal flows through the DDP, and how the LCD display works. They will help you to understand where the DDP’s metering points are located, as well as identify the various elements of the LCD display.
|||| {{{{{ zzzz yyyyy ,,,,, Digital Dynamics Processor Section 2: The DDP Tour DDP SOFTWARE The DDP software works on a “building-block” philosophy. Every program number consists of a processing “setup” which is built from processing elements that make up a “chain”. The chain elements may be used in different combinations to produce a desired effect. Once the desired effect is reached, you may rename and save the setup to a user library area.
|||| {{{{ ® Section 3: Setup / Basic Operation ANALOG CONNECTIONS The DDP is designed to interface as easily as possible to your system. To that end, it may be used in the insert path of a console, in a patch bay, or as a group output processor. Figure 4 shows the DDP used in an insert point of a console. Analog audio connections are made using standard XLR or 1/4” TRS cables.
|||| {{{{{ zzzz yyyyy ,,,,, Digital Dynamics Processor Section 3: Setup / Basic Operation DDP MIDI CONNECTIONS The DDP has a full complement of MIDI functionality. The MIDI connectors on the Rear Panel are configured in the traditional way: with an “In” jack and an “Out/Thru” jack. The DDP can be used in common MIDI systems at any point in the MIDI chain.
|||| {{{{ ® Section 3: Setup / Basic Operation SOFTWARE NAVIGATION Threshold Metering On every program, you will find threshold metering for each element of the processing setup. These take the same form as the now-standard dbx 10 Series processors’ threshold meters: a plus (+) or minus (-) sign in a square box.
|||| {{{{{ zzzz yyyyy ,,,,, Digital Dynamics Processor Section 3: Setup / Basic Operation DDP Operating Modes Program Mode The DDP comes ready to turn on in “Program Mode”. There are a series of 50 factory programs, as well as enough room to name and store up to 50 of your own programs. The factory designed programs have been given obvious names, according to application and should be a good jumping off point for all of your processing needs. They cannot be erased.
|||| {{{{ ® Section 3: Setup / Basic Operation 2. Press the “CH 1” or “CH 2” button, (depending on which setup you want to look at) while the “program” button’s light is on. This method only lets you see the setup for one channel at a time. The contents of the setup, or the setup’s chain, will be displayed in the third line of text. As you do this, the program LED will go off, and the LED on the button you pressed will light, indicating that you are now looking at channel one’s (or two’s) setup.
|||| {{{{{ zzzz yyyyy ,,,,, Digital Dynamics Processor Section 3: Setup / Basic Operation DDP There are three different linked chain sequences built in to the DDP. From these sequences you can build your own unique chains in order to fit your needs. They are listed below.
|||| {{{{ ® Section 3: Setup / Basic Operation There are also six different mono chains available to any dual mono program on the DDP. Three have in-line 3band parametric EQ and three have sidechain EQ.
|||| {{{{{ zzzz yyyyy ,,,,, Digital Dynamics Processor Section 3: Setup / Basic Operation DDP From Program Mode (press the Program button), you can enter setup mode by pressing either the “CH 1” button or the “CH 2” button. Notice that when you do, several things happen on the screen: 1. The reversed-text channel number (either “1” or “2”) to the right of the program number will light, indicating the “active” channel. The other number will go out.
|||| {{{{ ® Section 4: Editing / Saving / Recalling Programs THE STORE BUTTON Whenever a parameter has been changed, the Store button will light, prompting you that there have been changes made to the setup. If you want to keep the changes, you must store the new setup. You may choose to rename and save the setup in the setup library. Or you may choose to abandon your changes when you leave the program for another one.
|||| {{{{{ zzzz yyyyy ,,,,, Digital Dynamics Processor Section 4: Editing / Saving / Recalling Programs DDP Attack control from 0.1ms to 200ms: As the signal reaches the threshold area, the Attack control sets the speed at which the gate opens. Use very fast attack times to catch the fronts of transient signals. Hold from 0ms to 500ms: The Hold control sets the amount of time the gate is held open after the signal passes below the threshold point.
|||| {{{{ ® Section 4: Editing / Saving / Recalling Programs Auto mode off/on: Activating Auto mode disables the Attack, Hold and Release controls, triggering a message to that effect in the curve window. Attack and release settings become fully program-dependent, and manual changes in the settings do not have any effect on the audio signal or the response of the compressor. Auto mode is especially effective on signals such as vocals or other highly dynamic signals.
|||| {{{{{ zzzz yyyyy ,,,,, Digital Dynamics Processor Section 4: Editing / Saving / Recalling Programs DDP EDITING LIMITERS Parameters of the Limiter The parameters included on the DDP for limiting operations are as follows: Limiter output level Limiter threshold Figure 17: Limiter parameters and curve Off/on: Again, the limiter must be turned on to be able to change the parameters and affect the signal. The curve window shows the threshold point of the limiter.
|||| {{{{ ® Section 4: Editing / Saving / Recalling Programs EDITING DE-ESSERS Parameters of the De-Esser The parameters included on the DDP for De-Essing operations are as follows: Frequency at which de-essing begins to occur Figure 18: De-Esser parameters and curve Off/on: Same thing as all the others. When you are not using the de-esser, it should be turned off.
|||| {{{{{ zzzz yyyyy ,,,,, Digital Dynamics Processor Section 4: Editing / Saving / Recalling Programs DDP Bands 1, 2, and 3: The EQ is a three band parametric which allows adjustments of frequency center, Q, and level. Frequency Center from 25Hz to 20kHz: You can choose a center frequency from 25Hz to 20kHz all all three bands of the EQ. Q from .25 to 16: “Q” is a setting that measures the width of the effect beyond the center frequency.
|||| {{{{ ® Section 4: Editing / Saving / Recalling Programs The sidechain path may also be used to reduce the effects of low frequencies on the compressor. Using the EQ to de-emphasize low frequencies allows the detectors of the gate, compressor, and limiter elements to react only to the more musical parts of the audio signal. This method greatly reduces the “pumping and breathing” that can occur in compressors. The in-line 3-band parametric EQ works in the same way as the sidechain EQ.
|||| {{{{{ zzzz yyyyy ,,,,, Digital Dynamics Processor Section 4: Editing / Saving / Recalling Programs DDP 4. When you have named the new program, press store again. the screen bumps to the next save screen, asking you to select a program for the DDP to erase and write the new program over. Note that you can only access programs 1-50 in this screen, as that is the only area where you can write new programs over old ones.
|||| {{{{ ® Section 4: Editing / Saving / Recalling Programs Store New: 1. To store a new setup, choose Store New after pressing the store button. Again, you must name your new setup. After you are done, press Store once again. You now must choose a place for the new setup to be placed in the setup library. The name of your new setup is displayed on the middle line of text (the “Parameter 2” spot). 2. Use the Data Wheel to scroll to the place where you want to the new setup added.
|||| {{{{{ zzzz yyyyy ,,,,, DDP Digital Dynamics Processor Section 5: Utility Functions UTILITIES The Utilities menu is accessed at any time, via the Utility button. The utilities menu is the same as the other menus of the DDP. Once in the utility area, the LED will light on the Utility button, indicating the selection. Different menu selections are shown in the three lines of text below the program number.
|||| {{{{ ® Section 5: Utility Functions Output Mode This is where you will select the digital output mode of the DDP. If you have the optional Digital I/O card installed in your DDP, this page refers to setting the output format of the optional card. You can set the input and output independently to either AES/EBU or S/PDIF formats. The analog outputs still operate regardless of the settings in this utility.
|||| {{{{{ zzzz yyyyy ,,,,, Digital Dynamics Processor Section 6: Appendices DDP APPENDIX 1: MISC. INFORMATION Hard Reset From time to time you may encounter a situation which locks up the DDP’s software. Usually this is due to operator error. Which means you asked the DDP to do something we did not anticipate in the implementation of the software, or something else has locked up the DDP.
|||| {{{{ ® Section 6: Appendices TCM™ -- Transient Capture Mode Transient Capture Mode™, or TCM™ works on the principle of delaying the audio signal up to 30µs, and letting an unheard “control” signal begin to activate the response of the VCA. The overall result is the perception of a very fast moving compressor, able to catch the front of almost any transient signal, but not delaying the audio signal enough to produce any phase correlation errors.
|||| {{{{{ zzzz yyyyy ,,,,, Digital Dynamics Processor Section 6: Appendices DDP APPENDIX 2: FACTORY SETUP LISTING Factory Setup Listing Following is a complete listing of the factory designed setups. While this is not meant to be an exhaustive list of applications, it is meant to be a good starting off point for you to be creative in designing custom setups for you r own needs.
|||| {{{{ ® Section 6: Appendices Mono Setups Default #1 Default #2 Default #3 Default #4 Default #5 Default #6 Swift Kick Fat Kick Solid Kick Thick Kick Brite Snare Rim Shot Slam Snare Tom’s Toms Tight Toms Ringin Toms CongoCongas Tambourine Sh-shaker Funk Bass Punchy Bass Slap Bass Rumble Bass Martin’s Gt F-Pick AcGt Folk Rock Gt Twang E Gtr 2x12 Guitar Monster Gtr FunkStompGt Low Strings Hi Strings LushStrings Horns O Luv Mello Horns Horn Splat Brite Horns 7ft Grand Upright Pno Tight Voc Small
|||| {{{{{ zzzz yyyyy ,,,,, Digital Dynamics Processor Section 6: Appendices DDP APPENDIX 3: FACTORY PROGRAM LISTING Factory Programs The DDP comes with a set of factory designed programs that offer wide variety and flexibility for your dynamics control needs. They are located in programs 51-100. At the factory, we copied these programs into the user accessible area, programs 1-50. You may erase any or all of these programs at any time, and replace them with your own program numbers.
|||| {{{{ ® Section 6: Appendices APPENDIX 4: MIDI / CC / SYSEX IMPLEMENTATION MIDI basics MIDI Channels: The DDP can be set so that it communicates on 1 of 16 discrete MIDI channels. The DDP may also be set up to transmit or receive information on all channels in an Omni mode or to none of the channels in a Disabled (off) mode. Program Changes: When the DDP is set to communicate on one or all of the MIDI channels, it will recognize a Program Change command. If the number is legal (e.g.
|||| {{{{{ zzzz yyyyy ,,,,, Digital Dynamics Processor Section 6: Appendices DDP SysEx basics General Format: The general format for the System Exclusive information is as follows (note: all SysEx values are displayed in Hexadecimal format, along with this symbol (h) for clarification): Hex Value Definition F0(h) System Exclusive 'Begin Message' byte 00(h) 01(h) Manufacturer's ID Number (dbx) 1E(h) 0n(h) n = Unit's Device or SysEx Channel number (minus one) e.g.
|||| {{{{ ® Section 6: Appendices Receive One Setup (43h) SYS_HEAD 43(h), vv(1)1, vv(1)2, vv(2)1, vv(2)2, xx1, xx2, yy1, yy2, zz(1)1, zz(1)2, zz(2)1, zz(2)2, dd(1st)1,dd(1st)2, ... dd(nth)1, dd(nth)2, F7(h) vv .software version number When xx = 00(h) Dual Mono is selected When xx = 01(h) Linked Type is selected yy The Setup number, 1-100 (00-63h) zz Byte Count dd(n) Program data The Receive One Setup procedure is used to load a Setup into the DDP.
|||| {{{{{ zzzz yyyyy ,,,,, Digital Dynamics Processor Section 6: Appendices DDP Receive Key Accepted (56h) SYS_HEAD, 56(h), cc1, cc2, F7(h) cc Code echoed for the Key Scan received. (00(h) if key is invalid) The Receive Key Accepted procedure is sent from the DDP in response and acceptance of a Receive Scan Code Key or Receive Hold Scan Code Key procedure but is ignored if received by the DDP.
|||| {{{{ ® Section 6: Appendices SysEx Setup Dump Sample Following is a simple example of a SysEx Setup dump. It takes you set by step through all of the operation commands of a typical SysEx procedure. <> F0 00 01 1E 00 01 <> 43 <> 00 01 00 01 <> 00 00 00 00 <> 00 0A 00 06 <<12 Character Setup Name...
|||| {{{{{ zzzz yyyyy ,,,,, Digital Dynamics Processor Section 6: Appendices DDP APPENDIX 5: FACTORY SERVICE / WARRANTY INFORMATION Warranty / Factory Service If you require technical support, contact dbx Customer Service. Be prepared to accurately describe the problem. Know the serial number of your unit - this is printed on a sticker attached to the rear panel. If you have not already taken the time to fill out your warranty registration card and send it in, please do so now.
|||| {{{{ ® Section 6: Appendices APPENDIX 6: SPECIFICATIONS Inputs Connectors: Type: Impedance: Max Input Level: CMRR: Input Gain Range: MIDI: Outputs Connectors: Type: Impedance: Max Output Level: Output Gain Range: MIDI: A-D System Performance A-D Conversion: Convertor Dynamic Range: Type IV™ Dynamic Range: THD+Noise: Frequency Response: Interchannel Crosstalk: D-A System Performance D-A Conversion: Dynamic Range: THD+Noise: Frequency Response: Interchannel Crosstalk: Compressor Controls:
|||| {{{{{ zzzz yyyyy ,,,,, Digital Dynamics Processor Section 6: Appendices Transient Capture Mode™ Control: De-Esser Type: Controls: Parametric EQ Type: DDP Variable TCM™ Time (delay time) in 10 microsecond increments up to 3 milliseconds Wideband gain reduction Variable Frequency, Amount Controls: 3-Band, Fully Parametric, Fully Overlapping over the audio band Switchable location in-line with the audio path or in-line with the internal sidechain Variable Frequency, Q, Gain Genera
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