230 MASTER voice cHANNEL Optimized processing for human voice over any medium.
Solution Delivery Series 230 Master voice channel Instruction Manual P/N 999-4200 Revision 1 Released 05/30/2004 Manufactured by Aphex Systems Ltd. 11068 Randall St. Sun Valley, CA 91352 USA S Y S T E M S Copyright 2004 Aphex Systems Ltd. All rights reserved. Produced by: Donn Werrbach. Creation tool: Adobe InDesign 2.0. Printed by: Stuart F. Cooper Co., Los Angeles.
230 instruction Manual A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Aphex Customer, Congratulations on your purchase of the Model 230 Master Voice Channel. Discriminating people have successfully and happily used a combination of Aphex microphone preamplifiers and processing for years even though it required using different boxes and additional interconnections.
master voice channel 230 Table of Contents 1.0 CONTROLS & INDICATORS PLUS QUICK SETUP........................................................................ 4 2.0 “MASTER VOICE CHANNEL”- WHAT? 6 3.0 INSTALLATION AND INTERFACING 3.1 Installation .......................................................................................................................... 3.2 Rear Panel View ..................................................................................................................
230 instruction Manual 1.0 Controls and Indicators with Quick Setup POWER INDICATION The Aphex logo above the power switch glows yellow during the tube preamp’s warmup time and green when the unit is ready. LOW NOISE MIC PRE The 230 works with all professional microphones. The clean and stable 48V phantom supply is suitable for even the most expensive microphones. The 12dB/octave low cut filter starts at 70Hz to effectively reduce wind blast without diminishing voice body.
230 master voice channel Quick Setup Rear Panel Analog Connections OUTPUT CONTROL Once all processing and equalization is set where you want it, the output level may need to be adjusted. Do not let the peak level frequently exceed -6dBFS. This will make sure the digital output carries well through subsequent mixing and processing. When using the analog output, adjust the level to produce the desired average output level (0VU) as seen on the outboard equipment’s meters.
230 instruction Manual 2.0 “Master Voice Channel” - What? HAVING AN EDGE Talented people aren’t totally perfect. Well, of course, you are, but let’s face it -- who else really is? Sometimes it takes an edge for even the best talent to grab a top position in the industry. Other than having a well connected agent and a pretty good set of pipes, the Model 230 might just give you the edge you need.
master voice channel 230 3.0 Installation & Interfacing 3.1 INSTALLATION The Model 230 occupies a single rack space (45mm or 1-3/4 inches) of a standard EIA equipment rack. When rack mounting, use appropriate cushioned rack screws. Never restrict air flow through the device’s vents. When installing the units into a rack, distribute the units evenly. Otherwise, hazardous conditions may be created by an uneven weight distribution. Connect the unit only to a properly rated supply circuit.
230 instruction Manual Installation & Interfacing 3.6 OUTPUT CONNECTORS There are two output connectors located on the rear panel: one 1/4” TRS phone type and one XLR3M type. They can be used at the same time to feed separate equipment. The output level at the XLR is +4dBu impedance balanced, while the phone jack runs unbalanced at -10dBV (consumer level). If you intend to make an unbalanced output from the XLR jack, simply take “hot” from pin 2 and use pin 1 for ground.
230 master voice channel WC OUT jack. 3.8.3 WC OUT This jack is directly tied to the WC IN jack to facilitate daisy-chaining multiple units to a master clock source when the unit is operating in external clock mode. ACCEPTABLE POWER RANGE 85 to 265V~, 50 to 60Hz When the Model 230 is operating in internal clock mode, the WC OUT jack is disconnected from WC IN and instead is connected to the unit’s internal clock source.
230 instruction Manual 4.0 Using the 230 FRONT PANEL VIEW 4.1 USING THE MICROPHONE INPUT The Model 230 is perfect for all types of microphones, either powered or not. We encourage you to try every mic you own with the 230. Many features of the 230 are standard with all professional preamps - polarity - pad - etc. Some features are unique and we hope you will fully exploit them. 4.
230 master voice channel Another time when phase reversing can be helpful is in mixing multiple microphones that are within each other’s coverage areas. The “crosstalk” between mics may come through different delays due to the differing distances from the sound. These sounds may tend to cancel out in the mix. You may get a “nasal” or hollow effect when all mics are on. Changing the polarity of one or more mics will often clear up the problem. It is always worth the time to experiment with mic polarity.
230 instruction Manual Using the 230 have remarked about how much better voice tracks ride over the mix, and how much fuller and deeper they seem with the SPR. There is no actual frequency response alteration. It is all in the ear, but it works. The amount of effect varies from none to a lot depending on the voice and the sound medium. You just need to try it to see.
master voice channel it uses split band techniques to attenuate only the sibilance, while leaving the body of the voice alone. Operation of the de-esser is simple. Just set the threshold to the point where you want the esses to limit out. Reducing the threshold setting brings down the level of the esses dynamically. In other words, it’s like an automatic downward shelving equalizer.
230 instruction Manual 5.0 Warranty & Service 5.1 Limited Warranty PERIOD One year from date of purchase SCOPE All defects in workmanship and materials. The following are not covered: a. Voltage conversions b. Units on which the serial number has been defaced, modified, or removed c. Damage or deterioration: 1. Resulting from installation and/or removal of the unit. 2.
230 master voice channel 6.0 Specifications 6.
230 instruction Manual Specifications 6.2 ARCHITECTURAL SPECIFICATIONS Basic Description A single channel voice processor comprising a transformerless tube-type microphone preamp, a dynamics processing section and a tone controlling section, in that order. An insertion path shall be provided between the dynamics procesisng section and the tone controlling section. The microphone preamp shall comprise the following selectable functions: 1.) +48VDC Phantom Power; 2.) Polarity Reversal; 3.
master voice channel 230 7.0 Appendices Appendix A: Balanced and Unbalanced Lines and Operating Levels Interfacing all types of equipment with balanced and unbalanced lines and can sometimes be troublesome. First you have to somehow connect balanced to unbalanced and then you have to deal with different levels. This tutorial will teach you about the principles of balanced and unbalanced lines, wiring standards, and how to effectively interface them.
230 instruction Manual Appendices Your balanced input stage looks at the two wires and detects only the potential (voltage) difference between them. Anything that is the same on the two wires (for all practical purposes as seen measuring from ground) is called a common mode signal and is cancelled out by the differential amplifier. Figure 1 illustrates how the hum is induced into both wires equally and therefore is cancelled out.
master voice channel 230 6.0 Appendices time. That illustrated the ground loop effect - straight through you! No matter what you do, you may not be able to prevent some of your equipment from generating ground currents. The most likely culprits are digital products because they use switching power supplies that require heavy line filters to prevent conducted EMI from going out of the box. Filters so employed very often take the ground leakage current right up to the UL safety limits.
230 instruction Manual Appendices Avoid Transformers The use of balancing transformers is an option, but you will invariably lose audio quality due to transformer limitations. Try everything else first. Appendix C: Proper Wiring Techniques A true balanced line should be used wherever your equipment allows. Use “twisted pair” shielded cable. For unbalanced wiring you should use high grade, low capacitance shielded wire for best results.
230 master voice channel Appendices TABLE 1 - BALANCED & UNBALANCED CONNECTOR WIRING STANDARDS 3-Pin XLR 1/4” TRS Phone Standard Wiring Convention (Balanced) Pin-1 Sleeve Ground/Shield (Earth, Screen) Pin-2 Tip Positive (Signal, High, Hot) Pin-3 Ring Negative (Signal Reference, Return, Low, Common) 1/4” TS Phone RCA Standard Wiring Convention (Unbalanced) Tip Center Pin Positive (Signal) Sleeve Shell Ground/Shield (Signal Reference/Return) lines as low impedance and unbalanced lines
0 instruction Manual Appendices transformerless balanced, usually called “active balanced”. Transformer balanced outputs are becoming outdated because of their high cost and their sonic limitations. However, they can still be found on a lot of older equipment. Within the transformerless class, there are several types of circuits that are used by different manufacturers.
230 master voice channel PART 2: BALANCED OUT to UNBALANCED IN Voltage Balanced Outputs It was mentioned that there are several types of balanced output stages in use today. The following diagrams show you how to properly unbalance each type of output. If you follow these instructions, you should have no problems. SIMPLIFIED SCHEMATIC Unbalancing loses half the output level. You lose 6dB of gain.
230 instruction Manual Appendices PART 3: UNBALANCED to UNBALANCED Standard Cable (Guitar Cord) Mono (TS) Phone Plug Mono (TS) Phone Plug PART 4: UNBALANCED OUT to BALANCED IN Standard Method Mono (TS) Phone Plug Enhanced Method (Pseudo Balanced) Advantage: Reduced Hum and Noise Pickup Stereo (TRS) Phone Plug (Guitar cord of Part 3 above usualy works just as well) Mono (TS) Phone Plug Stereo (TRS) Phone Plug Not Used Male XLR Male XLR Mono (TS) Phone Plug Mono (TS) Phone Plug Not Used PART 5:
master voice channel Appendix E: Back To BASS-ICS 230 Think of a sound system with incredible bass. Are you imagining the sound of the bass or are you imagining how the bass would feel? If you are imagining sound, then you are thinking too high in frequency. The bass referred to in this article causes a visceral response. As the boosted frequency band gets lower in frequency, this phenomenon gets more pronounced.
230 instruction Manual Appendices Because the output level of the dynamics processor is constant over a wide range of input levels, it varies as a percentage of the mixed output. At lower input levels, when the bass needs the enhancement, the enhanced percentage is reduced. As the input reaches the highest levels, the enhancement signal percentage becomes almost negligible. At high input levels, the bass is still enhanced because of the longer duration of the bass information.
230 master voice channel APPENDIX F: HELPFUL WIRING TABLE Also see next page..
230 instruction Manual Appendices NOTES The following notes are referenced in the text and in Table 2 on the preceding pages. Note 1: ADDITIONAL READING SUGGESTIONS: Sound System Engineering by Don Davis and Carolynn Davis (Howard W. Sams and Co.), Handbook for Sound Engineers (The New Audio Cyclopedia) Edited by Glen Ballou (Howard W. Sams and Co.) and Sound Reinforcement Handbook by Gary Davis and Ralph Jones (Hal Leonard Publishing Corp.).
230 master voice channel APPENDIX G: THE AURAL EXCITER AND BIG BOTTOM TECHNOLOGIES EXPLAINED The AURAL EXCITER is an audio processor that recreates and restores missing harmonics. Harmonics are musically and dynamically related to the original sound, revealing the fine differences between voices and various instruments. Reproduced sound is audibly different than the original live sound because of the loss in harmonic detail, often sounding dull and lifeless.
230 instruction Manual Patent Notice This product is protected under one or more of the following Aphex patents. 4,578,648 4,633,501 4,843,626 4,939,471 5,115,471 5,155,769 5,334,947 5,359,665 5,422,602 5,424,488 5,450,034 5,463,695 5,483,600 5,485,077 5,612,612 5,737,432 5,848,167 5,896,458 5,898,395 5,930,374 6,266,423 Page 30 Aphex Systems Ltd.
Notice Aphex, MicLim, Easyrider, Logic Assisted Gate, Naturess, Big Bottom, and Aural Exciter are registered trademarks of Aphex Systems Ltd. Use without permission is strictly prohibited. S Y S T E M S Model 230 Master Voice Channel Typical Users & Applications • On Air Live • Program Syndicators • Voice-Overs • ADR • Freelance Voicing • TV News • Books On Tape • Live Stage • Houses of Worship • Music Vocals • Lecturing • Foley Plus many more... limited only by imagination. Aphex Systems Ltd.
