D-BOX ® Dangerous Music’s Greatest Hits U S ER GUI DE
SAFETY REVIEW ! ! ! ! ! ! ! The Exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying this product Certain precautions should be taken when using electrical products. Please observe the safety hints by reading the manual and obtaining qualified help if necessary to adhere to the precautions. 1. Always use a properly grounded power supply cord with this product.
| THANK YOU Thank you for choosing products from the exciting and innovative line of Dangerous Music recording equipment. Many years of reliable service can be expected from our gear. This is made possible through careful design, construction, and component choices by recording industry veterans. The Dangerous Music D-Box is designed to improve your quality of life by allowing you to hear on a different level. There are many features packed into this product, so don’t skip the read.
2 | DANGEROUS MUSIC TABLE OF CONTENTS Overview 3 D-BOX Front Panel Features & Benefits 4 D-BOX Rear Panel Features, Benefits & Connection 9 Connection Scenarios 12 Appendix 16 Specifications 18 Warranty 19
D-BOX | OVERVIEW The D-Box is Dangerous Music’s Greatest Hits Box. In other words, it incorporates some of the finest features and functionality from other products in the line with ZERO audio compromise. Analog summing, headphone amplification, speaker selection, talkback and monitoring functions are all neatly tucked away into this powerful single rack space. The D-Box provides solutions to the practical, daily needs of today’s compact computer based studio, and executes them with no audio sacrifice.
4 | DANGEROUS MUSIC 1 2 3 4 Front Panel Features & Benefits 1. HEADPHONE JACKS AND LEVEL CONTROL KNOBS Feature: Two independent, 20 watt headphone amplifiers (1). Benefit: Tons of headroom, to audition intelligibly, make intelligent decisions and drive an inspired performance. Separate volume knobs to accommodate different users tastes and varying headphone impedances. Please exhibit caution when selecting a level.
D-BOX | Benefit: Avoid figuring out a separate means of communication to the artist (i.e. complicated mic setups) Keep it quick, easy, and simple. Operation: Hit the tb (talkback) switch (3) to activate this function. Then starting at the minimum, gently increase the volume utilizing the level knob until the sweet spot is achieved. More magic revealed about this switch in the next segment. (Hint: momentoggle.) , Tip: , Tip: Always start with the level control completely counter-clockwise (minimum).
6 | DANGEROUS MUSIC Need to step between monitors to see if that distortion is emanating from the speakers or the mix? [toggle mode] Or listen to one set for an extended period? [latch mode] Need to say, “rolling!” over the talkback mic to the talent? [toggle mode] Or leave it open for a lengthy discussion between the singer in the tracking room and the drummer in the control room. [latch mode] Operation: latch mode. If the buttons are pressed and released quickly, they will latch. toggle mode.
D-BOX | Feature: The sum switch selects monitoring from the stereo summing mix output. (i.e. the summed combination of the 8 inputs). Benefit: Hear your mix BEFORE it hits external processing or A/D conversion. Feature: The analog switch selects the analog input source from the rear panel. Benefit: Connect all sorts of devices here! Samplers, synths, drum machines, an iPod, virtual instruments, a Sound Effects Library or two track editor fed from an alternative computer output.
8 | DANGEROUS MUSIC 6. SIGNAL LEDs Feature: 8 signal leds reveal when signal is present at the summing inputs (11). Benefit: Determine whether audio is passing into the D-Box for trouble shooting. Tip: , If the signal lights are active and nothing is plugged into the unit, there is a DC offset present in your system. Track it down and exterminate it. 7. PAN CONTROLS Feature: The first six channels of the summing section are fed to the stereo bus in pairs (i.e. 1-2, 3-4 and 5-6). 7 & 8 have pan pots.
D-BOX | 9 10 11 12 Rear Panel Features, Benefits & Connections 9. TALKBACK REMOTE (FOOTSWITCH NOT INCLUDED) Feature: Using a footswitch, communicate with the talent via the built in headphones. talkback mic directly into their Benefit: Avoid figuring out a separate means of communication to the artist (i.e. complicated mic setups) Keep it quick, easy, and simple, and stop reaching for the tb switch. Operation: Click and hold down the talkback remote pedal (not included) to activate this function.
10 | DANGEROUS MUSIC Tip: , The DB25 connector adheres to the Tascam Wiring Standard for 8 channels of balanced analog input. See the wiring diagram in appendix if you’re comfortable with soldering, or just buy an excellent quality cable with a spiral shield. (Example M3). 12. DC INPUT Feature: The power supply plugs into this jack. Benefit: An external power supply allows the unit to run at a cooler temperature.
D-BOX | 11 Benefit: Hear your mix BEFORE it hits external processing or A/D conversion. Operation: Utilize the sum switch to select this monitoring source. Tip: , Use high quality analog quad cable with a spiral shield. (Example M2). 15 & 16. MAIN & ALTERNATE SPEAKER OUTPUTS Feature: These jacks allow connection with two pairs of studio monitors. Benefit: Every studio should have at least two points of reference.
12 | DANGEROUS MUSIC D-BOX AND UNIVERSAL AUDIO APOLLO
| 13 D-BOX D-BOX AND DIGIDESIGN 003 EXAMPLE iPOD OUT TO ANALOG INPUT MINI 1/8”-2XLR(M) 8 OUTPUTS TO SUMMING INPUT 1/4” BALANCED-DB25 ATTACH POWER SUPPLY TO D-BOX BEFORE WALL AES OR S/PDIF CD PLAYER OUT TO CD DIGITAL INPUT XLR(F)-XLR(M) S/PDIF OUTPUT TO DAW DIGITAL INPUT RCA-XLR(M) SUM OUTPUTS TO 5-6 OR 7-8 INPUTS XLR(F)-TRS ALT SPEAKER OUT TO POWERED MONITOR INPUTS XLR(F)-XLR(M) MAIN SPEAKER OUT TO POWERED MONITOR INPUTS XLR(F)-XLR(M) ANALOG CABLE: DIGITAL CABLE: POWER CABLE:
14 14 | | Endox DANGEROUS MUSIC D-BOX AND SYMPHONY 8X8
LOREM D-BOX IPSUM | | 15 15 D-BOX AND 2-BUS LT EXPANSION FROM D/A CONVERTER OR COMPUTER INTERFACE OUTPUTS 17-24 TO A/D CONVERTER OR COMPUTER INTERFACE, BACK INTO THE SESSION ANALOG CABLE: DIGITAL CABLE: POWER CABLE: D-BOX AND 2-BUS LT EXPANSION SETUP FROM D/A CONVERTER OR COMPUTER INTERFACE OUTPUTS 9-16 DIGITAL OUTPUT OF THE INTERFACE OR CONVERTER (AES OR SPIDF) FROM D/A CONVERTER OR COMPUTER INTERFACE OUTPUTS 1-8
16 | DANGEROUS MUSIC APPENDIX H = HOT ANALOG 8 CHANNEL DB25 (TASCAM PROTOCOL) C = COLD G = GROUND PIN OUT WIRING FOR DB25 CONNECTOR
D-BOX APPENDIX CONTINUED...
18 | DANGEROUS MUSIC SPECIFICATIONS SUMMING SECTION Frequency Response 1Hz-100kHz within 0.1dB THD+N < 0.003% IMD < 0.0035% Crosstalk < -97dB Noise < -89dBu total energy in audio band Maximum Input +27dBu MONITOR SECTION Frequency Response 1Hz-100kHz within 0.1dB THD+N < 0.002% IMD < 0.003% Crosstalk < -101dB Noise < -92dBu total energy in audio band Maximum Input +26dBu D/A CONVERTER Lock Range Fs=30kHz-100kHz Crosstalk < -101dB Noise -92dBu THD+N 0.
D-BOX | 19 WARRANTY Free 2 year extended warranty with online registration. Standard warranty: 90 days parts and labor, subject to inspection. Does not include damage incurred through shipping damage, abusive operation or modifications/attempted repair by unauthorized technicians. USA Dangerous Music Inc. 231 Stevens Road Edmeston, NY 13335 E-mail: info@dangerousmusic.com EUROPE Dangerous Music Europe Stieleichenweg 55 50999 Cologne, Germany Fon: +49 2236 393731 E-mail: info@dangerousmusic.
Dangerous Music Inc. 231 Stevens Road, Edmeston, NY 13335 info@dangerousmusic.com www.dangerousmusic.