Owner´s Manual SOUND PERFORMANCE LABORATORY
SOUND PERFORMANCE LABORATORY EQ MAGIX Owner´s Manual by Hermann Gier Manual version 2.1/94 The information in this document has been carefully checked and is assumed to be correct. However Sound Performance Laboratory (SPL electronics GmbH) reserves the right to modify the product described in this manual at any time. This document is the property of SPL electronics GmbH and may not be copied or reproduced in any manner, in part or full without the authorization of SPL electronics GmbH.
Foreword Introduction 4 4 The concept of sound processing in the EQ MAGIX 7 Installation Inputs & outputs Power supply Rear panel Connection examples 9 9 10 11 11 Control elements Input Mic /Line Line -30dB Peak Phase reverse 48V phantom power supply Insert 12 12 13 13 13 14 Parametric Active Frequency Boost/Cut (+/-) Bandwidth Q Q Fine Notch Deleting an interference frequeny Introduction into the Vitalizer The control elements of the Vitalizer Active +10dB Peak Bass Deep Mid-Hi Tune Process Harmo
Foreword Dear customer, Thank you for the confidence you have shown towards SPL electronics GmbH by purchasing the SPL EQ MAGIX. The EQ MAGIX is a first-rate Equalizer with exemplary specifications, excellent workmanship and unrivalled sound quality. Please study this owner´s manual carefully so that you can make the most of the wide range of possible applications offered by the EQ MAGIX and to ensure ease of operation.
Introduction equalizer of the EQ MAGIX is based on SVF design (state-variable-filter) and provides a operation frequency range between 14 Hz and 58 kHz. The integrated VITALIZER was developed by SPL and has achieved a significant degree of popularity over the years. The filter concept works on the basis of psychoacoustic sound principles and is therefore ideal to achieve creative sound effects.
Introduction The VITALIZER® in the EQ MAGIX: The new generation of psychoacoustic equalizers for the first time in a 19“ mixer channel module, together with microphone preamplifier, PARAMETRIC equalizer and PANORAMA output stage. The PANORAMA output stage creates a double Mono output signal from the Mono input signal and enables active panning between the two channels. Two LED meters indicate the PPM peak values. MUTE and FADER switch options. 6 4.
The EQ MAGIX features a PARAMETRIC constant-Q equaliser combined with the VITALIZER equaliser system. This combination of filters is based on the assumption that after successful microphoning, you only have one problem zone, if at all, that needs to be equalized. The VITALIZER provides all the necessary circuitry for creative sound post-processing.
The concept of sound processing in the EQ MAGIX The VITALIZER is the creative sound component in the EQ MAGIX. The internal signal processing of the VITALIZER correlates the phase with the amplitude in such a way that masking effects in the original signal are compensated. The bass sound colours: SOFT & TIGHT The MID-HI TUNE filter provides shelving filtering with a broad bandwidth which therefore sounds very neutral.
The housing of the EQ MAGIX has the standard 19" EIA format and occupies 1 height unit (1 U = 44 mm) in your rack. When installing the unit in a 19" rack, the rear side of the unit needs some support, especially in a Touring Case. The EQ MAGIX should not be installed near units which produce strong magnetic fields or extreme heat. Do not install the EQ MAGIX directly above or below power amplifiers or digital processors.
Power supply A stable and well-filtered toroidal-core power supply provides the basis for good sound processing. The GND Lift switching option helps remedy hum loops. A binding post permits connection of an alternative circuit ground. Ample filtering, smoothings and calibrations make for stable, constant service voltage. Protective circuitry prevents premature aging or damage to components. The phantom supply voltage is from a separate power supply with sophisticated filtering and selected components.
EQ MAGIX rear panel Rear panel electronically balanced mic/line input; pin 2 = hot / pin 3 = cold unbalanced INSERT SEND/RETURN jacks outputs: XLR (balanced, +6dB) and jack (unbalanced, 0dB) mains voltage selector: 220-240V / 50Hz or 100-120V / 60Hz GND LIFT switch and binding post for alternative ground connection mains inlet connector for non-heating appliances with detachable 3-pole mains cable Connection examples Output 3 & 4 Feed in the power of electrical life for your EQ MAGIX here.
Control elements 6 5 1 Input 3 Mic / Line 1 2 4 The INPUT stage of the EQ MAGIX is based on the SSM 2017 semiconductor. The strengths of this particular component are its extremely low noise and distortion characteristics. Unlike discretely designed circuits, the SSM 2017 has 64 transistor functions (discretely up to 24), thus achieving a common mode rejection of over 90 dB (measured at INSERT SEND). Preamplification of the input signal is determined by the MIC/LINE control.
3 Peak Pressing the phase switch (PHASE REVERSE) inverts the polarity of the microphone signal. When the switch has not been pressed (status LED is off), the polarity is »in phase«. Pressing the switch means that the polarity is »out of phase«. Phase inversion can be used for a number of different reasons: 1.
Input All microphones with balanced floating output, i.e. also microphones equipped with tubes can be used when the phantom voltage is switched on. N Insert 14 WARNING: It is essential to switch the phantom supply off if other types of microphones are used. A line signal source or an unbalanced microphone may only be used if the phantom supply is switched OFF. 6 There is a switchable INSERT path between the INPUT stage and the PARAMETRIC stage.
11 8 10 9 Parametric 7 12 The ACTIVE function switches the PARAMETRIC equalizer on or off. If the switch has been pressed, the integrated LED indicates that the PARAMETRIC section has been activated. The ACTIVE funciton is a so-called "electronic bypass". Any DC voltages are filtered out via coupling capacitors. To increase the operational safety of the monitor loudspeakers, you should, however, avoid switching the parameters on or off at a loud monitor volume levels.
Parametric Practical applications bring accurate processing of subwoofer tracks to mind, along with a problem which modern recording procedures (PCM, hard disk, samplers etc.) frequently involve; here, the frequencies recorded are often in the infra-sonic frequency range (digital coding). When they are reproduced (which involves D/A conversion), low-frequency signal portions can cause phase distortions in the audible range, creating secondary effects which cannot be corrected subsequently.
10 Q 11 Q-Fine Parametric When the Q potentiometer is turned to the extreme left, the bandwidth around the selected centre frequency is very narrow. This is known as »high Q« with a value of Q3.6. When it is turned to the extreme right, the selected bandwidth is of maximum width, i.e. »low Q«. The value is Q0.6. The bandwidth factor is calculated from the width of the frequency curve on the -3 dB points relative to the 0 dB line.
Parametric ristics can be altered from GENTLE to STEEP, (also see point 9: BOOST/CUT , page 16). Important: If you switch on the NOTCH mode, the bandwidth control Q must be set at 0.6 (extreme right), so as to ensure a 1:1 level ratio with the original signal. Narrower notches can be obtained if the Q control is turned to the extreme left. However, then the output level is also reduced by around 20dB. Figure 4 shows the curves for the NOTCH with GENTLE and STEEP characteristics at Q0.
Two possibilities are available with the EQ MAGIX to delete a interference frequency: 1. The CUT mode with max. attenuation of 15 dB 2. The NOTCH mode with max. attenuation of 30 to 50 dB. Deleting an interference frequency In order to localize and delete an interference frequency proceed as follows: 1.a) 1.b) 1.c) 1.d) 1.e) Activate the PARAMETRIC stage. Set the Q control to the smallest bandwidth (extreme left, Q 3.6) Set the BOOST/CUT control to max. BOOST (extreme right,+15 dB).
Introduction into the VITALIZER ® If you are working with a VITALIZER filter network for the very first time, it is advisable to operate the control parameters in a certain order to achieve optimum results as quickly as possible. You should use a mono signal of good quality as a signal source. You can either preamplify it in the INPUT section or feed it directly into the INSERT RETURN, so that the signal goes directly into the PARAMETRIC section.
A section within the VITALIZER with one of the most decisive influences on the sound is PROCESS control. If you continue to turn the PROCESS control up, more of the signal is added to the BASS and MID-HI TUNE sections whilst dominant mid frequencies are reduced according human hearing at the same time. The below sections contain more detailed information on this aspect. Familiarize yourself with the sound changes before deciding on the setting which sounds best. 4.
The VITALIZER's control elements Active p +10 B Peak 22 13 14 15 14 16 18 15 17 19 13 20 21 The ACTIVE function switches the VITALIZER section of the EQ MAGIX on or off. The status LED indicates that the VITALIZER has been activated. As with the PARAMETRIC stage, the ACTIVE function of the VITALIZER stage is an »electronic bypass«. Any DC voltages are filtered out via coupling capacitors.
16 Bass The VITALIZER's control elements The BASS control is responsible for the »colour« of the bass sound your signal is to have. If you move the BASS control to the right, you get a drier, percussive bass sound, known as TIGHT. As a result of this, on the righthand side of the scaling points, there are squares which increase in size, in line with increased intensity. They symbolize the contoured »TIGHT« bass sound.
The VITALIZER's control elements Deep 17 The DEEP circuit increases the processed bass range. The bass range encloses frequencies between ca. 20 Hz and 110 Hz with a bass centre frequency at 50 Hz. The DEEP function enlarges this range to approx. 16 Hz to 140 Hz with the same bass centre frequency and increases the amplification level by ca. 3 dB. Mid-Hi Tune 18 The MID-HI TUNE control is used to set the starting frequency of the broad-band shelving filter.
The VITALIZER's control elements Fig. 8: 1 2 Five frequency responses are shown for the MID-HI TUNE filter at max. PROCESS value and BASS at 0. 3 4 1. 1 kHz 2. 2 kHz 3. 3,5 kHz 4. 8 kHz 5. 20 kHz 5 The third control of the VITALIZER section determines the ratio between BASS and MID-HI TUNE to the original signal. The HARMONICS control is not affected by the PROCESS control. 19 Process The PROCESS control determines the damping intensity of dominant mid frequencies.
The VITALIZER's control elements Harmonics 20 The VITALIZER works with steep filters and controlled changes of the phase relationships of the harmonics to process the harmonics structure. We consciously did without the generator principle of »Exciters«. The VITALIZER's harmonic filter does not add any distortions to the original signal, unlike with the generator principle. It extracts all the information it needs from the original signal.
25 22 Output 23 24 The OUTPUT section is an output stage with active PAN control. A double Mono signal is produced from the Mono input signal which is available via the balanced and unbalanced outputs. The output signals can be fed to two insert returns on the mixing desk, a recorder or a stereo effects processor. 22 Pan The output peak levels (PPM values) are indicated on the LED display. The levels are indicated in steps of 3 dB from -18 dB to + 9 dB.
EQ MAGIX Specifications Frequency range Equalizer Frequency range 10 Hz - 100 kHz (100 kHz = -3dB) 14 Hz - 58 kHz CMRR (common mode rejection ratio) -85dBu @ 100 Hz -76dBu @ 1 kHz -65dBu @ 15 kHz (Set-up for measurements: input resistor 150 Ω, 0dB, measured at the XLR output) THD & N (total harmonic distortion & noise) (Set-up for measurements: input resistor 150 Ω, 0dB, measured at the XLR output) Signal to Noise A-WTG CCIR 468 Gen.: Preamp: 20 Hz 1 kHz 10 kHz 20 kHz 0dBu min 0.0132 0.0131 0.
SPL electronics GmbH (hereafter called SPL) products are warranted only in the country where purchased, through the authorized SPL distributor in that country, against defects in material or workmanship. The specific period of this limited warranty shall be that which is described to the original retail purchaser by the authorized SPL dealer or distributor at the time of purchase.
SOUND PERFORMANCE LABORATORY SPL electronics GmbH, Tel. +49-(0) 21 63 / 98 34-0, Fax +49-(0) 21 63 / 98 34-20 Factory address: Sohlweg 55; D-41372 Niederkrüchten Postal address: P.O.
