dbx 160SL - Manual (Page 7)

3
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Connection
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Installation
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Technical
Introduction Introduction
to your system to your system
considerations considerations
contents
contents
concept
concept
diagram
diagram
applications
applications
support and factory service
support and factory service
160S
Specifications
Specifications
160S
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Manual
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The Compression and Limiting Effects
On a compressor, there is a relationship between the input signal, and the threshold level, input, output, and
ratio settings. Look at an input signal applied to the inputs of two compressors. The threshold level of the second
unit is set ten decibels higher than the threshold of the first unit. Since a compressor only affects signals that
exceed the threshold level, it is obvious that the signal of the first compressor will be compressed more, because
it exceeds the threshold level more than the level of the second unit, because the second compressor’s threshold
level is set higher.
Operating Level
Headroom
Clipping
Noise Floor
Useable dynamic range
Clipped signal heavily distorted
Audio levels below here are not heard, because of noise
+10
0
-10
-20
time
+10
0
-10
-20
time
input
dBu
Figure 2 Figure 1
Figure 3 Figure 4
input
dBu
+10
0
-10
-20
time
+10
0
-10
-20
time
output
dBu
output
dBu
INPUT OUTPUT INPUT OUTPUT
CHANNEL ONE CHANNEL TWO
A B
2 1
3
Jensen ®
Output
Transformer
Jensen ®
Output
Transformer
10k 1W
GND
Switch
GND
Switch
BALANCED FLOATING OPERATION UNBALANCED FLOATING OPERATION
Chassis
Ground
Chassis
Ground
Chassis
Ground
Ground Switch open
Unbalance Switch open
Ground Switch open
Unbalanced Switch closed
(6dB drop in output level)
Jensen ®
Output
Transformer
Jensen ®
Output
Transformer
10k 1W
GND
Switch
GND
Switch
BALANCED GROUND-
REFERENCED OPERATION
UNBALANCED GROUND-
REFERENCED OPERATION
Chassis
Ground
Chassis
Ground
Ground Switch closed
Unbalance Switch open
Ground Switch closed
Unbalance Switch closed
(6dB drop in output level)
+
-
+
-
+
-
+
-
Source
Device
(mixer)
EQ
IN
OUT
Audio
Outputs
Source
Device
(mixer)
Audio
Outputs
DELAY
Audio
Inputs
Audio
Outputs
Sidechain
Return
Sidechain
Send
Audio
Inputs
Audio
Outputs
Sidechain
Return
Sidechain
Send
2 1
3
Chassis
Ground
2 1
3
Chassis
Ground
2 1
3
Chassis
Ground
160SL
160SL
UL60065
FUSE: T 500mA L 250V
Operating Level
Headroom
Clipping
Noise Floor
Useable dynamic range
Clipped signal heavily distorted
Audio levels below here are not heard, because of noise
+10
0
-10
-20
time
+10
0
-10
-20
time
input
dBu
Figure 2 Figure 1
Figure 3 Figure 4
input
dBu
+10
0
-10
-20
time
+10
0
-10
-20
time
output
dBu
output
dBu
INPUT OUTPUT INPUT OUTPUT
CHANNEL ONE CHANNEL TWO
A B
2 1
3
Jensen ®
Output
Transformer
Jensen ®
Output
Transformer
10k 1W
GND
Switch
GND
Switch
BALANCED FLOATING OPERATION UNBALANCED FLOATING OPERATION
Chassis
Ground
Chassis
Ground
Chassis
Ground
Ground Switch open
Unbalance Switch open
Ground Switch open
Unbalanced Switch closed
(6dB drop in output level)
Jensen ®
Output
Transformer
Jensen ®
Output
Transformer
10k 1W
GND
Switch
GND
Switch
BALANCED GROUND-
REFERENCED OPERATION
UNBALANCED GROUND-
REFERENCED OPERATION
Chassis
Ground
Chassis
Ground
Ground Switch closed
Unbalance Switch open
Ground Switch closed
Unbalance Switch closed
(6dB drop in output level)
+
-
+
-
+
-
+
-
Source
Device
(mixer)
EQ
IN
OUT
Audio
Outputs
Source
Device
(mixer)
Audio
Outputs
DELAY
Audio
Inputs
Audio
Outputs
Sidechain
Return
Sidechain
Send
Audio
Inputs
Audio
Outputs
Sidechain
Return
Sidechain
Send
2 1
3
Chassis
Ground
2 1
3
Chassis
Ground
2 1
3
Chassis
Ground
160SL
160SL
UL60065
FUSE: T 500mA L 250V
Input of compressors
at different threshold
settings.
= threshold
Operating Level
Headroom
Clipping
Noise Floor
Useable dynamic range
Clipped signal heavily distorted
Audio levels below here are not heard, because of noise
+10
0
-10
-20
time
+10
0
-10
-20
time
input
dBu
Figure 2 Figure 1
Figure 3 Figure 4
input
dBu
+10
0
-10
-20
time
+10
0
-10
-20
time
output
dBu
output
dBu
INPUT OUTPUT INPUT OUTPUT
CHANNEL ONE CHANNEL TWO
A B
2 1
3
Jensen ®
Output
Transformer
Jensen ®
Output
Transformer
10k 1W
GND
Switch
GND
Switch
BALANCED FLOATING OPERATION UNBALANCED FLOATING OPERATION
Chassis
Ground
Chassis
Ground
Chassis
Ground
Ground Switch open
Unbalance Switch open
Ground Switch open
Unbalanced Switch closed
(6dB drop in output level)
Jensen ®
Output
Transformer
Jensen ®
Output
Transformer
10k 1W
GND
Switch
GND
Switch
BALANCED GROUND-
REFERENCED OPERATION
UNBALANCED GROUND-
REFERENCED OPERATION
Chassis
Ground
Chassis
Ground
Ground Switch closed
Unbalance Switch open
Ground Switch closed
Unbalance Switch closed
(6dB drop in output level)
+
-
+
-
+
-
+
-
Source
Device
(mixer)
EQ
IN
OUT
Audio
Outputs
Source
Device
(mixer)
Audio
Outputs
DELAY
Audio
Inputs
Audio
Outputs
Sidechain
Return
Sidechain
Send
Audio
Inputs
Audio
Outputs
Sidechain
Return
Sidechain
Send
2 1
3
Chassis
Ground
2 1
3
Chassis
Ground
2 1
3
Chassis
Ground
160SL
160SL
UL60065
FUSE:
T 500mA L
250V
The difference between compression and limiting is shown visually below. In the first diagram below, compression
“squashes” the signal. Its peaks are lowered, but the overall level of the signal is raised due to applied make-
up gain (Output Gain). In the second diagram, the peaks are lowered to the threshold level, but the rest of the
signal has not been altered.
Operating Level
Headroom
Clipping
Noise Floor
Useable dynamic range
Clipped signal heavily distorted
Audio levels below here are not heard, because of noise
+10
0
-10
-20
time
+10
0
-10
-20
time
input
dBu
Figure 2 Figure 1
Figure 3 Figure 4
input
dBu
+10
0
-10
-20
time
+10
0
-10
-20
time
output
dBu
output
dBu
INPUT OUTPUT INPUT OUTPUT
CHANNEL ONE CHANNEL TWO
A B
2 1
3
Jensen ®
Output
Transformer
Jensen ®
Output
Transformer
10k 1W
GND
Switch
GND
Switch
BALANCED FLOATING OPERATION UNBALANCED FLOATING OPERATION
Chassis
Ground
Chassis
Ground
Chassis
Ground
Ground Switch open
Unbalance Switch open
Ground Switch open
Unbalanced Switch closed
(6dB drop in output level)
Jensen ®
Output
Transformer
Jensen ®
Output
Transformer
10k 1W
GND
Switch
GND
Switch
BALANCED GROUND-
REFERENCED OPERATION
UNBALANCED GROUND-
REFERENCED OPERATION
Chassis
Ground
Chassis
Ground
Ground Switch closed
Unbalance Switch open
Ground Switch closed
Unbalance Switch closed
(6dB drop in output level)
+
-
+
-
+
-
+
-
Source
Device
(mixer)
EQ
IN
OUT
Audio
Outputs
Source
Device
(mixer)
Audio
Outputs
DELAY
Audio
Inputs
Audio
Outputs
Sidechain
Return
Sidechain
Send
Audio
Inputs
Audio
Outputs
Sidechain
Return
Sidechain
Send
2 1
3
Chassis
Ground
2 1
3
Chassis
Ground
2 1
3
Chassis
Ground
160SL
160SL
UL60065
FUSE: T 500mA L 250V
Difference in output of
compressors and limiters.
Operating Level
Headroom
Clipping
Noise Floor
Useable dynamic range
Clipped signal heavily distorted
Audio levels below here are not heard, because of noise
+10
0
-10
-20
time
+10
0
-10
-20
time
input
dBu
Figure 2 Figure 1
Figure 3 Figure 4
input
dBu
+10
0
-10
-20
time
+10
0
-10
-20
time
output
dBu
output
dBu
INPUT OUTPUT INPUT OUTPUT
CHANNEL ONE CHANNEL TWO
A B
2 1
3
Jensen ®
Output
Transformer
Jensen ®
Output
Transformer
10k 1W
GND
Switch
GND
Switch
BALANCED FLOATING OPERATION UNBALANCED FLOATING OPERATION
Chassis
Ground
Chassis
Ground
Chassis
Ground
Ground Switch open
Unbalance Switch open
Ground Switch open
Unbalanced Switch closed
(6dB drop in output level)
Jensen ®
Output
Transformer
Jensen ®
Output
Transformer
10k 1W
GND
Switch
GND
Switch
BALANCED GROUND-
REFERENCED OPERATION
UNBALANCED GROUND-
REFERENCED OPERATION
Chassis
Ground
Chassis
Ground
Ground Switch closed
Unbalance Switch open
Ground Switch closed
Unbalance Switch closed
(6dB drop in output level)
+
-
+
-
+
-
+
-
Source
Device
(mixer)
EQ
IN
OUT
Audio
Outputs
Source
Device
(mixer)
Audio
Outputs
DELAY
Audio
Inputs
Audio
Outputs
Sidechain
Return
Sidechain
Send
Audio
Inputs
Audio
Outputs
Sidechain
Return
Sidechain
Send
2 1
3
Chassis
Ground
2 1
3
Chassis
Ground
2 1
3
Chassis
Ground
160SL
160SL
UL60065
FUSE:
T 500mA L
250V
= threshold
Obviously, there is a large difference between these two signals in relation to their dynamic range and the
processed signal. In the third figure, it is shown to have been compressed, and in the fourth figure, it has been
limited.
160SL
lue
series
b
160SL
160SL
160SL
controls controls
160SL
notes notes
160SL
160SL
160SL
Operations
160SL
160SL
160SL
160SL
160SL
160SL
160SL
160SL
160SL
160SL
160SL
160SL
160SL
160SL
160SL
Operations
Inspection Inspection
Operating Operating
Operating Operating
Connection
Connection
Installation
Installation
Technical
Technical
Introduction Introduction
to your system to your system
considerations considerations
contents
contents
concept
concept
diagram
diagram
applications
applications
support and factory service
support and factory service
160SL
Specifications
Specifications
160SL
160SL
160SL
160SL
160SL
160SL
Manual
Manual
Design
Design
Block
Block
Controls
Controls
Advanced
Advanced
Warranty
Warranty
lue
series
b