Series, 160s, 160sl – dbx 160SL User Manual
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160S
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160S
160S
160S
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160S
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160S
160S
160S
Operations
160S
160S
160S
160S
160S
160S
160S
160S
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160S
160S
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160S
160S
Operations
Inspection
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Operating
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Operating
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Installation
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Introduction
Introduction
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contents
concept
concept
diagram
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applications
applications
support and factory service
support and factory service
160S
Specifications
Specifications
160S
160S
160S
160S
160S
160S
Manual
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Furthermore, it is interesting to note that by comparing the input and output waveforms for the compressed
mode, the quietest sections of the input signal have been effectively raised in level, whereas the loudest sections
have been effectively decreased in level. The overall effect is that both ends of the dynamic range have been
pushed toward the middle. This squashing effect of compression is important to remember and highlights the
major difference between compressing and limiting.
Compressing and limiting differ in one more aspect: the dynamic settings for attack and release times. Attack
time is defined as the time taken to for a compressor to respond to program levels which have exceeded the
threshold point. Release time is the amount of time a compressor takes to return the program level to its original
level, after the last excursion over the threshold point. For compression, a preferably longer attack and release
time are generally the best in order to keep the overall output signal within a specified dynamic range. For
limiting applications, considerably shorter attack and release times are necessary to control fast transient signals
or to increase headroom.
To achieve inaudible compression, it is advisable to work with program dependent attack and release times. The
advantage of program dependent compression is most apparent when processing musical material that is varied.
The dbx 160SL Stereo Compressor is suitable for all applications because of its ability to be manually set at both
attack and release parameters.
Limiters and PeakStopPlus
™
Lower frequencies work best when compressed with slower attack times. When compressing a mix that includes
a wide range of frequencies, a compromise is made when setting the attack time. The attack setting would
generally suit the lowest frequency components of the material. For general dynamic range control with a
compressor, this is of no serious consequence.
However, in a “limiting” situation, where we are restricting the peaks of our signal to a maximum operating level
to avoid distortion in subsequent devices, a slow attack time is not acceptable. This would result in very fast
high frequency signal transients passing through unaffected by gain reduction. These transients could then cause
distortion in the following equipment such as tape recorders and radio transmitters. It is therefore necessary to
choose an attack time which is as close to “zero” attack as possible, independent of the frequency.
This makes the limiter necessary, and it’s why we include a peak limiter on almost all of our compression
products. The dynamics of the dbx limiters are set to handle these fast transients through a process called
PeakStop
®
and the newer, improved two-stage process called PeakStopPlus
®
.
The first stage of PeakStopPlus is the Instantaneous Transient Clamp
™
which clamps the signal with a soft logarithmic clamp
function. This logarithmic function assures that the signal will not exceed the level set by the PeakStopPlus
™
LEVEL control
by more than 2 dB typically, and that it will not introduce harsh artifacts. The second stage is a unique program limiter
featuring Intelligent Predictive Limiting
™
. Its function is to monitor the input signal and intelligently predict the amount of
gain reduction needed to keep the output signal below the ceiling set by the Instantaneous Transient Clamp
™
. Note, since
the PeakStopPlus
™
limiter is a fail-safe limiter it must come after the OUTPUT GAIN control. If the output gain is set too high
as compared to the PeakStopPlus
™
Level control, continuous limiting can occur. While PeakStopPlus
™
is typically used as
a protective function, creative effects can be achieved by intentionally driving the signal into heavy PeakStopPlus
™
limiting.
Great care has gone into the design of the PeakStopPlus
™
limiter to keep it acoustically transparent. Appropriate use of it
can protect your gear while keeping the signal free of artifacts.
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