Sound Devices 552 - Manual (Page 18)

552 User Guide and Technical Information
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v. 1.4 Features and specifications are subject to change. Visit www.sounddevices.com for the latest documentation.
The following information is reported by the SVEN.
Function Description
Card Space Available Press and hold the Battery Check button to announce the remaining card space available. SVEN
automatically announces remaining record time at 15, 10, 5, and 2 minutes remaining.
Time and Date Continue to hold the Battery Check button after Card Space Available announcement to hear the
current time and date.
Time Date Set Hold Input 5’s PFL then press the Battery Check button and the Headphone Controller to enter
Time Date Set. The unit of time and each value is announced when turning Headphone Controller.
Setup Menu Navigation While in the Setup Menu, the current Function or Option is announced with each turn of the
Headphone Controller.
Playback Navigation Announces the file number of the selected file. If navigating through folders, SVEN announces the
selected daily folder.
Media Busy Indication “Media Busy” is announced if the SD card is not available to respond to a command.
Full SD Card “Full SD Card” is announced when there is no space remaining on the SD card and a record com-
mand has been given.
Record Mode Off “Record Mode Off” is announced if the recorder receives a command and the recorder is disabled
in the Setup Menu.
Next File Press the Recorder Controller in stand-by mode to announce the file number of the next take to
be recorded.
Input Setup and Control
The 552’s inputs consist of five, full-featured preamplifiers. Each input has a wide gain range to ac-
commodate nearly all signal types of microphone and line. The 552 easily accepts signals from low-
sensitivity ribbon and dynamic microphones, medium-level wireless and condenser mic outputs,
and “hot” line-level signals.
The XLR inputs of the 552 are transformer-balanced. The isolation characteristics of transformers are
superior to other balancing techniques and are ideal for the hostile and uncontrolled environments
of field production. Transformers provide galvanic isolation from the driving source, meaning there
is no direct electrical connection. Signals are “transformed” magnetically. The input transformers in
the 552 use premium magnetic core material to achieve high signal-handling-capability (especially at
low frequencies) while keeping distortion to a minimum. Because of their inherently-high common
mode impedance, transformers are unrivaled by any other type of input for common-mode noise
rejection.
The inputs of the 552 can be used as balanced or unbalanced. To unbalance, tie pin-3 to pin-1 of the
XLR connector. There is no change in gain between unbalanced and balanced connections into the
552.
Mic/Line Selection
Two input modes are available, Mic and Line . When Line is selected the LINE LED is illuminated.
Taking into account all gain stages, the 552 has 93 dB of available gain from Mic input to Line output.
When inputs are set to the LINE position, the input sensitivity is reduced by 40 dB.
The selected channel is set to receive a line level input when the Line LED adjacent to the input’s PFL
is illuminated. To toggle between Mic/Line levels, hold the respective input’s PFL and then slide the
Slate Mic/Line switch to the Slate position.