ART Pro Audio VoiceChannel - Tube Channel Strip with Digital Outs - Manual (Page 15)

APPLICATIONS
Bypassing Components Of The Voice Channel™
To bypass the vacuum tube microphone preamp: Use the preamp INSERT INPUT jack.
To bypass the Compressor/Limiter: Set the RATIO control fully counterclockwise to 1:1.
To bypass the Expander/Gate: Set the EXPANDER/GATE THRESHOLD control fully counterclockwise to
OFF.
To bypass the EQ: Use the EQ bypass switch.
Optimizing The Preamp For Lowest Noise
The preamp of the ART Voice Channel™ can be optimized for low noise by combining use of the PAD and
Input GAIN control for mic and line level signals. NOTE: The PAD control has no effect on the INSTRUMENT
INPUT (Front panel 1/4” input of the INPUT combo jack).
First, bypass the Compressor/Limiter, Expander/Gate and EQ. Next center the OUTPUT LEVEL control to “0”
dB of gain. The OUTPUT LEVEL LED meter can now be used to correctly indicate the clip level of the input
stage.
Second, start with the PAD in the “OUT” position and the GAIN control centered. Refer to the OUTPUT
LEVEL LED meter’s peak-hold function. Make sure that this meter never indicates clipping (the red LED is held
on after a transient). The peak-hold indicator can be in the “yellow” range or in the –5dB range of levels.
If the signal level is too high, depress the PAD switch.
Third, adjust the GAIN control to keep the peak levels in the –5dB range of the OUTPUT LEVEL LED meter.
Utilizing Pre/Post Compression EQ
The Equalizer section of the Voice Channel™ can be applied either before OR after the Compressor/Limiter.
This function is useful in getting the best performance out of the unit.
Setting the Equalizer to “PRE COMP” is useful when the input signal contains too much low or high frequency
information. Compressors in general work best when the audio is equalized first. (This can also serve to better
control signal overshoots to the A/D converters as well.)
One example is a vocal where the performer/microphone combination produces a “popping” sound, and
when compressed, the Compressor/Limiter “pumps”. Sometimes the use of the LOW CUT filter in the preamp
section does not cut enough of this out, or cuts too much of the lower midrange out of the signal to be useful.
Here, the EQ can surgically remove this information and better optimize the overall sound.
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