Art Pro Channel manual

Pro Channel TUBE MIC PREAMP / COMPRESSOR / EQUALIZER USER’S GUIDE[...]

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- 2 - Contents FEATURES ......................................................................... 5 OVERVIEW ........................................................................ 6 W HY USE AN EXTERNAL PROCESSING CHANNEL ? ............................... 6 D ESIGN N OTES ...........................................................................[...]

- 3 - C LIP I NDICATOR .............................................................................. 13 E QUALIZER C IRCUIT ........................................................................ 13 Low Control ........................................................................................... 13 Low Switch ...............................[...]

- 4 - G ROUNDING .................................................................................... 21 TUBE REPLACEMENT ..................................................... 21 WE’RE ON-LINE! .............................................................. 22 WARRANTY AND SERVICE INFORMATION .................... 22 L IMITED W ARRANTY ............[...]

- 5 - Fe a t u r e s The Pro Channel is a unique product. It c ontains three independent, award-winning circuit designs: one of the finest tube mi crophone preamplifiers available, one of the finest optical tube compressors available, a nd one of the m ost flexible EQs you’ve ever used. Developed in partnership with studio and live sound engineer[...]

- 6 - Ov er view Why use an external processing channel? The best way to get a signal to tape is by using the shortest signal path. In most cases, the shortest path is as follo ws: mic to preamp to compressor to EQ to tape. (The signal doesn’t even go through a mixer!) This isn’t a new concept, but it has become more relevant with the availabil[...]

- 7 - The compression circuit features a VCA- less design and utilizes either optical (Vactrol®) or tube, dual triode electronics for superior musical performance. The compressor is soft knee by design. Although it is capable of providing a thoroughly “squashed” signal, it was designed to exce l in areas where transparent and musical dynamics [...]

- 8 - Installation The Pro Channel may be employed in a number of setups, including: • between a microphone and a digital reco rder, mixer, or analog recorder; • in a mixer’s channel insert points; • between a microphone and signal processors; and • between electronic musical instruments (s ynthesizers, guitars, basses, samplers, acoustic[...]

- 9 - F r ont P anel Contr ols and Indica tor s Preamp Circuit Gain Control The Gain control sets the Pro Channel’s input gain. Turn the control clockwise to increase gain and counter-clockwise to decrease it. The front panel calibrations (-11dB to +30 dB) refer to the Gain Switch (see next section) in the “Norm” position with the input route[...]

- 10 - before disconnecting microphones. Another Note: Most dynamic microphones won’t be affe cted or damaged if they are plugged into the Pro Channel when phantom power is turned on (we haven’t run across any). However, if the mic doesn’t need it, don’t use it . Some things are best left untested! Phase Switch The Phase switch is used to r[...]

- 11 - +10dB of gain (when turned fully clockwise). When setting up the preamp, start with the Pre amp Output at its “0” position. Once you get the Gain control set the way you want it to sound, use the Preamp Output control to set the level out of the preamp (much like using the master volume control on a guitar amplifier). Use the Preamp Outp[...]

- 12 - Attack Switch The Attack switch selects th e attack characteristics of both the tube and optical compressor circuits. The Fast position (in) allows the co mpressor to react quickly to fast-rising attacks. Note that the tube circu it has an inherently fa st response and can be aggressive on signals with quick transients , such as snare drums.[...]

- 13 - clockwise increases the level to a maximum of +20dB of gain. While you can use the compressor to add gain to a signal, it is better to add gain before the compressor for the best signal to noise ratio. If you want to us e the compressor to add more gain, use the VU meter to monitor the Pro Channel’s output level, or use the me ter on your [...]

- 14 - “weight” or “beef” to a week vocal and cutting it can “thin out” a signal that takes up too much room in the low end. Lo-Mid Control The Lo-Mid control is a dual concentric pot (i.e., there are two controls – one outer and one inner). The outer control is used to sel ect a frequency while the inner one is used to apply boost or[...]

- 15 - “surgical” cutting of a frequency band without affecting adjacent frequencies too much. High Control The High control adjusts a shelving filter with a selectable corner frequency of either 6KHz or 18KHz. The two frequencies are se l ected with the High switch (see below). The high shelving filter affects all freque ncies above the corn e[...]

- 16 - Master Contr ols Master Output Control The Master Output control sets the final output level leaving the Pro Channel. When the control is fully counterclockwise, there is no output. Turning the control clockwise increases the output level to a maximum gain of +10dB. When setting this control, refer to the VU Meter (set for the “Output” o[...]

- 17 - R ear P anel Connections Input and Output Connections The Pro Channel’s XLR connectors follow the AES standard: Pin 1 = Ground, Pin 2 = Hot (+), and Pin 3 = Cold (-). The unbalanced ¼” phone jacks are the typical Tip = Hot (+) and Sleeve = Ground. Note: None of the Pro Channel’s circuitry is connected directly to the metal chassis. Ei[...]

- 18 - The loops may also be utilized to “re-patch” the compressor and equa lizer circuits in a different order (i.e., signal flow = preamp to equalizer to compressor ). For information on how to do this, see Loop Connection Examples, below. Preamp - Compressor Loop A loop is provided between the preamp’s output and the compressor’s input. [...]

- 19 - A pplica tions The Pro Channel’s main application is as a processing channel for a microphone, instrument, or line level source. To use th e Pro Channel as a mi c or line preamplifier only, simply press the B ypass switches to bypass the compression and equalizer circuitry. Plug a microphone directly into either input and set the Input and[...]

- 20 - What is the best way to use EQ? There are two schools of thought on EQ: 1) Use as much as you need to make things sound good. 2) Don’t use any EQ. Most people follow the suggestion of “if it sounds good, it is good.” You need to use your ears and judge for yourself as their ar e no steadfast rules fo r EQ’ing. Here are a few pointers[...]

- 21 - Special Effects For industrial, metal, or just “flavor” te xtures, experiment with the Pro Channel. Overdriving the preamp, compre ssor, and equalizer circuitry can add interesting textures when blended with vocals and other instrume nts. Purposely placing signals out of phase can also yield interesting resu lts. No harm will come to th [...]

- 22 - W e’r e on-line! For Product information, questions, applica tions, tips, answers and general discussion with ART employees, look for ART on the Internet. Email us at support@artproaudio.com and check out our Web Site at www.artproaudio.com . W ar r anty and Ser vice Infor ma tion Limited Warranty Applied Research and Technology(A R T) wil[...]

- 23 - 2) If you believe the ART unit is at fault, go to www.artproaudio.com . You may contact Customer Service for more as sistance, or directly request a Return Authorization for service in the “resources ” area of the website. 3) If you are returning the unit for service, pack the unit in its original carton or a reasonable substitute. The o[...]

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- 25 - A R T Pr o Channel Specifica tions Dimensions 6.5"D x 19"W x 3.50"H Weight 12.0 lbs. Maximum Gain XLR to XLR: 83dB, ¼” to ¼”: 65dB Dynamic Range >100dB (20-20KHz) Frequency Response 20Hz to 20KHz (±0.5dB) Low-Cut Filter Single-Pole Va riable: -3dB@10Hz to 250Hz Input/Output Connections XLR balanced and ¼” unbalanc[...]

- 26 - www.artproaudio.com support@artproaudio.com Pro Channel – Tube Mic Preamp / Compressor / Equalizer 215-5004-102[...]