BETTERMAKER EQ Models 232P, 232P Remote Operations Manual Addicted to Music Group ul.Paryska 35 m.10 03-945 Warsaw Poland Phone: +48 604649220 info@bettermaker.eu, www.bettermaker.eu www.addictedtomusic.
The Bettermaker crew would like to thank all the people that were deeply involved in the development of our first product, the EQ 230P. Thank you for the insight and inspiration you gave us to make it even better. Thanks to all the Beta-testers that gave us hands-on tips and all people involved in the conceptual stage. We hope we have listened to you carefully so as to produce an ideal tool in the hands of every engineer.
Table of Contents Important Safety Information 4 I. Introduction 5 II. Standards, Use and Alignment 6 III. Hardware 8 IV. Front Panel 9 V. Software 14 VI. DAW Integration 17 VII. EQ Filter Sections in Depth 19 VIII. Tricks and Tips 27 IX. Troubleshoting & Repair 28 X. Block Diagram 29 XI.
Important Safety Information This symbol indicates the presence of dangerous voltage within the product enclosure and presents the risk of electric shock. Only qualified service personal should perform these operations. Failure to observe this symbol could result in damage to the unit, property, or person. To reduce the risk of electric shock injury, do not remove the top cover. Dangerous voltage exists within the product enclosure. Refer servicing to qualified personnel.
I. Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of the Addicted to Music Bettermaker Equalizer - all analog sound with the flexibility of digital control! This book describes operation of two models, improved versions of the previous model 230P: The EQ232P — with luxurious front panel control and/or control via computer Plugin The EQ 232P Remote, without front panel, with Graphical User Interface (GUI) controlled externally by computer.
II. Standards, Use and Alignment The Bettermaker EQ232P is designed according to international standards, and is fully functional in any location with proper power available. This includes but is not limited to studio, stage, video post, on-location, festival, corporate, and both installed and temporary audio solutions. This equalizer is excellent in festival situations as its instant recall makes it perfect for fast resetting between multiple stages or bands.
Aligning Levels — VU and Peak Metering The VU meter is a liar—the equipment must have headroom to allow for peaks which the meter does not show. Traditional analog consoles and peripherals (such as compressors) equipped with VU meters are usually aligned to +4 dBu, so we recommend adjusting the digital system so +4 dBu or lower equals -20 dBFS with a sine wave alignment tone and an external analog voltmeter.
III. Hardware This basic overview of the hardware design approach of the Bettermaker EQ232P will help further your understanding of its sophisticated toolset and purist design. Internal Routing For normal operation it is not necessary to access the interior of the EQ232P. In the event of possible failure, please see Part IX, Trouble Shooting, where many issues can be solved. The analog and digital sections of your hybrid EQ are completely separate and isolated.
IV. Front Panel EQ232P Remote Only: All sections of the front panel are recreated in the Bettermaker EQ plugin. Note that the plugin is a digital control of the analog hardware, it does not pass signal in itself. Knobs can be grabbed and moved with the mouse, and buttons can be pressed using the mouse on screen. If you own the EQ232P Remote model, just launch the plugin and use the mouse to control the virtual equivalents of all the following controls.
A/B Comparison On the lower left of the panel, directly above the ENGAGE button is the A/B button. This is one of the most important and unique features of the Bettermaker EQ232P. It allows you to switch between two totally different (or subtly different) settings instantly.
EQ 1/2 The EQ 1/2 section occupies the space on the left hand front panel to the right of the HPF section. Each band of this reciprocal parametric EQ has 3 controls (level, frequency, and bandwidth). The two knobs control level (EQ boost or cut) and frequency respectively. The two buttons in the middle of each band alter the bandwidth of the filter. This can be changed from 1/5th an octave at its narrowest, to 3 octaves at its widest. The EQ1 filter has a frequency range of 45 Hz to 1 kHz.
The frequency selectors for each High/Low filter are switched, and displayed on the front panel in CPS or KCS. (Cycles Per Second = Hertz, Kilocycles Per Second = kHz). The P-Filter Low band has a 2 button increment/ decrement frequency selector for both the Boost and Attenuation controls (in CPS/Hz). The High band filter has two separate frequency selectors for Boost and Attenuation. The Attenuation frequency selector is a single button selector that rotates through all choices.
2) Press and hold CH for about 1 second to switch the unit to dual mono; the indicator now displays 1 showing you are in control of channel 1. The state of channel 1 is remembered from the last time the dual mono state was used, so no information will be lost when switching back and forth between Linked and Dual Mono states. When unlinking, both channels receive the same setting (setting of chnnel 1). So If you use the dual mono mode, be aware that linking it back will copy channel 1 setting to channel 2.
V. Software The sound of an equalizer is of course based on the quality of its hardware design. This unique equalizer is also a hybrid; all control and user interaction are performed in the digital software realm.
Recall States Recalling is simple. The PRESET knob is both a rotary encoder and a push button. Any preset (1-399) can be recalled at any time. Rotate the PRESET knob until the LED display shows the correct number of the savestate you would like to load (the factory example presets are loaded from memory slots 1-7). Once the correct number is shown on the display, press the PRESET knob once.
2. Pulsing Display: Save-state has been changed - If a save-state is loaded, then changed or altered in any way the memory cell number in the LED display will pulse. The entire display dims and brightens slowly as if breathing. This is to alert you that a change from the stored save-state has occurred. 3. Overwrite dialog: User interaction needed to confirm memory cell overwrite - occurs when you press and hold the PRESET knob for longer than 2 seconds, as described above in Storing Custom User States. 4.
VI. DAW Integration The Bettermaker EQ232P and EQ232P Remote can communicate with your DAW via USB connection. The units appear as a MIDI device and can be managed via a Plugin or Sysex commands. We strongly encourage using the plugin because it’s much easier to manage than Sysex. USB Programming and Features Bettermaker 232P and 232P remote has a unique option not available in any other analog EQ. You can connect it to your D.A.W. and use your host to controll the EQ as you would controll a plugin.
record and move some front panel knobs or push some buttons. This action will be recorded and can be played back into the EQ232P at any time. Better yet, recall any Preset on the front panel while recording into the DAW, and the entire current state of the Equalizer which came from that Preset will be recorded as a Sysex and can be played back into the Equalizer at any time, resetting the Equalizer to the contents of that memory.
VII. EQ Filter Sections in Depth We’ve put a large amount of time, effort, money, and listening tests into the research and development of the analog stages of the Bettermaker EQ232P. We feel that it represents one of the best values, highest fidelity, and newest methods of working available in audio today. We set out to make a product that broke new ground, an equalizer with the highest sonic quality, ease of use, and a full pallet of sound shaping tools to allow engineers to make the best-sounding record.
EQ1/2 Topology The EQ1/2 parametric section is based on the classic state-variable filter circuit. A filtered signal is summed with the dry signal in phase for boost. For cuts, the dry signal is combined with the out-of-phase filtered signal which results in perfect reciprocal curves. If you set one band to full boost, and the other band to full cut on the same frequency, the resulting overall EQ curve will be flat with almost no phase deviation.
PEQ Filter Section History / Theory of Operation The P-filter section is an homage to a classic Pultec™ EQ from the 1950s which has attenuation (cut) and addition (boost) controls on separate knobs. This design is unique in that identical boosts and cuts do not cancel, but rather deform the filter response in a special way. However we did not set out to make an exact replica.
PEQ low frequency actual boost and cut frequencies are slightly different at the same setting The Zen of the PEQ The band interaction in the P-filter section is unique to its design; it has so much versatility that it’s like having a four-band filter instead of two! With boost and attenuation on different controls, it is possible to deform the overall response curve in a way completely different from using two bands of parametric or graphic EQ centered on the same frequencies.
To achieve enlightenment in Zen, you must try it out yourself! Start with very high boost and cut to hear the effect clearly, notice a smoothing in the center frequency. Now take away the cut. Notice how the center frequency jumps out and becomes very aggressive. In normal use, such extreme boosts and cuts are not needed.
HF Boost Bandwidths: For a given boost setting, the wider the bandwidth is set, the lower the amount of boost. The PEQ’s boost gain values in dB approximately match the front panel scale at the middle bandwidth of 7. For example, a boost of 7 at a bandwidth of 7 is about 7 dB (pictured below).
Combining HF boost and cut: Here’s where the fun begins! Suppose you are mastering and need gentle presence for the melody instruments right up to the 10 kHz range, but the high harmonics of the cymbals are much too loud (bright). By combining a PEQ HF boost at 10 kHz with an HF cut at 20 kHz you can obtain the effect of a gentle shelving boost with the HF rolloff you need (pictured below).
VIII. Tricks and Tips This part of the manual is included to help you get great sounds out of your Bettermaker EQ232P. As we add to our panoply of users, the EQ232P is so versatile that we expect this part will grow. If you find some nice tricks, please contact us, and get your name and contribution added to the manual. Get creative, experiment, and don’t forget you have 399 memory cells to save your settings.
IX. Troubleshooting & Repair In the unlikely case of a failure, please check the following potential issues before contacting our support department or your friendly dealer. However, if you are still unable to get proper functionality after reading this manual, please contact us directly. We are happy to assist you in solving any issues with your unit. 1. Unit Does Not Power On: Check that the wall outlet has correct power (try plugging in a lamp). Check the power cord for a secure connection.
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XI. Contact info / RMA warranty In case of failure, please contact Addicted to Music for RMA information to have your unit repaired under warranty. Addicted To Music Bettermaker EQ232P Phone: +48 604 649 220 Email: info@bettermaker.eu Web: www.bettermaker.eu Warranty: Addicted to Music warrants to the purchaser of a new Bettermaker EQ232P that the unit is free from manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the original date of purchase.
