Optical Compressor Owner’s Manual Rev A all contents © Grace Design/ Lunatec LLC info@gracedesign.com / www.gracedesign.com 2434 30th Street, Boulder, CO 80301 USA tel 303.443.7454 fax 303.444.
Welcome and thanks for purchasing the Grace Design m102 optical compressor. We build all of our products to be completely reliable and easy to use, so you can concentrate on making great recordings, not struggling with complicated equipment or difficult product manuals. While you will find the m102 is completely straightforward to use, we do ask that you spend a little time reading this manual to help avoid any common user difficulties.
Important Safety Information GENERAL • Indoor use only • Ordinary Protection: This equipment should not be exposed to dripping or splashing. • Avoid placing objects filled with liquids, such as vases or glasses, on this equipment. • Class I Equipment (grounded type) • Electrical rating: 100-240V~ 50-60Hz 14W • Mains supply voltage fluctuations are not to exceed ±10% of the nominal supply voltage. • Pollution Degree 2 • Installation (Overvoltage) Category II for transient overvoltages.
Features • Elegantly simple, purist feedback design optical compressor for signal leveling with a minimum of sonic artifacts • Subtle dynamic control to heavy compression, the sonic character of the source remains intact • Comprehensive control set includes input level, threshold, attack, release, ratio and makeup gain • Bright, easy to read 10 segment LED gain reduction meters • Bi-color output peak LED lights green with signal present and red 6dB before clipping • Dual balanced inputs and outpu
6. SIDECHAIN / LINK / NORMAL - This switch is to activate either a) linking of two m102’s for use in stereo compression scenarios, or b) to activate external side chain control of the compressor for ducking, de-essing etc, or c) for normal compressor operation. 7. OUTPUT - The output control provides 20dB of variable level control at the output of the m102, from -10dB to +10dB. This control is useful for small level adjustments during tracking or for compression gain makeup. 8.
Installing and Connecting Unpacking Your m102 box includes the m102, an AC power cable, this owner’s manual, a warranty card, a set of 4 adhesive rubber feet, and a #10-32 x 3/8” machine screw. If any of these items are missing, let your dealer or us know and we will expedite the missing item to you. We strongly encourage you to save the box supplied with your m102.
However, using a compressor in a way that produces the best results can be complicated, and the more you know, the better it will work. If you are unsure about how a compressor works, we highly recommend some reading: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_range_compression It will pay greatly to understand the mechanism of dynamic range compression BEFORE you begin to record keeper tracks with the compressor on.
SIDECHAIN CONTROL Normally, the compressor’s sidechain circuit uses the internal audio signal to trigger its response. But in sidechain mode, the sidechain circuit uses an external signal input (from the SIDECHAIN / LINK IN jack on the rearpanel) to determine how the compressor responds. Examples of using an external sidechain signal include ducking and de-essing. Ducking is an effect used to automatically reduce the level of one signal when another signal is present.
SETTING THE OUTPUT CONTROL The OUTPUT control provides 20dB of variable level control at the output of the m102. After setting your desired input and threshold levels, you can set the over all output of the m102 with this control. Use the OUTPUT to properly match to the input of your converter, interface or whatever is next in your signal path. Also, your signal level may have been be reduced by heavy compression settings, so the OUTPUT control can also be used to provide makeup gain.
Technical Specifications GAIN RANGE Input Trim -10 - +10dB Output Trim -10 - +10dB Compression Threshold Range Attack Range -15 - +15 dBu 3 – 200 ms Release Range 0.03 – 3 s Ratio Range 1:1 – 12:1 Gain Reduction 0 – 20dB THD+N 1kHz, 22Hz-22kHz BW @ 0dB Gain +10dBu out <0.002% INTERMODULATION DISTORTION @ 0dB Gain +20dBu out SMPTE/DIN 4:1 7kHz/50Hz <0.007% OUTPUT NOISE 22Hz-22kHz BW @0dB Gain <-84dB CMRR @0dB Gain, 3.
Warranty Information 1. Grace Design warrants all of our products to be free of defective parts and workmanship for a period of five years. 2. This warranty period begins at the original date of purchase and is transferable to any person who may subsequently purchase the product during this time. 3.
Manual Revisions 12 Revision Page Change Date Initials A all Initial release 11/30/2011 edg
