THE ELOP® OWNERS MANUAL TUBES RULE 3.31.
CONTENTS SECTION PAGE INTRODUCTION 3 FRONT PANEL 4 REAR PANEL 5 OPERATION NOTES 6 ADVANCED TRICKS 8 MAINS CONNECTIONS 9 TROUBLE SHOOTING 10 INTERNAL ADJUSTMENTS 12 SPECIFICATIONS 13 TEMPLATE FOR USER SETTINGS 14
INTRODUCTION THANK YOU!... for choosing the Manley ELOP®. This Limiter follows in the tradition of the vintage LA-2A Leveling Amplifier using a passive electro-optical device to control gain. The advantage of a passive device is that it eliminates the need to push the music through many transistors and/or ICs as would be the case in a VCA based Limiter. Also like the LA-2A, the Manley utilizes a tube line amplifier for make-up gain. This is one of our favorite clean and powerful line drivers.
FRONT PANEL E A B C D F E G F H C B A A GAIN Adjusts the gain of that audio channel. Unity gain is about the seventh marking, or 1 o’clock. Limiting usually requires some additional “make-up” gain to compare IN / BYPASS. The Gain control can also be used as the level to tape. B IN / BYPASS. Audio still flows through the tubes in BYPASS but at Unity Gain. Switching to IN provides the Limiting controls and functions.
REAR PANEL A B C D E G H I J F A 1/4” INPUT (UNBALANCED) (RIGHT) TIP: HOT SLEEVE: GROUND B XLR INPUT (BALANCED) (RIGHT) PIN 1: GROUND PIN 2: (+) PIN 3: (-) C 1/4” OUTPUT (UNBALANCED) (RIGHT) TIP: HOT SLEEVE: GROUND D XLR OUTPUT (BALANCED) (RIGHT) PIN 1: GROUND PIN 2: (+) PIN 3: (-) E IEC MAINS CONNECTOR Standard IEC mains connector for 50 /60 Hz AC. F MAINS FUSE Replace only with 1A SLO-BLO (120V) or 0.5A SLO BLO (230V).
OPERATION NOTES The Manley ELOP® follows certain traits and traditions established by the UREI LA-2 and similar leveling amplifiers. These traits can be divided into two aspects - electronic and operation. The electronic concept is simple and rather clean. Use the audio to light up LEDs or lamps which shine onto photo-resistors. These photo-resistors, in combination with a fixed resistor, simply act as a voltage divider to attenuate the signal.
The slope or ratio is also difficult to simulate. The initial ratio is low and becomes higher with more gain reduction until the LEDs light up fully and further reduction is not easy. This upper limit of reduction is in the area of 20 dB or at the bottom of the GR meter where the ratio becomes low again but this would be a severe setting that few engineers could use. Distortion becomes audible at very deep limiting.
Advanced Tricks Here are a few tricks that are not really for rookies. They come from guys doing major records for years and won’t work unless you’ve mastered the basics. In other words if we gave you a Strat and Marshall it won’t make you another Jimi. Also we don’t suggest that you try these out while paying big-time studio rates - they may not be easy to get right at first. OK, you have been warned. Trick#1.
MAINS CONNECTIONS Your ELOP has been factory set to the correct mains voltage for your country. The voltage setting is marked on the serial badge, located on the rear panel. Check that this complies with your local supply. Export units for certain markets have a moulded mains plug fitted to comply with local requirements.
TROUBLE-SHOOTING There are a number of possible symptoms of something not quite right, some may be interfacing, others we will touch on as well. No need to panic. We have sold hundreds of these units and barely any have ever had a problem with hum or interfacing to other gear. However, if you suspect a problem the following paragraphs should help. NO POWER, NO INDICATORS, NADA - Probably something to do with AC power. Is it plugged in? Check the fuse on the back panel.
IT MAKES NOISES WHEN THE FRONT PANEL IS TAPPED - An easy one. Some tubes become microphonic over time. That means they start acting like a bad microphone. Vibration has caused the supports for the little parts in the tube to loosen and now the tube is sensitive to vibration. Easy - Replace the tube. Which one? The one that makes the most noise when you tap it. It will have to be on , connected and speakers up but not too loud for the sake of your speakers. IT GOT HISSY - Also easy.
INTERNAL ADJUSTMENTS 6414 6414 IC 2 4 IC 6 8 3 5 7 9 12AU7 12AU7 1 1) 1 10 1 You will have to start out by setting front panel controls to these settings. BYPASS mode, SEP (LINK OFF), REDUCTION controls counter clockwise (MIN), GAIN to 1:00 or unity, S.C. at “Flat”. The top will need to be open. There are two screws on the top that hold the top perforatedpanel to the back. Remove these and the perforated top will slide back. Be careful! THERE ARE HIGH VOLTAGES INSIDE THE LIMITER.
SPECIFICATIONS ALL-TUBE audio path 12AU7WA + 6414 per ch. Unbalanced 1/4” Inputs And Outputs and... Balanced Transformer Coupled XLR Inputs And Outputs Hi-current drive <50 ohm 1/4” & XLR outputs Silent conductive plastic INPUT attenuators Max. GAIN REDUCTION 22dB ATTACK time: 10mS for 6dB GR RELEASE: 2.
3 + 2 VU 2 + POWER ON - 20 10 10 - 7 7 5 5 2 1 REDUCTION METER OUTPUT 3 0 0 1 1 200 FLAT S.C. 100 HZ VU 3 + 2 REDUCTION BYPASS INSTRUMENT / TRACK REDUCTION 0 STEREO 1 METER OUTPUT 2 LINK 3 SONG REDUCTION 5 MIC NOTES BYPASS IN 20 7 ARTIST GAIN MANLEY ELOP 10 VU 3 POWER ON 20 2 1 REDUCTION METER OUTPUT 3 200 FLAT S.C.
