DN500 OPERATORS MANUAL Klark Teknik Group, Klark Teknik Building, Walter Nash Road, Kidderminster. Worcestershire. DY11 7HJ. England. Tel:+44 1562 741515 Fax:+44 1562 745371 Email: sales@ktgplc.com Website: www.klarkteknik.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE AVIS: RISQUÉ DE CHOC ELETRIQUE. NE PAS OUVRIR These symbols are internationally accepted symbols that warn of potential hazards with electrical products.
Walter Nash Road, Kidderminster, Worcestershire. DY11 7HJ. England Tel: +44 1562 741515.
l abc Contents Klark Teknik DN500 After you have unpacked 1 3 Introduction 5 Instrument Familiarisation Front panel controls Rear panel controls 7 8 Audio Connections 11 Using the DN500 Compression Setting the Controls Expansion Setting the Controls Limiting 13 14 15 17 18 19 Compression, Expansion and Limiting together 20 Application notes Linking to the Console Using the Side Chain De-essing 21 22 23 Technical Specification 25
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. The Klark Teknik DN500 l abc Thank you for selecting the Klark Teknik DN500 Plus dual compressor / limiter / expander. The unit continues the Klark Teknik tradition of providing superb audio performance, technical accuracy and rugged reliability. Precautions Do not install this unit in a location subjected to excessive heat, dust or mechanical vibration. Voltage Selection and Power Connection Connection is made by means of an IEC standard power socket.
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After You Have Unpacked The Unit l abc Save all the packing materials - they will prove valuable should it become necessary to transport or ship this product. Please inspect this unit carefully for any signs of damage incurred during transportation. It has undergone stringent quality control inspection and every possible effort has been made to ensure that it left the factory in perfect condition. If, however, the unit shows any signs of damage, please notify the transportation company without delay.
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Introduction l abc Compression, expansion, limiting and peak clipping are four of the most valuable techniques available to the sound engineer. Not only can they solve many problems that can arise in day to day work, creative possibilities exist in abundance. The Klark Teknik DN500 Plus Dual Compressor/Limiter/Expander integrates all of these processes into a single, compact, rack mounting unit with two channel operation.
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Instrument Familiarisation: Front Panel Controls 7 6 1 8 2 15 9 3 4 5 10 11 l abc 13 12 14 17 18 16 The DN500 Plus Dual Compressor/Limiter/Expander consists of two identical channels, each with separate Compressor, Expander and Limiter sections. Compressor 1. Threshold determines the level above which gain reduction (compression) will take place, variable from +20dBu down to -30dBu.
l abc Expander 10. Threshold determines the level below which gain reduction will take place, variable from 20dBu down to -40dBu. Gain reduction BELOW a threshold level constitutes dynamic range EXPANSION. The Gain Reduction light bar graph meter indicates in decibels by how much the signal is expanded at any instant. 11. Ratio sets the degree of expansion applied below the threshold level, variable from 1:1 to 25:1. A ratio of 1:1 corresponds to zero expansion : Signal In = Signal Out.
Instrument Familiarisation: Rear Panel Controls 22 26 19 l abc 23 115/220-240V 1 2 1 3 C 2 1 2 1 3 3 2 3 US NEUTRIK 20 21 24 NEUTRIK NEUTRIK NEUTRIK 25 19. Mains is supplied via an IEC standard 3-pin connector. A compatible power cord is supplied with the unit. 20. The mains fuse is located in a fuse holder fitted to the rear panel. Always replace with the correct type and rating as indicated on the unit. 21. Voltage selector switch.
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Audio Connections l abc Input The input circuit is a transformerless, electronically balanced design which achieves a symmetry of better than- 50dB from 20Hz to 10kHz. If transformer balancing of the input is required, this must be specified at the time of order. It is not retrofittable. Output The standard output is unbalanced, but balancing transformers are available and may be retrospectively fitted. Please contact your Klark Teknik representative for more information.
l abc Side Chain/EXT Key Inputs The electronically balanced Side Chain inputs are on stereo ¼ inch typeAjack sockets, configured: TIP = HOT, RING = COLD, SLEEVE = EARTH. Inserting a mono jack plug will automatically unbalance the input. 1/4” Stereo Jack HOT COLD In Thru Out GND The sockets are internally normalled so that signal continuity is maintained when there is no jack plug inserted. If the unit is wired to a patchbay, then normalling must be carried out at the patchbay.
Using the DN500 l abc The natural sounds of life have an extremely wide dynamic range, from the result of a falling leaf to the roar of a jet engine on take off. The human ear has an automatic gain control which enables it to accommodate all of these sounds from the threshold of hearing to close to the threshold of pain, a dynamic range of approximately 120 decibels. Even the most modern audio equipment is incapable of handling the full range that the ear can cope with.
Compression l abc One of the principal uses of compression is the control of level in vocals. Many singers train for years to achieve the degree of breath control necessary for an even tone and expressive performance. Other vocalists rely on an instinctive voice production technique, which may need help in the studio to maintain a consistent level, and result in a vocal track which 'sits' correctly in the mix.
Compression: Setting The Controls l abc Threshold sets the level above which compression takes place. Signals below the threshold will remain unaltered. Turning the control clockwise lowers the threshold level and allows more of the signal to be compressed. +10 +20 Output level (dB) +20 +10 Input level (dB) Input level (dB) -20 +10 -10 Output level (dB) Ratio is the 'strength' of compression above the threshold level. The higher the ratio, the greater the effect.
l abc With a soft knee, signals which only just exceed the threshold level are compressed at a low ratio, the ratio increasing the higher the signal level. Attack sets the time the Compressor takes to respond once the threshold has been exceeded. Attack may be set so that the initial transient of the instrument passes through unaltered, or set to a faster value so that the very start of the sound is compressed.
Expansion l abc Expansion may be used to increase the dynamic range of a signal : of a performance lacking life and vigour, or of a previously over compressed recording. Alternatively, expansion can be used to reduce noise, either subtly and undetectably, or with the harder action of a noise gate.
Expansion:Setting the controls l abc Threshold sets the level below which expansion takes place. Signals above the threshold will remain unaltered. Turning the control anticlockwise raises the threshold level and allows more of the signal to be expanded. Alow threshold would be used to reduce noise, a higher threshold to increase the dynamic range of a signal. Ratio is the 'strength' of expansion below the threshold level. The higher the ratio, the greater the effect.
Limiting l abc The Limiter acts as a last check on signal level. If the level goes over the threshold, fast acting, high ratio compression is applied to bring it back within bounds.
Compression, Expansion and Limiting l abc The act of compressing a signal inevitably causes an increase in noise level. Compression reduces peak levels; gain make up restores the overall level, and in the process increases the level of any background noise that the signal contains. Almost always, when compression is used, the Expander section of the DN500 Plus will be used also, to clean up the signal. The Limiter/Clipper will control any unwanted peaks.
Applications: Interfacing with a console l abc The Klark Teknik DN500 Plus Dual Compressor/Limiter/Expander is optimised for use at line level, therefore to process the signal from a microphone, the input to the DN500 Plus has to be taken from the console preferably from the channel insert point send. The output from the DN500 Plus comes back to the channel insert return.
Applications: Side chain inputs l abc Each channel of the DN500 Plus has two Side Chain inputs, one for the Compressor and one for the Expander. In normal use, the amount of compression or expansion is related to the dynamics of the input signal. The Side Chain allows the signal passing through the unit to be controlled by the dynamics of another separate signal. Connection to the Side Chain input is made via the rear panel jack sockets. See 'Audio Connections', page 12.
Applications: De-essing l abc De-essing is an important compression technique using the Side Chain. Many singers have high level sibilants 'sss' sounds which detract from their performance. Equalising the signal will reduce the sibilants, but also make the overall vocal sound dull. The sibilants can be selectively removed by compressing only when there is an excessive level of high frequencies.
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DN500 l abc Technical Specifications 1.5s 1 1.
l abc Dimensions Width Depth Height 482mm (19 inch) 292mm (11 ½ inch) 44.5mm (1 ¾ inch) Weight Nett Shipping 4 kg 6kg Options Security Cover Transformer Input / Output balancing* * Input transformer balancing is non-retrofittable and has to be specified with order. Options Security cover Transformer input*/output balancing *Input transformer balancing is non-retrofittable and has to be specified with order.
