BBE MAXCOM Owner's Manual
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BBE MAXCOM Owner's Manual

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  • Page 1 OWNERS MANUAL...
  • Page 2 SAFETY RELATED SYMBOLS protective grounding wire or disconnect the wiring of protective grounding terminal. • Operatng Condtons This apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or The symbol is used to indicate that some splashing and that no objects filled with liquids, such hazardous live terminals are involved within as vases, shall be placed on this apparatus.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    UNBALANCED/BALANCED OPERATION ……………………………………………………………………………… 4 MAINS CONNECTION …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4 CONTROLS ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 5 FRONT PANEL LAYOUT OF THE MAXCOM …………………………………………………………………………… 5 REAR PANEL …………………………………………………………………………………………… 7 THE BACK PANEL LAYOUT OF THE MAXCOM ……………………………………………………………………… 7 OPERATION …………………………………………………………………………………………… 8 EXPANDER/GATE SECTION …………………………………………………………………………………………… 8 COMPRESSOR SECTION ………………………………………………………………………………………………...

  • Page 4: Maxcom Specifications

    SPECIFICATIONS MAXCOM SPECIFICATIONS AUDIO INPUT Type ………………………………Active balanced XLR and 1/4” jack Impedance …………………………60k ohm balanced Maximum input level ……………+21 dBu balanced and unbalanced AUDIO OUTPUT Type ………………………………XLR and 1/4” jack Impedance …………………………1K ohm unbalanced Maximum output level ……………+21 dBu Frequency response ……………20Hz to 20KHz...

  • Page 5: Introduction

    INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION Congratulations and thank you for your purchase of the BBE MAXCOM. You have acquired an extremely efficient and universal dynamics processor. It’s unique circuit design makes MAXCOM the ultimate dynamics processor: intelligent program recognition, interactive expander/gate and a fourth generation BBE® Sonic Maximizer™.

  • Page 6: The Design Concept

    (noise, THD, control feedthrough, linearity, slew rate and temperature stability) the precision VCA used in the MAXCOM is considered one of the best in VCA technology. The “control feedthrough” used in VCA terminology is a very critical parameter for the crosstalk of the control voltage into the audio path.

  • Page 7: Installation

    • RACK MOUNTING The MAXCOM fits into one standard 19” rack unit of space. Please allow at least an additional 4” depth for the connectors on the back panel. Be sure that there is enough air space around the unit for cooling and, to avoid overheating, please do not place the MAXCOM on high temperature devices such as power amplifiers.

  • Page 8: Unbalanced/Balanced Operation

    MAINS CONNECTION The mains connection in the MAXCOM is made by using a mains cable and a standard IEC receptacle. It meets all of the international safety certification requirements. Please make sure that all units have a proper ground connection.

  • Page 9: Controls

    FRONT PANEL CONTROLS CONTROLS FRONT PANEL LAYOUT OF THE MAXCOM   . GATE/THRESHOLD This control adjusts the threshold level for the expander/gate section in the range of off to 10dBu. Signals below the set level are attenuated. . CHAN. ON SWITCH This switch activates the corresponding channel.
  • Page 10 FRONT PANEL CONTROLS . GAIN REDUCTION METER The GAIN REDUCTION meter indicates the actual gain reduction and displays this in a range of 0dB to infinity. . LINK SWITCH Engages the LINK function. . POWER SWITCH...

  • Page 11: Rear Panel

    There is one XLR audio input (actively balanced and wired: pin1=ground, pin 2=high and pin 3=low) for each channel of the MAXCOM. Additionally there is one 1/4” audio input jack for each channel which is actively bal- anced and are wired: tip =high(+), ring=low(-), and sleeve=ground. When a mono unbalanced connection is made this jack is wired: tip = high(+), and sleeve=ground.

  • Page 12: Operation

    COMPRESSOR SECTION In the MAXCOM, control of the dynamics process is achieved by means of a high quality VCA with an operating range of more than 60dB, i.e. the input signal level can be reduced or increased within a range of 60dB. Input signal levels below the adjusted threshold are not reduced.
  • Page 13 When in the OUT position, all processing functions on the MAXCOM are turned off. If the switch is in the ON position, the unit work as a Compressor or Limiter, depending on the setting of the controls. Please note that in the bypass mode, the input signal is still connected to all of the MAXCOM circuitry, so that all the required controls can be used “Dry”...

  • Page 14: Bbe Section

    It is therefore necessary to choose the limiter control times precisely in order to govern any kind of transients. In order to use the MAXCOM as a peak limiter, it is necessary to operate the unit in limiter mode (RATIO control turned fully clockwise) and to switch out the AUTO function.

  • Page 15: Applications

    APPLICATIONS APPLICATIONS In this section several typical applications of the MAXCOM are discussed. The following basic settings can resolve most dynamic problems. They are the ideal starting point. Please take the time to study the application examples carefully to make full use of the MAXCOMs capabilities in the future.
  • Page 16 It is vitally important that every instrument is recorded into a separate mic and that each mic is in- dividually gated. Patch the MAXCOM into a snare drum channel for example and adjust it so that triggering only occurs on snare hits.

  • Page 17: The Compressor Function

    It will prove useful to use the MAXCOM as the last component in the chain of effects units and use the noise reduction function of the Expander/Gate section.

  • Page 18: Limiter Function

    LIMITER FUNCTION Besides the compressor function, the MAXCOM can be used to limit the overall output level and to protect sub- sequent units from signal peaks, short term overloading and over modulation (transmitters etc.). • INITIAL SETTINGS FOR THE LIMITER FUNCTIONS...

  • Page 19: Special Applications

    The disadvantage of this principle is that the unit’s full range cannot be completely used. If an increase in the average level of up to 3 dB is attained with the MAXCOM as a Limiter, this means that you effectively double the power amplification.

  • Page 20: External Sidechain Applications

    When de-essing, simply insert an equalizer not into the audio path but into the sidechain path of the MAXCOM. The equalizer is inserted between the SIDECHAIN output and the SIDECHAIN input of the MAXCOM and its center frequencies are adjusted exactly to match the frequencies of the sibilant sounds.
  • Page 21 • EMPHASIZING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS DURING RECORDING You can use the MAXCOM to bring out an instrument solo or a lead vocal in a cluttered mix. Match the fre- quencies of the equalizer to the frequencies of the instruments to be emphasized and for this it is best to use a notch filter with a high slope.
  • Page 22 The MAXCOM can be used to automatically reduce music to a background level, when an announcer is speak- ing through a microphone. For this purpose, the MAXCOM is used as an automatic fader and is controlled by the announcer’s microphone, which is connected to the SIDECHAIN input via a preamplifier.

  • Page 23: Service

    Sound, Inc. so that the service can be expedited. As the repair turnaround time is minimal, we request that the unit be sent to BBE Sound, Inc. We also need to add reliability data to our files so that future revisions may be undertaken, if necessary, to improve the product.
  • Page 24 8 PRODUCTION DRIvE HUNTINGTON bEACH, CA 969 7-897-6766 • FAX 7-896-076 WWW.bbESOUND.COM COVERED BY U.S. PATENT 5,736,897 AND OTHER U.S. AND FOREIGN PATENTS PENDING. BBE IS THE REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF BBE SOUND, INC. REV3, 9-2010...

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