Page 1: Table Of Contents
5/16/2006 REV 6 Table of contents Introduction Safety Instructions QUICK START guide Front Panel Features and Controls Other Recessed Controls Rear Panel Features Special Refinements Under the Hood Unpacking and Inspection Specifications Obtaining Repair Service Groove Tubes Limited Warranty - 1 -...
Page 2: Introduction
A. 1 each rack-mount bracing kit. L/R pair of rack mounting braces, which can be attached to the sides of the Glory chassis, and rack mounted I RU above the Glory front panel. This brace provides both rear chassis - 2 -...
Page 3 B. 1 each 6 foot IEC 3-conductor power cable. C. 1 each Owner’s manual. Note: It is prudent to retain the shipping materials for future use, as these materials are custom formed for the Glory Compressor and will greatly minimize the chance of shipping-related damage. - 3 -...
Page 4: Important Safety Instructions
Important Safety Instructions Safety symbols used in this product: This symbol alerts the user that there are important operating and maintenance instructions in the literature accompanying this unit. This symbol warns the user of un-insulated voltage within the unit that can cause dangerous electric shocks. This symbol warns the user that output connectors contain voltages that can cause dangerous electrical shock.
Page 5 prong is provided for your safety. When the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet. 10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
Page 6 18. WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture. CE Declaration of Conformity Manufacturer’s Name: Groove Tubes llc Manufacturer’s Address: 1543 Truman Street San Fernando, CA 91340...
Page 7: Quick Start Guide
Quick Start Guide Step 1: Preliminary inspection. Remove the Glory Compressor from the package and carefully inspect the unit for outward signs of damage or distress. All projecting controls and connectors should operate smoothly and uniformly, and the enclosure’s surfaces should be free of irregularities.
Page 8 LINK = LOCAL, SIDE CHAIN SOURCE = INT, SIDE CHAIN EQ LF = 0 dB, HF = 0 dB, and GLORY = EARTH. After the 30-second warm-up period, the compressor’s VU meter should show PGM IN activity derived from the signal hitting the PROGRAM INPUT jacks, and, if the COMP switch is in the “IN”...
Page 9 Notice that the output meter indication reflects the actual signal present at the XLR PROGRAM OUTPUT plug, in actual 600-ohm dBm units, when a 600 ohm load is present. The reading will change somewhat depending on downstream load conditions. If the load is light (say 10 k-ohms), the meter will read at a somewhat higher level then if the load was precisely 600 ohms.
Page 10 “0” until fully warmed up. Unless time pressure prevents it, we suggest that you trim the GR “0” setting when the Glory is fully warmed up, and let the meter reach “0” during future sessions.
Page 11: Front Panel Features And Controls
Indeed, the attractive and flexible dynamics- control array found on modern and certain vintage compressors did in part inspire the control complement for the Glory Comp. The feature twist here is the objective of providing user- selectable parametric time and level control flexibility in an all-tube compressor.
Page 12 The independent RATIO and THRESHOLD controls permit interesting and subtle application of the compressor, by, for example, setting the knee at very low signal levels (-21 dB), and applying very shallow compression RATIOs of, say, 1.5:1. The user may then reach deeply under the peak dynamic events in the program signal, and give subtle added thickness to material starting at more than 20 dB BELOW the peak program operating level.
Page 13 the time period of whatever bass content might be present in the signal. Be aware that the wide time-constant control range provided is very much a double-edged sword, where the most prominent elements in the program material may dominate the results. The user may choose to apply these controls conventionally for smooth results, or intentionally misapply them as an aid towards a particular artistic expression.
Page 14 In short order, the informed enthusiast/professional will get the hang of it, and should have to endure no more than a brief teething period of compressor control exploration. RELEASE rotary switch The RELEASE control switch features a 40:1 adjustable time- constant range in two overlapping ranges.
Page 15 RATIO rotary switch The eleven-step RATIO control spans compression ratios of 1:1 to 6:1, with the indicated ratio expressed in decibels. The 1:1 or “compression off” position lets users audition (or use) any signal as it flows through the all-tube audio path without applying any compression, and without forcing the user to engage the relay hard-bypass audio path.
Page 16 the number of gain-varying stages the signal encounters. By using two or more passes through the compressor, the control settings may be optimized for peak events on the first pass, and average events on the second. This approach mimics the chain-of-compressors/limiters technique used in many classic recordings of the past.
Page 17 reduction to prevent “bottoming out” as the GR approaches 20 dB. The amount of GR may be observed via the meter switch’s GR X1 or X2 position. SIDE CHAIN EQ rotary switches LF and HF controls furnish up to 10 dB of boost or cut to the internally sampled side-chain signal.
Page 18 The GLORY Control This unique control adjusts the intensity of the Glory Effect as mixed into the processed signal. Specifically, the Effect is summed with the post-compressed audio being fed to the compressor’s driver and power output stage. But what exactly is...
Page 19 This is why the Glory effect is intended primarily for use with individual voices or instruments, rather then on finished mixes or other massed sound sources.
Page 20 fundamental signal content. There is no directly comparable effect elsewhere on the market. Because of this, users are advised to set aside a convenient exploratory period where the careful application of harmonics to a variety of musical signals may be mapped out for best results for your particular applications.
Page 21: Other Recessed Controls
They are also used when the sad time comes to replace the variable-gain tubes with new ones. The gain-changing capability of the Glory Compressor rests upon the behavior of the selected pair of 5749 variable transconductance tubes in the push-pull program audio signal path.
Page 22: Rear Panel Features
Otherwise the results will not be valid. SLaVe CAL control The SLV CAL control permits GR line-up with other linked Glory Compressors and is discussed below. Rear Panel Features LINK switch and STEREO LINK TRS jacks Each Glory Compressor is equipped with a pair of three-circuit (TRS) Control Voltage jacks on the rear panel.
Page 23 6 neighboring Glory Compressors via the rear panel jacks. Be careful not to inadvertently connect an audio signal to these control jacks, or to wire these jacks to other audio inputs on other gear. Doing so may result in damage to the compressor or other equipment.
Page 24 control will slew the GR control signal by about +/- 50%, with the mid-rotation position corresponding to a zero-trim state. *Typical alignment procedure, for two (or more) linked units: 1. Send a 0 VU (+4 dB) signal to the MASTER compressor input jack.
Page 25: Special Refinements Under The Hood
Special Refinements Under the Hood The heart of the matter: Variable transconductance tube gain stage. The Groove Tubes Glory Compressor is, first and foremost, an all-tube compressor. Inside, the program audio is multiplied by nothing but tubes, as the Program signal propagates from the main input jacks to the main output plugs and jacks.
Page 26 Indeed, when examining the issue of scarcity, the 5749 is available in deep supply from Groove Tubes for about $20 USD each, as compared to the 6386 which is now in short supply and typically sell for over $100 each IF you can find anyone who is willing to part with them.
Page 27 The Glory Compressor’s dynamics-control circuitry has been specially designed to bridge the gap between electronic and optical gain-reduction characteristics. The Glory Comp...
Page 28 Remarkable! Fun is waiting for the user, as the Glory Comp throws open new tonal territory in high-bandwidth vacuum-tube based dynamics processing. The Output Stage (Too loud, man.)
Page 29 gear from the past, and in light of current new 24-bit digital recording developments, the output stage has been designed to provide up to +36 dBm, or 4 Watts into 600 ohms, or 120 V peak-to-peak across 600 ohms! What this means is that the compressor will never be the weak link in so far as headroom or voltage drive capabilities are concerned.
Page 30 The Glory Compressor itself will never force the recording engineer into a no-win drive-level trade-off, since the compressor’s audio path electronics are very far removed from...
Page 31 In this spirit, the Glory Compressor features a special high-voltage regulator that serves to keep the high-voltage at a stable value, and, through an unusual synthetic-inductor function, provides smoothing or ripple filtering as well.
Page 32: Unpacking And Inspection
Groove Tubes, please take the time to do so now. Installing in a Rack The Glory may be simply set on a table, or installed in a standard 19” audio equipment rack. While the rack mounting...
Page 33: Specifications
Specifications Size: 19”W x 18”D x 5.2” (3RU) H, including projecting controls and parts. Budget 5 RU for proper ventilation and heat dissipation, with 1 RU above and below the enclosure. Exceptions being other equipment housed in shallow enclosures that will not block the compressor’s ventilation slots. Weight: 37 lbs, not including rack brace kit.
Page 34 System PROGRAM THD, IM at: Input and Output Gain = 0 dB, operating level = 1.23 V rms @ 440 Hz (+4 dBm output), no gain reduction, Glory effect at minimum, Program XLR output, 600 ohm load, Bandwidth 22 – 22 kHz.
Page 35 +/- 10 dB @ 50 Hz, and +/- 10 dB @10 kHz. Operates on INTernal SIDE CHAIN SOURCE mode only. GLORY EFFECT: 0 – 50% THD, mostly 2 order, injection ratio depending on instantaneous Gain Reduction, input signal and output signal drive levels. Effect limited to 60 – 800 Hz window;...
Page 36: Obtaining Repair Service
Groove Tubes warranty. Tape a note to the top of the unit describing the problem, include your name and a phone number where Groove Tubes can contact you if necessary, as well as instructions on where you want the product returned.
Page 37: Groove Tubes Limited Warranty
The purchaser should complete and return the enclosed warranty card within 14 days of purchase. During the warranty period GROOVE TUBES shall, at its sole and absolute option, either repair or replace free of charge any product that proves to be defective on inspection by GROOVE TUBES or its authorized service representative.
Page 38 Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitation may not apply to you. IN NO EVENT WILL GROOVE TUBES BE LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT OR OTHER DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE...