SPL 1211 User Manual

SPL 1211 User Manual

Analog elemental series twin module series
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Manual
Analog Elemental Series
Models 1211, 1212, 1214, 1219, 1223, 1224, 1229, 1233, 1234, 1239, 1254, 1293, 1294
Twin Module Series featuring the modules
Premium Mic Pre, Preference Mic Pre, Dual-Band De-Esser, DynaMaxx, Transient Designer und TwinTube

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Summary of Contents for SPL 1211

  • Page 1 Manual Analog Elemental Series Models 1211, 1212, 1214, 1219, 1223, 1224, 1229, 1233, 1234, 1239, 1254, 1293, 1294 Twin Module Series featuring the modules Premium Mic Pre, Preference Mic Pre, Dual-Band De-Esser, DynaMaxx, Transient Designer und TwinTube...
  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Content Manual Analog Elemental Series CE Conformity Notes on Environmental Protection Contact Symbols and Notes Important Security Advices Scope of Delivery and Packaging Hook Up Placement Introduction The Analog Elements Die Signalprozessoren der zweiten Generation Concept and Categories of the Analog Elemental Series Dual-Channel Preamplifiers Channel Strips Processing Units...
  • Page 3: Rear Panel

    Content The Modules Premium Mic Pre | Introduction Features Premium Mic Pre | Control Elements Mic Gain About Leveling VU Meter 48 V Phantom Power Supply Phase Reverse High-Pass Filter Premium Mic Pre | Technology Triple Stage Preamp Stage 1 – The Input Transformer Stage 2 –...
  • Page 4 Content Dual-Band De-Esser | Introduction The Dual-Band De-Esser Dual-Band De-Esser | Control Elements HI-Band On, Low-Band On Low S-Reduction High S-Reduction Male/Female Signal-LED (SIG.) Dual-Band De-Esser | Technical Specifications Audio Output Control Elements Dual-Band De-Esser | Block Diagram DynaMaxx | Introduction DynaMaxx | Control Elements Compression Make-Up Gain...
  • Page 5 Content Transient Designer | Introduction Transient Designer | Control Elements Attack Sustain Output Gain Link Mode Signal LED Transient Designer | Applications Drums & Percussions Guitars Bass: Staccato vs. Legato Ambience Keyboards & Sampler Post Production Mastering Transient Designer | Technical Specifications Audio Input Outputs...
  • Page 6: Manual Analog Elemental Series

    Phone +49 (0) 21 63 98 34 0, Fax +49 (0) 21 63 98 34 20 E-Mail: info@spl.info, Website: spl.info © 2012 SPL electronics GmbH. All rights, technical changes, mistakes and misprints reserved. The SPL logo, Analog Code ® Vitalizer ®...
  • Page 7: Important Security Advices

    Important Security Advices Please note and retain this manual. Carefully read and follow all of the safety and operating instructions before you use the machine. Be doubly careful to follow all warnings and special safety instructions noted in this manual and on the unit. Connections: Only use the connections as described.
  • Page 8: Scope Of Delivery And Packaging

    Hence, it is no surprise that our „one knob“ devices, like the SPL De-Esser and DynaMaxx compressor, have been successful for so many years and are considered classics among our products.
  • Page 9: Die Signalprozessoren Der Zweiten Generation

    This can be achieved with microphones and preamps whose impulse response and transduction capabilities are not limited — just like the SPL Premium Preamps. Created by SPL founder Wolfgang Neumann, these classic solid-state masterpieces featuring an inte- grated transformer seduce anybody that lends an ear to them.
  • Page 10: Processing Units

    A very nice processing combination for vocals. Being able to have the two most straightfor- ward one-knob SPL processors under the same hood is not only exciting but also comforting — it is very easy to abandon oneself to their magic and prowess. Model Number: 1293.
  • Page 11: Optional Features

    Introduction Optional Features • Optional for all processing modules: Lundhal transformers at the input and output stages. Premium preamplifier modules integrate input and output transformers. Preference preamplifier modules cannot be fitted with transformers. Transformers are not visible from the outside and are only available as a factory option during purchase. Retrofitting is not contemplated.
  • Page 12: Rear Panel | Wiring Diagram

    Rear Panel | Wiring Diagram Analog Elemental Series...
  • Page 13: Rear Panel | Versions

    1.6 A slow Ch. 2 Ch. 1 MADE IN GERMANY spl.info BEFORE REMOVING COVER.THIS EQUIPMENT MUST BE EARTHED. AVIS: RISQUE DE CHOC ÉLECTRIQUE – NE PAS OUVRIR Rear Panel 1 Without converter or channel strip switch (configuration example: two preamp module).
  • Page 14: Rear Panel | Connections And Switches

    Rear Panel | Connections and Switches Signal Connections Turn off the unit before connecting or disconnecting any cable or equipment to it. Otherwise you risk the possibility of damaging your ears or equipment. Input and Output Electronics The input and output electronics are based upon bridge circuits that keep the signal flow constant, regardless of malfunctioning equipment and power outages (power fail safety by relay hard bypasses).
  • Page 15: Power Connection And Fuse

    Rear Panel | Connections and Switches Power connection and fuse Connect the power cord to the rear MAINS INPUT socket. Transformer, power cord and case connection conform to VDE, UL and CSA requirements. The fuse is accessible from outside and placed right behind the flap right from the socket. Fuse ratings are 315 mA slow blow (230 volts) or 630 mA slow blow (115 volts).
  • Page 16: The Modules

    The Modules Each of the Analog Elemental Series units combines two of the following modules. For more information on the design of the devices, refer to the Introduction on page 8. Here you will find a detailed description of the single modules. Premium Mic Pre | Introduction When recording acoustic instruments or vocals, using a microphone is inevi- table.
  • Page 17: About Leveling

    +5 dB. If necessary you can lower the sensitivity by 10 dB so that the gauge goes up to +15 dB output level (see “-10dB” below and “About Leveling” above). The VU meter is custom made to meet SPL specifications and assures a balanced optical perception thanks to it’s optimized ballistics.
  • Page 18: 48 V Phantom Power Supply

    Premium Mic Pre | Bedienelemente 48 V Phantom Power Supply The Premium Mic Pre provides 48 volt phantom power for microphones requiring external current (generally condenser microphones). Such microphones are dependent upon a clean, consistent and noise-free power supply for optimal operation and audio quality. The Premium Mic Pre continuously delivers precisely 48 V and a maximum current of 14 mA, which will power all microphones.
  • Page 19: Premium Mic Pre | Technology

    Premium Mic Pre | Technology Triple Stage Preamp The preamplifier circuitry of the Premium Mic Pre is composed of three stages: a trans- former, a discrete differential amplifier stage and an instrument preamplifier all contribute (in different shares) to the main amplification. The three stage setup firstly ensures a load distri- bution that minimizes the risk of overloads.
  • Page 20: Stage 3 - The Instrumentation Amplifier

    Premium Mic Pre | Technology Stage 3 – The Instrumentation Amplifier An instrumentation amplifier is following the discrete differential amplifier to produce the output signal’s voltage. Functionally a summing amplifier it eliminates possible disturbing voltages and also contributes to the main amplification with an additional +6 dB. Foil and Styroflex Capacitors Only the best MKP and styroflex capacitors are used in the various circuits.
  • Page 21: Premium Mic Pre | Block Diagram

    Premium Mic Pre | Block Diagram Analog Elemental Series...
  • Page 22: Preference Mic Pre | Introduction

    Preference Mic Pre | Introduction When recording acoustic instruments or vocals, using a microphone is inevitable. The actual output level of a microphone is very low and therefore has to be boosted to studio or line level (0 dB) with a preamplifier. Sometimes signals have to be boosted by a factor of 2000 or more.
  • Page 23: Vu Meter

    +5 dB. If necessary you can lower the sensitivity by 10 dB so that the gauge goes up to +15 dB output level (see “-10 dB” below and “About Leveling” on the previous page). The VU meter is custom made to meet SPL specifications and assures a balanced optical perception thanks to it’s optimized ballistics.
  • Page 24: Phase Reverse

    Preference Mic Pre | Control Elements The Pad function allows you to attenuate the input signal by 20 dB so that you can process even very high levels, i.e. from drums or brass instruments. If the VU meter shows levels above +3 dB even while Mic Gain is set very low (and the -10 dB button deactivated), the time has come to press the Pad button.
  • Page 25: Preference Mic Pre | Technology

    Preference Mic Pre | Technology SSM 2019 The Preference Mic Pre is suitable for all common dynamic and condenser microphones. It works along the principles of an instrumentation amplifier which is a technology that is also used in measurement and medical equipment due to its high common mode rejection of stray pick-ups.
  • Page 26: Preference Mic Pre | Technical Specifications

    Preference Mic Pre | Technical Specifications Audio Frequency Range 10Hz to › 200 kHz -84 dBu (@ 1 kHz with -30 dBu input level and 30 dB gain) THD&N @ 1 kHz Input Level Gain THD&N -30 dBu 30 dB 0,0035% -60 dBu 60 dB...
  • Page 27: Preference Mic Pre | Block Diagram

    Preference Mic Pre | Block Diagram Analog Elemental Series...
  • Page 28: Dual-Band De-Esser | Introduction

    Operation is limited to adjusting the processing intensity with one single control. The SPL De-Esser is a safe and precise tool to solve sibilance prob- lems, without having to compromise sound quality nor the hassle of permanently readjusting settings.
  • Page 29: Low S-Reduction

    Dual-Band De-Esser | Control Elements Low S-Reduction Use the LOW S-REDUCTION control to adjust the intensity of the sibilance reduction in the lower frequency range. The center frequency for sibilance recognition is set at 7.6 kHz in FEMALE mode and 6.4 kHz in MALE mode. For more information, please refer to section “MALE/FEMALE“...
  • Page 30: Dual-Band De-Esser | Technical Specifications

    Dual-Band De-Esser | Technical Specifications Audio Frequency Range: 10 Hz-80 kHz CMR: ›60 dBu @ 1 kHz, 0 dBu input level and unity gain S/N Ratio: -106 dBu A-weightedt Dynamic Range: 128 dB THD&N: 0,01% @ 1 kHz, 0 dBu input level and unity gain Input XLR socket, electronically balanced, optionally transformer balanced Impedance...
  • Page 31: Dual-Band De-Esser | Block Diagram

    Dual-Band De-Esser | Block Diagram Analog Elemental Series...
  • Page 32: Dynamaxx | Introduction

    The DynaMaxx circuitry actually uses two of the excellent THAT 2181 VCAs in SPL’s Double VCA-Drive mode configuration, which doubles the operating range while increasing trans- parency and reducing distortion.
  • Page 33: Make-Up Gain

    DynaMaxx | Control Elements Make-Up Gain The MAKE-UP GAIN control compensates for any level decrease when applying COMPRESSION. The higher the processing intensity the lower the overall output level, the more Gain will be required to restore the same peak level. Turn the MAKE-UP GAIN control clockwise until the peak level of the input is the same as the peak level of the output.
  • Page 34: Fx Com. (Effect Compression)

    DynaMaxx | Control Elements FX Com. (Effect Compression) The FX Com. mode allows to switch off the DynaMaxx‘s perfectly automated dynamics processing. In this mode a fixed release time of 60ms is applied, but the Attack time is still automated. This mode increases the perceived loudness in comparison with the normal Compression mode, and audible compression artifacts can be generated for creative purposes.
  • Page 35: Link

    DynaMaxx | Control Elements Link You can operate two DynaMaxx modules at a time by activating the LINK mode. You can only run two modules in the LINK mode at a time. Main applications may be in stereo processing. When operated in LINK mode, both modules are operated by the master module’s control voltage.
  • Page 36: Full-Band Versus Multi-Band

    DynaMaxx | Technology Full-Band versus Multi-Band Some compressors try to solve the problem of high frequencies being modulated by low frequency compression by moving to a split band system, so why don‘t we do that? Multi-band compression seems like a good idea to overcome the pumping effects caused by heavy bass compression also causing high frequency sounds to be pulled down in level.
  • Page 37: Release Time Automation

    DynaMaxx | Technology Release Time Automation Again, it is beneficial to look at what happens when the Release time is too short: In this case the compressor will restore normal gain conditions as soon as the peak has passed, and this rapid increase in gain is what we call breathing.
  • Page 38: Dynamaxx | Technical Specifications

    DynaMaxx | Technical Specifications Audio Frequency Response 10 Hz - 200 kHz ›70 dBu (@ 1 kHz, 0 dBu input level, unity gain) 0,06% (0 dBu input level, unity gain) Noise (A-weighted) -93 dBu (Make Up Gain 0 dBu) Dynamic Range 115 dB Input XLR connection, electronically balanced, optionally transformer balanced...
  • Page 39: Dynamaxx | Block Diagramm

    DynaMaxx | Block Diagramm Analog Elemental Series...
  • Page 40: Transient Designer | Introduction

    However, the possibilities for studio and live applica- tion are seemingly endless. Technical foundation is SPL‘s Differential Envelope Technology (DET) which allows level-inde- pendent dynamic processing by calculating differences in generated envelopes. These enve- lopes are always tracking the curve of the original signal to provide optimal results in every moment of the music.
  • Page 41: Sustain

    Transient Designer | Control Elements Sustain With the SUSTAIN control you can amplify or attenuate the sustain of a signal by up to 24 dB. The SUSTAIN control circuitry also uses two envelope generators. One follows the shape of the original curve and adapts perfectly to the dynamic gradient. The second envelope gener- ator produces an envelope with a longer sustain.
  • Page 42: Transient Designer | Applications

    Transient Designer | Applications The Transient Designer is ideally suited for use in professional recording, in project or home studios and sound reinforcement applications. For the first time you can manipulate and control the attack and sustain characteristics of a signal regardless of level in the most intuitive and simple way.
  • Page 43: Guitars

    Transient Designer | Applications Guitars Use the Transient Designer on guitars to soften the sound by lowering the ATTACK. Increase ATTACK for in-the-face sounds, which is very useful and works particularly well for picking guitars. Or blow life and juice into quietly played guitar parts. Distorted guitars usually are very compressed, thus not very dynamic.
  • Page 44: Transient Designer | Technical Specifications

    Transient Designer | Technical Specifications Audio Frequency Response 10 Hz - 70 kHz -80 dBu (at 1 kHz with 0 dBu input level/unity gain) THD&N 0,019% (0 dBu input level/unity gain) S/N Ratio -89 dBu (A-weighted) Dynamic Range 111,0 dB Input XLR connector, electronically balanced, optionally transformer balanced Impedance...
  • Page 45: Transient Designer | Block Diagram

    Transient Designer | Block Diagram Analog Elemental Series...
  • Page 46: Twintube | Introduction

    TwinTube | Introduction The TwinTube module is the first ever combination of two essential tube effects into a single processor, that is, saturation effects along with harmonics processing. Both stages work separately from each other and are based on an individual tube circuit, therefore each module employs two tubes.
  • Page 47: Harmonics Switch

    TwinTube | Control Elements Bedienelemente HARMONICS Switch With the HARMONICS switch you choose the frequency range of the fundamental tone area that should be processed with the HARMONICS control. There are four available frequency ranges with respective center frequencies of 9.8 kHz, 6.6 kHz, 2.8 kHz and 1.9 kHz. For reasons of space, we have rounded frequency values for the values on the front panel.
  • Page 48: Twintube | Measurements

    TwinTube | Measurements Audio Precision A-A FFT SPECTRUM ANALYSIS 05/21/08 14:53:01 -100 -110 -120 -130 -140 Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT): 1 kHz/0 dBu input signal, SATURATION to maximum. Audio Precision A-A FFT SPECTRUM ANALYSIS 05/21/08 14:51:51 -100 -110 -120 -130 -140 FFT: 1 kHz/0 dBu input signal , SATURATION to minimum.
  • Page 49 TwinTube | Measurements Audio Precision RackPack TTP 2714 06/13/08 15:10:24 HARMONICS control at maximum. Audio Precision RackPack TTP 2714 06/13/08 15:07:45 -100 THD vs. input level of the saturation stage at different control intensities (lower curve: SATURATION control set to 0, upper curve: SATURATION set to 20). Analog Elemental Series...
  • Page 50: Twintube | Technical Specifications

    TwinTube | Technical Specifications AUDIO Harmonics Stage Frequency Range 10 Hz-80 kHz 0.1 % @ 1 kHz, 0dBu input level, unity gain Noise, A-weighted -87 dBu Dynamic Range 103 dB Maximum Input Level +18 dBu Harmonics Filter Filter 1 Center Frequency: 9,8 kHz Bandwidth: 9.6 kHz Maximum Gain: +15 dB Filter 2...
  • Page 51: Twintube | Block Diagram

    TwinTube | Block Diagram Analog Elemental Series...
  • Page 52 Manual Analog Elemental Series < English Analog Elemental Series...

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