Theory Of Operation - Dan Dugan Sound Design Dugan-MY16 User Manual

Dugan-MY16 User Guide

Theory of Operation

The Dugan-MY16 uses the Dugan Speech System™, a patented and trademarked
automatic mixing function that distributes the gain of one open microphone over
the entire system. This results in a natural one-mic ambience with minimal noise
or feedback. The Dugan Speech System does not limit, compress, or control levels. It per-
forms just one critical function: cuing multiple live mics in situations with unpre-
dictable dialogue. It is essential to distinguish this behavior from the distracting
fluctuation of levels and uneven ambience produced by a conventional noise gate.
When one person talks at a time, the Dugan Speech System rapidly fades that mic's
gain up and the others down. When the speaker pauses, that mic fades down and the
others up, so the gain of all mics sums to equal that of one mic at full gain. When
the next person talks, the system fades that mic's gain up and the others down. The
result sounds like passing one mic among several speakers.
When several people talk at once, the gain is shared among active mics. All mics sound
normal when used but there is no change in ambience, noise buildup, or feedback.
While people are talking, use the Yamaha mixer's faders to set appropriate relative
levels for each mic channel. You can leave the faders up when the mics are not used
because the Dugan Speech System cues the mics up when needed.
Figure 1-1 shows four snapshots of the Dugan Speech System in action with three
mics.
70
60
Sound
at mics (dB)
50
40
0
Resulting
-10
automix
gains (dB)
-20
-30
No one speaking Mic 2 speaking
1
Figure 1-1 Dugan Speech System
Mic 3 speaking Mics 2 and 3 speaking
2 3
10
4