TC Electronic Gold Channel User Manual
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TC Electronic Gold Channel User Manual

Digitally enhanced mic-preamp
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USERS MANUAL
Gold Channel
DIGITALLY ENHANCED MIC-PREAMP

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  • Page 1 USERS MANUAL Gold Channel DIGITALLY ENHANCED MIC-PREAMP...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD WELCOME INTRODUCTION THE FRONT PANEL THE REAR PANEL THE SIGNAL FLOW CONNECTING THE GOLD CHANNEL QUICK REFERENCE SIGNAL GAIN LEVEL RECALL AND LIST STORE ROUTING AND LAYOUT EDIT THE BLOCKS UTILITY MIDI THE RESET MENU SELF TEST...

  • Page 4: By Bruce Botnick

    FOREWORD Microphones as Ears by Bruce Botnick I've always felt that microphones were colors on a sound painter's palette. Colors that can be used to bring out the many sounds that we record and help us to create different textures used in the mix. Many recording engineers have their favorite microphones and don't necessarily use the same favorite on the same instrument in all applications.
  • Page 5 FOREWORD sounded just like what I remembered, minus Miles Davis of course. As time has advanced forward I am always on the lookout for this printed information as well as photographs and film documentaries of recording sessions. Seeing the masters at work and their use of the pallet is the best way to learn. Not only can you see and hear what they used, but also how high and far away the microphone was placed from the instrument.

  • Page 6: About This Manual

    On the other hand, you might want to know a little more about the Gold Channel before you start pressing keys. The manual will take you step by step through all of the Gold Channel’s functions. If you want to read about a specific function, please...

  • Page 7: General Introduction

    General Introduction The Gold Channel is designed so that all its main functions are available directly on the front panel: Input select, +48V phantom, gain setting with PAD, Lo-Cut, Phase Invert, Mute, Soft Clipper and Meter select. These combined with separate bypass buttons for each processing block and a user friendly display, gives you an intuitive box that is very easy to use, despite the many features.

  • Page 8: The Front Panel

    64 KBytes of SRAM, or up to 2MB. CHANNEL 1 AND 2 The Gold Channel has direct access to all primary functions on the mic- preamp for each channel: Input gain encoder: Sets the analog input gain along with the PAD button.
  • Page 9 The Enter key is used to confirm actions, or for accessing a block. The Enter key will blink when the Gold Channel needs you to confirm. The Exit key is normally used to exit a menu, or to cancel an...

  • Page 10: The Rear Panel

    You must use balanced XLR-XLR cables to get the +48V phantom power to your condenser microphones. External control jack works with the optional TC Master Fader to control the Master Output Level. The Gold Channel power supply is capable of operating at any line voltage between 100 volts and 240 Volts (50-60 Hz).

  • Page 11: The Signal Flow

    THE SIGNAL FLOW On this page you can see the signal flow through the Gold Channel presented in a technical drawing.

  • Page 12: Recording Setup

    CONNECTING THE GOLD CHANNEL The Gold Channel can be used in different kinds of setups and applications due to the extensive input and output possibilities. Here are a couple of suggestions on how to connect the Gold Channel. Recording setup...

  • Page 13: Quick Reference

    User space, using the current name. If you have modified a User preset, the Gold Channel will default to the same User preset number when you try to store it. If you don’t want to overwrite the preset, choose another User or Card bank number with the Value wheel.

  • Page 14: Selecting The Primary Inputs, Outputs ,Clock, Dither And Insert

    75 Ohm cables. The incoming sample rate will be displayed in the Digital box in the Signal page. The “Digital” LED’s will be blinking if no clock is present or if the Gold Channel cannot lock to the incoming clock.
  • Page 15 Gold Channel. Insert Send and Return The Insert Send and Return in the Gold Channel is not a normal send/return as on other mixers, but a more comprehensive way of using the inputs and outputs. This means that depending on what you select as your primary input, most other inputs and outputs are free for use as insert sends or returns.

  • Page 16: Setting The Analog Input Gain

    SETUP - Gain The Gain Display On this page you can set and adjust the gain of the analog inputs, and use the Auto Gain Setting option, which helps you get the best results when you are doing recordings. To view the Gain page press the SETUP button, if you are not already there, and use the < > Menu keys to select GAIN. Basic operation is accomplished by using the Parameter wheel to change cursor position and the value wheel to change values.

  • Page 17: Setup - Level

    SETUP - Level The Level display On the Level page you can adjust the Digital Input level, the Master Level for all outputs and the Analog Output level for channels one and two. To view the Level display, press the SETUP key if you are not already there, and use the < > Menu keys to select the Level page. Basic operation is accomplished by using the Parameter wheel to change cursor position and the value wheel to change values.

  • Page 18: Recalling A Factory, User Or Memory Card Preset

    Recall or Partial recall mode Recalling presets There are three levels of recalling presets in the Gold Channel: Total Recall: You can make a Total Recall that recalls absolutely every setting in the machine (Except +48V), including input gain and input/output/insert setup.
  • Page 19 PROGRAMS - Recall The List Display This is another way of recalling and displaying the preset lists (Factory, User and Card), and is very useful when you are looking for a specific preset name but cannot remember the preset number. You can Recall a preset directly from the List by scrolling with the Parameter wheel.

  • Page 20: Storing And Naming A New User Preset, Using The Letterbox

    Deletes the present cursor position The Store function The Gold Channel can hold a maximum of 100 User presets, and up to 999 additional presets can be stored on a PC-card (depending on the size of the card). Use Type 1 PC Cards with a minimum 64 KBytes of SRAM., up to 2MBytes.
  • Page 21 When you want to store a Factory preset, the Gold Channel automatically selects the first free storage space in the User bank. If you try to re-store a User preset, the Gold Channel will automatically select the same storage space.

  • Page 22: Constructing Your Own Preset

    Setting up the processing blocks In the Routing display you can freely select the order of the processing blocks in the Gold Channel. With the Layout page you can select if you want to run two channels or one channel at 96 kHz and where to place the Insert block.
  • Page 23 EDIT - Routing and Layout Mode Rate Mode - This is where you decide what basic layout of the grid you want to work with. There are three different setups: 1) Two channels with four processing positions on each channel (44.1/48kHz) 2) One processing position on both channels.
  • Page 24 From 0.1 second to 0.9 seconds. Example: Set up the Gold Channel with the same input on both channels (e.g., a 1 kHz test tone), and see that the phase correlation is at maximum. Then press the Phase Invert button on one of the channels, and see how it shifts.
  • Page 25 The idea of the extended Insert block is to enable a normal send/return insert, but also to turn the Gold Channel into a four channel mixer, with a pair of analog inputs, a pair of digital inputs and several output opportunities.
  • Page 26 Expander There are two different expander/gate sub types in the Gold Channel. They are running from the same sub-algorithm, but with different parameters available, fitted for different applications. Both the Gate and Expander perform Downward Expansion.
  • Page 27 Example: If the input signal suddenly drops 4 dB below threshold in no time with the Ratio set to 1:4 and the Release set to 20 ms, the Gold Channel will use 20 ms to reach a gain reduction of 12 dB.
  • Page 28 THE BLOCKS Soft Compressor This is a feed forward compressor.. It sounds very smooth and works well on acoustic and electronic instruments. Threshold When the input level exceeds the Threshold, the Compressor will be activated. This means that the lower the Threshold, the more compression you will get.
  • Page 29 Equalizers are some of the most common signal processing devices, and are made in many different variations and with different colorations. The Equalizer types in the Gold Channel are made with parametric and shelving filters. We have put great efforts in making the EQ algorithms sound as musical and “analog”...

  • Page 30: Dynamic Equalizer

    THE BLOCKS Tools In the Tools section you’ll find some useful algorithms for different purposes. De-Esser This De-Esser takes advantage of a technique where the Threshold is always relative to the average level of the material. This means that if the average level of your material increases, so will the Threshold, and the De-Esser removes relatively the same.

  • Page 31: Digital Radiance Generator

    THE BLOCKS Attack The Attack time is the response time that the Compressor uses to reach the gain reduction specified by the Ratio parameter. Example: If the input signal suddenly increases to 4 dB above threshold in no time with the Ratio set to 4:1 and the Attack set to 20ms, the Dynamic EQ will use 20ms to reach the gain reduction of 3 dB.
  • Page 32 Show card status This function makes it possible to check the status of your PC- card. The Gold Channel will be able to display the size of the card, the write protection status, the number of presets on the card and the amount of free space.

  • Page 33: Bank Selection

    Place the cursor on this parameter and press Enter to Reset the Custom map. MIDI Bulk Dump You can back up the User presets of the Gold Channel to another Gold Channel or to MIDI recording device using these functions. NOTE: Transmitter and receiver must have same Sysex ID.

  • Page 34: Reset Menu

    Level and Signal pages. Reset Setup This will reset all system parameters back to the factory default. This reset will NOT delete the User presets of the Gold Channel. Clear all Presets This will delete all User presets.

  • Page 35: Self Test

    Key test Select Key test by pressing Enter. The keys must be pressed in the order they are requested by the Gold Channel to pass the test. Press Exit to leave Key test. In knobs test Select In knobs test by pressing Enter.

  • Page 36: Technical Specifications

    TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ANALOG LINE INPUTS Connectors: XLR balanced (pin 2 hot) Impedance (balanced): 6.8 kOhm Phantom supply: Max. Input Level (balanced): 22 dBu Sensitivity, @ 12 dB headroom (balanced): - 11 dBu to 10 dBu Dynamic Range (unweighted): > 103 dB THD+N: <...

  • Page 37: Midi Implementation Chart

    MIDI IMPLEMENTATION CHART Digitally Enhanced Mic-preamp, Gold Channel - May 1998 Version 1.0 Function Basic Channel Default Changed Mode Default Messages Altered Note Number True Voice Velocity Note ON Note OFF After Touch Key’s Ch’s Pitch Bend Control Change Prog Change...

  • Page 38: Trouble Shooting

    - Press and hold the Power switch for 3 seconds, then release to power off No sound through the Gold Channel - You are using Analog input, but the input selected is Digital, or some send/return has been selected on the Signal page, without anything connected.

  • Page 39: Certificate Of Conformity

    Certificate Of Conformity TC Electronic A/S, Sindalsvej 34, 8240 Risskov, Denmark, hereby declares on own responsibility that the following product: Gold Channel, Digitally Enhanced Mic-preamp Is covered by this certificate and marked with CE-label conforms with following standards: EN 60065...

  • Page 40: Factory Preset List

    FACTORY PRESET LIST Preset Description Female Vocal Compressor, De-esser and EQ optimized for female vocals (96kHz processing on ch.1) Lead Vocal All processing blocks on channel one, and output on channel two Male Vocal Compressor, De-esser and EQ optimized for male vocals (Same settings on both ch.) El Gtr Clean EQ, Compressor and Expander for clean guitars (Same settings on both channels) Rthm Gtr D/I...
  • Page 41 FACTORY PRESET LIST Preset Description Flamenco Gtr EQ and compressor for acoustic flamenco guitar (Same settings on both channels) Viola Da Gamba EQ and DRG for Viola (Same settings on both channels) Irish Mandolin EQ and compressor (Same settings on both channels) Wire Harp EQ, compressor and DRG (Same settings on both channels) El Cajon Hi/Lo...

  • Page 42: By Loren Alldrin

    WHERE GREAT RECORDINGS BEGIN by Loren Alldrin Have you ever thought about where recordings really begin? If this question brings to mind a tape deck, mixer or analog-to-digital converter, you're a bit too far down the signal path. While these components are crucial parts of many recording chains, they're not where the process actually beings.

  • Page 43: Microphone Placement

    WHERE GREAT RECORDINGS BEGIN A bi-directional pattern is impractical to create in a dynamic design, which explains why most dynamic mics are either omni or some form of cardioid. Ribbon mics are bi-directional by default, though some ribbon mics are available in a cardioid pattern. Condenser mics cover the whole gamut of directional patterns, and many large-diaphragm condenser mics offer a selection of pickup patterns from omni to cardioid to bi-directional.

  • Page 44: Stereo Recording

    18 inches of the sound source. A low-cut filter or low-frequency equalization (both of which are found in the Gold Channel) can help compensate for excessive proximity effect. Up-close mic placement can also accentuate dynamics and transient peaks, making the sound a challenge to properly record and mix.
  • Page 45 The TC Electronic Gold Channel offers a wealth of power to amplify and process microphone signals. This power can be used to further enhance a great-sounding mic signal, or it can be used to correct a not-so-great sound. Your job is to give the Gold Channel the best- possible sound to work with, which is where good mic technique comes into play.

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