Operating Controls; Front Panel - dbx 266XL Owner's/Operator's Manual

266XL
Compressor / Gate
O C
PERATING ONTROLS
THRESHOLD
- +
-40
-60
OFF +15
dBu
THRESHOLD
EXPANDER/GATE

Front Panel

THRESHOLD
-
0
CHANNEL ONE
-10
2:1
-20
-20
3:1
0 1.3:1 -30
1:1 4:1 -40
dBu
RATIO THRESHOLD
STEREO COUPLE Switch and LED
This switch sets the 266XL for Stereo or Dual Mono operation. Press the STEREO
COUPLE switch in for stereo operation where Channel 1 becomes the master con-
troller for both channels. All of Channel 2's controls, switches, and LEDs will be dis-
abled (except for Channel 2's GAIN REDUCTION meter), since Channel 2 is the
slave.
With the STEREO COUPLE switch out, the unit functions as two separate mono
compressor/gates, each with its own independent controls.
The red STEREO COUPLE LED indicates that the 266XL is stereo-coupled.
BYPASS Switch and LED
Press this switch in to bypass the front panel controls, effectively canceling the func-
tion and processing effect of the 266XL's compression, gating and gain settings. The
input signal is still present at the 266XL's Output, but is now unaltered by the
266XL's controls. BYPASS is especially useful for making comparisons between
processed and unprocessed signals. Note that with stereo operation (STEREO COU-
PLE switch pressed in), the Channel 1 BYPASS switch controls both channels.
The red BYPASS LED lights when BYPASS is active.
GAIN REDUCTION (dB) Meter
This meter displays the amount of signal attenuated from the input signal by the
266XL's Compressor or Expander/Gate. When the Compressor and Expander/Gate
are both active, the meter displays the maximum amount of gain reduction for
whichever function is greater - Compressor or Expander/Gate.
OUTPUT GAIN (dB) Control:
This control sets the overall gain of the 266XL, from -20dB to +20dB. The OUTPUT
GAIN control is especially useful to compensate for the RMS level decrease which
results from the 266XL's dynamic processing effects. After you adjust the 266XL's
controls for the desired amount of compression, set the OUTPUT GAIN to add the
same amount of gain that is shown on the GAIN REDUCTION meters. For example,
if the average amount of gain reduction shown on the meters is 10dB, then setting the
OUTPUT GAIN control to +10dB will compensate for the 10dB average level reduc-
tion at the output.
Note: the 266XL's Compressor and Expander/Gate control settings are interactive and can affect gain, so
watch your playback levels.
+
30
2:1
0
1.3:1 4:1
+10
OverEasy
+20 1:1 :1 FAST
RATIO ATTACK
COMPRESSOR
GAIN REDUCTION dB
25 20 15 10 6 3 1
-10
Auto
SLOW FAST SLOW -20
RELEASE OUTPUT GAIN
3
0
+10 -60
Stereo
Bypass Couple
+20
dB