Related Manuals for Safe Sound Audio P1
Summary of Contents for Safe Sound Audio P1
- Page 1 P1 Audio Processor User Manual Safe Sound Audio Model P1 Audio Processor : User Manual Safe Sound Audio, UK _________________________________________________________________________________...
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Page 2: P1 Audio Processor Features
Page 2 User Manual P1 Audio Processor P1 Audio Processor Features Advanced audio compressor with peakride which utilises multiple side-chains allowing the compressor to ‘ride’ the crests of the audio so that control of fast audio peaks, especially vocals, may be as fast as desired whilst release from compression compliments the natural decay of the audio waveform. -
Page 3: Table Of Contents
Expander operation ……………………………………... peakride compressor operation ……………………….. peakride compressor theory …………………………… Limiter with dynamic threshold control operation ……. How the P1 limiter manages dynamic range …………. Answers to some common questions …………………. Monitoring facilities ………………………………………. Technical Specification ………………………………………….. Fault finding ………………………………………………………... -
Page 4: Safety Information; Read This First
Page 4 User Manual P1 Audio Processor Important Safety Information : Read this first! There are dangerous voltages present within the unit. Do not open the unit and refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to dangerous voltages within the unit. -
Page 5: Quick Start Guide
Basic functions The P1 is a mono audio path processor with separate stereo monitoring facility, as shown below; The three audio inputs have separate connectors but only one of these inputs is connected to the main processing chain at any one time. -
Page 6: Phantom Power
Page 6 User Manual P1 Audio Processor Although the three inputs share a common input gain control, the gain range available to each input is different and appropriate to that input; MICROPHONE GAIN 0dB to +70dB INSTRUMENT GAIN 0dB to +30dB... - Page 7 P1 Audio Processor User Manual Page 7 The limiter is actually the last signal processing element and sits just before the preset output gain control. The limiter threshold is fixed, so for quick set-up; Ensure the expander and compressor are switched OUT of circuit...
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Page 8: Audio Connector Wiring Information
XLR depending on the type of equipment you are connecting to the line input. If wiring your own, at the P1 end use a standard ¼” 3-pole jack plug wired as follows;... - Page 9 Balanced Line output Any standard ‘off the shelf’ balanced line level cable should be suitable. If wiring your own, at the P1 end use a standard ¼” 3-pole jack plug wired as follows; _________________________________________________________________________________...
- Page 10 In this case use a standard ‘off the shelf’ unbalanced line level cable. If wiring your own, at the P1 end use a standard ¼” 2-pole jack plug wired as follows; It is possible that the input jack on some unbalanced sound cards will be for a stereo input typically via a 3.5mm stereo jacket socket.
- Page 11 (BAL)’ and ‘MONITOR INPUT RIGHT (BAL)’. Use two standard ‘off the shelf’ balanced line level cables, or if wiring your own, at the P1 end use standard ¼” 3-pole jack plugs, wiring for either left or right inputs is identical as follows;...
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Page 12: Detailed Operational Guide
Detailed operational guide Power on With the IEC mains cord securely fitted to the rear of the unit, plug the P1 into a suitable mains power source taking special care to ensure the mains voltage is as indicated on the rear panel. -
Page 13: Typical Audio Connections
User Manual Page 13 Typical audio connections The diagram below shows a typical application of the P1 audio processor in a recording set-up. Three audio input types are provided for, these are; Balanced microphone input, for use with either dynamic or phantom powered condenser microphones. -
Page 14: +48V Phantom Power For Microphones
P1 Audio Processor The balanced MICROPHONE input (3 pole XLR plug) has the lowest priority. So, for example, if you are using a microphone with the P1 make sure the other two inputs are disconnected! +48V Phantom Power for microphones As a general rule, if you are not sure whether your microphone requires phantom power then don’t press the +48 button. -
Page 15: Overload Warning
P1 which has more headroom. If you are using a source connected to the balanced line input, then back off the output level of the source device. -
Page 16: Setting Up The Output Gain
P1 Audio Processor Setting up the output gain The P1 limiter takes care that the maximum audio level through the processing chain is carefully monitoring and controlled without having to adjust any settings. However you do have to adjust the output gain control so that the maximum level from the P1 (after the limiter) matches the desired maximum recording level. - Page 17 Set-up your normal recording chain as shown below, so that the audio source is being fed into the P1 (use the input socket to suit the type of source material) and from the P1’s LINE OUT into one channel of your recording device.
- Page 18 Page 18 User Manual P1 Audio Processor Adjust the P1’s input gain until the red LIM LED just lights during the loudest part of the source material. Now set your recording device to monitor the incoming audio signal level on its record meter.
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Page 19: High Pass Filter
Expanders reduce audio gain when the audio level falls below the expander threshold setting as shown in the diagram below; The P1 expander is a simple to use with a single knob to set the threshold. As the audio input falls below the threshold, its gain is reduced progressively from 0dB (no gain change) up to a maximum gain reduction of 20dB (called the expander depth). - Page 20 3dB. The P1’s attack time is around 3ms. This is the time it takes for the expander to go from the full 20dB gain reduction to no gain reduction as the input audio level rises towards the threshold point.
- Page 21 And no amount of microphone placement in your studio makes it much better. Whilst you could strip out the worst of the background noise after recording using the P1 you just want a quick guide vocal track and the background noise in the headphones is getting on your nerves, so;...
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Page 22: Peakride Compressor Operation
The attack time is how quickly the compressor will react to audio which rises above the threshold point. In the P1 the attack time can be varied from 60ms (slow) to 1ms (fast). The setting of the attack time usually has a large impact on the compression effect. - Page 23 Page 23 laying stage as it can actually improve the quality of the performance given by the artist. However it is also possible to use the P1’s compressor as an effects device during mix down. As a general rule when recording; use compression sparingly unless you are intentionally seeking a dramatic sound effect.
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Page 24: Peakride Compressor Theory
When this happens you can either remove the background noise after recording or if you prefer at source by switching the P1’s expander and adjusting as described in that section of the user manual. Peakride compression... - Page 25 This is extremely undesirable and causes high levels of non-linear distortion. The P1’s peakride design overcomes these problems by the use of three separate control side-chains which act in the time domain (rather than in the frequency domain of a multi-band compressor).
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Page 26: Limiter With Dynamic Threshold Control Operation
P1 Audio Processor The P1 limiter with dynamic threshold control Considering that almost half of the processing power in the P1 is dedicated to the limiter, it doesn’t exactly have a high profile on the front control panel, so what’s it all about? Let’s start with the basics;... -
Page 27: How The P1 Limiter Manages Dynamic Range
So it’s much better to be safe than sorry, and after all we are Safe Sound Audio! The second issue is audio noise and distortion. Let’s assume you leave 12dB of spare headroom for unexpected vocal excesses. - Page 28 The P1 sets a nominal maximum OUTPUT level of 0dB (actually +7dBu or 1.735V RMS). This is mapped close to the maximum possible input level of the soundcard, typically to -1dBFS. This means that the P1’s output noise floor is of the same order as that achievable by the sound card.
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Page 29: Answers To Some Common Questions
A/D converter can work with and these limit the dynamic range achievable in practice. Why don’t you offer a higher output dynamic range in the P1 processor? There are two factors which set the output dynamic range of the P1;... - Page 30 What is so useful about using dynamic threshold control in the P1’s limiter design. For a detailed answer, have a read of the P1 technical white paper, but in summary; In order to fully protect a digital recording system from digital clipping, it is necessary to limit the maximum signal fed to the recording system.
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Page 31: Monitoring Facilities
If you have enough replay outputs from your recording device then one stereo output of your recording device will normally be dedicated to your main monitor loudspeakers and a second stereo output will be available to feed to the P1’s monitor inputs. - Page 32 This can be very off-putting to the performer so we recommend using the P1’s zero latency monitoring system whenever possible. In this case remember to mute the feed of the record input from the recording devices monitoring output.
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Page 33: Technical Specification
User Manual Page 33 Technical Specification Model P1 Audio Processor Size : 223mm wide by 44mm high (1U) by 225mm deep (excluding cable connectors) Weight : 1.8kg (4lbs) Power requirements : AC power to the voltage indicated on the rear panel 10%, 50/60 Hz. - Page 34 Page 34 User Manual P1 Audio Processor Input Gain Ranges Microphone input : 0dB to +70dB Line input : -10dB to +20dB Instrument input : 0dB to 30dB Expander Threshold range : -60dB to 0dB Attack time : typically 3ms Release time : variable between 90ms and 900ms (tracks the natural audio decay) Ratio 1:3 with a small degree of ‘soft knee’...
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Page 35: Fault Finding
Make sure that the expander and compressor on the P1 are switched OFF when your are setting output level control. Problem : I am connecting the P1 to another balanced audio device but I am still experiencing higher than desirable levels of hum. _________________________________________________________________________________... - Page 36 Never disconnect the P1’s mains plug earth connection in an attempt to solve a hum loop problem. It is dangerous and compromises the electrical safety of the unit.
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Page 37: Customer Care
An on-line product registration process is available to make this convenient at the time of purchase. If the returned unit should prove faulty then, at Safe Sound Audio’s choice, we will either repair or replace the unit. The customer is responsible for the cost of sending the unit back to Safe Sound Audio including insurance of the unit during shipping. -
Page 38: How To Contact Us
Leeds West Yorkshire LS18 4AG By telephone : +44 (0)7866 574522 By e-mail : info@safesoundaudio.com On the web : www.safesoundaudio.com Safe Sound Audio reserves the right to make changes and improvements to the design of this product without notice. _________________________________________________________________________________...
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