User`s guide

APOGEE ELECTRONICS
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AD-16X – User’s Guide
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Navigating the Front Panel - continued
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9) SOFT LIMIT - This LED indicates the status of Soft Limit, Apogee’s analog transient peak reduction circuitry.
When the Soft LIMIT LED is illuminated, SOFT LIMIT is engaged on channels selected in SOFT LIMIT Chan-
nel Select Mode. To enable this mode, press and hold either PREV or NEXT (while the SOFT LIMIT LED is
flashing). To select channels, press PREV or NEXT until the red OVER LED of the desired channel is lit, and
press UP or DOWN to select the channel, as indicated by the illumination of the corresponding green LED.
Soft Limit is an analog process that instantaneously rounds transient peaks; for all intents and purposes
attack and release times may be considered as instantaneous. As with any peak reduction device working
at such fast time constants, Soft Limit is most effective with signals whose peak information is much greater
than its average (or RMS) information, such as drums, percussion and plucked instruments. Soft Limit may
not be the appropriate choice for limiting signals whose crest factor (peak to RMS ratio) is low, such as bass
or organ.
10) AES format - The format of the AES inputs may be set to SINGLE or DOUBLE wire, to accommodate the
AES format of connected devices. If the CLOCK SOURCE is either INTernal or WC and the sample rate is
44.1- 48kHz, only the SINGLE value is available; in all other cases both values may be selected.
11) CLEAR – Pressing this button clears OVERs (displayed by the red LEDs). Pressing and holding this button
toggles the AD-16X between two OVER LED Hold modes - One Second Clear and Autoclear.
One Second Clear (CLEAR LED off) - OVERs are held for one second and then automatically cleared. If
you’re really impatient, you can clear them manually.
Autoclear - (CLEAR LED on) - Autoclear acts like an alert assistant, clearing OVERs between takes. When
an OVER occurs, it is held until 1) the level on the corresponding channel drops below -50 dBFs for at least
5 seconds and 2) a new signal over -50 dBFs is input. Now, OVERs will be held throughout the duration of a
take, and cleared when the next take begins.
12) Level Meters – Much more than mere signal presence indicators, these green LEDs display digital output
level from –36 to 0 dBFs according to their brightness.
OVER Indicators - The red LEDs indicate that 3 consecutive overs have occurred in the conversion process.