The ART DPS DI/O Preamp System TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ........................................................................................... 2 Installation ............................................................................................. 4 AC Power Hookup .............................................................................. 4 Analog Audio Connections .................................................................. 4 Safety Precautions ..................................
INTRODUCTION Thank you for purchasing an ART DPS (DI/O Preamp System) - and congratulations: You now own one of the most versatile preamplifiers available. Offering a superb level of sound quality, the DPS hybrid tube and solid state circuit design, combined with a straightforward user interface, quickly and easily gives you access to all of its features - and moves you forward into the digital recording domain.
The D/O Preamp System also features ART Analog to Digital conversion system and ART Tube Technology similar to that of the ART D/IO. This ensures that when you are going from the analog preamplification to digital, your signal will be as warm and musical as you decide it to be.
INSTALLATION The DPS may be used in a wide variety of applications and environments. In a rack-mountable, all-steel enclosure, the unit is designed for continuous professional use. Mounting location is not critical. However, for greater reliability we recommend that you not place the units on top of power amps or other sources of heat. The tube circuitry needs about a minute to “warm up” from a cold power up.
CONTROLS & INDICATORS INPUT CONTROL The Input Control sets the amount of input gain of the DPS. Turn the control clockwise to increase gain and counterclockwise to decrease gain. You may control two ranges of gain with this control, +20 to +68dB and +0 to +48dB. Selection of the gain range is made with the +20dB gain switch. NOTE: This control, along with the +20 dB Switch, is responsible for any saturation of the tube. To change the tube character, utilize these 2 controls.
Dynamic microphones should not be affected or damaged if they are plugged into a line where Phantom power is present. However, if the mic doesn't need it, do not use it. Some things are best left untested! PHASE REVERSE SWITCH The Phase Reverse switch is provided to reverse the phase of the signal. This switch works on Pins 2 and 3 of the XLR output jack and also reverses the polarity of the ¼” output jack. In the Normal position, the signal is in-phase.
We wanted to take the guessing out of the equation – and that is how we developed V3™. It’s simple, easy and it works really well. For example, if you are recording an acoustic guitar, V3™ has a preset that has been optimized for that instrument. Once the preset is chosen, the user can even fine tune the signal – which shows the true power of V3™ technology…it’s tweakable.
DIGITAL LEVEL The digital level knobs control the input gain to the digital converters of the DPS™. The purpose of the digital level control is to get the loudest possible signal into the converters before clipping starts to occur. The front mounted clip lights easily notify the user before digital clipping occurs. For the optimal input signal, raise the gain until the digital clip lights just start to flicker, then back off on the digital level by a hair until the clip lights go out.
Typically, the higher the sample rate, the more accurate the digital conversion is - but frequently, one is limited by the digital recording system being used. Make sure that, when selecting your sampling rate, the digital recording system you are working with is operating at the same rate. ADAT CHANNEL CONTROL This button controls the current ADAT channel the DPS™ is transmitting over.
CONNECTIONS It is easy to interface the unit with a wide variety of equipment. The front panel houses 2 dual-purpose ¼” / XLR input jacks, and the rear houses balanced XLR ins and outs as well as unbalanced ¼” outs. Standard ¼” and XLR inputs and outputs make patching simple. ANALOG CONNECTIONS DUAL PURPOSE INPUT JACKS (FRONT) The front mounted, dual-purpose jacks act as both balanced XLR jacks, and unbalanced ¼” jacks.
XLR OUTPUT JACKS (REAR) The XLR Output jacks of the DPS are active balanced. You may use them in an unbalanced configuration without harm to the output circuitry. The XLR outputs can provide a hefty signal level (+28dBu) at a low impedance, so make sure that you do not overdrive equipment with sensitive inputs. When using the DPS™ on the front end of a mixer, go into the mixer’s line in or insert inputs and not necessarily into the mixer’s microphone input, unless the mixer can pad that input’s level.
Due to the wide bandwidth, A R T recommends the use of high quality, low loss, fully shielded cabling for the S/PDIF Coax connection. Note that the S/PDIF out must act as a master. On the digital system you are connecting the S/PDIF cable to make sure the device is set to sync to the incoming S/PDIF signal to ensure a high quality transmission. OPTICAL ADAT INPUT (REAR) The optical input of the DPS™ allows the user to use the DPS™ within an ADAT chain.
¼” INSERTS (REAR) The DPS has 2 channel inserts that are routed just before the digital converters. The 2 female TRS jacks can be used to send the DPS’ analog signal to an external processing device, and then return the effected signal to the digital converters. The RING of the TRS is used to send the signal out, and the TIP is routed to the digital converters. One could also simply plug the output of a device directly into the insert jacks to directly go into the converters.
OPERATION The DPS is one of the most versatile preamplification systems available. Through use of the V3 technology, numerous instruments can be processed by the DPS. Simply mic the instrument (if acoustic), amp, speaker, or plug the instrument directly in to take full advantage of V3™ technology.
Using V3 : The V3 presets have been voiced with the intent of being a starting point for the recording process. The key to good recordings is to consider all the variables you will encounter during the process. For example…which microphone are you using? Are you recording a particularly bright guitar into a very trebly guitar amplifier? Are the strings on your acoustic made of metal or nylon? Is the room live or flat? We mention this because V3 is intended as a reference, not a hardand-fast absolute.
WARRANTY INFORMATION Limited Warranty Applied Research and Technology will provide warranty and service for this unit in accordance with the following warrants: Applied Research and Technology, (A R T) warrants to the original purchaser that this product and the components thereof will be free from defects in workmanship and materials for a period of three years from the date of purchase.
SERVICE The following information is provided in the unlikely event that your unit requires service. 1) Be sure that the unit is the cause of the problem. Check to make sure the unit has the proper power supplied, all cables are connected correctly, and the cables themselves are in working condition. 2) If you find the unit to be at fault, write down a complete description of the problem, including how and when the problem occurs.
Fill in the following information for your reference: Date of purchase ___________________ Purchased from ___________________ Serial number ___________________ - 18 -
DPS SPECIFICATIONS Dimensions Weight Analog Input Connections 1.75”H x 19”W x 6.5”D 5.5 lbs. Front: XLR (balanced) Rear: Switchable XLR (bal.)/ ¼” TS, Analog Output Connections XLR (balanced), ¼”TS, Digital Input Connections ADAT Optical, Word Clock BNC Digital Output Connections ADAT Optical/TOSLINK, S/PDIF RCA Analog Input Impedance XLR, ¼” 5K ohms,1M ohm Analog Output Impedance XLR, ¼” 300 ohms,150ohms Word Clock Specifications BNC jack, 5V max., Ext.
ART maintains a policy of constant product improvement. ART reserves the right to make changes in design or make additions to or improvements upon this product without any obligation to install same on products previously manufactured. Therefore, specifications are subject to change without notice. Applied Research & Technology 215 Tremont Street Rochester, NY 14608 USA (585) 436-2720 (585) 436-3942 (FAX) www.artproaudio.
