Dual Compressor/Limiter/Gate User Manual Professional Audio Equipment
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION WARNING FOR YOUR PROTECTION READ THE FOLLOWING: KEEP THESE INSTRUCTIONS HEED ALL WARNINGS FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS The symbols shown above are internationally accepted symbols that warn of potential hazards with electrical products. The lightning flash with arrowpoint in an equilateral triangle means that there are dangerous voltages present within the unit.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY This unit conforms to the Product Specifications noted on the Declaration of Conformity. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: • • t his device may not cause harmful interference, and this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Operation of this unit within significant electromagnetic fields should be avoided. • use only shielded interconnecting cables. U.K.
Table of Contents Section 1- Introduction........................... 1 1.1 Inspection..................................... 1 1.2 Service Contact Info........................ 2 1.3 Warranty........................................ 3 Section 2- Getting Started....................... 4 2.1 Rear Panel Connections................... 4 2.2 Front Panel Connections.................. 5 Section 3 - Making Connections ............... 10 3.1 Basic Connections........................... 10 3.
dbx 166xs Introduction Section 1 Section 1 - Introduction Congratulations on choosing the dbx 166xs Compressor/Limiter/Gate. The 166xs provides two channels of noise gating, OverEasy® or classic hard knee compression and PeakStop® limiting to give complete control of signal dynamics to studios, sound reinforcement companies, musicians, or anyone who needs quality processing quickly and easily.
Section 1 Introduction dbx 166xs 1.2 Service Contact Info If you require technical support, contact dbx Technical Support. Be prepared to accurately describe the problem. Know the serial number of your device - this is printed on a sticker attached to the chassis. If you have not already taken the time to fill out your warranty registration card and send it in, please do so now. You may also register online at www.dbxpro.com.
dbx 166xs Introduction Section 1 1.3 Warranty This warranty is valid only for the original purchaser and only in the United States. 1. The warranty registration card that accompanies this product must be mailed within 30 days after purchase date to validate this warranty. You can also register online at www.dbxpro.com. Proof-of-purchase is considered to be the responsibility of the consumer. A copy of the original purchase receipt must be provided for any warranty service. 2.
Section 2 Getting Started dbx 166xs Section 2 - Getting Started 2.1 Rear Panel Connections AC POWER Receptacle This receptacle accepts an IEC-type power cord (as shipped with the unit). Plug the cord into the unit and mains power. Note that the 166xs does not have a power switch. It is recommended that the 166xs be “On” at all times. Power consumption is low. If you do not plan to use the 166xs for an extended period of time, unplug it.
dbx 166xs Getting Started Section 2 OUTPUT (BALANCED) Jacks The Tip/Ring/Sleeve phone jack and XLR-type jack are wired in parallel; either OUTPUT will send an audio signal to a load. The phone jack accepts a standard TRS 1/4” phone plug for a balanced output load, or a 2-circuit (Tip/Sleeve) 1/4” phone plug for an unbalanced load. The XLR-type jack is wired pin 2 HOT(+), pin 3 COLD (-) and pin 1 GROUND. For proper unbalanced operation, the unused pin (either pin 2 or 3) must be grounded.
Section 2 dbx 166xs Getting Started NOTE: The 166xs expansion ratio is internally fixed, at approximately 10:1. This ratio helps to eliminate the artifacts normally associated with common switch gates. Attenuation is >50dB. SIDECHAIN (SC) ENABLE Switch and LED This switch enables the 1/4” TRS connector of the sidechain, allowing external processing of the detector signal.
dbx 166xs Getting Started Section 2 In OverEasy mode (OVEREASY button depressed), signals begin to gradually activate the 166xs gain change circuitry as they approach the THRESHOLD reference level and they do not get fully processed in the manner defined by the RATIO control until they have passed somewhat above the THRESHOLD reference level.
Section 2 Getting Started dbx 166xs level. The RELEASE rate is from FAST (where compression follows the envelope of the program material very tightly) to SLOW (for very smooth compression). There is no absolute right way to set the ATTACK and RELEASE controls.
dbx 166xs PEAKSTOP LEVEL Control and LED Getting Started Section 2 LIMITER Section This control allows you to set the maximum peak output level of the 166xs regardless of any other control. PeakStop comes after the compression, gating and output gain circuitry; this provides for an absolute limit to be put on the peak excursions at the output.
Section 3 Making Connections dbx 166xs Section 3 - Making Connections 3.1 Basic Connections The 166xs has balanced inputs and outputs, and can be used with any line-level device. Some common examples include: mixing consoles, musical instruments, patch bays and other signal processors. For more specific cabling information, refer to Installation Considerations, page 12. For all connections, refer to the following steps:. 1. Turn Off all equipment before making any connections. 2.
dbx 166xs Making Connections Section 3 For example, to set up your 166xs for frequency-sensitive gating or frequency-weighted compression, you must feed an equalizer’s input with the same signal fed to the 166xs INPUT, and then connect the equalizer’s output to the 166xs SIDECHAIN INSERT jack (Figure 4). Providing the signal to both the 166xs INPUT and the equalizer can be accomplished in several different ways: (1) use an insert cable plugged into the SIDECHAIN INSERT jack.
Section 3 Making Connections dbx 166xs use the “PREAMP OUT” of your guitar amp (if so equipped), or the output of some other device that is designed to accept low-level instrument inputs (including various foot pedal effects, acoustic pickup preamps, and some rack mount audio products). Such sources can be balanced or unbalanced - this is no problem for the 166xs. Microphones, bass guitars, and electric-acoustic instruments, also typically have low-level outputs.
dbx 166xs Making Connections Section 3 Input Cable Configurations The 166xs has an actual input impedance of >40kΩ in balanced or unbalanced configurations. This makes the 166xs audio input suitable for use with virtually any source impedance, low or high. The 166xs input jacks are wired in parallel. The phone jack TIP (+) connection is internally wired to the XLR pin 2, the RING (-) is wired to pin 3, and the SLEEVE (shield) is wired to pin 1.
Section 4 Operating Notes dbx 166xs Section 4 - Operating Notes 4.1 Expander/Gate Applications NOTE: Control settings for each application are suggested as a starting point. Adjust them for your requirements. Gating Dry Percussive Sounds (e.g., Snare Drum, Kick Drum) To effectively gate percussive sounds with high-level transients, you need to set the 166xs gate controls to ensure that the gate is less sensitive to nearby signals that would cause the gate to open or “false trigger.
dbx 166xs Operating Notes Section 4 controls as needed). The gated bass track will now open with each kick, adding punch and dynamics. This can really tighten up the tracks and add life to the mix. Another example of keyed gating is using the drum signal to key an oscillator which is set to an appropriate frequency to “tune” and “punch up” the drum sound.
Section 4 Operating Notes dbx 166xs the bass’ inherent sustain. Other instruments, such as horns, vary in loudness depending on the note being played, and benefit similarly. Note that if the compressed bass sounds smooth, but too thin for your needs, try pressing In the CONTOUR button to thicken the sound.
dbx 166xs Operating Notes Section 4 Raising a Signal Out of a Mix Since reducing dynamic range increases the average signal level by a small amount, a single track can be raised out of a mix by boosting its level slightly and applying compression. Start with a 2:1 RATIO and a relatively low THRESHOLD setting (-20dBu). Adjust both controls as necessary. Compressors have also been used to bring vocals to the forefront of a mix in volume-restricted studios (e.g. home studios).
Section 4 Operating Notes dbx 166xs In circumstances where the 166xs is expected to cause no change in gain unless an emergency arises (wildly excessive levels), some operators set Hard Knee mode On, the RATIO to ∞:1, and the THRESHOLD to the highest permissible level. As with preventing digital overload, the 166xs PeakStop limiter can be used instead of or in combination with the 166xs compression. As a general rule, compressors should be as close to the amplifiers as possible in the signal chain.
dbx 166xs Operating Notes Section 4 sounds to be unaffected while solo and very loud sounds are compressed. (Of course, when compression occurs, the level of the entire program is affected - however, if the 166xs CONTOUR button is pressed in, even more of the signal’s lower energy can be preserved.) Depending on the THRESHOLD setting, lower amplitude fundamentals or harmonics will not cause compression, and the program is not subject to the phase shift normally caused by program equalization.
Section 4 Operating Notes dbx 166xs drivers are frequently damaged, the whole system must be operated at a lower sound-pressure level, or additional mid-range drivers must be added. By inserting an equalizer in the Sidechain path to the 166xs, it can be made more sensitive to frequencies in the range handled by the sensitive drivers. The system can then be run at higher levels and will only be dropped back when damaging signals are present.
dbx 166xs Technical Support, Factory Service Section 5 Section 5 - Technical Support, Factory Service The 166xs is an all-solid-state product with components chosen for high performance and excellent reliability. Each 166xs is designed, assembled, tested, and calibrated at the factory and should require no internal adjustment of any type throughout the life of the unit. We recommend that your 166xs be returned to the factory only after referring to the manual and consulting with Customer Service.
Section A dbx 166xs Appendix Section A - Appendix A.1 Technical Specifications NOTE: 0dBu =0.
dbx 166xs Appendix PHYSICAL: Dimensions (H x W x D): Rack Space: Net Weight: Shipping Weight: Section A 1.75” x 19” x 6.75” (4.45 cm x 48.2 cm x 17.15 cm) 1 Rack Unit (1U High) 5.05 lbs. (2.29 kg) 7.20 lbs. (3.27 kg) Specifications are subject to change without notice. A.
8760 South Sandy Parkway • Sandy, Utah 84070 Phone: (801) 568-7660 • Fax (801) 568-7662 Int’l Fax: (801) 568-7583 Questions or comments? Contact us at www.dbxpro.
