ProVocal ™ Digital Vocal Processor User Manual
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS WARNING FOR YOUR PROTECTION PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING: KEEP THESE INSTRUCTIONS HEED ALL WARNINGS FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS DO NOT USE THIS APPARATUS NEAR WATER 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 INSTRUCTIONS LITHIUM BATTERY WARNING CAUTION! This product may contain a lithium battery.There is danger of explosion if the battery is incorrectly replaced. Replace only with an Eveready CR 2032 or equivalent. Make sure the battery is installed with the correct polarity. Discard used batteries according to manufacturer’s instructions. U.K. MAINS PLUG WARNING A molded mains plug that has been cut off from the cord is unsafe. Discard the mains plug at a suitable disposal facility.
ProVocal™ Introduction Table of Contents Section 3 Application Guide 0.1 Defining the ProVocal.......................................i Basic Connections ................................................14 Connections to a Mixing Console .......................14 0.2 Service Contact Info.........................................ii Applications 3.3 to 3.6 ........................................15 0.3 Warranty............................................................ii Appendix 0.
ProVocal™ INTRODUCTION INTRO CUSTOMER SERVICE INFO ProVocal DEFINED WARRANTY INFO ®
Introduction INTRODUCTION ProVocal™ Congratulations on your purchase of the dbx ProVocal™ Digital Vocal Processor with digital output capabilities. For over 30 years, dbx has been the industry leader in dynamics processing. With the introduction of the ProVocal™, dbx offers unmatched versatility for the project studio enthusiast at an unparalleled value.
ProVocal™ Introduction 0.2 Service Contact Info If you require technical support, contact dbx Customer Service. Be prepared to accurately describe the problem. Know the serial number of your unit - this is printed on a sticker attached to the rear panel. If you have not already taken the time to fill out your warranty registration card and send it in, please do so now. Before you return a product to the factory for service, we recommend you refer to the manual.
Introduction ProVocal™ 0.4 Installation Recommendations FOR RACK MOUNT USE ONLY - Install the ProVocal™ in your rack with the provided rack screws. When installed in a rack, the unit should be positioned with enough room (at least 1U above and 1U below the unit) to allow proper ventilation. The ProVocal™ should not be mounted above or below anything that generates excessive heat. Ambient temperatures should not exceed 1130F (450C) when equipment is in use.
ProVocal™ Section 1 Getting Started Getting Started ®
Section 1 Getting Started ProVocal™ 1.1 Rear Panel Connections IEC Power Cord Receptacle This is the power cord receptacle of the ProVocal™. An IEC cord is included with the shipped product. S/PDIF Digital Output Connector The ProVocal™ provides S/PDIF digital output formatting through the RCA coaxial connector. Be sure to use short lengths of 75Ω digital cables or 75Ω video cables rather than standard audio RCA to RCA cables.
ProVocal™ Getting Started Section 1 1.2 Front Panel Controls Microphone Input This balanced high-impedance input connection is used to insert the microphone signal directly into the preamp. Use the LINE switch to make Microphone input or the rear panel line input active. Line Select Switch This switch, when lit, selects the rear line input or front panel instrument input (when connected) as the source signal of the ProVocal™.
Section 1 Getting Started ProVocal™ Effect Select Button and LEDs This button is used to select any one of the six effect module blocks available in the ProVocal™. Successive presses will scroll through the effect menu. The corresponding LED will light when the effect module is selected and will be lighted in performance mode, when the effect module is on, or used in the current program. Store Button This button is used to store any program changes that have been made.
ProVocal™ Section 2 Operation DETAILED PARAMETERS, BASIC OPERATION AND UTILITY ®
Section 2 ProVocal™ Detailed Parameters 2.1 Detailed Parameters This Section has been created to offer an overview and explanation of the effects available in the ProVocal™, as well as a basic tutorial guide for operation of the unit. Modeling - Mic Type - OF, and D1-D9 and CI-C9 This parameter offers the selection of several different Setting Microphone LED Display 1. None (Flat) OF Models w/Dynamic Mic as input 2. Oktava d1 3. Audio Technica™ AT4033 d2’ 4. Shure™ KSM32 d3’ 5. AKG™ 414 d4’ 6.
ProVocal™ Detailed Parameters Section 2 Modeling - Gain - 0 to 99 This parameter controls the input gain of the signal flowing into the microphone preamp model. Values are from 0-99. Modeling - Low-Cut Freq - 0 to 50 This parameter controls the low-cut frequency. All audio below this frequency will be removed. Values are from 0-50. EQ - Low Gain - -12 to 12 (+/-12dB @ 80Hz) This parameter controls the Low-gain output of the EQ section and ranges from -12 to +12dBu.
Section 2 Detailed Parameters ProVocal™ (for more delayed, gradual compression). A very fast ATTACK setting will cause the ProVocal™ to act like a peak limiter even though RMS detection circuitry is used. Slower ATTACK settings cause the ProVocal™ to act like an RMS or averaging detecting compressor/limiter. Compressor - Release - 1 to 99 (360-5dB/sec) The RELEASE control sets how fast the compression circuit returns the input to its original level.
ProVocal™ Basic Operation Section 2 Chorus/Flanger - CC - 1-10 This parameter is used to select the desired parameter to control with MIDI Settings are as follows: 1: Modeling Microphone, 2: Microphone Preamp Gain, 3: Compressor Gain, 4: Chorus/Flanger Speed, 5: Chorus/Flanger Depth, 6: Chorus/Flanger Mix, 7: Delay Time, 8: Delay Feedback, 9: Delay Input Level and 10: Reverb Mix/Decay. Delay/Reverb - Delay time - 0-91 (0-1380ms) This parameter is used to set the delay time of the Delay effect.
Section 2 Basic Operation ProVocal™ output connections, use either XLR or 1/4” Line output. • Apply power to the ProVocal™. Connect the AC power cord to the AC power receptacle on the back of the unit. Route the AC power cord to a convenient power outlet away from audio lines. The unit may be turned on and off from the front panel power switch or from a master equipment power switch. • After all connections have been made, make the appropriate front panel line settings i.e.
ProVocal™ • Effect Bypass - Navigation Section 2 To bypass all effect in the ProVocal, press the and buttons simultaneously. To take the unit out of bypass mode, press either the , or button. 2.3 Utility functions and Factory Reset Utility Functions The ProVocal™ provides a Utility section which will give the user access to operation functions including: Sample-Rate Selection, MIDI CC Selection and MIDI Channel Selection.
Section 2 ProVocal™ Navigation 2.4 Factory Program List 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
ProVocal ™ Section 3 DIGITAL APPLICATIONS APPLICATION GUIDE ®
Section 3 Applications ProVocal™ 3.1 Basic Analog Connection of the ProVocal • Turn off all equipment before making any connections. • Install the ProVocal in your rack with the provided rack screws. It is essential that when the ProVocal is being mounted in a rack mounting enclosure, the unit should be positioned with enough room (at least 1U of space above the unit and 1U of space below the unit) to allow proper ventilation.
ProVocal™ Applications Section 3 3.3 Direct Connection to a Recorder 1). Make microphone connections, being careful to keep the GAIN control in the minimum (+30dB) position. 2). Connect the ProVocal’s Line outputs directly to the audio inputs of your recorder. 3). Enable the record function of the specific track of the recorder and open the specific tape track return in the console which corresponds to the track to which the ProVocal is connected.
Section 3 Digital Applications ProVocal™ 3.5 A/D Conversion Connections • • Connect the source to the desired 1/4” TRS or XLR input. Connect the S/PDIF output of the ProVocal and run into the S/PDIF input interface of the DAW (CPU). 3.6 Analog and Digital Output Application This application allows you to send a digital signal to a receiving device (such as a DAW or digital recorder) and route the analog signal to a monitoring device (such as a mixer or headphone amplifier) simultaneously.
ProVocal™ Appendix APPENDIX APPENDIX Block Diagram dbx Type IV™ White Paper Specifications ®
Appendix Block Diagram Block Diagram 18 ProVocal™ User Manual ProVocal™
ProVocal™ Type IV™ White Papers Appendix Type IV™ White Paper dbx Type IV™ Conversion System White Paper by Roger Johnson The dbx Type IV™ Conversion System is a proprietary analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion process that combines the best attributes of digital conversion and analog recording processes to preserve the essence of the analog signal when it is converted to a digital format.
Appendix Type IV™ White Paper ProVocal™ paranoid of overdriving the converter input and end up recording at lower levels to ensure that there is ample headroom to allow for the large peaks that would ruin an otherwise perfect recording. This, of course, compromises signalto-noise performance since the signal is now closer to the noise floor. Because users of digital equipment have to be extremely careful not to exceed 0dB FS (full-scale), they must use peak-reading headroom meters.
ProVocal™ Type IV™ White Paper Appendix Fig. 2 illustrates the mapping function in a different way. Input levels are shown on the left of the graph, while converted levels are shown on the right. Notice the mapping of large signal excursions to the 4dB “Type IV™ Over Region.” One might question the validity of such an approach—trying to represent a lot of signal information within a smaller “space.
Appendix 22 Type IV™ White Paper ProVocal™ User Manual ProVocal™
ProVocal™ Type IV™ White Paper Appendix Now you’re probably wondering, “What’s the catch? I can’t get something for nothing so what did I give up?” You may be worried that your A/D noise floor got 4dB worse because we borrowed the top 4dB of your converter. This is certainly a valid concern.
Appendix Specifications ProVocal™ Specifications . Microphone Input Connector: Type: Impedance: Maximum Input Level: CMRR: Equivalent Input Noise: Gain Female XLR pin 2 hot Electronically balanced/unbalanced RF filtered 330, Ω balanced -9dBu or +11 dBu with 20dB pad engaged >40dB, Typically 55dB at 1kHz Typically -120.
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