Owner`s manual

6
Installing and Connecting
UNPACKING
Your m102 box includes the m102, an AC power cable, this owner’s manual, a warranty card, a set of
4 adhesive rubber feet, and a #10-32 x 3/8” machine screw. If any of these items are missing, let your
dealer or us know and we will expedite the missing item to you. We strongly encourage you to save
the box supplied with your m102. It is specially designed to properly protect its valuable contents,
and in the unlikely event that you need to return it for service, only these OEM shipping materials will
ensure their safe return to our factory.
Also, we ask you to register your unit with us as soon as possible. We provide a 5 year warranty on
all of our products, but if you don’t register your system it’s hard for us to help you, if and when help
becomes necessary. So please take a few minutes to complete the enclosed warranty registration card
and mail it in, or simply ll out the warranty registration form on our web site. Thank you!
INSTALLING
The m102 can sit on any at surface or be installed in a standard 19” equipment rack tray. The m102
does not run hot and requires no ventilation, so it can be installed with equipment directly above and
below it. If leaving to sit on your desktop or monitor shelf, install the 4 rubber feet to the bottom of the
chassis to prevent scratching your chassis and surface.
RACKMOUNTING THE M102
The m102 chassis has a #10-32 threaded insert mounting hole on the bottom towards the back. Two
m102s can be mounted side by side in a standard 1U rack tray. Use the supplied (or any) #10-32 x 3/8”
machine screw. Do not use a screw longer than 3/8”.
CONNECTING
The m102 is easy to connect. Simply plug a line source into either of the line inputs on the rear (TRS
or XLR). This can be the output of a mic preamp or any other piece of equipment sending signal you
wish to compress. Then connect either of the outputs of the m102 to your recorder, converter, insert
etc... The outputs are parallel and both active, so you can send identical signals to two separate pieces
of gear downstream.
The 1/4” sidechain input accepts either the connection from another m102 for linking compressor
controls for stereo use, or an external side chain signal source to control the compressor for ducking or
de-essing applications. If you are inserting a sidechain signal, use an unbalanced 1/4” cable. Link mode
requires a balanced TRS 1/4” inch cable.
Operation
The compressor circuit is based on an optical attenuator - the purest, high delity gain control
mechanism available. It provides gentle to fairly heavy compression, while remaining neutral and
transparent. This compressor is not designed for “brick wall” limiting.
Similar to an eq, dynamic range compression is a subjective tool – there is no wrong way to use it.