P501 Audio Processor User Manual Safe Sound Audio P501 Audio Processor User Manual Safe Sound Audio, UK
P501 Audio Processor User Manual Page 2 P501 Audio Processor Features 500 Series Fully compatible with the API™ 500 Series modular format which allows a number of audio modules to be plugged into rack frames such as the API™ 6-slot Lunchbox and 10-slot 500VPR rack frame. Input Stage Wideband 60kHz high gain mic amp is partnered with a front jack accessable balanced line input, which is also relay switchable to become a high impedance DI input. A switchable 80Hz, 18dB/octave hi-pass filter is included.
P501 Audio Processor User Manual Contents P501 Audio Processor Features 500 Series Compatibility Installation Detailed Operation Guide Input Stage High Pass Filter Peakride Compressor Peakride Compressor Design Theory Limiter Output Gain and Level Metering Technical Specification Warranty How to contact us Page 3 Page 2 4 4 5 6 6 7 8 10 11 11 14 15
P501 Audio Processor User Manual Page 4 500 Series Compatibility The P501 Audio Processor is intended for use within an API™ 500 Series compatible rack frame from which is takes its power and audio connections. It cannot function as a stand-a-lone unit. Information about the API™ 500 Series rack frames can be found at www.apiaudio.com.
P501 Audio Processor Detailed operational guide User Manual Page 5
P501 Audio Processor User Manual Page 6 Input Stage Three audio input types are provided for, these are: Balanced microphone input, for use with either dynamic or phantom powered condenser microphones. Connect via the XLR input connector for the corresponding channel on the rear of the rack frame. Select switch number (7) to ‘line’. Balanced line level input, for use with any line level source, most commonly when using the P501 as an insert effect within the recording or mixdown chain.
P501 Audio Processor User Manual Page 7 Peakride Compressor Compressors progressively reduce the gain of an audio signal as its input level rises above the compressor threshold as shown in the diagram below. The compressor threshold is the level point in dB above which the audio gain will be reduced. On the P501 this can be varied from 0dB to -40dB using the T/HOLD control (12).
P501 Audio Processor User Manual Page 8 The release time is how quickly the compression effect is removed when the audio falls back below the threshold. The P501’s release time is programmed to follow the dynamics of the falling audio level. This is an important aspect of the P501’s compressor design and offers a very natural sounding form of compression. The amount of gain reduction (due to the compressor and limiter) is shown in the 6 segment LED meter (13).
P501 Audio Processor User Manual Page 9 Notice that the pure tone audio signal is beginning to lose its smooth top and bottom curves and begins to resemble a triangular waveform. This is not just an issue for bass guitar and bass drum compression. Many audio sources including piano and vocals have either a primary low frequency ‘carrier’ component and vibrato/tremolo induced low frequency components. All can cause audible distortion when being compressed or limited.
P501 Audio Processor User Manual Page 10 and the usual consequence that the whole vocal phrase then suffers from over compression. It is often difficult to achieve the attack speed without the undesirable over compression. The peakride compressor achieves this by altering the ratio of the compressor dynamically. So you can set an average compression ratio on the front panel control but the actual delivered ratio will alter to suit the dynamics of the audio as it rises above the threshold level.
P501 Audio Processor User Manual Page 11 Output Gain and Level Metering The output gain control (8) is sited in the signal path immediately after the limiter and just before the final balanced output stage which in turn feeds the audio output to the selected channel output XLR in the rack frame. The most common use of the output gain control is to match the peak output level of the P501 to the peak input level of your recording device.
P501 Audio Processor Fusing : User Manual Page 12 On board ‘auto reset’ polyfuses protecting the ±16V and +48V rails Main processor audio path Frequency response : -0.5dB points at 5Hz and 60kHz Distortion : < 0.01% at 1kHz (typically 0.
P501 Audio Processor Output Noise : User Manual Page 13 -93dBu RMS unweighted, measured 22Hz to 22kHz -95dBu RMS A-weighted, measured 22Hz to 22kHz Input Gain Ranges Microphone input : Line input : Instrument input : 0dB to +72dB -10dB to +20dB +2dB to +33dB Peakride Compressor Threshold range : 0dB to -40dB Attack time range : 60ms to 1ms Release time : variable from 90ms to 500ms (tracks the natural audio decay) Ratio : 1:1 to INF:1 Make-up gain : automatically set in proportion to the thr
P501 Audio Processor User Manual Page 14 Warranty Safe Sound Audio provides a 12 month warranty from the purchase date according to the following conditions; This warranty is not transferable and applies only to the original purchaser of the unit. If the unit should become faulty, then contact Safe Sound Audio or your local distributor for a Returns Authorisation Number. No items will be accepted for warranty repair without this authorisation number.
P501 Audio Processor User Manual Page 15 How to contact us By post : Safe Sound Audio 47 Broadgate Lane Horsforth Leeds West Yorkshire LS18 4AG UK Callers strictly by appointment By telephone : +44 (0)7866 574 522 By e-mail : info@safesoundaudio.com On the web : www.safesoundaudio.com Safe Sound Audio reserves the right to make changes and improvements to the design of this product without notice.
P501 Audio Processor User Manual © Safe Sound Audio 2009 Page 16
