Manual Crimson Model 1250 High Performance USB Audio Interface & Monitor Controller
Content 2 Manual Crimson 4 Declaration of CE Conformity Notes on Environmental Protection Support 4 4 4 Scope of Delivery and Packaging 5 Symbols and Notes 5 Introduction 6 Welcome With and without DAW A new price-sound ratio Special Features 6 6 6 6 Hook Up 6 Placement Power Connection Signal Connections 6 6 6 Rear Panel 7 Powering On and Off Recording and DAW return channels, Inputs and Outputs 7 7 Rear Panel: Wiring Diagram 8 Rear Panel: Digital Connections 9
Content Control Elements 14 Mic Gain 48 V High-Pass Filter Instr Gain LED Indicators Analog Inputs DAW Returns Sources | Talk Digital In Speakers | Mode Artist Mode Talkback Option Phones 1 and 2 Optimal Potentiometer Control Range Volume Calibration of the Monitoring System 14 14 14 15 15 16 16 16 16 16 17 17 17 17 18 18 Hearing Protection 19 Recommendations for Hearing Protection 19 Specifications 20 Specifications USB-Interface 22 Your Notes 23 Crimson 3
Manual Crimson Model 1250 Version 1.0 – 12/2013 This manual contains a description of the product SPL Crimson, Model 1250. In no way it represents a guarantee of particular characteristics or results of use. The information in this document has been carefully compiled and verified and, unless otherwise stated or agreed upon, correctly describes the product at the time of packaging with this document.
Symbols and Notes IN THIS MANUAL A LIGHTNING SYMBOL WITHIN A TRIANGLE WARNS YOU ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR DANGEROUS ELECTRICAL SHOCKS – WHICH CAN ALSO OCCUR EVEN AFTER THE DEVICE HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED FROM A POWER SOURCE. AN EXCLAMATION MARK (!) WITHIN A TRIANGLE IS INTENDED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF IMPORTANT OPERATIONAL ADVICE AND/OR WARNINGS THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED. BE ESPECIALLY ATTENTIVE TO THESE AND ALWAYS FOLLOW THE ADVICE THEY GIVE.
Introduction Welcome and thank you for purchasing the Crimson. It combines a high-performance USB audio interface with high-quality preamps and a separate, fully-featured monitor controller. You can play and play back, record and convert, control and listen with one single device. So all you essentially need for a truly professional recording setup is the Crimson and a DAW. With and without DAW Crimson is designed to operate with your Digital Audio Workstation.
Hook Up Powering On and Off The Crimson has no power on/off switch for two good reasons: first of all, cutting the power off before the external PSU does not truly stop the latter‘s power consumption and, secondly, the chances of an accidental powering off that could ruin a recording are reduced to zero.
OUT SPDIF PWR USB Front Connections e. g. CD-Player digital IN IN SPDIF OUT e. g. Sampler Made in Germany MIDI MIDI IN OUT Serial Number Bal. TRS Speakers B R L R Trim L Speakers B Bal. TRS PWR L Speaker Set 1 Model 1250 Bal. Pin 2 + Speakers A spl.info R R USB Bal. Pin 2 + Speakers A R L Trim L + Use 3.5mm Stereo Jack L/R L/R 8 – R Balanced Source Sources L R Sources Use Original Power Supply Only! L e. g. CD-Player analog Bal.
Rear Panel: Digital Connections USB Port USB Connect here your computer. Alternatively you can connect an iPad or iPhone with the original Apple camera adapter. The USB port complies with the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 specification with a data transfer rate of 480 MBit/s, and is Apple Class 2 compliant as well. USB 3 is backward compatible with USB 2, which means that the Crimson can also be connected to any USB 3 port.
Rear Panel: Analog Connections Mic Inputs Mic Inputs 1 You can connect dynamic, condenser, tube, and ribbon microphones to the mic inputs. Use the Phantom switch to provide phantom power to the microphones that require it. For more information, read the „Phantom“ section on page 14. Bal. Pin 2 + 2 Specifications: XLR connectors, input impedance 10 kOhm, maximum input level +14.5 dBu (Gain knob hard left). Bal.
Rear Panel: Analog Connections Sources R R L/R L/R Use 3.5mm Stereo Jack Sources Source input 1: two jacks (L and R), balanced Connect here signal sources with balanced connections, for example, a DA converter. If you only connect the left channel, the signal is automatically placed as mono in the monitoring path (in the center of the stereo image). In ARTIST MODE you can use the L jack as Talkback by connecting a preamped mic signal.
Rear Panel: Analog Connections Speaker Outputs Speakers A L You can connect a total of two stereo speaker sets to the Crimson and toggle between them with the A to B switch. Bal. Pin 2 + R Speakers A Connect your (usually full-range) loudspeakers here. Bal. Pin 2 + Speakers A L IMPORTANT: In Artist Mode, the Speakers A output reproduces only the DAW‘s 1|2 mix. The artist mix is played back via Speakers B and Phones 2.
Front Panel: Analog Connections Instrument Instrument Phones 1 Phones 2 Instrument Inputs Both Instrument inputs are on the front panel so they can be reached directly. They support high levels to allow the connection of active or passive instruments, and they have a corresponding high impedance. Active instruments already feature a preamp circuit, passive do not (only pickups). Connection examples: electric guitars and basses, acoustic guitars with pickups, etc.
Control Elements Preamplifier Mic Gain The Crimson features two identical microphone preamps. The preamps are discrete, which means they use single transistors instead of ICs. This allows the preamp to be perfectly optimized for its task — such efforts are usually taken only in the production of high-end preamps. Use the Mic Gain control to adjust the microphone preamp level. The adjustable volume range spans from +3 to +60dB.
Preamplifier, LED Indicators Control Elements Instr Gain The Crimson also includes two identical instrument preamps. Use the Instr Gain control to adjust the instrument preamp level in steps. The adjustable volume range spans from -6 to +31dB. The possibility to reduce the level -6dB allows for the direct connection of electric bass guitars. To achieve the best recording level, the -6dB LED should flash from time to time: you have enough headroom left.
Control Elements Switches Analog Inputs The Crimson allows the simultaneous recording of up to four analog inputs. To determine which signal you want to hear use the switches underneath the Analog Inputs as follows: Switch 1|2 engaged: you hear Mic or Line inputs 1 and 2. Switch 3|4 engaged: you hear Instrument or Line inputs 3 and 4.
Switches & Headphone Amplifier Control Elements Artist Mode When you record other artists, you can make them their own headphone mix with Artist Mode and use the Talkback function to communicate with them. The monitoring options for artists include: 1. Mic, Line and Instrument inputs in real time 2. DAW 1|2, to hear the current mix 3. DAW 3|4, for an alternative mix, with effects (a reverb), for example. 4.
Control Elements Volume Use the Volume potentiometer to adjust the volume of both channels of the Speakers A and Speakers B outputs on the rear panel. The high-grade potentiometer regulates the audio signal directly to avoid any coloration/distortion typical of VCAs and DCAs, which require higher inter-channel tolerances and have a tendency towards higher distortion figures. The Volume control uses a relative dB scale referenced to the input level.
Hearing Protection Recommendations for Hearing Protection Always reduce the volume before putting on, connecting or disconnecting your headphones. That way you not only avoid loud crackling noises but also prevent unpleasant surprises when switching to headphones with a lower impedance. Always protect your hearing, especially when using headphones. Reduce the volume as much as possible and do not expose your ears to very loud volumes for long periods.
Specifications Input Sockets Mic Inputs 1 -2: XLR Line Inputs 1–4: 6,3mm TRS Instrument Inputs 3–4: 6,3mm TRS Source 1 Input: 6,3mm TRS Source 2 Input: RCA Source 3 Input: 3,5mm TRS Midi Input: DIN (5 pins) SPDIF Input: RCA Output Sockets Speaker A Output: XLR Speaker B Output: 6,3mm TRS Midi Output: DIN (5 pins) SPDIF Output: coax Headphone Outputs: 6,3mm TRS Input Impedances Mic Preamps: 10kOhm Line Inputs: 10kOhm unbalanced, 20kOhm balanced Instrument Inputs: 1,1 Mohm Source 1 Input: 10kOhm unbalanced, 2
Specifications Line Input (balanced, 6,3mm TRS) Frequency Response: 10Hz - >200kHz Noise (unweighted, unity gain, input termination 600 Ohm): -95 dBu Common Mode Rejection ratio: < -60 dBu THD+N Ratio@1kHz (unity gain, input termination 600 Ohm): 0,002 % Source 1 Input (balanced, 6,3mm TRS) Frequency Response: 10Hz - ›200kHz Noise (unweighted, unity gain, input termination 600 Ohm): -95 dBu Common Mode Rejection ratio: ‹ -60 dBu THD+N Ratio@1kHz (unity gain, input termination 600 Ohm): 0,002% Source 2 Input
Specifications USB-Interface Hardware • • • • • • • • USB2 audio/MIDI system High-performance, 32 bit microcontroller 24 bit audio processing 6 input and 6 output channels up to 192 kHz Sample rates: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz or 192kHz Fixed master clock for lowest jitter True 1:1 audio, no sample rate conversion or clock recovery SPDIF and MIDI I/Os Software • • • • • • • Windows XP/Vista/7/8 (32 and 64 bit), Mac OS X 10.
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