USER’S MANUAL Finalizer Express STUDIO MASTERING PROCESSOR
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS The lightning flash with an arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product's enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS EMC / EMI. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B Digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in residential installations. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Table of Contents Welcome Introduction Front Panel Rear Panel Signal Flow Diagram Compressor/Limiter Setups APPENDIX p. 3 p. 4 p. 5 p. 6 p. 8 p. 9 p. 10 p.
WELCOME Congratulations Congratulations on the purchase of your new Finalizer Express. We hope that you have as much pleasure using it as we had making it. The Finalizer Express is an easy-to-use three band home mastering device. It will optimize the level and punch of your music by increasing the average perceived level. The user interface of the Finalizer Express is presented in an analog style, making it extremely intuitive and fast to use.
INTRODUCTION What is the Finalizer Express? This is a short introduction to the Finalizer Express concept, including a brief description of Multiband Dynamics processing. Multiband Dynamics Processing TC Electronic has been working with Multiband Dynamics for several years and has become one of the world’s leading companies in this field. The simple explanation of Multiband Dynamics is that the incoming signal is split into several frequency bands, in this case into three bands.
FRONT PANEL POWER Electronic POWER key »Easy touch« Turn on the device with a single light touch. To turn off the device you must press and hold down the POWER key approx. 3 seconds. This delay time is to avoid switching off the device by accident. CARD SLOT The Finalizer Express is ready for future software update possibilities through the PCMCIA slot. SELECT INPUT Toggles between the analog Inputs and any of the three digital Inputs. ANALOG IN Controls the analog Input gain.
FRONT PANEL THE FINALIZE MATRIX Selects the amount of Compressor Rate and the Compression style. SPECTRAL BALANCE The Low, Mid and High knobs adjust the level in each of the three bands. LOOK AHEAD DELAY Sets the 3ms Look Ahead Delay of the Dynamics section On/Off. EMPHASIS The three Emphasis keys add compression and gain in their respective bands. SOFTCLIP Enables/disables the Softclipper in the Dynamics section. THE FADER Controls the Master Output level of the Finalizer Express.
REAR PANEL Main Power Switch Power Input Balanced XLR analog Inputs Balanced XLR analog Outputs Serial no. Digital In/Out AES/EBU S/PDIF OPTICAL (Tos-link) MIDI In, Thru, Out External Fader Input Notes Pin 2 is “Hot” on all XLR’s (IEC and AES standards) The Finalizer Express power supply is capable of operating at any line voltage from 100-240 Volts, 50-60Hz. For further instructions on cables please see our Soldering instructions on page 28-29.
SIGNAL FLOW INPUT PPM OUTPUT PPM Left Left Right ANALOG IN GAIN Input Selector Normalizer Right Spectral Balance Fader ANALOG OUT GAIN Bypass Left ANALOG INPUTS [balanced] A/D Right Normalizer Gain Digital Input [S/PDIF] SOFT CLIP COMP LIM SOFT CLIP ANALOG OUTPUTS [balanced] D/A Digital Digital Input Select AES S/PDIF Tos Digital Input [AES] Digital Input [Tos] Analog Opto Bypass Digital Output [AES] Dither Digital Output [S/PDIF] Opto Digital Output [Tos] Note Signal is alway
COMPRESSOR - LIMITER The Dynamics Algorithm This chapter explains the basic principles of the Finalizer Express Dynamics Algorithm, including Auto Make-up Gain, Look-Ahead Delay and Softclipping. The Compressor Fig. 1 A Compressor is meant to reduce the dynamic content of the Input signal, and thereby keep a more constant level. When the Input signal exceeds a certain Threshold, the Compressor starts to reduce the signal according to the Ratio. The Ratio indicates how much the signal is reduced.
SETUPS Example 1 Setup with an analog mixing console and a digital recording device. 1. Connect the analog Outputs of your mixer to the analog Input of the Finalizer Express. 2. Select the analog Inputs by pressing the “Select Input” key on the front panel. 3. Connect one of the digital Outputs of the Finalizer Express to your digital recording device. 4. Connect the analog Outputs of the Finalizer Express to your monitoring system.
BASIC OPERATION Knobs & Keys This chapter will explain all of the controls of the Finalizer Express. POWER key Turn on the Finalizer Express with a single light touch. To turn off the device you must press and hold down the power key approx. 3 seconds. The LED in the POWER key blinks when the unit is turned off. A master POWER switch is placed on the rear panel of the Finalizer Express to accommodate CE regulations.
BASIC OPERATION Knobs & Keys The SPECTRAL BALANCE knobs Use these knobs to set the level of the three bands of the Compressor. This enables you to add more level to a specific band, very much like a three band eq or tone controls. The SPECTRAL BALANCE controls are placed between the Compressor and Limiter (see page 9), making it possible to use the Spectral balance knobs for hitting the Limiter harder, by boosting each of the bands accordingly.
WORKING THE FINALIZER EXPRESS Depending on your background you may, or may not be completely on top of all technical terms presented on the previous pages. DON’T WORRY! The Finalizer Express is easy to use and you will soon be confident operating this unit. The Finalizer Express is an extremely powerful tool that allows you to tighten up most material.
THE FINALIZER MATRIX The Finalize Matrix This appendix shows you the actual settings of the Finalize Matrix 15
WORKING THE FINALIZER EXPRESS This chapter contains a number of tips and examples on how to use the Finalizer Express in different applications such as recommended settings and special setups, etc. Analog Inputs Gaining levels in the digital domain can be perceived as a graphic magnifying process. The better optimized signal you feed the 24 bit A/D converter, the better/clearer result/resolution you will get in the digital domain.
WORKING THE FINALIZER EXPRESS How to hit the Limiter If you want to hit the Limiter harder without adding more compression, you may use the Spectral Balance controls. Since the Spectral Balance controls are positioned between the Compressor and the Limiter, boosting them equally will hit the Limiter harder without affecting the Compressor.
WORKING THE FINALIZER EXPRESS Average Pop/Rock Music Pop/Rock music is a wide range of styles. It is really a matter of taste and style how you want to treat your source material. Here is a suggestion to a setting for this type of music: Enable both Softclippers. Choose the middle spot of the Matrix. Now use the Normalizer GAIN knob to set the Compressor. It is recommendable to stay below -3dB of gain reduction.
SPECIAL SETUPS Using an External Clock with Analog In The Finalizer Express may be forced to use an incoming digital clock as master clock and still use the audio of the analog Inputs. This may be handy if you have a house clock or if you prefer to use a second digital device as master clock of your setup. This is a step by step guide on how to set this up. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Connect the source material to the analog Inputs of the Finalizer Express.
EXTERNAL CONTROL External Control This chapter describes the External control possibilities including descriptions of setups with sequencers for recording fade ins and fade outs. Remote Controlling the Finalizer Express digital fader The digital fader of the Finalizer Express can be remote controlled by the optional TC Master Fader or by MIDI. This enables you to perform your fades within the digital domain, and to record, playback, edit or move fades when using a sequencer.
EXTERNAL CONTROL Recording/Playback of a Fade The Finalizer Express digital fader is transmitted by MIDI. This makes it possible to record and playback fades of the Finalizer Express. This is a step by step guide on how to record and playback a fade with the Finalizer Express. 1. Connect The MIDI Out of the Finalizer Express to the MIDI In of your MIDI recording device and vice versa. 2.
APPENDIX Self Test PRESS AND HOLD THE “BYPASS ALL” KEY, WHILE POWERING UP, TO ACCESS THE SELF TEST Use the ARROW left and right < > keys to select a test, press the FINALIZE SOFTCLIP key to activate or deactivate a test. The test number is shown in the Finalize LED Matrix. The selftests are described below. Test 5 - Opto In/Out test Connect an optical cable between OPTO Output and Input. Press the FINALIZE SOFTCLIP key to start test. The Input meters will show 0dB.
APPENDIX Troubleshooting You press the POWER switch, but there is no reaction. • The power switch on the rear panel is switched off. You cannot turn the power off. • Press and hold the POWER switch for 3 seconds, then release to power off. No sound through the Finalizer Express. • You are using analog Input, but the INPUT selector is set to digital. Press the “SELECT INPUT” key until the “analog” LED is lit. The incoming Sample Rate is 44.1kHz, but the Finalizer Express sends out 48kHz.
APPENDIX MIDI Implementation Chart EFFECTS PROCESSOR Finalizer Express - August, 1998 Version 1.
APPENDIX Technical Specifications Digital Inputs and Outputs Connectors: Formats: Output Dither: Sample Rates: Processing Delay: Frequency Response DIO: Compressor THD+N: XLR (AES/EBU), RCA Phono (S/PDIF), Optical (Tos-link) AES/EBU (24 bit), S/PDIF (24 bit), EIAJ CP-340, IEC 958, EIAJ Optical (Tos-link) HPF TPDF dither 16, 20 and 24 bit 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz 0.2 ms @ 48 kHz DC to 23,9 kHz ± 0,01 dB @ 48 kHz -122 dB (0,00008%) @ 10 dB Compression, 20 Hz-20 kHz Analog Inputs Connectors: Impedance: Max.
APPENDIX Note This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
APPENDIX Glossary Brickwall type limiter A type of limiter that allows absolutely no signal above Threshold. Dithering When going from one type of bit resolution to a lower, e.g. from 24 bit to 16 bit, you actually loose 8 bits of information. The process of cutting of bits is called truncation and it introduces digital distortion of low level signals, due to the lack of complete signal information. To compensate for this, dithering must be applied.
APPENDIX Soldering instructions MIDI Cable DIN CONNECTOR 5POLE - MALE 45 degrees DIN CONNECTOR 5POLE - MALE 45 degrees max. 10m SHIELDED CABLE (3 or 5 wires + screen) Pedal Cable PEDAL SWITCH or similar JACK PLUG Mono - male Ø 6.35mm, 1/4” max. 100m 2 wires Shield/ground Switch must be momentary type Tip Fader Cable JACK PLUG Mono - male Ø 6.35mm, 1/4” max.
APPENDIX Soldering instructions XLR - XLR Jack (unbalanced) - XLR Pin 1 - Pin 1 (Ground) Pin 2 - Pin 2 (Hot) Pin 3 - Pin 3 (Cold) Sleeve - Pin 1 (Ground) Tip - Pin 2 (Hot) Sleeve - Pin 3 (Ground) Jack (balanced) - XLR TIP GND Sleeve - Pin 1 (Ground) Tip - Pin 2 (Hot) Ring - Pin 3 (Cold) TIP RING GND 29
MY SETTINGS My settings Use this to write down your own settings Name: Purpose: Date: Name: Purpose: Date: Name: Purpose: Date: Name: Purpose: Date: 30
MASTER FADER Why make a Master Fader? If a fade is performed before the Finalizer Express, the Compressor will try to increase the level as the fader decreases. To avoid this problem, fades must always be done after the Finalizer Express. The Master Fader makes it possible to perform a manual fade on the very output of the Finalizer Express and you thereby keep your fade in digital domain and ensuring perfect tracking of left and right.
