JBSYSTEMS DLC1 Owner's manual

limiter - compressor

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Operation Manual

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Bedienungsanleitung

Manual de instrucciones

Manual do utilizador

EN

FR

NL

DU

ES

PT

EN - DISPOSAL OF THE DEVICE

Dispose of the unit and used batteries in an environment friendly manner

according to your country regulations.

FR - DÉCLASSER L’APPAREIL

Débarrassez-vous de l’appareil et des piles usagées de manière écologique

Conformément aux dispositions légales de votre pays.

NL - VERWIJDEREN VAN HET APPARAAT

Verwijder het toestel en de gebruikte batterijen op een milieuvriendelijke

manier conform de in uw land geldende voorschriften.

DU - ENTSORGUNG DES GERÄTS

Entsorgen Sie das Gerät und die Batterien auf umweltfreundliche Art und

Weise gemäß den Vorschriften Ihres Landes.

ES - DESHACERSE DEL APARATO

Reciclar el aparato y pilas usadas de forma ecologica conforme a las

disposiciones legales de su pais.

PT - COMO DESFAZER-SE DA UNIDADE

Tente reciclar a unidade e as pilhas usadas respeitando o ambiente e em

conformidade com as normas vigentes no seu país.

ENGLISH OPERATION MANUAL

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OPERATION MANUAL

Thank you for buying this SYNQ

®

product. To take full advantage of all possibilities, please read these

operating instructions very carefully.

DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER YOUR DLC-1. YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE A

REMINDER WHEN NEW SOFTWARE UPDATES ARE AVAILABLE!

 SURF TO: WWW.SYNQ-AUDIO.COM/REGISTER/ 

FEATURES

This unit is radio-interference suppressed. This appliance meets the requirements of the current European

and national guidelines. Conformity has been established and the relevant statements and documents have

been deposited by the manufacturer.

 Professional digital compressor / limiter based on 24bit DSP technology

 Can be used for all kinds of applications: improve sound quality and dynamics, protection of speaker

cabinets, reduce peaks (radio), …

 Compressor mode with adjustable parameters: threshold: -24dB ~ 12dB; attack: 0.1ms ~100ms; release:

10ms ~ 5s; ratio: 1/128 ~ 1/1; gain compensation: x1 x2 x4 x8

 Limiter mode with adjustable parameters: threshold: -53dB ~ 10dB; attack: 20us ~ 3ms; release: 10ms~ 5s

 Combined compressor/limiter mode

 Adjustable noise gate: -66dB ~ -24dB

 10 user programs can be stored in memory

 24bit sigma/delta AD/DA conversion with 48 kHz sample rate

 Soft power on operation to avoid disturbing clicks

 Clear blue 2x16 character back light LCD display

 Full MIDI capability allows real time parameter control and program selection

 High quality components and rugged construction make it road proof

 Balanced XLR and 6,3mm jack in/outputs with adjustable input level

 Can be used for professional PA and studio but also for DJ’s

BEFORE USE

 Before you start using this unit, please check if there’s no transportation damage. Should there be any, do

not use the device and consult your dealer first.

 Important: This device left our factory in perfect condition and well packaged. It is absolutely necessary

for the user to strictly follow the safety instructions and warnings in this user manual. Any damage caused

by mishandling is not subject to warranty. The dealer will not accept responsibility for any resulting defects

or problems caused by disregarding this user manual.

 Keep this booklet in a safe place for future consultation. If you sell the fixture, be sure to add this user

manual.

 To protect the environment, please try to recycle the packing material as much as possible.

Check the contents:

Check that the carton contains the following items:

 User manual

 DLC-1 unit

 Mains cable

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SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS:

 To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose this appliance to rain or moisture.

 To avoid condensation to be formed inside, allow the unit to adapt to the surrounding temperatures when

bringing it into a warm room after transport. Condense sometimes prevents the unit from working at full

performance or may even cause damages.

 This unit is for indoor use only.

 Don’t place metal objects or spill liquid inside the unit. No objects filled with liquids, such as vases, shall be

placed on this appliance. Electric shock or malfunction may result. If a foreign object enters the unit,

immediately disconnect the mains power.

 No naked flame sources, such as lighted candles, should be placed on the appliance.

 Don’t cover any ventilation openings as this may result in overheating.

 Prevent use in dusty environments and clean the unit regularly.

 Keep the unit away from children.

 Inexperienced persons should not operate this device.

 Maximum save ambient temperature is 40°C. Don’t use this unit at higher ambient temperatures.

 Minimum distances around the apparatus for sufficient ventilation is 2cm.

 Always unplug the unit when it is not used for a longer time or before you start servicing.

 The electrical installation should be carried out by qualified personal only, according to the regulations for

electrical and mechanical safety in your country.

 Check that the available voltage is not higher than the one stated on the rear panel of the unit.

 The socket inlet shall remain operable for disconnection from the mains.

 The power cord should always be in perfect condition. Switch the unit immediately off when the power cord

is squashed or damaged. It must be replaced by the manufacturer, its service agent or similarly qualified

persons in order to avoid a hazard.

 Never let the power-cord come into contact with other cables!

 When the power switch is in OFF position, this unit is not completely disconnected from the mains!

 This appliance must be earthed to in order comply with safety regulations.

 In order to prevent electric shock, do not open the cover. Apart from the mains fuse there are no user

serviceable parts inside.

 Never repair a fuse or bypass the fuse holder. Always replace a damaged fuse with a fuse of the same

type and electrical specifications!

 In the event of serious operating problems, stop using the appliance and contact your dealer immediately.

 Please use the original packing when the device is to be transported.

 Due to safety reasons it is prohibited to make unauthorized modifications to the unit.

INSTALLATION GUIDELINES:

 Install the unit in a well-ventilated location where it will not be exposed to high temperatures or humidity.

 Placing and using the unit for long periods near heat-generating sources such as amplifiers, spotlights, etc.

will affect its performance and may even damage the unit.

 The unit can be mounted in 19-inch racks. Attach the unit using the 4 screw holes on the front panel. Be

sure to use screws of the appropriate size. (screws not provided) Take care to minimize shocks and

vibrations during transport.

CAUTION

CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not

remove the top cover. No user-serviceable parts inside.

Refer servicing to qualified service personnel only.

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within the equilateral triangle is intended to alert the

use or the presence of un-insulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may

be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock.

The exclamation point within the equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of

important operation and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying this

appliance.

This symbol means: indoor use only

This symbol means: Read instructions

This symbol means: Safety Class I appliance

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 When installed in a booth or flight case, please make sure to have good ventilation to improve heat

evacuation of the unit.

 To avoid condensation to be formed inside, allow the unit to adapt to the surrounding temperatures when

bringing it into a warm room after transport. Condense sometimes prevents the unit from working at full

performance.

CLEANING THE APPLIANCE:

Clean by wiping with a polished cloth slightly dipped with water. Avoid getting water inside the unit. Do not

use volatile liquids such as benzene or thinner which will damage the unit.

CONNECTIONS

Connections can be made with balanced/unbalanced jack or XLR-cables. Please only use good quality

cables to minimize noise and interference. A compressor/limiter can be connected in two ways:

- To the output of a mixer: the complete audio signal will processed (mastering, protection, …)

- To the channel inserts of a PA-mixer: mastering the input channel of the PA-mixer independently.

For more information on connections, please refer to the next chapter.

FUNCTIONS (FRONT)

1. SIGNAL METER: Indicates the level of the music signal. With the option “LED setup” you can choose if

the signal meter shows the input or output signal. See chapter “How to use” for more information.

2. MULTIFUNCTIONAL DISPLAY: Indicates the status of the several function settings. See chapter “How

to use” for more information.

3. EDIT ENCODER: used to select the different menu items and adjust different parameters.

4. MASTER BUTTON: used to jump from any menu to overall output volume adjust mode: you can adjust

the output volume from 0dB to -30dB.

5. MENU BUTTON: used to select the main menu. You can browse the menu with the encoder (3), select

the desired option by pressing the menu button. See further for more information.

6. BYPASS BUTTON: press to put the unit in bypass or not:

 Bypass on: input is directly linked to the output  no processing, only volume control and noise

gate are active.

 Bypass off: music is processed by the compressor and/or limiter.

7. PARAMETER BUTTON: used to browse the different parameters of the limiter/compressor. The

parameters can be adjusted with the edit encoder (3). See further for more information.

8. RECALL BUTTON: used to recall one of the previously saved personal settings.

9. SAVE BUTTON: used to save the current settings to one of the 10 user programs.

10. ON/OFF SWITCH: used to switch the unit on/off.

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FUNCTIONS (rear)

11. MAINS INPUT with IEC socket and integrated fuse holder, connect the supplied mains cable here.

12. RS232 CONNECTOR: used for firmware update via PC.

13. BALANCED OUTPUTS: can be used with XLR or JACK cables, both can be used with balanced or

unbalanced wiring (see chapter “connections” for more information)

14. INPUT LEVEL ADJUST: use a SMALL screwdriver to adjust the input of the unit to the desired level.

15. BALANCED INPUTS: can be used with XLR or JACK cables, both can be used with balanced or

unbalanced wiring (see chapter “connections” for more information)

SOME WORDS EXPLAINED

Please remind that limiter/compressors are some of the most beloved signal processors but also potentially

the most harmful. In the hands of an artist, a compressor can be used to carve out a beautiful sonic

sculpture, but in the hands of a novice it can completely ruin the music. So please experiment and read a lot

about their possibilities before you start using them, on the internet you can find a lot of fine articles…

Maybe it’s a good idea to briefly explain the different parameters that can be adjusted before we explain how

this unit should be used. We will also give a short idea about the difference between a limiter and a

compressor.

THE DIFFERENT PARAMETERS EXPLAINED

Threshold level (Display = “CompThre” or “LimitThr):

This is the level (usually measured in decibels “dB”) at which the automatic volume reduction starts.

Anything below that volume will result in no compression. When the input goes above the threshold level,

the compressor reduces the volume automatically to keep the signal from getting louder.

Attack time (Display = “CompAtta” or “LimitAtta”):

The attack time (usually measured in milliseconds “ms”) determines how long it takes before the volume

is reduced once the input exceeds the threshold level. If you want to use the unit to prevent overload, you

should use a very fast attack time. But if used on an electric bass a value of 20 to 50 milliseconds is a

good value to get some extra punch. It allows the attack to penetrate before the volume is reduced: each

note has a little extra "definition" without the full length of the note being too loud.

Release time (Display = “CompRele” or “LimitRele”):

The release time (usually measured in milliseconds “ms”) determines how quickly the volume returns to

the original position when the input is no longer above the threshold. If the release time is too fast you'll

hear a "pumping" sound, often used for creating special effects, synthesizers, drums and other

instruments. If you prefer more transparency for the compressor, set the release time relatively long (one

second or more). If you want an aggressive, in-your-face sound use a shorter release time.

Compression ratio (Display = “CompRati”):

The compression ratio determines how much the output level is reduced, compared to the input signal,

once the threshold level is reached. A ratio of 1:1 does nothing. 2:1 means if the input rises to 2 dB above

the threshold, the compressor will reduce the level by only 1 dB, so the output will now be 1 dB louder

(instead of 2 dB). 10:1 means the signal must be 10 dB above the threshold for the output to increase by

1 dB.

Example: adjust the threshold to -20 dB and put a -12 dB signal ( 8 dB above threshold) at the input.

Choose a compression ratio 4:1 (8 / 4 = 2)



at the output you will get a -18 dB signal (-20 dB + 2

dB = -18 dB)

Makeup Gain (Display = “CompBoost”):

Brings the level of the whole signal back up to a decent level after it has been reduced by the

compressor. This also has the effect making quiet parts (that are not being compressed) louder.

Noise Gate level:

This level (usually measured in decibels “dB”) determines at what level the “gate” opens: all signals lower

than the noise gate level are excluded from the output signal. This can be useful to exclude background

noises while making microphone recordings.

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THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LIMITER AND COMPRESSOR

The main difference is the compression ratio. A limiter uses a ratio of 10:1 to 100:1 or more, while a

compressor will use a ratio of 10:1 or less.

A compressor reduces the dynamic range (louder parts made softer, softer parts made louder) so it

reacts as a sort of dynamic volume control. Therefore it’s often used in radio studios.

A limiter “limits” the input signal as soon as it reaches the threshold level. Therefore limiters are often

used to reduce peaks and protect your equipment (loudspeakers)

HOW TO USE

SWITCH THE UNIT ON ~ CHANGING THE OUTPUT VOLUME

When the unit is switched on, the display shows the actual firmware version shortly. After this the display

below is shown:

A) Shows for which channel the parameters can be adjusted:

 CH:L  left channel

 CH:R  right channel

 CH:LR  left + right channel

B) Shows the working mode of the unit:

 C  only compressor

 L  only limiter

 CL  compressor + limiter combined

C) Shows if the unit is in bypass or not:

 BYP:ON  unit in bypass, only the noise gate and volume control is active

 BYP:OFF  unit is working, incoming signal is processed

D) Second line Shows the volume that can be adapted with the edit dial encoder.

Every time the MASTER button (4) is pressed, you will return to this display.

MAIN MENU ~ GENERAL SETUP OF THE UNIT

The MENU button (5) is used to select the main

menu. Use the dial (3) to browse the 4 menu items

and press the MENU button to select the desired

submenu:

Mode select

Press the MENU button (5) to select this

submenu. You can browse the 3 options

(compressor, limiter, limiter + compressor) and

press the MENU button to select the desired

working mode. You will automatically return to the

main menu.

Channel setup

You can set different parameters for the left and

right channels or you can setup both channels at

the same time, these are the 4 options:

 Left: (“L” in display) All parameters are set for

the left channel only.

 Right: (“R” in display) All parameters are set for

the right channel only.

 L&R L=>R: (“LR” in display) Both channels are

linked and parameters from the left channel are

copied to the right channel.

 L&R R=>L: (“LR” in display) Both channels are linked and parameters from the right channel are copied

to the left channel.

Press the MENU button (5) to select this submenu. You can browse the 4 options and press the MENU

button to select the desired working mode. You will automatically return to the main menu.

Noise gate setup

Press the MENU button (5) to select this submenu. The display shows the settings of the noise gate:

 OFF: noise gate is switched off.

 -66dB ~ -24dB: the threshold level of the noise gate can be set between -66dB and -24dB in 6dB steps.

Select the desired setting with the dial and press the MENU button to confirm. You will automatically

return to the main menu.

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Led display setup

Press the MENU button (5) to select this submenu. You can browse the 2 options:

 Input: LED signal meter (1) shows the levels of the music at the input of the unit.

 Output: LED signal meter (1) shows the levels of the music at the output of the unit.

Press the MENU button to confirm your choice. You will automatically return to the main menu.

PARAMETER MENU ~ SETTING UP THE DIFFERENT PARAMETERS

The PARAMETER button (7) is used to browse the parameter menu: use the dial (3) to adjust the

parameters and press the PARAMETER button to confirm and go to the next parameter. The parameter

menu changes with the working mode you selected (see “mode select”)

Setting these parameters is a matter of “having the experience”, please make sure you know how to use

them before you start changing them…

SAVING PERSONAL SETTINGS

You can save up to 10 personal settings (programs): P0  P9.

 When all parameters are set, just press the SAVE button (9)

 Use the dial (3) to choose the program (P0  P9) you want to save your

settings to and press SAVE to confirm.

 Use the dial + SAVE button to compose a name with up to 8 characters

 When the “?” starts flashing, press the SAVE button until the display shows

“Save ……”

That’s all!

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