Aphex Channel User Manual
CHANNEL™
MASTER PREAMP & INPUT PROCESSOR
THE COMPLETE CHANNEL STRIP FOR VOICE AND INSTRUMENTS
Owner’s Manual
SAFETY DECLARATIONS
CAUTION: For continued protection against risk of fire, replace only with the same type and rating of fuse.
ATTENTION: pour une protection continue contre les risques d’incendie, ne remplacer qu’avec la même valeur et
même type de fusible.
WARNING: Do not place objects containing liquid on this unit as it is not designed to protect against spillage. Do
not expose this unit to dripping or splashing of liquids as the unit is not designed to protect against these occurances.
WARNING: This unit must be connected to a mains socket outlet with a protective earthing connection.
WARNING: The Exciter has been tested and meets the FCC, CE and European Union rules, regulations, and guid-
would place you at risk of losing your authority to operate the Exciter.
WARNING: Do not place objects on top of this unit if they weigh more than 10 pounds.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pur suant to part
15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful inter ference 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. However,
there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause
harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and
on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures.
1. Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
2. Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
3. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
4. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 CONTROLS & INDICATORS
2.0 INSTALLATION AND INTERFACING
2.1 Installation
2.2 AC Line Connection
2.3 Mic Input Connections
2.4 Insert Jacks
2.5 Output Connections
2.6 Digital Audio Outputs
2.7 Word Clock
2.7.1 INT/EXT
2.7.2 WC IN
2.7.3 WC OUT
2.7.4 Local Clock Mastering
2.8 Power Supply
2.9 Cough Switch
3.0 USING THE CHANNEL
3.1 Using the Mic Input
3.2 Using the Instrument Input
3.3 Using Phantom Power
3.4 Using the Polarity Switch
3.5 Using the Pad
3.6 Using the Low Cut
3.7 Using the Phase Rotator
3.8 Using the Compressor
3.9 Using the Logic Assisted Gate
3.10 Using the De-esser
3.11 Using the Equalizer Block
3.11.1 Big Bottom
3.11.2 Parametric Equalizer
3.11.3 Aural Exciter
3.12 Using the Level Control
3.13 Clip Light
4.0 WARRANTY AND SERVICE
4.1 Limited Warranty
4.2 Service Information
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5.0 SPECIFICATIONS
5.1 General Specifications
5.2 Architectural Specifications
5.3 Patent Notice
Copyright 2011 by Aphex. All rights reserved. All Aphex products are trademarks or registered trademarks of Aphex. Other brand and prod-
uct names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
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1.0 CONTROLS AND INDICATORS
POWER INDICATION
The Aphex logo above the power switch glows yellow during the tube
preamp’s warm-up time and green when the unit is ready.
LOW NOISE MIC PRE
The Channel works with all professional microphones. The clean and
stable 48V phantom supply is suitable for even the most expensive
microphones. The 12dB/octave low cut filter starts at 70Hz to effectively reduce wind blast without diminishing voice body. Included is
a selectable phase rotator following the principles of the Spectral
Phase Refractor (SPR) circuit. The main benefit of the Phase Rotator is that by making certain voice waveforms more symmetrical, the
compressors action becomes more efficient. This allows for a more
optimized output level.
COMPRESSOR
The Channel includes a special version of Aphex’s patented
Easyrider™ Compressor which has proven to be outstanding. It is
very simple to use with only two controls: Gain/Drive and Release. To
get deeper compression, turn up more Gain. To manage the density
and loudness, work with Release. Faster is louder and denser. Slower
is more natural and open. Note that turning up the Gain/Drive to
get more compression alters the overall gain structure through the
device such that the output may need compensating adjustment.
LOGIC ASSISTED GATE™
Once triggered, even by a microscopic transient, the signal progresses fully through the attack, hold, and release sequence. This
virtually eliminates the chatter experienced with other gate products.
The attenuation depth and gating threshold are user adjustable to
allow for varying requirements.
48V
When pressed,
turns on the microphone phantom
48V power
DE-ESSER
Using a split-band technique with Linkwitz-Riley crossovers, the voice
remains bright and sharp, never losing presence while de-essing. The
de-ess threshold control lets you chose the essing level that you want.
EQUALIZATION BLOCK
A fully parametric equalizer band is provided along with the popular
Aphex Big Bottom and Aural Exciter. These features increase power,
punch and intelligibility without adding noise or an increase in
output level. As a real plus, they are also very easy to adjust.
REAR INSERT JACK
Allows you to insert any kind of line level audio equipment into the
signal path between the Channel’s dynamics processing and the
equalizer section. The operating level at this jack is 0dBu. You should
set up your inserted outboard gear accordingly.
METERS
Meters are provided for peak output level (relevant to both analog
and digital headroom at 0dB = max before clip) and the compressor’s gain reduction. The output level bar graph will move upwards
indicating level, and the gain reduction bar graph will move downwards indicating gain reduction.
OUTPUT CONTROL
Once all processing and equalization is set where you want it, the
output level may need to be adjusted. Do not let the peak level frequently exceed -6dBFS. This will make sure the digital output carries well through subsequent mixing and processing. When using
the analog output, adjust the level to produce the desired average
output level (0VU) as seen on the outboard equipment’s meters.
CLIP/MUTE
Flashes yellow when the
preamp is muted by the
cough switch. Flashes red
indicating clipping.
PAD
When pressed,
turns on the 20dB
input pad.
GATE THRESHOLD
When the sound is higher than this level,
the gate opens up instantly. No “chattering” thanks to the patented Logic
Assisted Gate.
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IINSTRUMENT INPUT
Allows connection of
a guitar or
bass.
GAIN/DRIVE
Adjusts
preamp gain
and drive into
the compressor.
Lo Cut
Switches on
the 70Hz Low
Cut filter.
Invert Polarity
When
pressed,
inverts the
polarity
(phase) of the
mic input.
Phase Rotator
Enables the
Spectral Phase
Refractor
to improve
speech symmetry.
Compressor
Turns on the
Easyrider
compressor
circuit.
RELEASE
Controls the
density of
compression.
Slow for natural
leveling and
fast for more
loudness.
MIC INPUT
Works with all standard
microphones, phantom
powered or passive. Phantom power activated from
front panel.
REAR PANEL ANALOG CONNECTIONS
BALANCED
TRS
Line Level
Processor,
i.e.,
Compressor, EQ
REAR PANEL DIGITAL CONNECTIONS
+4dBu
Balanced
XLR Output
-10dBV/+4dBu
switchable TRS
Output
COUGH
SWITCH
Allows you to
silently mute the
output on the
fly using a handheld, desktop, or
floor switch.
GATING
Shows when
the gate is
closed or
closing. When
the light is
off, the gate is
fully open.
DIGITAL AUDIO
The Channel supplies industry standard stereo AES/EBU,
S/PDIF, and TOSLINK digital audio outputs. The single mic
channel appears on both stereo channels as a mono signal.
Sample rate and word clock options are all available at the
front panel. The word clock selection LEDs will flash when
no clock signal is present and light solid when locked.
DEPTH
Lets you set how much attenuation the gate
will deliver. Use the lowest attenuation that’s
needed to reduce room wetness, breath,
or background noise. Usually 6 to 15dB is
sufficient. Fully CCW is off.
DE-ESSING
Shows when
the the de-esser
is working.
When the light
is on, sibilance
is being controlled.
DE-ESS
THRESHOLD
Lets you set
the level where
you want your
esses to level
off.
PARAMETRIC EQ
Works like a standard parametric band
with tune, Q, and boost/cut controls.
BIG-BOTTOM
FREQ
Adjusts the
frequency
below which
enhancement
takes place.
BIG-BOTTOM
AMOUNT
Adjusts the
strength
(boost) of the
Big Bottom
effect.
AES/EBU
OUTPUT
Digital 110
Ohm cables
only. (Do not
use regular
audio cables.)
AURAL EXCITER
FREQ
Adjusts frequency
above which
enhancement
takes place.
S/PDIF &
OPTICAL
OUTPUTS
All outputs are
active at the
same time.
AURAL EXCITER
AMOUNT
Adjusts the strength
(boost) of the Aural
Exciter effect.
WORD CLOCK
BNC input and output jacks.
BB/EQ/AX
ON
Switches the
BB/EQ/AX on/
off. Provides
full true bypass
of the circuits
when off.
OUTPUT
Adjusts the
final processed
output level as
seen on the VU
meter.
The bottom line: you will get an unsatisfactory noise level. The Channel is designed to generate a line level output from a mic level input. It optimizes the
WHY YOU SHOULDN’T CONNECT THE CHANNEL’S OUTPUT TO A MIC LEVEL INPUT.
signal to noise ratio by giving you a strong signal far above the preamplifier’s basic self noise level. This strong output signal can be up to 65dB higher than
the mic signal. It is perfect for a standard line input of a mixer or console but can overload a mic input. If you have no other choice but to plug the Channel
in to a mic input, turn that mic input’s gain all the way down. If the signal still clips the input, try bringing down the Channel output level.
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