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362XL
User Manual
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BBE 362XL User Manual

User Guide
and
Reference
Manual
362XL
SONIC MAXIMIZER
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Congratulations on your purchase of the BBE 362XL Sonic Maximizer—a two channel signal
processor that will benefit any recording or sound reproduction system. You now own a very unique
signal processing device with no equal in the audio world. Whether you purchased the BBE 362XL for
and careful electronic design a welcome addition to your sonic arsenal.
Thank you for your purchase, and for the trust that you've placed in BBE. We are committed to
bringing you the finest products, with useful and unique features to serve your audio needs.
The BBE Process—"What it Is"
Loudspeakers have difficulty working with the electronic signals supplied by an amplifier. These difficulties cause such major phase and amplitude distortion that the sound reproduced by speaker differs significantly from the sound produced by the original source.
In the past, these problems proved unsolvable and were thus delegated to a position of secondary importance in audio system design. However, phase and amplitude integrity is essential to accurate sound reproduction. Research shows that the information which the listener translates into the recognizable characteristics of a live performance are intimately tied into complex time and amplitude relationships between the fundamental and harmonic components of a given musical note or sound. These relationships define a sound's “sound”.
When these complex relationships pass through a speaker, the proper order is lost. The higher frequencies are delayed. A lower frequency may reach the listener's ear first or perhaps simultaneously with that of a higher frequency. In some cases, the fundamental components may be so time-shifted that they reach the listener's ear ahead of some or all of the harmonic components.
This change in the phase and amplitude relationship on the harmonic and fundamental frequencies is technically called “envelope distortion.” The listener perceives this loss of sound integrity in the reproduced sound as "muddy" and “smeared.” In the extreme, it can become difficult to tell the difference between musical instruments, for example, an oboe and a clarinet.
BBE Sound, Inc. conducted extensive studies of numerous speaker systems over a ten year period. With this knowledge, it became possible to identify the characteristics of an ideal speaker and to distill the corrections necessary to return the fundamental and harmonic frequency structures to their correct order. While there are differences among various speaker designs in the magnitude of their correction, the overall pattern of correction needed is remarkably consistent.
The BBE Process is so unique that 42 patents have been awarded by the U.S. Patent Office.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Product Description
The BBE 362XL is a ganged stereo, single rack space device for use in +4dBu balanced line level applications. A single function button switches the BBE process on or off in both channels, which is useful for comparing the processed sound to the unprocessed sound. An LED next to the function button glows green when the BBE process is on and red when the process is off. The Lo Contour control is for adjusting the level of phase corrected low frequencies in the program material. The Process control is for adjusting the level of phase corrected high frequencies in the program material. The output is monitored by a clipping circuit which turns on a red LED when the output level is at 6dB below true clipping.
Things to Remember
The BBE 362XL is designed to work with +4dBu line levels. This is suitable for professional mixers, P.A. consoles, recording studios, and nightclub sound systems. The BBE 362XL drives load impedances down to 600 Ohms and supplies a maximum output level of +16dBu. Plugging a guitar or other high impedance device directly into the BBE 362XL will not work properly as its input impedance is less than 50K ohms.
Set-Up
The BBE 362XL is connected into the chain in series with the signal path the same way a graphic equalizer or limiter would be connected. The output of a mixer, pre-amp, or other sound source feeds the input of the BBE 362XL. Setting up the BBE 362XL as an echo send device like a digital reverb is not recommended as the processed effect is not fully realized when summed with the original source audio.
APPLICATIONS
Music and P.A. Systems
The BBE 362XL is a welcome addition to any live sound P.A. system because the BBE circuit dramatically improves the clarity and intelligibility of vocals and musical instruments. Night club and mobile DJ systems will also benefit greatly from the BBE Process, with more depth, detail and punch over the entire mix. The 362XL can be hooked up to any P.A. or DJ sound system exactly like an equalizer would. When using in conjunction with an equalizer, the 362XL should be added after the equalizer in the signal chain. In the event that the equalizer is being used for drastic tone alteration, then insert the 362XL before the equalizer in the signal chain. Placement either before or after an equalizer should have no negative effect on the 362XL unit or its processing ability, however most users find they prefer more modest use of their equalizers once the BBE 362XL has been added to their sound systems.
Instrument Racks
The BBE 362XL will deliver surprisingly good results in guitar, bass and keyboard rack systems. Electric guitars have added “bite”, “chunk” and improved definition. As Guitar Player magazine said, “BBE is the most cost effective improvement you can add to your rig”. Acoustic guitars processed with the 362XL have a breathtakingly natural sparkle and presence. Bassists will delight in the BBE 362XL's ability to bring much more punch to the bottom end without muddying up the midrange. The 362XL is also great for keyboard rigs, with everything from the latest samples to a vintage Rhodes benefiting equally from the patented BBE process.
Recording Systems
The BBE 362XL can be used as an effect on individual tracks or applied overall during mixdown. The BBE process works very well to liven up the final mix, which is why the BBE 362XL and 882 models are popular for use in both recreational and professional recording studios.
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1. CLIP LED: Will illuminate at +14dBu, giving a 6dBu warning of the impending distortion at +16dBu, the actual clip point.
2. LO CONTOUR: Regulates the amount of phase corrected bass frequencies.
3. PROCESS: Regulates the amount of phase corrected treble frequencies.
4. BBE FUNCTION: This push button switch allows for quick comparison of processed with unprocessed sound.
When the switch is pushed in, the process is on and the indicator LED is green. When the switch is out, the process is off and the indicator LED is red.
5. POWER: This switch controls primary power to the BBE 362XL.
REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS
1. AC POWER CORD: Plugs into AC power receptacle. U.S. Model, 100-120Vac, 50/60Hz. All other models, 200-240 Vac, 50/60Hz.
2. FUSE: Turn cap on fuse holder counter-clockwise to remove fuse. (Note: For U.S. Model, replace with 250Vac, 1/2A Fastblow type fuse. For all other models, replace with 250Vac, .125A Fastblow type fuse.)
3. OUTPUT: The output of the BBE 362XL can be taken from the 1/4” stereo TRS Phone Jack or the XLR Jack. Both are balanced and the same point electronically. This allows both outputs to be used simultaneously, eliminating the need for a “Y” cord in the event multiple, balanced outputs are required. The recommended single load impedance is at least 10k Ohms. If both outputs are being used, a minimum of a 22k Ohm load per device is required. (The “load” is determined by the input impedance of the next subsequent component in the signal chain.) The maximum output is rated at +26dBu. Pin #2 is considered the hot or “+” signal. The output impedance of the BBE 362XL is 600 ohms. NOTE: Actual output level will vary due to the selected position of the BBE Process, and the actual input signal level. If both the XLR and Phone Jacks are being used, both must be either balanced or unbalanced. Otherwise a loss of signal level will occur.
4. INPUT: The input of the BBE 362XL is a balanced connection. Although is can be either a TRS 1/4” stereo Phone Plug or an XLR Plug, it is recommended that only one input source be used. Both jacks are the same point electronically, however, due to the input/output impedance characteristics of most audio devices, a loss of signal may occur and/or damage to a component if both inputs are utilized. Pin #2 is considered the hot or “+” signal. The input impedance of th BBE 362XL is 10k Ohms. The maximum signal level is +26dBu.
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FRONT PANEL CONTROLS
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