BBE 482i User Manual
482i
SONIC MAXIMIZER
User Guide and Reference Manual
For your protection, please read these safety instructions completely before operating the
appliance, and keep this manual for future reference.
Carefully observe all warnings, precautions and instructions on the appliance and
described in the operating instructions supplied with the appliance.
INSTALLATION
Water and Moisture - Do not install the appliance near water: for example, near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a wet
basement, or near a swimming pool.
Heat - Do not install the appliance near sources of heat such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other appliances that produce heat.
VentIlation - Situate the product so its location or position does not interfere with its proper ventilation. For example, you should not
place the product on a bed, sofa, rug, or similar surface that might block the vent openings, or placed in a built-in installation, such as a
bookcase or cabinet that might impede the flow of air through the ventilation openings.
Wall or Ceiling Mounting - If your appliance can be mounted to a wall or ceiling, mount it only as recommended.
Accessories - Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table. The product may fall, causing serious
injury to a child or adult, and serious damage to the product. Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table recommended by the
manufacturer, or sold with the product. Any mounting of the product should follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and should use a
mounting accessory recommended by the manufacturer.
USE
Power Source - Connect the appliance to a power supply only of the type described in the operating instructions or as marked on the
appliance.
Power-Cord Protection - Route the power cord so that it is not likely to be walked on or pinched by having objects placed on it, paying
particular attention to the plugs, receptacles, and the point where the cord exits from the appliance.
Grounding or Polarization - Do not defeat the grounding or polarization feature of the AC power cord. If your AC receptacle will not
accept the power cord plug, contact your electrician to install a proper AC receptacle.
When not in use - Unplug the power cord of the appliance from the outlet when left unused for a long period of time.
To disconnect the cord, pull it out by grasping the plug. Never pull the plug out by the cord.
AC Receptacle - Check to make sure that the AC receptacle holds the power cord plug firmly and securely. If the power cord plug is
loose, contact your electrician to replace the defective and unsafe AC
Foreign Objects - Be careful that foreign objects and liquids do not enter the enclosure through openings.
Cleaning - unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth
for cleaning.
SERVICE
Unplug the appliance from the wall outlet and consult qualified service personnel when:
• the power cord or the plug has been damaged.
• a solid object or liquid has fallen into the cabinet.
• the appliance has been exposed to rain or moisture.
• the appliance does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked change in performance.
• the appliance has been dropped, or the enclosure damaged.
Do not attempt to service the appliance beyond that described in the operating instructions. For all other servicing, refer to qualified
service personnel only.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Important Safeguards ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 2
BBE Process Explained …………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
Product Description ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4
Applications/Set Up ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4
Front Panel Controls ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 5
Rear Panel Connections …………………………………………………………………………………………… 6
Application Diagrams ………………………………………………………………………………………… 7-13
Specications …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 14
Service / Warranty / Maintenance ……………………………………………………………………………… 15
Thank you for your purchase, and for the trust that you’ve placed in BBE. We are com-
mitted to bringing you the nest products, with useful and unique features to serve your
audio needs.
The BBE Sonic Maximizer is a 2-channel signal processor that will benet any recording
or sound reproduction system. Whether you purchased the 482i for your home studio,
P.A., DJ system, or instrument rack, you will nd the Sonic Maximizer’s rugged construction and careful electronic design a welcome addition to your sonic arsenal.
THE BBE PROCESS — “WHAT IT IS”
Loudspeakers have difculty working with the electronic signals supplied by an amplier. These
difculties cause such major phase and amplitude distortion that the sound reproduced by a
speaker differs signicantly 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 dene 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 rst 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 difcult 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 struc-
tures 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.
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PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The BBE 482i is a dual channel, single rack space device for use in -l0dBu line level applications.
For each channel there are one pair of Lo Contour and Process knobs plus a 5 segment LED
output level meter. 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 yellow when the process is off.
The Lo Contour controls are 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.
APPLICATIONS
Music and P.A. Systems
The BBE Sonic Maximizer 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 benet greatly from the BBE Process, with more depth,
detail and punch over the entire mix. The BBE Sonic Maximizer 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 Sonic Maximizer 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 Sonic Maximizer before the
equalizer in the signal chain. Placement either before or after an equalizer should have no negative effect on the unit or its processing ability, however most users nd they prefer more modest
use of their equalizers once the BBE Sonic Maximizer has been added to their sound systems.
Instrument Racks
The BBE Sonic Maximizer will deliver surprisingly good results in guitar, bass and keyboard rack
systems. Electric guitars have added “bite”, “chunk” and improved denition. As Guitar Player
magazine said, “BBE is the most cost effective improvement you can add to your rig”. Acoustic
guitars processed with the BBE Sonic Maximizer have a breathtakingly natural sparkle and presence. Bassists will delight in the BBE Sonic Maximizer’s ability to bring much more punch to the
bottom end without muddying up the midrange. The BBE Sonic Maximizer is also great for keyboard rigs, with everything from the latest samples to a vintage Rhodes beneting equally from
the patented BBE process.
Recording Systems
The BBE Sonic Maximizer can be used as an effect on individual tracks or applied overall during
mixdown. The BBE process works very well to liven up the nal mix, which is why the BBE 482i
model is popular for use in both project and professional recording studios.
SET-UP
The BBE Sonic Maximizer 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 Sonic Maximizer. Setting up the Sonic Maximizer 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. In order to reduce the risk of damage to any equipment,
properly connect all cables and power cables before turning on any components in the system.
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FRONT PANEL CONTROLS
LED DISPLAY: The LED display is used to indicate the output signal level of the BBE 482i.
1.
Each number on the front panel corresponds to the output signal level, measured in decibels.
Example: The “0” indicates a 0dBu signal level, “-6” refers to -6dBu, and so on. Once an input
signal level has been established, increasing the BBE PROCESS and LO CONTOUR will
increase the output signal and cause more LEDs to illuminate. The Clip LED monitors the input
signal level. The Clip LED will illuminate at +15dBu, giving a 3dBu warning of the impending
distortion at +18dBu, the actual clip point.
LO CONTOUR: Regulates the amount of phase corrected bass frequencies.
2.
PROCESS: Regulates the amount of phase corrected treble frequencies.
3.
BBE FUNCTION: This push button switch allows for quick comparison of processed with
4.
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 yellow.
CHANNEL B: These controls function the same as CHANNEL A.
5.
POWER: This switch controls primary power to the BBE 482i.
6.
THINGS TO REMEMBER
The BBE 482i is designed to work with -l0dBu line levels. This is suitable for professional and
semi-pro mixers, P.A. consoles, recording studios, or D.J. equipment. The BBE 482i drives load
impedances down to 1K Ohm and supplies a maximum output level of +18dBu. Plugging a guitar or other high impedance device directly into the BBE 482i will not work properly as its input
impedance is less than 50K ohms.
The BBE Sonic Maximizer is a line level signal processor and is to be
connected prior to the power amp in any audio system. Signicant
damage may be inicted to the bbe sonic maximizer or any subse-
quent component in the system in the event the output of a power
amp is connected directly to the input of the BBE Sonic Maximizer.
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