®
DI-400 User 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.
IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
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.
CONTENTS
Product Features …………………………………………………3
BBE Process Explained …………………………………………4
Front Panel …………………………………………………………5
Rear Panel …………………………………………………………6
Instrument Application …………………………………………7
Line Level Application …………………………………………8
Service and Maintenance ………………………………………9
Warranty …………………………………………………………10
Specifications ……………………………………………………11
Congratulations on your purchase of the BBE
DI-400 Active Direct Box featuring the renowned
Sonic Maximizer™ Processor!
With the introduction of the DI-400, we are now
able to offer our Sonic Maximizer™ technology in
an extremely high quality rack-mount DI.
This manual will be your guide to understanding
the full functionality of the DI-400.
DI-400 FEATURES
• (4) Active DIs in a convenient 1U rack panel
• Full Function BBE Sonic Maximizer™
• 15dB Pad switch
• Phase reverse switch
• Ground lift switch
• Balanced transformerless XLR Output
• 1/4” Tip-Sleeve rear panel input
• 1/4” Tip-Sleeve front panel input and thru-put
• Mil-spec circuit boards
• Extra thick, extra wide circuit board traces for
unequaled electron flow
• 1% metal film resistors throughout
• Made with pride in the USA
IMPORTANT
Before you begin, please check the contents within this
box to insure that included are:
1.The BBE DI-400 with built-in Sonic Mazimizer™.
2.The BBE DI-400 User’s Manual.
If any of these items are found to be damaged or
missing, immediately contact the BBE dealer from
whom the unit was purchased.
This manual will help you to effectively utilize the BBE
DI-400. Reviewing the information contained in this
manual will answer most of the common questions that
our service department receives. If you still have
questions, please feel free to call 800-233-8346.
3
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.
4
FRONT PANEL
1/4” INPUT CONNECTOR
The 1/4” input connector of the
DI-400 is unbalanced. The 1/4”
input is designed for running
instrument cables directly into
the DI-400.
1/4” THRU
CONNECTOR
This 1/4“ connector
is wired in parallel
to the Input
connector and is
used for continuing
the connection to
the instrument
amplifier.
PAD PUSH
BUTTON
Push in to
activate
“-15dB” pad.
IN/OUT PUSH BUTTON
Engages the Sonic Maximizer
Process. When the switch is
pushed in, the BBE Process is
on. When the switch is up,
the BBE Process is off.
LED STATUS
PHASE PUSH
BUTTON
Push in to
reverse phase.
“RED” = power on,
BBE off/out, “GREEN”
= power on, BBE on/in.
LED not illuminated =
power off.
LOW CONTOUR CONTROL
Regulates the amount of phase
corrected bass frequencies.
PROCESS CONTROL
Regulates the amount of
phase correction.
POWER SWITCH
The Sonic Maximizer
LEDs will illuminate
when the power is on.
5
REAR PANEL
XLR OUTPUT CONNECTOR
The XLR output of the DI-400 is
balanced. The XLR output is used for
running from the DI-400 directly to
the input of a mixing console.
FUSE
Replace as needed
with specified size
and type.
6
1/4” UN-BALANCED
INPUT CONNECTOR
The 1/4” input connector
is wired in parallel with
the front panel input and
thru jacks.
XLR Pin configuration:
Pin 1 = Ground, Pin 2 = Positive and
Pin 3 = Negative.
GROUND LIFT PUSH BUTTON
When in the “lift” position (in) Pin 1 of
the balanced XLR output (ground) is
disconnected.
T/B LEVEL
010
PHONES
LEVEL
010
STUDIO
LEVEL
010
STORE
RECALL
SCENE MEMORY
CURSOR
ENTER
INPUT
AUX
1234
5678
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
1
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
2
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
3
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
4
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
5
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
6
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
7
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
8
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
9
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
10
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
11
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
12
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
13
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
14
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
15
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
16
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
17/18
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
19/20
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
21/22
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
23/24
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
60
70
?
STEREO
SCENE MEMORY
FADER STATUS
SELECTED CHANNEL
MIC/LINE
TAPE/RTN
OUTPUT
DIGITAL RECORDING CONSOLE
SCENE
MEMORY
DIGITAL
I/O
MIDI
SETUP
UTILITY
AUTOMIX GROUP
PAIR
Ø/ATT DELAY
METER
VIEW
PAN ROUTING
EQ
DYNAMICS
AUX 1 AUX 2 AUX 3 AUX 4
AUX 5 AUX 6
AUX 7
EFF1
AUX 8
EFF2
AUX
MIXING
CONFIGURATION
DISPLAY ACCESS
SEND LEVEL
AUX
SELECTED CHANNEL
ROUTING
R
EVEN
L
ODD
PAN
EQUALIZER
Q
F
G
EQ ON
LSTEREO R
CONTRAST
CLIP
-2
-4
-6
-12
-15
-24
-35
-48
-60
-72
Hz kHz
dB
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
A
B
+48V
ON
OFF
PEAK
SIGNAL
1
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
A
B
+48V
ON
OFF
2
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
A
B
+48V
ON
OFF
3
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
A
B
+48V
ON
OFF
4
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
A
B
+48V
ON
OFF
5
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
A
B
+48V
ON
OFF
6
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
A
B
+48V
ON
OFF
7
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
A
B
+48V
ON
OFF
8
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
9
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
10
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
11
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
13
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
14
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
15
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
16
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
+4 -40
17/18
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
+4 -40
19/20
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
+4 -40
21/22
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
+4 -40
23/24
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
12
PEAK
SIGNAL
AUX 2
AUX 4
AUX 6
AUX 8
EFF2
AUX 1
AUX 3
AUX 5
AUX 7
EFF1
2
4
6
8
1
3
5
7
DIRECTST
RL/MONO
ON
C-R
AUX 5STAUX 6
AUX 5
MONO
AUX 6
DIM
2TR-D3 ST
2TR-D2 2TR-A2
2TR-D1 2TR-A1
SLATE T/B
SOLO
C-R
LEVEL
010
STUDIO
CONTROL ROOM
TALKBACK
HIGH/LPFH-MIDL-MIDLOW/HPF
SEL
ON
EFF2
RTN
SEL
ON
EFF1
RTN
SEL
ON
SELONSELONSELONSEL
ON
SEL
ON
16
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
15
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
14
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
13
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
12
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
11
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
10
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
9
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
8
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
7
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
6
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
5
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
4
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
3
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
2
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
1
TAPE
SEL
ON
FLIP
Connect “THRU” to Instrument
preamp or combo amp
Connect
“BALANCED OUT”
to mixing console
INSTRUMENT LEVEL APPLICATION
7
LINE LEVEL APPLICATION
T/B LEVEL
010
PHONES
LEVEL
010
STUDIO
LEVEL
010
STORE
RECALL
SCENE MEMORY
CURSOR
ENTER
INPUT
AUX
1234
5678
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
1
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
2
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
3
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
4
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
5
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
6
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
7
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
8
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
9
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
10
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
11
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
12
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
13
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
14
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
15
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
16
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
17/18
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
19/20
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
21/22
10
5
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
?
23/24
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
60
70
?
STEREO
SCENE MEMORY
FADER STATUS
SELECTED CHANNEL
MIC/LINE
TAPE/RTN
OUTPUT
DIGITAL RECORDING CONSOLE
SCENE
MEMORY
DIGITAL
I/O
MIDI
SETUP
UTILITY
AUTOMIX GROUP
PAIR
Ø/ATT DELAY
METER
VIEW
PAN ROUTING
EQ
DYNAMICS
AUX 1 AUX 2 AUX 3 AUX 4
AUX 5 AUX 6
AUX 7
EFF1
AUX 8
EFF2
AUX
MIXING
CONFIGURATION
DISPLAY ACCESS
SEND LEVEL
AUX
SELECTED CHANNEL
ROUTING
R
EVEN
L
ODD
PAN
EQUALIZER
Q
F
G
EQ ON
LSTEREO R
CONTRAST
CLIP
-2
-4
-6
-12
-15
-24
-35
-48
-60
-72
Hz kHz
dB
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
A
B
+48V
ON
OFF
PEAK
SIGNAL
1
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
A
B
+48V
ON
OFF
2
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
A
B
+48V
ON
OFF
3
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
A
B
+48V
ON
OFF
4
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
A
B
+48V
ON
OFF
5
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
A
B
+48V
ON
OFF
6
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
A
B
+48V
ON
OFF
7
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
A
B
+48V
ON
OFF
8
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
9
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
10
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
11
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
13
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
14
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
15
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
16
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
+4 -40
17/18
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
+4 -40
19/20
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
+4 -40
21/22
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
+4 -40
23/24
PEAK
SIGNAL
GAIN
20dB
+4 -40
-16 -60
12
PEAK
SIGNAL
AUX 2
AUX 4
AUX 6
AUX 8
EFF2
AUX 1
AUX 3
AUX 5
AUX 7
EFF1
2
4
6
8
1
3
5
7
DIRECTST
RL/MONO
ON
C-R
AUX 5STAUX 6
AUX 5
MONO
AUX 6
DIM
2TR-D3 ST
2TR-D2 2TR-A2
2TR-D1 2TR-A1
SLATE T/B
SOLO
C-R
LEVEL
010
STUDIO
CONTROL ROOM
TALKBACK
HIGH/LPFH-MIDL-MIDLOW/HPF
SEL
ON
EFF2
RTN
SEL
ON
EFF1
RTN
SEL
ON
SELONSELONSELONSEL
ON
SEL
ON
16
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
15
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
14
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
13
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
12
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
11
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
10
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
9
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
8
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
7
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
6
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
5
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
4
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
3
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
2
TAPE
SEL
ON
SEL
ON
1
TAPE
SEL
ON
FLIP
Connect “THRU” to Instrument
preamp or combo amp
Connect
“BALANCED OUT”
to mixing console
Connect instrument to “input”
on front panel or “unbalanced
in” on back panel
8
SERVICE
We recommend that if at all possible, a BBE DI-400
which requires service be sent to our facility in
Huntington Beach, California. We request that a
“RETURN AUTHORIZATION” be issued by the dealer
from whom you purchased the unit. If this is not
possible, call BBE Sound, Inc. directly at (800) 233-8346,
extension 116 to obtain a “RETURN AUTHORIZATION.”
Include a copy of the bill of sale with the unit when it is
shipped to BBE Sound, Inc. so that the service can be
expedited.
Maintenance of the BBE DI-400 is limited to proper
cleaning of the unit with mild household cleaner such
as Formula 409™ or Windex™. The chassis is steel , the
casing is an aluminum extrusion. Both are finished with
a durable polyurethane paint.
There are no user replaceable parts and the unit should
not be opened for any reason unless you are a qualified
technician. Calibration should be performed if parts are
As the repair turnaround time is minimal, we request
that the unit be sent to BBE Sound, Inc. We also need to
add reliability data to our files so that future revision
may be undertaken, if necessary, to improve the product.
If unit has been purchased outside the US, please
contact your national distributor
.
MAINTENANCE
replaced or if a performance check-out indicates a
problem with calibration. Long term use has shown that
over the life of this unit there is little or no drift of the
components in the BBE DI-400 which would cause a
change in calibration.
9
WARRANTY
Warranty registration of the unit to BBE Sound, Inc. is not
necessary. It is strongly recommended that you retain a
copy of the bill of sale for future reference.
IT IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE END
USER TO PROVIDE THE BILL OF SALE OR OTHER
MEANS OF PROOF OF PURCHASE TO V
THE WARRANTY IF WARRANTY SERVICE IS
REQUESTED.
The BBE
and workmanship for a period of five (5) years from date of
purchase from BBE Sound Inc. or from an authorized
dealer. During this period, we will repair units free of
charge providing that they are shipped prepaid to:
We will pay return UPS shipping charges within the
USA. All charges related to non-UPS shipping, including
customs clearance, will be billed. The warranty will be
honored for the longer of either 90 days from the date
of any service or the remainder of the original 5 Year
factory warranty.
DI-400
BBE Sound, Inc.,
5381 Production Drive,
Huntington Beach, CA 92649.
is warranted against defects in material
ALIDATE
This warranty will be consider null and void by BBE Sound,
Inc. if any of the following is found:
1. The equipment has been physically damaged.
2. The equipment shows signs of abuse.
3. The equipment has been electrically damaged by
improper connection or attempted repair by the
customer or a third party.
4. The equipment has been modified without
authorization.
5. The bill of sales indicates that the purchase date of
the equipment is not within the warranty period.
All non-warranty repairs are warranted for a period of 90
days from the date of service.
BBE Sound, Inc. is NOT LIABLE FOR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES. Should the unit fail to operate for any reason,
our sole obligation is to repair it as described above.
DO NOT RETURN ANY PRODUCT TO THE ABOVE
ADDRESS WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS AND
AUTHORIZATION ISSUED BY THE ABOVE LOCATION.
10
SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency Response @ Line Out,
process mode:…………………………………………………Program Controlled
bypass mode: …………………………………………………10Hz to 50kHz (+/- 1dB)
Signal to Noise Ratio:
BBE OUT ………………………………………………………118dB
BBE IN (@ 10) …………………………………………………115dB
THD: BBE OUT ………………………………………………………less than 0.005% at -l0dBu input 20-20kHz
BBE IN …………………………………………………………0.05% (20-20kHz)
Noise: BBE OUT ………………………………………………………-105dBu
BBE IN (@ 0) …………………………………………………-94dBu
BBE IN (@ 10) …………………………………………………-85dBu
Input Impedance:
ument ……………………………………………………1 MEG Ohms
instr
line………………………………………………………………12k Ohms
Output Impedance:
XLR ……………………………………………………………600 Ohms
* 0dBu = 0.775V
Power Requirements: …………………………………………………U.S., Canada & Japan models: 120VAC, 50/60Hz, 8 WATTS
Dimensions: …………………...... ……………………………………
Shipping Weight: ………………………………………………………7 lbs.
Note: Due to continuing product improvement, specifications and design are subject to change without notice.
rms
…………………………………………………………………Standard model: 220VAC, 50/60Hz, 8 WA
19"(W) x 5.5"(D) x 1.7"(H)
TTS
11
5381 Production Drive
®
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
714-897-6766 • FAX 714-896-0736
www.bbesound.com
Covered by U.S. Patent 5,736,897 and other U.S. and foreign patents pending.
BBE is the registered trademark of BBE Sound, Inc.
rev. 2 9/10
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