Behringer MDX2600 User manual

User Manual

MULTICOM PRO-XL MDX4600

Reference-Class 4-Channel Expander/Gate/Compressor/Peak Limiter with Dynamic Enhancer and Low Contour Filter

COMPOSER PRO-XL MDX2600

Reference-Class 2-Channel Expander/Gate/Compressor/Peak Limiter with Integrated De-Esser, Dynamic Enhancer and Tube Simulation

AUTOCOM PRO-XL MDX1600

Reference-Class 2-Channel Expander/Gate/Compressor/Peak Limiter with Integrated Dynamic Enhancer, De-Esser and Low Contour Filter

2 MULTICOM PRO-XL MDX4600/COMPOSER PRO-XL MDX2600/AUTOCOM PRO-XL MDX1600 User Manual

Table of Contents

Important Safety Instructions ...................................... 3

Legal Disclaimer ............................................................. 3

Limited warranty ............................................................ 3

1. Introduction ............................................................... 4

1.1 Before you get started ...................................................... 5

1.1.1 Shipment .......................................................................... 5

1.1.2 Initial operation ............................................................. 5

1.1.3 Warrant y ........................................................................... 5

1.2 The user’s manual ............................................................... 5

2. Control Elements and Connectors ........................... 5

2.1 The expander/gate section ............................................. 5

2.2 The compressor section ................................................... 6

2.3 The dynamic enhancer section ..................................... 7

2.4 The de-esser section ......................................................... 7

2.5 The peak limiter section ................................................... 8

2.6 The rear panel control elements ................................... 8

3. Examples of Sidechain Applications ....................... 8

3.1 Eliminating interference ................................................... 8

3.2 Emphasizing instruments ................................................ 9

3.3 Time-delayed compression ............................................ 9

3.4 “Voice Over” compression (“Ducking”) ....................... 9

3.5 Triggering additional sounds from a

rhythm track ................................................................................. 9

4. Wiring ......................................................................... 9

5. Installation ............................................................... 10

5.1 Rack installation ............................................................... 10

5.2 Audio connections ........................................................... 10

6. Specications ........................................................... 11

3 MULTICOM PRO-XL MDX4600/COMPOSER PRO-XL MDX2600/AUTOCOM PRO-XL MDX1600 User Manual

9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized

TO BIND MUSICGROUP BY ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED

Important Safety Instructions

Terminals marked with this symbol carry electrical current of su cient magnitude

to constitute risk of electric shock. Use only high-quality professional speaker cables with ¼" TS or twist-locking plugs pre-installed. Allother installation or modi cation should be performed only by quali edpersonnel.

This symbol, wherever it appears,

alertsyou to the presence of uninsulated

dangerous voltage inside the enclosure-voltage that may be su cient to constitute a risk ofshock.

This symbol, wherever it appears,

alertsyou to important operating and

maintenance instructions in the accompanying literature. Please read the manual.

Caution

To reduce the risk of electric shock, donot

remove the top cover (or the rear section). No user serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to quali ed personnel.

Caution

To reduce the risk of  re or electric shock,

do not expose this appliance to rain and moisture. The apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing liquids and no objects  lled with liquids, suchas vases, shall be placed on the apparatus.

Caution

These service instructions are for use

by quali ed ser vice personnel only. Toreduce the risk of electric shock do not perform any servicing other than that contained in the operation instructions. Repairs have to be performed by quali ed servicepersonnel.

or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding-type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. Ifthe provided plug does not  t into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.

10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.

11. Use only attachments/accessories speci ed by themanufacturer.

12. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table speci ed by the manufacturer, orsold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid

injury from tip-over.

13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.

14. Refer all servicing to quali ed service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has beendropped.

15. The apparatus shall be connected to a MAINS socket outlet with a protective earthing connection.

16. Where the MAINS plug or an appliance coupler is used as the disconnect device, the disconnect device shall remain readily operable.

UNDERTAKING OR REPRESENTATION. THIS MANUAL IS COPYRIGHTED. NO PART OF THIS MANUAL MAY BE REPRODUCED OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS, ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL, INCLUDING PHOTOCOPYING AND RECORDING OF ANY KIND, FOR ANY PURPOSE, WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF MUSICGROUPIPLTD.

LIMITED WARRANTY

For the applicable warranty terms and conditions and additional information regarding MUSIC Group’s Limited Warranty, please see complete details online at www.music-group.com/warranty.

1. Read these instructions.

2. Keep these instructions.

3. Heed all warnings.

4. Follow all instructions.

5. Do not use this apparatus near water.

6. Clean only with dry cloth.

7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in

accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including ampli ers) that produce heat.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND APPEARANCES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE AND ACCURACY IS NOT GUARANTEED. BEHRINGER, KLARKTEKNIK, MIDAS, BUGERA, AND TURBOSOUND ARE PART OF THE MUSIC GROUP MUSICGROUP.COM. ALL TRADEMARKS ARE THE PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. MUSICGROUP ACCEPTS NO LIABILITY FOR ANY LOSS WHICH MAY BE SUFFERED BY ANY PERSON WHO RELIES EITHER WHOLLY OR IN PART UPON ANY DESCRIPTION, PHOTOGRAPH OR STATEMENT CONTAINED HEREIN. COLORS AND SPECIFICATIONS MAY VARY FROM ACTUAL PRODUCT. MUSIC GROUP PRODUCTS ARE SOLD THROUGH AUTHORIZED FULLFILLERS AND RESELLERS ONLY. FULLFILLERSAND RESELLERS ARE NOT AGENTS OF MUSICGROUP AND HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO AUTHORITY

4 MULTICOM PRO-XL MDX4600/COMPOSER PRO-XL MDX2600/AUTOCOM PRO-XL MDX1600 User Manual

1. Introduction

With this new dynamics processor from the PRO-XL series you have acquired an extremely powerful and universal compressor which unites in one compact device all of those dynamics control functions that are most frequently used in practice: each channel has an independent compressor/limiter, expander/gate and peak limiter. Thus, virtually all dynamics processing problems can be remedied with little eort.

Future-oriented BEHRINGER technology

The new PRO-XL dynamics processors from BEHRINGER feature several innovative circuit designs, making them top-class dynamics processing equipment. Compared to their predecessors, they now have improvements such as the de-esser, which allows you to eectively suppress disturbing hiss noise (COMPOSERPRO-XL), additional LED displays to set the de-esser levels, plus a switchable enhancer.

ATS (Authentic Tube Simulation) circuitry

Even today, the warm, expressive and transparent tonal character of electronic tubes is a real “classic”. We proudly present the COMPOSER PRO-XL and its high-tech circuit design enabling the authentic reproduction of this legendary sound, and at the same time avoiding all of the technical drawbacks that go along with tube technology. Owing to state-of-the-ar t semi-conductor technology, thereis no sound deterioration caused by tube ageing, there are no heat problems and no maintenance required at all. All that remains is the advantage of tube technology: its distinctive sound!

The AUTOCOM PRO-XL not only includes an enhancer, but also a switchable de-esser and a peak limiter, which has already proved its versatilit y in the COMPOSER PRO.

The BEHRINGER MULTICOM PRO-XL has been upgraded with an expander/ noise gate plus enhancer. Additionally, we have managed to improve its audio properties even further—in combination with a revised circuit design.

To give you the best operational reliabilit y possible, we manufacture our products in accordance with the highest quality standards known in the industry. Additionally the dynamic processors are manufactured under ISO9000 cer tied manage ment system.

VAD (Voice-Adaptive) De-esser

The COMPOSER PRO-XL and AUTOCOM PRO-XL incorporate a newly designed de-esser circuit specically adapted to process the critical range of treble frequencies. Hiss noise on vocal tracks of ten contains high levels, giving the signals a rather edgy, unpleasant sound. The de-esser responds to those frequency ranges in which hiss noise usually occurs and limits the overall signal level as soon as the audio signal is aected by excessive energy density in this range. Unlike equalizers, however, it does not impair the frequency response of the signal. In this way, intelligibility in low-level passages is perfectly preserved, and you can even boost the treble range with a good equalizer. The sound becomes transparent and fresh, while the de-esser prevents hiss noise from becoming too dominant and disturbing the overall sound image.

IKA (Interactive Knee Adaptation) Compressor

Our proven IKA (Interactive Knee Adaptation) circuit successfully combines the “hard knee” compressor concept with the “soft knee” characteristic. Thisprogram-dependent control characteristic makes it possible to both provide an “inaudible” and musical program compression and allows for creative and ecient dynamics processing.

IRC (Interactive Ratio Control) Expander

A fundamental problem when using a compressor is the fact that the basic noise oor depends on the amount of compression applied, i.e. it is amplied maximally in low-level passages and breaks in the music (compressor noise). To eliminate this problem, compressors are usually equipped with additional expander or gate circuitry, simply fading out the noise during breaks.

The dynamics processors from the PRO-XL Series feature our IRC (InteractiveRatio Control) expander, whose ratio setting changes automatically with the program material. The result is an expander that can be set quickly and easily, and does not cut o low-level wanted signals (e.g. the rst or last syllable of a word in a vocal track). With the new IRC circuit, the expander/gate section of the BEHRINGER COMPOSER PRO-XL MDX2600, AUTOCOM PRO-XL MDX1600 and MULTICOM PRO-XL MDX4600 can be used as an independent device to eliminate any kind of interference, thus giving you almost unlimited exibility ofapplication.

IDE (Interactive Dynamic) Enhancer

Probably the best known negative side eect of a compressor is the “dull” and “compressed” sound that is likely to result from the processing of complex program material. Low-frequency instruments usually produce the highest signal energy and hence make the compressor reduce the overall level. Any instrument in the higher frequency ranges concurrently played also has its level reduced, which leads to a “compressed” overall sound.

The dynamic enhancer provides the solution to this problem, enabling you to make up specically for the compression-induced loss of treble energy. Since the enhancer can detect the amount of compression applied, it does not change the sound image as long as the signals remain uncompressed. No treble energy is lost, even when complex mix-down material is processed.

IGC (Interactive Gain Control) Peak Limiter

Another outstanding feature of BEHRINGER dynamics processors is the IGC (Interactive Gain Control) limiter, an intelligent combination of a clipper and program limiter. The clipper comes in as soon as an adjustable threshold is exceeded and abruptly limits the signal gain. However, if the limiter threshold is exceeded for longer than a few milliseconds, the ICG circuit is activated automatically and reduces the gain of the overall output signal, so that audible distor-tion is eliminated (program limiter). When the signal drops below threshold again, its level is restored to its original value after about one second. This IGC feature is an extremely usefull tool for both live applications (e.g. speaker protection) and digital processing, in which excess levels lead to unpleasantdistortion.

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