Bettermaker EQ 232P User Manual
BETTERMAKER EQ
Models 232P, 232P Remote
Operations Manual
Addicted to Music Group
ul.Paryska 35 m.10 03-945 Warsaw Poland
Phone: +48 604649220
info@bettermaker.eu, www.bettermaker.eu
www.addictedtomusic.eu
The Bettermaker crew would like to thank all the people that were deeply involved in the development of our
rst product, the EQ 230P. Thank you for the insight and inspiration you gave us to make it even better.
Thanks to all the Beta-testers that gave us hands-on tips and all people involved in the conceptual stage. We
hope we have listened to you carefully so as to produce an ideal tool in the hands of every engineer.
As for this amazing manual, it would be nothing without the enormous help of Tim Boyce and Bob Katz.
Thank you guys!
Pultec™ is a trademark of Pulse Techniques, LLC
Manual version BK5 062312
Table of Contents
Important Safety Information 4
I. Introduction 5
II. Standards, Use and Alignment 6
III. Hardware 8
IV. Front Panel 9
V. Software 14
VI. DAW Integration 17
VII. EQ Filter Sections in Depth 19
VIII. Tricks and Tips 27
IX. Troubleshoting & Repair 28
X. Block Diagram 29
XI. Contact info / RMA warranty 30
3
Important Safety Information
This symbol indicates the presence of dangerous voltage within the product enclosure
and presents the risk of electric shock. Only qualied service personal should perform
these operations. Failure to observe this symbol could result in damage to the unit,
property, or person. To reduce the risk of electric shock injury, do not remove the top
cover. Dangerous voltage exists within the product enclosure. Refer servicing to
qualied personnel.
This symbol indicates important operating or maintenance instructions that should be
followed carefully. Failure to observe these instructions could result in damage to the
product of other property and will void the warranty.
WARNINGS
• Do not defeat the earth ground connection on the AC Power cable.
• Do not use a damaged or excessively worn IEC cable to connect this unit to AC power.
• Do not operate this unit in the presence of rain, liquids, or condensing moisture. Liquid entering the product
enclosure presents the risk of electric shock injury.
• Severe damage may be caused to your unit if it is connected to 230/50 Hz AC power while the voltage
switch is set in the 110V position. Before plugging in the unit, be sure the voltage selector switch is selected for
your regional power requirements (110/230 Volt). This switch is located on the inside of the unit. However your
unit has shipped with a sticker on the rear panel noting which territory the power has been set for.
• Failure caused by improper voltage application will not be covered under warranty.
• This device is designed to operate in an ambient temperature environment not to exceed 40° C (104F). Please
make sure the unit is mounted in a manner that vents are not blocked.
Practical Safety Precautions
Do not operate the Bettermaker EQ232P underwater, uncovered in the rain, in a sauna, or anyplace near water.
(We know your shower is the greatest reverb chamber ever created). In such cases we advise the use of long cable
runs (preferably balanced) from the control room to minimize potential harm to both body and equipment. Always
be sure to protect the unit from dust, particles, water, beer, groupies, and stage divers.
4
I. Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of the Addicted to Music Bettermaker Equalizer - all analog sound with
the exibility of digital control! This book describes operation of two models, improved versions of the previous
model 230P:
The EQ232P — with luxurious front panel control and/or control via computer Plugin
The EQ 232P Remote, without front panel, with Graphical User Interface (GUI) controlled externally by
computer.
Welcome to the family! The hybrid audio equalizer now in your possession is the result of years of research
and development in emerging digital control technologies. The nal hand-built result is currently glowing happily
in your rack (Lucky you). In this manual, sections specic to the EQ 232P Remote are labelled in green, sections
specic to the EQ232P are labelled in blue. Otherwise all sections refer to both models. The EQ232P brings the
exibility, ease of use, and instant recall-ability of software plugins to the realm of high delity analog processing
like no other analog EQ on the market.
Company
Addicted to Music began in 2004 in Warsaw, Poland as a recording and mixing studio. Long before it was
a hardware company we were deeply involved in the international music and recording scene. This is not a
company run by scientists who crunch numbers all day, we are a company run by engineers who live, eat, and
breathe music (like you do). We know good sound, and know rst-hand what it takes on both sides of the glass to
capture the perfect take. We developed the EQ232P to go from the perfect take, and make it even better!
Unit
The Bettermaker EQ232P was designed to have the greatest exibility of any analog EQ, while still allowing
absolute recall and repeatability. We often found the strengths of software plug-ins wasn’t their sound, but the
ability to quickly audition different settings. This allowed us to make faster, better informed musical choices. The
ability to jump back and forth between (sometimes vastly different) settings allowed us to keep a clear vision of
the sonic goal in mind, while quickly making decisions on the best setting to use.
However, we recognized the sonic superiority of our analog gear compared to their digital counterparts. In
countless shoot-outs, the analog versions always won. Since we’re a company that cares about better sound over
processing speed, our engineers would take the extra time to use a full analog chain because it simply sounds
better. We developed the Bettermaker EQ232P to give us the speed of plugins, but the delity of analog.
In the traditional analog world the time spent in the act of having to set and reset knobs and buttons to audition
between settings often skewed our choices. More time was spent tweaking knobs trying to recover an earlier
setting than was spent listening. The limited resolution of the mechanical parts often meant only very coarse
adjustments were possible (previously only solvable by very expensive mechanical switches). A difcult situation
to say the least, but the greater delity, openness, and depth of the analog gear was always worth it to our ears.
Even after years of advancement in digital algorithms, the older analog versions always sounded better. With these
goals in mind, we strove to create a hybrid EQ that was the best of both worlds: A true analog EQ based on classic
designs, but with the repeatability, ne resolution, and consistency of digital plug-ins. Enter the inspiration for the
Bettermaker EQ232P!
Design History
We began with the analog sections. Choosing modern components and design practices over older traditional
methods helped maintain the transient response and low noise-oor necessary for today’s recording practices. We
hand build every unit, and even hand-wind the coil for the P-Filter section. Wherever possible we choose overspec’ed components to ensure trouble free operation and a long product life. Where feasible we increased the gain
resolution and frequency range to ensure the greatest exibility no matter what source (from tracking to 2-bus and
mastering applications). Most importantly we listened rst, tested, and then listened again. We hope you enjoy
your Addicted to Music EQ232P. Now go make some music Better!
5
II. Standards, Use and Alignment
The Bettermaker EQ232P is designed according to international standards, and is fully functional in any
location with proper power available. This includes but is not limited to studio, stage, video post, on-location,
festival, corporate, and both installed and temporary audio solutions. This equalizer is excellent in festival
situations as its instant recall makes it perfect for fast resetting between multiple stages or bands. Once you
grow accustomed to the amazingly quick recall and exibility of this EQ, we believe you will nd new uses and
applications for it in your professional workow. You may never want to be without it.
Power and Grounding
The unit ships with a standard IEC plug to 3-prong plug correct for the original imported country/region. Do
not use a 2-prong ground lift adapter to connect to the mains power receptacle.
For ease of troubleshooting and to provide the greatest exibility and safety, a ground lift switch has been
provided on the back panel of the unit. For ground hum in permanent installations it is recommended to locate the
source of the ground loop and x it. This is most often caused by multiple paths to ground, either in the cabling
or in the wiring of the building. For eld work or engineers at visiting studios, the ground lift provides a way to
quickly lift the signal-ground without resorting to barrel adapters or custom cables.
Audio Connections
The EQ232P uses standard professional grade XLR connectors for all inputs and outputs. The rear of the
unit has a single XLR input jack for Left/Right signals, and two pairs of Left/Right output jacks. Each output is
electronically connected inside the unit. Either can be used for output connections.
TRS Balanced Connections
Balanced connections are always recommended for greatest delity. The max headroom before clipping on
balanced connections is +18 dBu. If XLR connections are unavailable, the unit may be connected via TRS 1⁄4”
cables, wire pin 2 hot to the tip of the TRS.
Unbalanced Connections
When connecting unbalanced devices to the input of the Bettermaker EQ 230P, pin 3 of the XLR connector
must be grounded (connected to pin 1) and there is no level loss at its input. Similarly, ground pin 3 when
connecting its output to unbalanced loads. Be aware there is a 6 dB level loss when connecting to unbalanced
loads, leaving the max headroom at +12 dBu. For this reason, we recommend feeding balanced loads.
6
Aligning Levels — VU and Peak Metering
The VU meter is a liar—the equipment must have headroom to allow for peaks which the meter does not show.
Traditional analog consoles and peripherals (such as compressors) equipped with VU meters are usually aligned
to +4 dBu, so we recommend adjusting the digital system so +4 dBu or lower equals -20 dBFS with a sine wave
alignment tone and an external analog voltmeter. Then in operation, watch your digital peak meters on your digital
DAW and apparently as long as they do not go over 0 dBFS then the digital will not clip and neither will the
EQ232P. I said “apparently” because there is the hidden factor of the true peak overload, described below. Also,
during normal operation, glance at the clip indicators on the equalizer as further conrmation that everything is
safe, especially if you are doing heavy EQ boosting.
Here’s a tip: Even if you do not have an analog voltmeter, with a little care and time you can still calibrate
your system, achieve exactly the same analog headroom and matched levels, using the clip lights of the EQ232P
as an analog measuring tool and also reading the digital levels returning from the ADC. Feed your DAC into the
EQ232P (set to at and engaged*) and adjust the DAC output to ensure that the clip lights do not light with a
full scale (0 dBFS) sine wave from the DAC. (You can use the incoming meters from the ADC to determine how
far your DAC is below Equalizer clipping. You can even add a safety zone of 1 or 2 dB to keep your DAC well
below DAC clipping). Then align the ADC input for unity gain when inserting the D/A/D insert into the chain and
you’re done!
If you nd the Equalizer clipping during normal operation with a lot of EQ boost, just turn down the send to
the equalizer until it doesn’t clip. Because you have aligned your DAC and ADC as well, the recording will never
clip.
Eliminate True Peak Distortion
Although you have just aligned your system to unity gain, the fact remains that your DAW’s meters do not
measure the true peak overloads that can occur in DACs. True peaks can actually exceed the DAW’s meter
reading and cause harshness or distortion that typical DAW meters do not see. Adding a true peak meter plugin
to your DAW is a good idea, but under most circumstances you can follow the guideline that true peaks will very
rarely exceed 1 dB over digital full scale. (This would occur only if you are using severe processing in front of
the EQ232P, in which case the sound of clipping probably won’t bother you either). So we suggest that you never
exceed -1 dBFS in normal operation, with music or speech, as read on an ordinary meter reading the return from
the EQ232P. This will result in cleaner, purer sound from your analog equalizer! By the way, true peak overloads
can occur with any analog insert loop, so it’s always advisable never to exceed -1 dBFS “sample peak” whenever
you feed a DAC. Yes, it’s time to get a true peak meter!
*Shortcut to at: Double click on the Preset button of the EQ232P
7
III. Hardware
This basic overview of the hardware design approach of the Bettermaker EQ232P will help further your
understanding of its sophisticated toolset and purist design.
Internal Routing
For normal operation it is not necessary to access the interior of the EQ232P. In the event of possible failure,
please see Part IX, Trouble Shooting, where many issues can be solved. The analog and digital sections of your
hybrid EQ are completely separate and isolated. This keeps any control voltage for the digital section away from
the sensitive analog components and lowers the overall noise of the unit.
Analog Section
Great care and thought went into the development and implementation of the analog section of the Bettermaker
EQ232P. High quality capacitors are used throughout the analog path. All analog PCB’s are totally separate and
isolated both from the power boards, and the digital section. The use of precision metal lm resistors minimizes
the drift associated with traditional building processes. This keeps each channel of the EQ within tight tolerances,
resulting in precise stereo tracking and thus a more natural, open stereo spread with no phase shift between
channels. Exacting performance results in nearly unmeasurable differences between channels at all frequencies
and levels, perfectly symmetrical EQ1 and EQ2 boosts and cuts, and 100% repeatable preset recalls.
Digital Section
All digital circuits are 100% separated from the analog sections. Additionally the digital signals are transmitted
through optical connectors so that the digital section has no inuence on the quality or noise oor of the sensitive
analog circuits.
Memory cells are stored in non-volatile EEPROM Memory. This means that your custom saved states will not
be lost even if power is disconnected from the unit. The current power-on condition is retained when the unit is
manually switched off. The USB type B connection lets you upload and download memory form the unit as well
as use it as you would use a plugin in your DAW, including automation and recall with session opening.
Power Supply
The Power Supply of the Bettermaker EQ232P is located internally and is highly shielded from all analog
sections to reduce potential noise and ensure the lowest noise oor possible. The analog circuits use a separate
power supply that is physically separated from the digital circuits with a magnetic shield. The high quality
toroidal power transformer ensures the Bettermaker EQ can be located close to other sensitive electronics without
inducing additional noise.
Before plugging in the unit, be sure the voltage selector switch is selected for your regional power
requirements (110/230 Volt). This switch is located on the inside of the unit. However your unit has shipped with
a sticker on the rear panel noting the voltage that has been set internally upon shipping to your territory.
8
IV. Front Panel
EQ232P Remote Only: All sections of the front panel are recreated in the Bettermaker EQ plugin. Note that
the plugin is a digital control of the analog hardware, it does not pass signal in itself. Knobs can be grabbed and
moved with the mouse, and buttons can be pressed using the mouse on screen. If you own the EQ232P Remote
model, just launch the plugin and use the mouse to control the virtual equivalents of all the following controls.
The Bettermaker EQ232P front panel is divided into 6 main sections and a clip indicator. To keep a clean
and modern design aesthetic, there are minimal line breaks on the panel. All knobs are machined out of solid
aluminum and are securely mounted to the detented digital encoders. All knobs rotate as digitally encoded
increments and decrements. The exception is the ‘Preset’ knob, which rotates as a digital encoder, but also has a
special function as a push-button menu selector.
Ergonomics
You will soon discover that the EQ232P ergonomics make this EQ comfortable, easy to use, fun and addictive!
For example, the knobs are velocity-sensitive, resulting in coarse changes when spun quickly, and very precise
ne increment/decrements when turned slowly. These knobs quickly and easily let you get to the level or
frequency you desire or perform ne increments of 0.1 dB. Experience this once and you will be hooked. The
indicator lights around the knobs and switches are easy to read and give a clear indication of the frequency,
bandwidth or decibel range, coupled with a numeric readout in the LED display whenever a knob is turned or a
bandwidth or frequency switch is pressed. The look and feel is so comfortable that you can operate this EQ in the
dark and comfortably nd all the knobs just by feel.
Master Power
The Master power switch is located in the top of the left hand section.
Bypass Section
On the far left is the Bypass Section. Each lter section can be inserted (“engaged”) or bypassed as well as the
entire unit. A lter is IN when its corresponding engage button is lit. To insert the entire unit, press the ENGAGE
button at the bottom left. When a button is OUT (not illuminated), the section is relay-bypassed (hardware
bypassed) to ensure maximum sonic transparency. When the ENGAGE button is OUT, the entire unit is bypassed.
To hear any changes the EQ may be making, the ENGAGE button must be pressed (illuminated) and the individual
EQ lter section(s) must also be engaged. The unit will also pass signal in bypass when fully disconnected from
mains power. The following picture shows the EQ in a state of all lters being engaged, and in the ‘A’ comparison
mode.
9
Loading...