C-Ducers CP Users Manual

Sound Effects: C-ducer is a very useful tool in the sound effects

department. It is easily stuck to a creaky door, floorboards (for
picking-up footsteps), a typewriter or virtually anything that makes a
sound.

Under Water: C-ducer makes an excellent hydrophone. It does
however, require a waterproof coating or sheath if prolonged
immersion is anticipated.

C-ducer CP Series

Industrial & Mechanical Vibration: The sound emitted by worn
bearings in an engine or gear train can be readily detected by attaching
the C-ducer to the engine block or transmission case. Where excessive
heat prevents direct contact, C-ducer can be wrapped around a rod or
screwdriver, the end of which is pressed against the block or case. An
industrial preamplifier is available for use when frequency response
beyond that of audio is required.

Electric Instruments: An interesting and appealing sound can be
obtained by putting a C-ducer on the headstock of a guitar or electric
bass. This sound can then be mixed with the signal from the electric
pickups if desired. Parts of the body on electric instruments also
frequently produce appealing sounds. Using this acoustic signal for
one half of a stereo sound can be very interesting.

LIMITED WARRANTY

This product is warranted for one year from the date of original purchase against defects
in workmanship and materials. At the option of the distributor or manufacturer, parts
that prove defective will either be repaired or replaced or the whole product will be
replaced. The manufacturer and distributor(s) accept no responsibility for incidental or
consequential loss or damage from any cause whatsoever.

Service: Warranty and non-warranty service may be obtained from
your authorised C-ducer distributor or national service centre.

Distributor

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UK
Audio Marketing Group
2 High Street
HASLEMERE
GU27 2LY
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
www.c-ducer.com

USA
C-T Audio Systems Inc
119 High Shoals Ln.
Stateville
NC 28677
[phone]

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USER HANDBOOK

CONTENTS

Principle of operation, the C-ducer preamplifier

Care of your C-ducer, the C-ducer cable

C-ducer adhesive tape - IMPORTANT NOTES

APPLICATION NOTES

Acoustic stringed instruments

Piano & Harp

Drums & Percussion

Other Applications, Warranty & Service Information

The C-ducer tape

The C-ducer (Capacitive-trans-ducer) is a contact condenser
microphone. It is light in weight so as to minimize interference with
the vibration of the instrument to which it is attached, and it has a
phenomenal dynamic range (the transducer itself has a dynamic
capability of >155dB) and can handle the amplitudes within a bass
drum without distortion. The frequency response of the transducer is
an incredible 0.1Hz to 1MHz, although this is deliberately restricted
within the preamplifier to minimize induced noise and interference.

Two lengths of C-ducer tape are available, 3" (7.5cm) and 8" (20cm).
The shorter length is suitable for smaller instruments (violin, folk
harp, banjo etc), and the longer tape is designed for other acoustic
stringed instruments (double-bass, cello, acoustic guitar etc), drums

,

and piano.

There are two C-ducer systems for use on piano and they both use two
tapes; one has a mono output (the CP2/8), and the other has stereo
outputs (CPS/8). The tapes are applied in exactly the same position on
the piano in both cases (see Page 5).

The C-ducer Preamplifier

The C-ducer CP System uses a low-noise preamplifier which has been
integrated within the XLR-type connector. The output from this
connector is suited to any standard 600 ohm balanced, microphone­level input and is wired with:

Pin 1 - Ground
Pin 2 - Signal
Pin 3 - Return

It is also possible to connect the output from the phantom-power
supply unbalanced by using Pin 2 (live) and Pin 1 (Ground) leaving Pin
3 disconnected.

Note: The C-ducer CP Series should not be powered with anything
other than a DIN45596 48V phantom-power supply.

predominantly bass notes, and the tape beneath the treble string
bridge will carry mainly treble notes. In all cases mount the tapes
between the soundboard struts and start experimentation from a
position of around 18" (45cm) in from the edge of the soundboard. If
an unnatural degree of treble 'bite' is required interesting effects can
be obtained by mounting one of the tapes directly onto the metal harp
on the inside of the piano.

Adhesive cable clips should be used if problems are found attaching
the tapes securely, since the plastic moulding at the cable end of the
tape must not be allowed to rattle or move and should be flat against
the soundboard. Under no circumstances should any kind of tape be
applied to the outer (brown) surface of the C-ducer tape.

Drums & Percussion: There is a complete range of C-ducer systems
for drums and percussion, including the C-ducer Drum Wizard which
incorporates MIDI and Trigger outputs as well as balanced and
unbalanced audio. Detailed information is available within a separate
Application Note for these uses.

Latin Percussion: The C-

POSITION FOR BONGOS

ducer CPS/8 produces
excellent results when used on
Latin drums such as Bongos
and Congas.

Two tape positions are
suitable: wrapped inside the

POSITION FOR CONGAS

lower rim of the drum
(particularly suited to Congas
and Timbales) or wrapped
around the outer, upper rim
(particularly recommended
for use on Bongos).
Experimentation is

TIMBALES

recommended for optimum
performance.

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