dbx MC6 User Manual

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WARNING

FOR YOUR PROTECTION, PLEASE READ THE
FOLLOWING:

WATER AND MOISTURE: Appliance should not be used near water (e.g. near a

bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a wet basement, or near a swimming
pool, etc). Care should be taken so that objects do not fall and liquids are not spilled
into the enclosure through openings.

POWER SOURCES: The appliance should be connected to a power supply only of
the type described in the operating instructions or as marked on the appliance.

GROUNDING OR POLARIZATION: Precautions should be taken so that the
grounding or polarization means of an appliance is not defeated.

POWER CORD PROTECTION: Power supply cords should be routed so that they are
not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against them, paying
particular attention to cords at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where
they exit from the appliance.

SERVICING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, the user should not attempt
to service the appliance beyond that described in the operating instructions. All other
servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel.

FOR UNITS EQUIPPED WITH EXTERNALLY ACCESSIBLE FUSE
RECEPTACLE: Replace fuse with same type and rating only.

The symbols shown above are internationally accepted symbols that
warn of potential hazards with electrical products. The lightning flash
with arrowpoint in an equilateral triangle means that there are
dangerous voltages present within the unit. The exclamation point in
an equilateral triangle indicates that it is necessary for the user to refer
to the ownerÕs manual.

These symbols warn that there are no user serviceable parts inside
the unit. Do not open the unit. Do not attempt to service the unit your­self. Refer all servicing to qualified personnel. Opening the chassis
for any reason will void the manufacturerÕs warranty. Do not get the
unit wet. If liquid is spilled on the unit, shut it off immediately and take
it to a dealer for service. Disconnect the unit during storms to prevent
damage.

ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY

This unit conforms to the Product Specifications noted on the Declaration of
Conformity. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

¥ this device may not cause harmful interference, and
¥ this device must accept any interference received, including inter-

ference that may cause undesired operation. Operation of this unit
within significant electromagnetic fields should be avoided.

DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

ManufacturerÕs Name: dbx Professional Products
ManufacturerÕs Address: 8760 S. Sandy Parkway

Sandy, Utah 84070, USA

declares that the product: dbx MC6 Mini-Compª

Product Options: Requires a Class II power adapter that

conforms to the requirements of EN60065,
EN60742, or equivalent.

conforms to the following product specifications:

Safety: EN 60065 (1993)

IEC 65 (1987) with Amendments 1, 2, 3

EMC: EN 55013 (1990)

EN 55020 (1991)

Supplementary Information:
The product herewith complies with the requirements of the EMC Directive
89/336/EEC (1989), as amended by directive 93/68/EEC (1993).

dbx Professional Products
Vice President of Engineering
8760 S. Sandy Parkway
Sandy, Utah 84070, USA
August 1,1997

European Contact: Your Local dbx Sales and Service Office or

International Sales Office
68 Sheila Lane
Valparaiso, Indiana
46383, USA
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

ATTENTION: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE - NE PAS OUVRIR
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC

SHOCK DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE

DO NOT OPEN

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MANUAL CONTENTS

MC6 FRONT PANEL 2

MC6 REAR PANEL 6

CONNECTING THE MC6 TO YOUR SYSTEM 7

APPLICATIONS 8

FACTORY SERVICE / WARRANTY 10

SPECIFICATIONS 11

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Congratulations on choosing the dbx MC6 Mini-Comp™ Compressor.The MC6 provides tradi­tional dbx sonic quality and performance for the working musician, DJ, studio operator or
anyone who needs a friendly compressor to achieve professional quality compression quickly
and easily.We’re sure you’ll agree that the MC6 Mini-Comp is the most affordable professional
quality stereo compressor on the market today.We recommend that you take a moment and
read through the manual as it provides information that will assist you in using your unit to its
fullest potential.To help you use the MC6 in any environment,we uncluded four rubber feet
for table-top use, and an attachable spring steel clip for securing the MC6 to a guitar amp
handle.

The MC6 Mini-Comp™ Compressor is packed with just the right features to effectively r educe
and control the dynamic range of your audio,add punch to flabby ,loose sounds,or add sustain
to instruments. The MC6 begins with the classic dbx compression made famous by our 160
line of compressors. But there's more.The MC6 operates in stereo mode or in mono mode,
with the mono input being fed to both channels.Stereo signals are compressed using our True
RMS Power Summing™ algorithm,giving a perfect stereo image every time. With True RMS
Power Summing,the detectors are linked and respond to the sum of the energy (power) of
each channel’s signal.This sum of energies will accurately track over a wide dynamic range
providing excellent response at low or high signal levels. Using two RMS detector s eliminates
inaccurate level detection due to phase cancellation that is inherent in inferior compressor
designs.True RMS Power Summing accurately models the response of human hearing, making
compression and limiting sound the way it should.

The MC6 features two Auto compression modes,one optimized for vocals and the other for
instruments such as an electric guitar.For maximum flexibility, we also scaled the program­dependent Attack and Release controls with dbx's new AutoDynamic™ circuitr y, so that the
MC6's full range of controls produce voicings that extend from slow leveling to aggressive
peak limiting.

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MC6 FRONT PANEL

GAIN REDUCTION (dB) METER:

This meter indicates the amount of attenuation of the input signal by the MC6's Compressor,
instantaneously displaying the amount of gain reduction achieved.The meter is always active,
even when the MC6 is in BYPASS mode.

INPUT/OUTPUT LEVEL METER:

This 8-stage meter indicates,in dB,how far the input or output signal is below clipping or, in
other words, headroom.To maximize the signal-to-noise ratio (which results in the cleanest
signal) it is desireable to run your input and output levels “hot”enough that the -3dB (red) LED
just flickers on dur ing the highest expected peak levels.If the -3dB LED stays on too much,
clipping is occurring and will audibly degrade the sound quality. In this case, turn down the
output level of the device feeding the input of the MC6. When the I/O METER switch is
engaged (in),the INPUT LED lights and the meter is displaying the input signal.When the I/O
METER switch is out,the input LED is off and the meter is displaying the output signal.

THRESHOLD CONTROL and LEDs (BELOW/OVEREASY/ABOVE):

Adjust this slider left to right to set the threshold of compression. Sliding to the left sets a
lower compression threshold and therefore results in more compression for a given signal
level.In hard knee mode the threshold of compression is the point at which the compressor
begins to compress the dynamic range of the signal. In OverEasy mode, the threshold of
compression is roughly the middle of the OverEasy range.

The three THRESHOLD LEDs indicate the relationship of the input signal level to the threshold
of compression.In hard knee mode,the green LED lights when the signal is BELOW threshold,
the red LED lights when the signal is above threshold,and the yellow LED does not light.In
OverEasy mode,the green LED lights when the signal is BELOW the OverEasy region,the red
LED lights when the signal is above the OverEasy region,and the yellow LED lights when the
OVEREASY switch is enga ged and the input signal is in the OverEasy range.See Figures 1 and
2 on the next page.

The MC6's OverEasy compression permits extremely smooth,natural sounding compression,
without artifacts, due to the gradual change of compression around the threshold. With
OverEasy compression,input signals begin to gradually activate the MC6's internal gain change
circuitry as they approach the THRESHOLD reference level. They do not get fully processed
by the RATIO, ATTACK and RELEASE controls until they have passed somewhat above the
THRESHOLD reference level. As the signal level passes the THRESHOLD level, processing
increases until it is fully processed to the extent determined by the control settings.

In hard knee mode,(OverEasy inactive) the MC6 can provide abrupt compression effects as
well as hard-limiting applications.Note that when in hard knee mode the yellow OverEasy LED
will not light as the input signal passes across the threshold. The signal is either being
compressed (over threshold) or it is not being compressed (under threshold).