dbx Pro 286A User Manual

8760 S. Sandy Pkwy.

Sandy, Utah 84070

Phone [phone]

Fax [phone]

Int’l Fax [phone]

[e-mail]

http://www.dbxpro.com

A Harman International Company

Mic Preamp/

• New dbx standard internal power supply

• Frequency control for De-Esser

• Expanded meter to show heavy De-Essing

• Above/Below threshold indicator for gate

• +48VDC Phantom Power

• Precision detented controls

18-1666-B 10/98

The dbx 286A’s Mic Preamp and five processors can be used independently or in any combination. Why mic up

vocals and instruments through a noisy, blurry mixer? The dbx 286A’s sonically pristine Mic Preamp has all the fea-

tures you need, including wide-ranging input gain control, switchable 48V phantom power and an 80Hz high-pass

filter. Use the 286A’s newly designed and patented OverEasy® Compressor to transparently smooth out uneven

acoustic tracks or deliver that classic “in your face” rock vocal. Take out vocal sibilance and high frequency distor-

tion in cymbals with the 286A’s frequency tunable De-Esser. Fine-tune the Enhancer’s HF Detail control to add

sparkle and crispness to tracks. LF Detail control adds fullness and depth to vocals and bass instruments while simul-

taneously cleaning up muddy low midrange frequencies. And, the Expander/Gate’s separate threshold and ratio con-

trols allow you to subtly reduce headphone leakage or radically gate noisy guitar amps.

The dbx 286A’s full complement of metering and status LEDs visually guide you to achieving the right sound. The

floating balanced XLR mic input accepts balanced or unbalanced inputs. An additional 1⁄4" TRS phone jack can

accept balanced/ unbalanced line signals to process live electronic instruments or pre-recorded tracks at mixdown.

An insert jack between the 286A’s Mic Preamp and signal processing sections can be used to “loop out” to external

processors (such as EQ) or to mix the Mic Preamp’s signal out to an external destination.

The cost and hassle of patching together multiple processors for use on one track can be frustrating. The dbx 286A

gives you all the tools you’ll need in one box, with the shortest signal path to help keep your music sounding clean.

286A

0

-10 +5

THRESHOLD

2:1

1.5:1 5:1

-15

-30 -5
8

7

5

46

3

2

8

7

5

46

3

2

dB

8

7

5

46

3

2

4k

1k 8k

Processor

+10

dB

GAIN

-30

- CLIP+

10:1

RATIO

MIN

+15

dBu

THRESHOLD

OFF

9

10

HF DETAIL

OFF

1

9

10

LF DETAIL

OFF

1

16963

9

10

THRESHOLD

OFF

1

10k

Hz

FREQUENCY

800

OUTPUT

EXPANDER/GATE

®

GAIN REDUCTION dB

8

7

5

46

3

2

8

7

5

46

3

2

BYPASS

PROCESS

(80Hz)

HIGHPASS

48V

POWER

PHANTOM

LEVEL (dBu)

+30

+15 +40

20 15 12

9

10

COMPRESSOR DE-ESSER ENHANCER

DENSITY

OFF

1

9

10

OFF

1

DRIVE

0 CLIP 30 25

MIC PREAMP

-20 -10

+60

dB

GAIN

+10

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

dbx Professional Products • 8760 S. Sandy Pkwy. • Sandy, Utah 84070

Phone [phone] • Fax [phone] • Int’l Fax [phone]

[e-mail] • http://www.dbxpro.com

The microphone processor shall have one channel
with an audio frequency response of 20Hz —
20kHz +0.5, -0.5dB, an electronically floating bal­anced XLR microphone input with an impedance
of not less than 1.5kΩ and with a maximum input
level of not less than 0.2Vrms. The unit shall also
have an electronically floating balanced 1⁄4" TRS
line level input with an impedance of not less than
20kΩ and with a maximum input level of +21dBu.
The impedance of the unbalanced 1⁄4" TRS output
shall be no more than 100Ω with a maximum out­put level of not less than +21dBu. Total harmonic
distortion shall typically be no more than 0.08% in
operation with all processing controls set to Off.
Dynamic range shall typically be 105dB with pro­cessing engaged. Output level shall be adjustable
from -30dB to +l0dB via a front panel gain control.
A1⁄4" TRS insert jack with an input impedance of
not less than 5kΩ and maximum level of not less
than +21dBu and an output impedance of not more
than 100Ω and a maximum output level of not less
than +21dBu shall be accessible at the rear panel.
The insert shall be positioned in the signal path
between the output of the mic preamplifier and the
input to the processing section. The unit will pro­vide up to six signal processing functions simulta­neously, including: preamplification, compression,
de-essing, high spectral enhancement, low spectral enhancement and downward expansion/gating. The compression circuitry shall employ a hybrid
feed-back, feed-forward design and a soft knee compression curve. The microphone processor shall have a gain control ranging from +l0dB to +60dB
for Mic In and -20dB to +30dB for Line In, a phantom power switch which activates the +48VDC phantom power circuit, a High Pass Filter switch
which activates a third order high pass filter with a 3dB corner frequency of 80Hz and a Process Bypass switch, which bypasses any subsequent dynam­ics processing in the unit. The processing section shall contain the following controls: Compressor Drive, Compressor Density, De-Esser Frequency,
De-Esser Threshold, LF Detail, HF Detail, Expander/ Gate Threshold, Expansion Ratio and Output Gain. The following LEDs for metering and sta­tus indication shall exist on the unit: Input Level (3 LEDS), Input Clip, Phantom Power, High Pass Filter, Process Bypass, Compressor Gain Reduction
(8 LEDs), De-esser (2 LEDs), Expander/Gate Threshold (2 LEDs), Output Clip. The power requirement shall be 100VAC 50/60Hz, 120VAC 60Hz for
domestic or 230VAC 50/60Hz for Europe. Dimensions shall be 1.75" x 19" x 4" (4.45cm x 48 .2cm x 10.16cm), The net weight shall be 4.68 lbs/2.13
Kgs and the shipping weight shall be 6.54 lbs/2.97 Kgs. The unit shall be a dbx 286A Mic Preamp/Processor.

dbx engineers are constantly working to improve the quality of our products. Specifications are, therefore subject to change without notice.

286A

MIC INPUT
Impedance
Maximum Level
Gain Adjustment Range
Phantom Power
CMRR

LINE INPUT
Impedance
Maximum Level
Gain Adjustment Range
CMRR

INSERT(4” TRS phone)
Ring :Impedance
Maximum Level
Tip: Impedance
Maximum Level
Noise
Distortion

LINE OUTPUT (4” TRS phone)
Impedance
Maximum Level
Gain Adjustment Range
Noise

Frequency Response
Distortion

COMPRESSOR
Threshold Range
Threshold Characteristics
Compression Ratio

Maximum Compression
Attack Time
Release Time

Distortion

DE-ESSER
Characteristic
Frequency Range
Release Time

ENHANCER
HF Detail Characteristic

LF detail Characteristic

EXPANDER/GATE
Threshold Range
Expansion Ratio
Maximum Depth
Attack TIme

Release TIme

DYNAMIC RANGE

Power Requirements
Operating Voltage

Operating Temperature

Dimensions

Weight

Floating balanced, Pin 2 Hot

1.75kΩ

0.2Vrms
+10dB to +60dB
+48VDC
>40dB, typically 55dB

Floating balanced, TIP Hot
30kΩ unbalanced, 60kΩ balanced
>+21dBu, balanced or unbalanced

-20dB to +30 dB
>40dB, typically 55dB

Normalled; tip is Send, ring is Return
>5kΩ
>+21dBu
100Ω
>+21dBu, >+20dBm (600Ω load)
<-84dBu, unweighted (20Hz-20kHz);
<0.01% THD, 20Hz-20kHz, +10dBu

Balanced/Unbalanced
100Ω unbalanced, 200Ω balanced
>+21dBu, >+20dBm (600Ω load)

-30dB to +10dB
<-80dBu (typically -85dBu, unweight­ed (20Hz-20kHz);
20Hz to 20kHz, +0.5, -0.5dB
<0.08%THD, 20Hz-20kHz, +10dBu,
all Processing Controls OFF

-40dBu to +20dBu
OverEasy®
>4:1 For input levels beyond 20dB
above threshold
30dB
Program-Dependent; adjustable
Program-Dependent; adjustable

Typically <0.05%THD, 20Hz­20kHz, 15dB G/R, +10dBu
Output, DENSITY @ 0

WIdeband Gain Reduction
800Hz to 10kHz High Pass,
12dB/octave Program­Dependent; approximately
1mS/dB

Program-controlled shelving
equalizer, approximately 15dB
maximum HF boost
Bell-shaped boost @ 80Hz, bell­shaped cut @250Hz, ratio is
approximately 2:1

OFF to +15dBu
Adjustable 1.5:1 to 10:1
>50dB
Program-Dependent, approxi­mately 2mS
Program-Dependent, approxi­amtely 10mS/dB
Typically 105dB

15 Watts
DO: 120VAC 60Hz, 100VAC
50/60Hz; EU: 230VAC 50/60Hz
0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F)

1.75" x 5.75" x 19" (4.5cm x

14.6cm x 48.5cm)
Net Weight: 4.68 lbs/2.13 Kgs
Shipping Weight: 6.54 lbs/2.97
Kgs

MIC PREAMP / PROCESSOR

+30

+15 +40

+10

+60

dB

GAIN

85-2575-X3 286A buyoff (1-14-98)

48V

HIGHPASS

PHANTOM

LEVEL (dBu)

0 CLIP 30 25

-20 -10

MIC PREAMP

POWER

(80Hz)

PROCESS

BYPASS

46

3

2

1
OFF

DRIVE

5

5

46

7

3

7

8

2

8

9

1

10

OFF

GAIN REDUCTION dB

9

20 15 12

10

DENSITY

COMPRESSOR DE-ESSER ENHANCER

4k

1k 8k

800

Hz

FREQUENCY

3

2

1
OFF

10k

5

46

10

THRESHOLD

5

5

-15

dBu

1.5:1 5:1

+15

EXPANDER/GATE

2:1

MIN

RATIO

46

7

8

2

dB

9

16963

46

3

7

3

7

8

1

9

OFF

10

LF DETAIL

-30 -5

2

8

1

9

OFF

10

OFF

HF DETAIL

THRESHOLD

10:1

THRESHOLD

- CLIP+

0

-10 +5

-30

dB

GAIN

OUTPUT

286A

Mic Preamp/

+10

Processor

15 WATTS

PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS
A HARMAN INTERNATIONAL
COMPANY
MODEL 286A

120V 60Hz

MIC PREAMP/PROCESSOR

100V 50/60Hz

#85-3688-A 286A REAR ART (10-16-96)

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

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

MANUFACTURED UNDER ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
U.S. PATENTS:4,234,804 4,316,107 4,329,598 4,331,931 4,403,199
4,409,500 4,425,551 4,434,380 4,454,433 4,471,324 4,473,793 5,444,788

TIP = OUT (286A PREAMP OUT)

TIP = SEND (286A PREAMP OUT TO EFFECTS)
RING = RETURN (FROM EFFECTS TO 286A)

INSERT

MONO

PLUG

286A PREAMP OUT (MULT)

STEREO

PLUG

FOR USE AS AN EFFECTS LOOP

TIP = PIN 2 = +

RING = PIN 3 = -

SLEEVE = PIN 1 =

OUTPUT MIC INPUTLINE INPUTINSERT

®

A Harman International Company