Drawmer S2 User Manual

DRAWMER

Dual Channel

Vacuum Tube Compressor

OPERATOR’S MANUAL

Warranty Safety Consideration

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Introduction Installation Audio Connections Power Connection

Chapter 2 - Control Description

Control Description Quick Setup Procedure

Chapter 3 - General Information

If a fault develops Contacting Drawmer Specification Block Diagram Session Recall Sheet

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

CONTENTS

This manual is copyrighted © 2008 by Drawmer Electronics Ltd. With all rights reserved. Under copyright laws, no part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, stored in a retrieval system or translated into any language in any form by any means, mechanical, optical, electronic, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of Drawmer Electronics Ltd.

ONE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

Drawmer Electronics Ltd., warrants the Drawmer S2 Dual Channel Vacuum Tube Compressor to conform substantially to the specifications of this manual for a period of one year from the original date of purchase when used in accordance with the specifications detailed in this manual. In the case of a valid warranty claim, your sole and exclusive remedy and Drawmer’s entire liability under any theory of liability will be to, at Drawmer’s discretion, repair or replace the product without charge, or, if not possible, to refund the purchase price to you. This warranty is not transferable. It applies only to the original purchaser of the product.

For warranty service please call your local Drawmer dealer. Alternatively call Drawmer Electronics Ltd. at +44 (0)1709

527574. Then ship the defective product, with transportation and insurance charges prepaid, to Drawmer Electronics Ltd., Coleman Street, Parkgate, Rotherham, S62 6EL UK. Write the RA number in large letters in a prominent position on the shipping box. Enclose your name, address, telephone number, copy of the original sales invoice and a detailed description of the problem. Drawmer will not accept responsibility for loss or damage during transit.

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

REPLACE THE MAINS FUSE ONL Y WITH

A FUSE THAT CONFORMS TO IEC127-2.

250 VOLT WORKING, TIME DELAY TYPE

RATED AT 230V=T500mA and 115V=T1Amp.

DRAWMER

Dual Channel

V acuum T ube Compressor

CAUTION - MAINS FUSE

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE

AND BODY SIZE OF 20mm x 5mm.

THE MAINS INPUT FUSE MUST BE

This warranty is void if the product has been damaged by misuse, modification or unauthorised repair.

THIS WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, EXPRESSED, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY. DRAWMER MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTY EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT . PURCHASER’S SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY UNDER THIS WARRANTY SHALL BE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT AS SPECIFIED HEREIN.

IN NO EVENT WILL DRA WMER ELECTRONICS LTD. BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM ANY DEFECT IN THE PRODUCT, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW , DAMAGE FOR PERSONAL INJURY, EVEN IF DRAWMER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Some states and specific countries do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties or limitations on how long an implied warranty may last, so the above limitations may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights. You may have additional rights that vary from state to state, and country to country.

CAUTION - MAINS CABLE

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CHANGE

OR TAMPER WITH THE

SUPPLIED MAINS CABLE.

CAUTION - SERVICING

DO NOT PERFORM ANY SERVICING.

REFER ALL SERVICING TO QUALIFIED

SERVICE PERSONNEL.

WARNING

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR

ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT EXPOSE

THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

In the interests of product development, Drawmer reserve the right to modify or

improve specifications of this product at any time, without prior notice.

DRAWMER S2 OPERATOR’S MANUAL

CHAPTER 1

DRAWMER

DUAL CHANNEL VACUUM TUBE COMPRESSOR

INTRODUCTION

The new S2 Signature Series Dual Channel Tube Compressor is the latest product to emerge from Ivor Drawmer’s high end designs and offers an ‘all tube - no technical compromise’ circuit using only the highest grade components. The S2 features a host of new creative processing possibilities never before found in an all analogue dynamics package.

BIG- Retains bass frequencies and minimizes undesirable ‘pumping’ by rolling off the detection signal at 75, 125 or 250Hz (user switchable). A fully variable level control allows for the desired amount of Big processing and an in/out switch provides the option to remove from the signal path for A/B comparison.

BRIGHT- A dynamic high frequency enhancer to keep compressed audio sounding fresh and bright with continuously variable frequency control (500Hz to 20kHz) and amount of dynamic enhancement.

DRY- Mixes user defined amount of ‘uncompressed’ signal with the compressed signal to create ‘parallel compression effect’ without the need for external mixing devices.

• 2 CHANNEL SOFT-KNEE TUBE COMPRESSOR

• FULL Y BALANCED INTERNAL SIGNAL P A TH

• CLASS A DESIGN

• ISOLA TION TRANSFORMERS IN AND OUT

• ‘ALL TUBE’ CIRCUIT DESIGN

• V ARIABLE ATTACK AND RELEASE WITH OPTIONAL ‘PROGRAMME DEPENDENT’ AUTO RELEASE OPERATION

• DUAL MONO OR STEREO LINK OPERA TION

• SWITCHABLE ‘PEAK’ OR ‘VU’ METERING TO DISPLA Y TRANSIENTS

• SWITCHABLE +10dB OR +20dB METER RE-SCALE MODES

• 8 SEGMENT GAIN REDUCTION METERING

• ‘V ARIABLE-BIG’ MODE FOR RET AINING LOW FREQUENCIES

• ‘VARIABLE-AIR’ MODE FOR ENHANCING HIGH FREQUENCIES

• ‘DRY’ MIX MODE FOR ‘P ARALLEL COMPRESSION EFFECT’

• BALANCED XLR INPUTS/OUTPUTS

DRAWMER S2 OPERATOR’S MANUAL

INSTALLATION

The S2 is designed for standard 19" rack mounting and occupies 3U of rack space. Fibre or plastic washers may be used to prevent the front panel becoming marked by the mounting bolts. Always connect the mains earth to the unit.

Because the S2 contains six valves it will generate more heat than a simple solid state unit. Avoid mounting the unit directly above power amplifiers or power supplies that radiate significant amounts of heat. In addition it is advised that you leave at least 1U of space above to allow heat to dissipate. Alternatively, a fan should be fitted somewhere near to the rear of the unit to circulate cooler air and help expel any excess heat. (see fig. 1)

fig.1 RACK MOUNT POSITIONING

fig.2 TYPICAL S2 SETUP

DRAWMER S2 OPERATOR’S MANUAL

AUDIO CONNECTIONS

The inputs and outputs are electronically balanced on conventionally wired XLRs (pin 1 screen, pin 2 hot, pin 3 cold and XLR shell is connected to chassis). The operating level is nominally +4dBu. Balanced use is recommended.

fig.3 XLR WIRING

• Ground Loops: If ground loop problems are encountered, never disconnect the mains earth, but instead, try disconnecting the signal screen on one end of each of the cables connecting the outputs of the S2 to the patchbay . If such measures are necessary , balanced operation is recommended.

POWER CONNECTION

The unit will have been supplied with a power cable suitable for domestic power outlets in your country. For your own safety it is important that you use this cable. The unit should always be connected to the mains supply earth using this cable, and no other.

If for some reason the unit is to be used at a mains input operating voltage which is different to that as supplied, the following procedure must be carried out.

1: Disconnect the unit from the mains. 2: Remove the two screws holding the voltage selection cover-plate. 3: Remove the cover plate and slide the switch fully to its opposite end. 4: Rotate the cover plate one half turn (180 degrees) and refit the two screws. 5: Replace with a correctly rated fuse for the selected operation voltage in the IEC socket: 230V-T500mA and 115V-T1Amp 6: Re-connect to mains power source.

Never disconnect the earth

from the mains supply

• Interference: If the S2 is to be used where it maybe exposed to high levels of disturbance such as found close to a TV or radio transmitter, we advise that it is operated in a balanced configuration. The screens of the signal cables should be connected to the chassis connection on the XLR connector as opposed to connecting to pin1. The S2 conforms to the EMC standards.

fig.4 Altering the Voltage

DRAWMER S2 OPERATOR’S MANUAL

+ 9 hidden pages