MINDPRINT En-Voice User Manual
ENGLISH
Bedienungsanleitung
MANUAL
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TUBE SAT COMPRESSIONINPUT GAIN OUTPUT LEVELINSTR. INPUT
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ANALOG IN
MIC IN
LINE IN
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INPUT
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FILTERSLOW
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MindPrint-EnVoice
ENGLISH
St.Wendel August 1998
Dear Recording Specialist,
Thank you and congratulations for selecting the MindPrint
®
EnVoiceTMas your tool of choice
in your quest for high-quality sound.
The EnVoice combines a high-quality microphone preamplifier,an equalizer and a tube compressor in a single device;
think of it as a complete outboard mixer channel strip.With the benefit of authentic tube tone,it will make your tracks
come alive,adding natural analog warmth to your recordings.With the addition of the optional digital interface,it will
fit right into your digital studio environment.
The engineers of the EnVoice development team are specialists with years of experience in the fields of tube,audio,
mixer and digital technology. These sound gurus have invested their full attention and energy to doing justice to the
needs and wishes of recording fanatics all over the world.
Modern recording equipment has achieved a very high standard over the last couple of years and prices have dropped
to nearly universally affordable levels.Unfortunately,the potential of this equipment is often undermined by the poor
audio quality of input signals,sadly inept converters and an absence of analog sound phenomena such as tape
saturation and tube warmth.
It is precisely these missing qualities and features that the EnVoice puts at your fingertips.To make the most of your
talents and recording equipment,all you need to do is exploit them.This is a classic case of technology driving
inspiration.You will be amazed at the difference:living,breathing analog warmth that will invigorate your recordings
and live performances.
Table of contents
1 Layout of the EnVoice 7
1.1 Input Section 7
1.2 Parametric Equalizer 7
1.3 Tube Compressor 7
1.4 Output Section 8
2 Controls 8
2.1 Input Section 8
2.2 Bass Equalizer 9
2.3 Mid Equalizer 9
2.4 Hi Equalizer 9
2.5 Tube Compressor 9
2.6 Output Section 10
2.7 Tubes and Mains Switch 10
3 Connections 10
3.1 Microphone Input 10
3.2 Line Input 10
3.3 Line Output 10
3.4 Instrument Input 11
3.5 Digital Interface 11
3.6 AC Power 11
4 Applications 11
4.1 The Purpose of the EnVoice 11
4.2 The EnVoice in Recording Situations 12
4.3 The EnVoice in Post-processing Applications 12
4.4 Versatile Connections for Recording and Processing 13
4.5 The EnVoice in Live Applications 13
5 Tips and Tricks 13
6 Technical Data 14
7 Block Diagram 25
MindPrint-EnVoice
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0
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2
4
1
7
8
TUBE
SAT
2.5
BASS EQ
2062300
80
35
250
0
Hz dB
.1
1.5
11
2
kHz
7
3.5
.5
.15
3
.4
Q
2
.6
0
dB
.2
HI EQ
1.6
4
22
5
2.5
15
kHz dB
0
8
6.5
MID EQ
TUBE SAT COMPRESSIONINPUT GAIN OUTPUT LEVELINSTR. INPUT
BASS CUT
OFF50 Hz
100 Hz
DIGITAL IN
ANALOG IN
MIC IN
LINE IN
OUTPUT
INPUT
ON ON ON
22 16 12 10 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 dB
FILTERSLOW
ON
.65
ONON
EFFECTS
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0
3
10
2
4
1
9
6
7
8
22 0 2 4 6 8 dB16 12 10 6 4 2
THRESHOLD dB
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2
28
8
25
16
1
15 15 15 15 15 15
5
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2
4
1
6
7
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:1.2
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:3.5
:5
:25
:8
ON
MindPrint-EnVoice
ENGLISH
1.Layout of the EnVoice
1.1 Input Section
The EnVoice features a complete input section consisting of a line input designed for
standard studio levels,an instrument input,and a microphone input with switchable
phantom power for condenser microphones.You can also retrofit a digital input by
installing the DI-MOD expansion module.
Use the Gain control to adjust the input level.The switchable input/output level display
gives you a visual reference which will help you dial in suitable settings.On the one hand,
you want the input signal to be as high as possible,on the other,it should not exceed + 8
dB.Please make sure that the top segment (red) of the LED meter does not illuminate even
at signal peaks.
In the signal path,the input stage is immediately followed by a bass cut filter.It lets you
choose a limiting frequency of either 50 or 100 Hz to suppress low-frequency rumble,such
as the type produced by footsteps on stage or in the studio.
1.2 Parametric Equalizer
The equalizer consists of one semi-parametric band each for bass and treble as well as
one fully parametric band for mids. All three bands were implemented in the form of bell
filters. These filters let you boost or cut frequencies by 15 dB.Every band can be activated
separately. When you switch a band on, its corresponding Status LED lights up.
The center frequency of the lowest equalizer band is infinitely variable from 20 to 300 Hz.
You can't change the bandwidth—commonly called Quality or Q-factor—default;
however,when you cut the frequency band,the filter sweep is set to a lower value. In
practice,you'll find that this feature will give you excellent results.What this means is
that when you tweak the bass for a bigger bottom end,you will boost a broader band of
frequencies.Conversely,when you are attempting to squelch background noise such as 50Hz AC hum,it will be suppressed in a very narrow band.
The Mid band gives you a variable frequency between 100 Hz and 11 kHz,extending well
into the bass and high ranges.This EQ is your universal sound-sculpting tool.Its variable
bandwidth lets you dial in a Q-factor between 0.15 and 3 to target cuts within a narrow
band or boost frequencies on a broader scale.
The Hi band covers a range of 1.6 to 22 kHz.When you dial in anything over 20 kHz,the
center frequency of the filter lies outside of the range of human hearing.Its response is
then similar to that of shelving filter,however,and does not influence the mids as
drastically. The Q-factor or quality of the Hi frequency band is a default setting and
remains the same regardless whether you boost or cut frequencies.
1.3 Tube Compressor
The compressor manipulates signals subtly.Although unobtrusive,you'll find it delivers
impressive sounds.Powered by a high-quality THAT-VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplifier)
tuned to interact with the tube,it generates uncolored compression as well as the typical
overtone structure that you would expect from a premium tube device.
The compressor kicks in at values above the setting determined by the Threshold knob.
Adjust the compression ratio via the Compression knob.Every signal that exceeds the
threshold value is dampened at the ratio that you determine.This type of attenuation is
generally called gain reduction;its amount is displayed in a 12-segment LED ladder
located above the compressor controls.
When you use the compressor to shape signals,signals louder than the threshold point
become quieter than they were,while softer signals,i.e.signals below the threshold
point,remain unprocessed.After you have compressed a signal,you can tweak the level
so that the louder parts again achieve their original level.The volume of the softer parts
will also be amplified,making the entire track seem louder.Furthermore,the variation
between loud and soft parts will be reduced,so that you achieve a more balanced,smooth
soundscape.Vocal tracks are inherently extremely dynamic;you'll find,in most cases,that
these won't integrate perfectly into the mix until you have compressed them.
Compression Characteristic
Compression is important,but you want it to be inconspicuous rather than obvious.For
this reason the EnVoice employs "soft-knee" compession.With this characteristic,the
compression rate is increased continuously until it is within the range of the threshold
value.The signal level above this value is then compressed at the ratio that you
determined.What this means is that even heavily compressed signals are not "crushed"
into submission,but gently "squeezed" when the signal exceeds the threshold.
In conventional compressors,most problems result from setting the compression rates
improperly. To avoid such problems,the EnVoice has been equipped with an automatic rate
control that is program-dependent. The attack and release times chosen by our engineers
are fast enough to handle even percussive material.But there may be times when you
want the compressor to use slower attack and release rates so as to allow the initial
characteristic attack transients of the instruments to come through unaltered to achieve a
more natural sound.In this case simply press the Slow button,and the EnVoice will
automatically activate a lengthier attack and release.
Soft Knee Characteristic
Pressing the Filter button activates frequency-dependent compression,which is optimized
for vocals.With the button pressed in,bass-heavy signals no longer cause the compressor
to over-react. The result:silky,shimmering highs and improved treble response.For best
results,experiment,especially with acoustic instruments!
The "soul" of the compressor is definitely the tube,which has a considerable influence on
its sound.Use the Tube Sat knob to dial in variable saturation levels. This knob gives you
precise control over the amount of overtones that the tube generates,from few overtones
at one extreme to clearly audible distortion at the other,and subtle increases possible all
along the way.Normally,if you compress a signal heavily,its level is decreased,and the
Output
Input
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Threshold
Compression
Output
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normal
Soft Knee Characteristic
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