OPTOGATE PB-05, PB-07 User Manual

User Manual for the Optogate Models PB-05 / PB-07

No time for manuals? No problem, this will take only 3 minutes of your
time to read it and you will have more fun and success with your new
Optogate device. The Optogates were designed for professional applications
and to be used by experienced sound engineers and technicians.

The Optogates work with 48V phantom power. Just switch on the 48V o n the
console an d the Optogate is active. The phantom power passes through the
Optogate and to the microphone. If you use dynamic mics you can "remote
control" the unit with the phantom power switch. The microphone is switched
on when the phantom power is switched off. Before turning on or off the
phantom power please mute the channel in order to prevent switching noise.

The PB-05 M and D models have a small bypass button on the top of the
unit which when pressed will pass audio uninterrupted. It is like a panic
button for the Artist. Make sure you switch it back when mute function is
desired. Or the Monitor engineer with out having to go on stage can switch
the phantom power off to that channel and then on again which will restore
the units function. The PB-05E however can not po wer condenser mics, only
dynamic mics and do not have a switch but they can be bypassed by turning
off phantom power to that channel.

You have already found 3 LED devices on one side, depending on what model
you choose. The middle device is a red status LED. It indicates if somebody is
in fr ont of the unit and the microphone is swi tched on. The outer LED’s are
the infrared transmitte r and the receiver. The transm itter will send 16 pulses
per second if the phantom power is swit ched on. The Optogate will switch the
mic on if there is any signal reflected from a surface back to the receiver.
The receiver uses a small code in order to reduce false triggering from
random infrared signals on the stage like par cans, moving lights etc.

The distance from the mic to the performer in which the unit opens and
closes is adjustable with the help of a 12-turn spindle potentiometer inside.
On all units the distance will increase by turning the pot to the Right for a
maximum distance of about 4 feet and will decrease the di stance by tu rning
the pot to the Left for a minimum of 2 inches. Please be aware that some
dark materials are not able to reflect infrared signals back very well, which in
turn might decrease the distan ce. Please experiment with the potentiometer
to fine-tune the distance together with the performer before using li ve. It
also wo uld be helpfu l to have your show li ghting active while adjusti ng. The
width of the sensor is about 15 degrees wide from the unit. The mic will be
switched off if the artist moves out of this angle.

When you tu rn the pot to the left eventually you will hear a light click of a
spring. You cannot overturn the pot. You are now at th e sho rtest distance
range. When you start to turn the pot clockwise, you will find that the
distance range will change very slowly i n the first few turns. After a few
turns, the distance will change more rapidly until you reach the maximum
range. If you turn the potentiometer clockwise (right) out of the

useable area, the mic will be switched on completely. If this
happens, just turn the pot slightly to the left until the Optogate
works again.

We suggest that the engineer work with each performer to explain the
operation of th e uni t a nd th en set the r ange o f th e Opt ogate to fi t hi s or her
mic technique and stage set-up. As a rule the closer the performer is to the
mic, the better the results will be due to eliminating the concert lighting
variables.

The Optogates PB-05M and PB-05D, work well with dynamic mics and
condenser mics up to 10 mA current draw. You may find out that the swi tch­off time of the indicator led can be a bit different from the real audio switch
time depending of the mic type. A small pwm routine in the Optogate is
responsible for it in order to prevent switching noise. The spindle pot will
adjust to a wide range of mics. The distance range of the Optogate can
change a bit when the ambient light changes. Like every other infrared
device on the market the Optogate units do not work correctly if direct
sunlight or other very high power infrared signals hits the sensor. That is in
the "nature" of the infrared technology due to the random high power
infrared spectrum in the sunlight. You can try it at home with any IR remote
control. No infrared sensor of CD-players, TV’s etc. will work in direct
sunlight. If direct sunlight hits the sensor of the Optogate the distance will
decrease until the mic will be switched off. The unit will work again if
somebody moves b etween the sun and the sensor . Normal ly you can use the
Optogates on almost eve ry open-air stage without any problems. It is always
a good idea to check the range of your Optogates when changing venues,
especially outdoors with direct sunlight.

Remember the PB-05 E is the same as the Pro except it is desi gned to only
work with Dynamic Microphones and does not have a bypass button.
Bypassing is accomplished by turning OFF the phantom power to that mic.