Sound Performance Lab 9631 User Manual

Manual

Digital Harmonics Processor

Spectralizer

Model 9631

SOUND PERFORMANCE LAB

by Hermann Gier and Paul White
Version 2.2 – 1/1999

The information in this document has been
carefully verified and is assumed to be correct.
However Sound Performance Laboratory (SPL)
reserves the right to modify the product
described in this manual at any time. Changes
without notice. This document is the property of
SPL and may not be copied or reproduced in
any manner, in part or full without the autho­rization of SPL.

Limitations of Liability:
In no event will SPL be liable for any damages,
including loss of data, lost profits, cost of cover
or other special, incidental, consequential or
indirect damages arising from the use of the
unit, however caused and on any theory of liabi­lity. This limitation will apply even if SPL or an
authorized dealer has been advised of the
possibility of such damage.

SPL electronics GmbH

P.O. Box 12 27

D- 41368 Niederkruechten, Germany

Phone: +49 - 21 63 / 9 83 40

Fax: +49 - 21 63 / 98 34 20

eMail: [e-mail]

www.spl-electronics.com

©

1999 SPL electronics GmbH. All Rights Reserved.

SPECTRALIZER

MODEL 9631

Manual

3

Spectralizer

Contents

Dear customer,
Thank you for the confidence you have shown towards SPL

electronics GmbH by purchasing the SPL S

PECTRALIZER. You have

decided to use a tool of high performance which sets you in the
position to have faster success and a better sound quality in
your music productions and pre-masterings.

As a typical SPL unit the S

PECTRALIZER combines exemplary

specifications and high manufacturing standard with excellent
sound quality to provide you a precious component for studio
and mastering purposes. Please read this manual carefully to
ensure you have all the information you need to use the
S

PECTRALIZER.

We wish you every success with the S

PECTRALIZER.

Your SOUND PERFORMANCE LAB-Team

I would like to start with my thanks to all our staff, who
created what is to be described here. Special thanks go to Jörg
Houpert, Klaus-Peter Webersinke and Andreas Skäbe from
Spectral Design, as well as Harald Obenland from Octum elec­tronics. The importance of their exceptional qualification and
talents cannot be overestimated.

Our products are often tested and compared in many publica­tions and by our customers themselfs and constantly valued
with best results. I would like to pass on this broad appreciation
to those, who deserve it – my excellent colleagues.

Hermann Gier

Foreword

Thanks

Foreword 3
Thanks 3
Introduction 4
Operation Safety 5
Connections, installing Updates 6
Quick Start 7
Flow Chart 7
Control Elements

ACTIVE 8
INPUT GAIN 8
FREQUENCY 9
MIX 9
2ND HARMONIC 9
3RD HARMONIC 10
DENSITY 11
LC-DISPLAY 11
SOLO 11
KICK 11
PRESETS 11
INFO (Hardware dialogue) 12

OUTPUT PPM 15
Specifications 16
Warranty 17

4

Spectralizer

SPL digital audio processors are designed in cooperation with
Spectral Design of Bremen, Germany, who are responsible for
the DSP programming.

Concept: The SPECTRALIZER is the first digital harmonics processor

employing a new process which allows you to re-synthesize
second and third harmonics separately, and with full control
over their amplitude.

The S

PECTRALIZER benefits from SPL's expertise in psycho-acou-

stic principles and is the ideal tool to improve the clarity, trans­parency and intelligibility of any signal in the digital domain.

A single instrument or vocal gains better penetration within a
mix, while complete mixes benefit from improved subjective
loudness without a measurable change in levels.

While developing the DSP-program, a strong emphasis was
placed on achieving warm and smooth sounding harmonic re­synthesis. The digital domain tends to be susceptible to “sharp­ness” at the HF end of the spectrum, which made the design of
the S

PECTRALIZER all the more demanding. The result is a tool able

to increase brightness and detail without adding harshness or
sounding fatiguing.

In comparison to ostensibly similar analogue systems, the
S

PECTRALIZER does not produce any phase deterioration, nor

introduce unmusical intermodulation products.

Operation: The SPECTRALIZER is fitted with six encoder controls,

and the actual parameters values are shown in the LCD
window. I

NPUT GAIN sets the overall input level with gain adjust-

ment available from -20dB to +6dB, while the starting
frequency for the re-synthesis of the harmonics is set using the
F

REQUENCY control. This functions as a high-pass filter adjustable

over the range 1kHz to 7kHz in 500Hz steps; signals with a
frequency lower than that selected using the F

REQUENCY control

remain unaffected. The D

ENSITY control offers a choice of six

settings to determine the amplitude envelope of the added
harmonics and works rather like a digital compressor to
increase the density of the re-synthesized harmonics – which
makes them more prominent. The 2

ND and 3RD HARMONIC

controls set the relative levels of the re-synthesized harmonics
while the M

IX control defines the balance between the new

harmonics and the original signal.

The SPECTRALIZER has three switch functions: S

OLO mutes the

original input signal so that the added harmonics can be heard
in isolation while K

ICK adds a greater proportion of harmonics

to transients (attack parts of the signal).

The ACTIVE button switches the SPECTRALIZER in and out of
operation; when connected via AES/EBU, a relay-operated
hard bypass switches the digital input directly to the output.
Signal flow remains uninterrupted, even if the mains power is
switched off.

The software bypass function compensates for the inevitable
(but very short!), digital domain processing delay so as to avoid

Introduction

Re-synthesizing second and
third harmonics separately

Improving clarity, intelligibi­lity and depth without
introducing harshness

Warm and smooth sounding
harmonic re-synthesis

Easy and intuitive
operation

5

Spectralizer

Operation Safety

the small timing glitches that would otherwise occur when
switching the process in and out. Up to 99 presets can be stored
and changed using a MIDI program change command.

Display: The SPECTRALIZER is equipped with two PPM-meters

that feature high resolution in the important region immedia­tely before 0 dB. Clip-LEDs indicate digital clipping, while the first
LED of each PPM-meter functions as a signal present indicator
to confirm that a digital signal is present at the input.

The philosophy behind the digital audio processors is that
they are designed to be operated like analogue units; there is
only one I

NFO menu but no multi-function controls. The LCD

readout simply shows the current encoder positions and the
preset number. The encoders are built without clicks or detents,
so they feel like analogue pots. Our DSP platform uses two
Motorola 56002 DSPs running at 66MHz. This enormous
computational power guarantees real-time operation where
sophisticated DSP algorithms will not be restricted by resource
limitations. The general concept is that each digital processor
should fulfill only one task, in the most effective way possible,
and with a minimum of controls and switches. As much as
possible should be automated to promote user-friendly opera­tion – the external controls access only the sonically relevant
parameters. Additionally all controls with a wide value range
(e.g. 0 to 100) are programmed with an 'alpha-dial' logic.
Turning the encoder rapidly causes the values to jump in steps
of 10, whereas turning the encoder slowly causes the values to
proceed in single increment steps.

The housing of the S

PECTRALIZER has the standard 19"- EIA

format and occupies 1U (44 mm) in your rack. When installing
the unit in a 19"-rack, the rear side of the unit needs some
support, especially in a touring case.

The S

PECTRALIZER should not be installed near units which

produce strong magnetic fields or extreme heat. Do not install
theS

PECTRALIZER directly above or below power amplifiers.

Check that the voltage details quoted on the back panel are
the same as your local mains electricity supply. Use a minus (-)
screwdriver to set the voltage selector to the voltage for the
area in which the unit will be used.

Never cover up the ventilation slots on the top of the unit. If,
during operation, the sound is interrupted or indicators no
longer illuminate, or if abnormal odor or smoke is detected, or
if liquids are spilled on the unit, immediately disconnect the
power cord plug and contact your dealer.

Only clean your S

PECTRALIZER with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Input and Output
PPM metering

“Analogue“ control feeling

The DSP Platform:
Enormous computational
power guaranteeing real­time operation

User-friendly programmed
software

6

Spectralizer

Connections

Before connecting the SPECTRALIZER switch the power off at all

connected units.

The rear panel provides AES/EBU- and S/P-DIF-inputs and
outputs. Any additional channel, status and user-bits are
passed through unaltered, and the outputs can be used at the
same time if required.

The S

PECTRALIZER operates with 24 bit word width. It accepts

16 bit and 20 bit inputs and will create output signals accor­ding to the input resolution.

For synchronisation purposes W

ORDCLOCK IN and WORDCLOCK

THROUGH BNC connectors are fitted with a switchable 75 Ohm
termination.

MIDI IN and MIDI THROUGH connectors allow presets to be
selected via MIDI program change commands.

For easy upgrade of future software releases, the rear panel
offers RS-232 interface for PC and RS-422 interface for MAC.

Installing Updates:

Note: All presets will be lost after installing a new software version!

1. Connect your computer with the SPECTRALIZER via a serial
port with a standard Z-modem cable.

RS-232 for PC and RS-422 for MAC.

2. Open a terminal program like “Hyperterminal” on PC
and make the following adjustments:

Baud rate: 9600; Stop bit: 1; Parity: none; Data bit: 8;
Handshake: no; Transfer mode: ZMODEM

3. Switch on the S

PECTRALIZER and depress both

P

RESET UP and PRESET DOWN until the LC-display says

“wait for Zmodem download“.

4. Load the update file into your terminal program
and send it to the S

PECTRALIZER. The LC-display

shows the progress of the download in kB.

5. After successfully installing the new software version the
LC-display says “download valid”.

6. Switch the SPECTRALIZER off and on. The new
software version number is displayed in the first I

NFO

page (simultaneously depress STORE and APPLY; also
refer to C

ONTROL ELEMENTS No. 9, I

NFO).

7. If an error occurred during download the LC-display says
“download failed”. The S

PECTRALIZER now waits

for a new download. Please check all adjustments on
your terminal program and try again. If you are still
unsuccessful contact your local dealer.

Rear Panel Spectralizer