SPL STEREO VITALIZER 9319, STEREO VITALIZER9320 Owner's Manual

Owner´s Manual

SOUND PERFORMANCE LABORATORY

STEREO

Models 9319, 9320

®

®

SOUND PERFORMANCE LABORATORY

STEREO VITALIZER
Owner´s Manual
by Paul White
and Hermann Gier

Version 2.2/95

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
Vitalizer, however caused and on any theory of liability. This
limitation will apply even if SPL or authorized dealer has been
advised of the possibility of such damage.

©

1995 SPL electronics GmbH All Rights reserved

® 1993 STEREO VITALIZER and the STEREO VITALIZER-Signet

are registered trademarks of SPL electronics GmbH

SPL electronics GmbH
P. O. Box 12 27
D- 41368 Niederkrüchten, Germany

Tel [phone]
Fax [phone]

EMail [e-mail]

www.spl-electronics.com

3

STEREO

Contents

Forword 3
Introduction 4
Operation safety 4
Connections 5
Applications

Studio 6
Tape - duplication 7
Broadcast 7
Sound reinforcement 8

Video & film post production 8
First steps 9
The control elements of the S

TEREO VITALIZER 11

V

ITALIZER ACTIVE 11

P

EAK 11

B

ASS 11

M

ID-HI TUNE 12

P

ROCESS 13

H

ARMONICS 14

S

URROUND PROCESSOR IN 15

S

TEREO WIDTH 15

Power supply 15
Specifications 16
Warranty 17

Foreword

Dear customer,

Thank you for the confidence you have shown towards SPL electronics

GmbH by purchasing the SPL S

TEREO VITALIZER, one of the most powerful

and creative signal processors currently available. The S

TEREO VITALIZER is a

first-rate sound processor with exemplary performance, excellent work­manship and unrivalled sound quality.

Please study this owner´s manual carefully so that you can make the

most of the wide range of possible applications offered by the S

TEREO

VITALIZER and to ensure ease of operation.

We have tried to write this manual in such a way that it is easy to under­stand, with as clear a layout as the complexity of such a sophisticated
product allows. The manual is divided into two columns throughout. The
main column contains a detailed description whilst the margin contains
headings and summarized information.

We wish you every success and unlimited enjoyment with your new

S

TEREO VITALIZER.

SOUND PERFORMANCE LABORATORY
SPL electronics GmbH

4

STEREO

The STEREO VITALIZER is an equalizer concept which makes use of scientific
psychoacoustic technology to process audio signals. The unique combina­tion of dynamic equalizers, amplitude-controlled phase correction and
harmonic filtering in the S

TEREO VITALIZER opens up a whole new listening

dimension by adapting the sound pattern to the non-linearities of the
human ear.

The S

TEREO VITALIZER gives the mid frequencies accurate transparency

with a soft, unobtrusive sound. The treble and harmonics range is
reworked with broadband shelving filters, which focus on achieving a
smooth, silky sound pattern. High frequencies are livened up without them
sounding hard or agressive. The S

TEREO VITALIZER uses a newly developed

filter network to process the low frequency range. The bass is accentuated
without any risk of emphasizing the lower mid frequencies unnaturally.
You can choose between a dry, percussive bass (T

IGHT) or a punchy, soft and

very deep sound character (S

OFT). The result is a pleasanter and livelier

sound pattern with an unrivalled wealth of detail. The S

TEREO VITALIZER is

especially designed to serve the needs in mastering, cutting and post
production work. Used on complete mixes, the S

TEREO VITALIZER will perform

the same task as those esoteric and costly equalizers often used for audio
sweetening but with far greater tonal flexibility and at a much lower cost.
The S

TEREO VITALIZER may also be teamed up with a single-ended noise

reduction system to provide the ultimate, low-cost post production clean­up system for treating old masters which are often tonally dull as well as
noisy. You will be amazed by how transparent and powerful almost every
audio signal sounds after it has been processed with the S

TEREO VITALIZER!

The housing of the S

TEREO VITALIZER has the standard 19" EIA format and

occupies 1 unit (1 U = 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

TEREO VITALIZER should not be installed near units which

produce strong magnetic fields or extreme heat. Do not install the S

TEREO

VITALIZER directly above or below power amplifiers or digital processors. If
possible, the S

TEREO VITALIZER should be placed in an »analog rack« where

the majority of (or all) the equipment installed is analog. This eliminates
problems which could result from interfering high-frequency signals such as
clock frequencies, MIDI or SMPTE control signals.

Check that the voltage details quoted on the back panel are the same as
your local mains electricity supply (Model 9320 only). 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 water is spilled
on the unit, immediately disconnect the power cord plug and contact your
dealer or Authorized Service Center.

Only clean your S

TEREO VITALIZER with a soft, lint-free cloth. Use only stan-

dard cleaning agents. Never use alcohol or paint thinner, because they may
damage the finish.

Important security
advices

-please read them carefully!

Introduction

Operation safety

In 1993 the »Golden Ear«
Award was presented to SPL
by Europe´s biggest HiFi­magazine »Audio«.

In 1994 the »Stage Design«
Award was presented to SPL
by the »Artist« magazine for
the exceptionally perfor­mance on stage.

5

STEREO

Before connecting the STEREO VITALIZER switch the power off at all

connected units.

The S

TEREO VITALIZER is available in two version up to autumn 1995:

Version 1: unbalanced jack version (mono-1/4“ jacks wired tip hot)
Version 2: professional version with unbalanced (switching mono-

1/4“jacks wired tip hot) and electronically balanced
(3-pole XLR wired pin 2 hot) connectors. (Unbalanced
connections are preferred; XLR´s may remain connected)

From autumn 1995 only version 2 will be available.

Insert y

our STEREO VITALIZER into the Master-Inserts or Sub-Groups

Inserts of the console!

Never connet the STEREO VITALIZER between console and amplifier! Each

fader movement will result in a tonal change of the S

TEREO VITALIZER-effect,

as the input sensitivity is varied. Furthermore, impedance problems might
cause additional noise.

A switch on the rear panel sets the input operating level for both chan-

nels. Two positions are available: The L

OW-position indicates that the input

sensitivity of the S

TEREO VITALIZER is low, which means high level signals can

be processed at this position. Conversely, the H

IGH-position is used for low

level signals, as the input sensitity is high.

The unit may be run hotter if desired by switching the level setting from

the H

IGH to the LOW working level with the proviso that the PEAK LEDs on

the front panel are not regularly flashing. This will achieve processing at a
lower input sensitivity and will result in a more intensely processed sound.

Conversely, in order to achieve milder processing, the switch may be set

from L

OW to HIGH.

Should the need arise to use the XLR connectors in an unbalanced
system, pin 3 of both the input and output connectors should be grounded.
Note that unbalancing the output in this way will cause a level increase of
6dB. Follow the diagram below:

The Pin assignment of the XLR-connectors is Pin 2 = hot (+).

Connections

Version 1

Model 9319

Version 2

Model 9320

Inputs

balanced unbalanced

Pin

wiring:

1 = Ground

2 = hot (+)
3 = cold (-)

Outputs

balanced unbalanced

6

STEREO

Applications:

Studio

AApppplliiccaattiioonn 11::

The STEREO VITALIZER inserted into

the Master-Inserts of the console.

AApppplliiccaattiioonn 22::

The STEREO VITALIZER inserted

between Noise-Reduction and

Recorder to improve archived

recordings.

11..

The most obvious application of the STEREO VITALIZER is to process a
final mix, either while mixing or during post-production prior to cutting.
Insert your S

TEREO VITALIZER into the master-inserts of your console or right

in between a playback and a recording unit.

It is important to use full-range monitors to assess the effect of any bass
processing in and out of circuit in order to appreciate just how much
processing has been added; the brain soon acclimates to changes in timbre
and it is easy to overdo it! If in doubt, refer frequently to known recordings
played through the same monitor system.

Do not c

onnect the STEREO VITALIZER between master-outputs and

amplifier. The major disadvantage of this connection is the varying input

sensitivity with each fader movement.

When patching the S

TEREO VITALIZER into the sub-groups or master-breaks

of the console, note if the master breaks are switched »pre« or »post«
fader. They should best be switched »pre« fader, so that a variation of the
master fader does not affect the input level of the S

TEREO VITALIZER. The

effect level and the treated sound will then remain unchanged.

22..

Another popular stereo application is the processing of existing
master tapes during post-production such as when reprocessing archive
material for CD release.

If a single-ended noise reduction system is used to clean up the original,

the S

TEREO VITALIZER can make a significant contribution in restoring the

high end detail that invariably suffers during such treatment. In many
cases, the restored master can be made to sound appreciably better than
the original.