Sound Performance Lab 9215 Stereo Equalizer User Manual
Contents
1. Al Tt Control Elements Deep Mid Hi Tune Q Bandwidth Setting of Mid Hi Tune Process Depth Teil 2 11 Control Elements Diagram Curves of equal loudness according to psychoacoustic researches by Fletcher and Munson Harmonics 12 L Advancing the setting of the PROCESS DEPTH control simulta neously increases the amount of MID HI TUNE filter and SUB BASS signals in the mix while attenuating other midrange frequencies to enhance the sense of loudness thus increasing clarity bass end punch and overall power Because the PROCESS DEPTH control is really varying three parameters at once it is worthwhile setting aside a little time to explore the important interaction between the PROCESS DEPTH SUB BASS and MID HI TUNE controls Threshold of pain Loudness level 120 120 2x 10 110 100 100 2 90 80 z 70 2x 10 me n 60 v 2x 1072 5 i 3 z 5 2x 1073 a me 5 4 A 2 x 10 2x 1075 500 1000 5000 10000 Frequency in Hertz This harmonic enhancement circuitry is based on fourth order filters and phase manipulation effectively restoring harmonics that have been corrupted during the recording process or by other equipment in the processing chain It may also be used to increase the subjective brightness of a sound without introdu cing harshness Used as an effect this process is useful for increa sing the intelligibility and intimacy of vocals The harmonic circui2. effects for single instruments Special care has gone into the design of the power supply of the VITALIZER the better it is the better the system works In an audio system this translates into better sound quality lower noise and lower distortion The power supply is based around a 15 VA toroidal transformer and is designed to minimise induced hum and noise due to the lack of an air gap The primary voltage may be selected between 230 V 50 Hz and 115V 60Hz by meansofa recessed slide switch on the rear panel and a rear panel ground lift switch is fitted for use where ground loops are causing hum problems When the Gnd Lift switch is set to off the circuit ground is isolated from the chassis ground The detachable power cord is a standard 3 wire type fitted with an IEC mains connector the transformer power cord and mains connector have VDE UL and CSA approvals The fuse has a value of 315 mA for the primary voltage On the secondary side of the power supply an RC combination is used to filter out noise and hum voltages Both half waves are smoothed with 4000 microF capacitors in the positive and nega tive supply path and both lines use precision voltage regulators for optimum stability Deviations of only a few millivolts can impair audio quality introducing artifacts such as loss of stereo imaging or a diffused sound character ee K TH AWN Control Elements Surround Processor Power Supply L
3. 13 Specifications 14 L Frequency FESPONSE ssssssssssssssssssssessesesrersssess 20 Hz 22 kHz 1 0 25 dB THD sce alia 0 002 1 kHz 0 105 10 kHz S N CCIR 468 ccecsesessssssscsssscsesessssessssesecseeesees Bypass 96 dBu In Effekt min 78 dBu XLR Inputs Electronically balanced differential transformerless IMPEAANCE ssiri irissat 20 kOhm Nominal input level sssssssssssssssssssssseseseseesseee 6dB Maximum input level ceeoro 22 dBm XLR Outputs Electronically balanced differential transformerless IMPEAANCE sssesscsssssstecssecsnecsnecesscensecesseceseenes gt 75 Ohm Nominal output level 6 dB Minimum load OHMS sescsssecssecsseccseecsseeees 600 Ohm XUIRWANG scia Pin 2 Pin 3 Jack Inputs Unbalanced IMPEAANCE sesssessssesssseecssecsnecsseccnsccssccenseceseeees 20 kOhm Nominal input level rree 0dB Maximum input level ccseero 22 dBm Jack Outputs Unbalanced IMPEAANCE niaan lt 600 Ohm Nominal output level 0dB Minimum load ONMS sscsesessseccsecseseceseeees 600 Ohm Jack Wiring Tip Shield GND Power Supply Toroidal transformer Primary Voltage Selectable 230 V 50 Hz or 115 V 60 Hz AC cord IEC mains connector with detachable 3 wire U ground power cord PCB Ground Lift Gnd Lift s
4. in the Aux Send Return Bus to improve the reverb signal Studio Application 6 The VITALIZER connected to the Inserts of two channel strips to improve single instruments and vocals Applications Tape Duplication Broadcast P A Video amp Film Post Production s pl Tape duplication is often made at high speed resulting in a dete rioration of the high frequency spectrum of the copies By proces sing the output from the source machine additional brightness can be added to compensate for deficiencies in the copying system It may also be necessary to modify the bass end as many high speed systems fail to reproduce the bass end of the spec trum faithfully In both applications the VITALIZER is both effec tive and simple to set up The VITALIZER is perfectly suited for the production of radio jingles commercials and station idents Due to the unique proces sing of the VITALIZER the treated signal will appear louder closer brighter and more intelligible than those signals broadcasted without VITALIZER processing In commercial radio the VITALIZER can be used to process the entire on air signal helping the radio station stand out from the competition The integral STEREO WIDTH expander creates a wider stereo spread for those listeners using a narrow speaker geometry e g car and portable systems In live performances or in club installations the VITALIZER is a powerful ally in maintaining speech intelligibility u
5. the exception of STEREO WIDTH which affects both channels If the unit is to be used as two independent mono chan nels this control should be set fully counter clockwise The VITA LIZER may be connected either via suitable signal insert points or via the aux send return circuit of a mixing console in the latter application the PROCESS SOLO button must be active The Signal Peak LED should light either briefly on signal peaks or not at all In operation the Signal Peak LED comes on 3 dB before the onset of clipping in the processing chain All front panel push button switches have status LEDs that light when the switch is active Each channel has an independent ACTIVE BYPASS switch Processing is achieved by adding a treated signal to the original The treated signal may be auditioned by depressing the PROCESS SOLO button Packaged in a standard 19 EIA format and occupying 1U 44 45 mm of rack space the VITALIZER can be installed in a stan dard rack but it is recommended to support the rear of the case especially in touring applications The VITALIZER should not be installed near units which produce strong magnetic fields or extreme heat or directly above or below power amplifiers or digital processors If possible the VITALIZER should be placed in an analogue rack where the majority or all of the equipment installed is analogue Use a small flat bladed screwdriver to set the voltage selector to the voltage for the area in wh
6. appreciation to those who deserve it my excellent colleagues Hermann Gier We AR Contents Welcome Thanks L 3 Introduction Hook up CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN AVIS RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE NE PAS OUVRIR 4 L The CLASSIC VITALIZER combines most modern equalisation phase shift manipulation and harmonic enhancement to provide signal enhancement across the entire audio spectrum Based on established psychoacoustic and audiometric principles the VITALIZER brings mid range material into sharp focus while enhancing high frequencies The attendant harshness introduced by units that add controlled distortion to the signal is avoided At the low end the sub bass is accentuated without incurring the penalties of boomyness or clouded low mid detail that inevitably occur when conventional equalisers are used The result is a sound that is subjectively more powerful more detailed and more commercially appealing Additionally a separate stereo width expander is incorporated which may be used either in conjunction with the VITALIZER equalisers or on its own The VITALIZER may be used on complete mixes or on individual tracks within a mix Furthermore a PROCESS SOLO function allows the processed signal to be added selectively to different tracks within a mix using the mixing console s aux send system Both signal channels of the VITALIZER are identical and have separate controls with
7. d The processing increases the more the controls are turned from it s centre position As with the MID HI TUNE control the amount of processed signal added to the main signal is determined by the setting of the PROCESS DEPTH control WC The DEEP button spreads the frequency range around which the SUB BASS is centered Also the level is increased by 4 dB at the centre frequency of 50 Hz This affects both the hard and soft bass settings giving the choice of four possible permutations Equalising the mid range signal according to the dynamics and spectral content of the input signal the VITALIZER improves the focus of mid range detail while modifying the overall signal response curve to create an impression of increased loudness The degree of processing is controlled by the PROCESS DEPTH control while the MID HI TUNE control is used to set the lower frequency limit at which processing will take place With the control set fully counter clockwise at 22 kHz no audible processing will be evident as the filters are limiting processing to those frequencies outside the human range of hearing However if you turn the PROCESS DEPTH control fully clockwise you will hear the high end starting to sound duller than the dry signal This effect can be used to dull out very bright signals By decreasing the frequency setting the processing will become more evident Additionally the lower the frequency is set the more obvious the eff
8. ect becomes since more of the audio spectrum is being treated It is generally best to start off with this control set to some where between 3 kHz and 6 kHz and then fine tune by ear Adjusting the bandwidth preset control Q inside the front panel changes the characteristics of the MID HI TUNE filter The VITALIZER is shipped with the Q setting in its minimum position counter clockwise which is best suited to general purpose processing A higher Q may be selected in order to selectively enhance certain parts of the audio spectrum such as hi hats as may be desirable when mastering a record or reworking an existing recording If the Q control is advanced too far clockwise the filter is likely to oscillate In this case the control should be backed off until oscillation ceases For stereo applications care should be taken to ensure that the Q presets on either channel are set up as similarly as possible to eliminate the possibility of spectrally related image shifts This control affects the amount of SUB BASS and MID HI TUNE filter signal added back into the mix and will cause certain domi nating mid range frequencies to be attenuated increasing the overall sense of loudness Since the human ear perceives the audio spectrum differently at different SPLs sound pressure levels the VITALIZER reshapes the spectrum so as to convince the human brain hearing system that the sound being heard is louder than it actually is I 9g
9. ich the unit will be used Never cover up the ventilation slots on the top side of the unit If during operation the sound is interrupted or indicators no longer illuminate or if abnormal odour or smoke is detected or if liquids are spilled on the unit immediately disconnect the power cord plug and contact your dealer Only clean the unit with a soft lint free cloth Use only standard cleaning agents Ke A x Before connecting the VITALIZER or any other equipment turn off all power Adjust the voltage setting on the back so that it corre sponds with the local power conditions The balanced XLR input connectors are Neutrik XLRs wired pin 2 hot The unbalanced mono jacks are wired tip hot Should the need arise to use the XLR unit in an unbalanced system pin 3 of both the input and output connectors should be grounded The following graph shows the correct wiring for connecting unbalanced signals to the balanced XLR connectors Input Output balanced unbalanced balanced unbalanced 1 GND 2 hot 3 cold Both output stages operate in parallel so it is possible to connect two different destination units simultaneously for example to record to two different media at the same time or split the output between a mixer and effects processor However only one type of input jack or XLR should be connected at a time the VITALIZER is not intended to be used as a mixer To ensure optima
10. izer between Noise Reduction and Recorder 6 3 Vitalizer connected to the Master INsSerts in 6 4 Vitalizer between Compressor and Recorder __ 7 5 Vitalizer inserted in the Aux Send Return BUS _ 7 6 Vitalizer connected to the Channel Strip Inserts _ 7 Tape Duplication israeliana 8 Broadcast sassi race 8 Pi dll 8 Video amp Film Post Production sssssesssessesssessseesssessseesseeseseeseenseesserssseess 8 FST SIEDS alari ila ariana 9 Control Elements E E A AA A E T EEE P A E E 10 OQULPUU siae aa 10 Process Depth Part I siirinsesi 10 PROCESS Solo siii 10 SUD BASS snai 10 Doep sorori rea E E E TEE 11 Mid HiTune sacca 11 E REPARTI IRR RR ORO ORA CRCR DIO A AT SOGACORO 11 Process Depth Part 2 een 11 HarMmonies ica tate 12 Surround PFOCESSOT suini 13 Power Supply sisi 13 SPECIFICAtIONS surreali o 14 Warranty silla aa 15 Congratulations on the purchase of the CLASSIC VITALIZER We are sure that you have as much pleasure using it as we had making it Please read this manual carefully to ensure that you gain all the benefits of this unique program equaliser would like to start with my thanks to all our staff Our products are often tested and compared in many publications as well as by our customers themselves and constantly attract outstanding evaluations for their audio performance would like to pass on this broad
11. l signal quality SPL has developed a new hybrid component balanced input output stage using all laser trimmed resistors with a tolerance of 0 01 This approach has resulted in an exceptionally high CCMR common mode rejec tion 100 dB at 1kHz and 80 dB at 10 kHz As a precaution before connecting the VITALIZER switch off the power to the unit and to all connected units Pin wiring XLR connectors 1 GND 2 hot 3 cold Pin wiring Jack connectors Tip hot Ring cold Schaft GND Ae Connections Applications Recording Studio Studio Application 1 VITALIZER between console master outputs and recorder Studio Application 2 The VITALIZER between Noise Reduction and Recorder to improve archived recordings Studio Application 3 The VITALIZER connected to the Master or Subgroup Inserts of the consoles L 1 The most obvious application of the VITALIZER is to process a final stereo mix either while mixing or during post production prior to cutting It is important to use full range monitors to assess the effect of any bass processing since it is valuable to occasionally switch the processor in and out of circuit in order to appreciate how much processing has been added The brain hearing system soon acclimatises to changes in timbre processing is easily over done It is recommended to refer frequently to known recordings Recorder Multi Track Recorder Input
12. nce that with whatever you re using from left right pair We then treated it with the SPL Vitalizer a program equalizer It brings a lot more presence to the upper end of the spectrum and a very deep low end so that the voice sounds full Mix Magazine NX IK We M Both channels of the VITALIZER are set up identically and can be controlled separately except the STEREO WIDTH control If the channels are to be used separately the STEREO WIDTH control is to be set to OFF If the VITALIZER is connected to the Aux Send Return Bus the PROCESS SOLO circuitry must be activated Check the PEAK LED regularly short illuminating indicates peaks at about 3 dB below clipping constant illumination is to be avoided Please contact SPL if you are not satisfied with the Input Level adjustment All front switch positions are indicated by Status LEDs The ACTIVE button switches each channel in or off When setting up the VITALIZER for the first time it is recom mended to approach the controls in a specific order to achieve positive results right from the start Initially set the SUB BASS and HARMONICS controls to 0 Please note that the SUB BASS control is off in its center position not when set fully counter clockwise Set the MID HI TUNE control to around 3 5kHz and then advance the PROCESS DEPTH control until the processing can be heard You should hear a change in the mid range but no appre ciable change at the ba
13. nder difficult conditions It is also of great benefit in systems designed to play recorded music because the hearing sensation of loudness can be maintained at lower absolute SPLs This could be particularly beneficial with the introduction of new noise level legislation On the subjective side the VITALIZER helps produce a detailed tight sound even from indifferent speaker systems giving an improve ment in perceived audio quality As in other areas the VITALIZER can be used to optimise dialogue especially when the microphone placement is inadequate for example when the mic must be kept out of shot Music sound tracks benefit in the same way as described for audio only appli cations For most soundtrack producers the enormous ease of use compared with tuning multi band equalisers means to save a lot of wasted time Time compressed audio can also be treated to restore the lack of timbre This is particularly valid in the case of vocal narratives as even a relatively small amount of time compression or expansion can dramatically compromise the sound quality On the post production work on Spike Lee s Malcom X the voice of Denzel Washington playing Malcolm X was treated with the Vitalizer for dramatical reasons We wanted to make sure that there was a dramatic quality difference between the voice over and the sync dialog Fleischman adds offering a mixer s view You try to find a balance between two center mics then bala
14. original packaging or a replacement supplied by SPL with all transportation costs and full insurance paid each way by the purchaser or owner All remedies and the measure of damages are limited to the above services It is possible that economic loss or injury to person or property may result from the failure of the product however even if SPL has been advised of this possibility this limited warranty does not cover any such consequential or inci dental damages Some states or countries do not allow the limita tions or exclusion of incidental or consequential damages so the above limitation may not apply to you Any and all warranties express or implied arising by law course of dealing course of performance usage of trade or otherwise including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantabi lity and fitness for particular are limited to a period of 1 one year from either the date of manufacture Some states or countries do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts so the above limitations may not apply to you This limited warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state country to country SPL electronics GmbH 41372 Niederkruechten Germany Poy AN Warranty L 15
15. s L R e e e o o o Console Master Outputs L R Vitalizer Vitalizer Inputs L R Outputs L R 2 Another popular stereo application is the processing of existing master tapes during post production such as remastering archive material for CD release If a single ended noise reduction system is used to clean up the original the VITALIZER can make a signifi cant contribution in restoring the high end detail that invariably suffers during such treatment Archived Recording Recorder Outputs Recorder Inputs L R L R Outputs L R Inputs A L R i Vitalizer Vitalizer Inputs L R Outputs L R Noise Reduction 3 When processing stereo mixes it is recommended to patch the VITALIZER into the master breaks of the console Mostly these breaks are switched pre fader so that the monitoring volume does not affect the processing intensity which would be the case when using the VITALIZER on the master outputs of the console Recorder Inputs L R Master Outputs L R Master or Subgroup Insert Sends Vitalizer Inputs Vitalizer Outputs Master or Subgroup Insert Returns Console e Boy M 4 Another interesting application is the use of the VITALIZER right after a compressor unit in the master signal chain Using the VITALIZER before a compressor can result in more obvious side effects of the compressor such as pumping It is also possible to patch the VITALIZER into the aux send s
16. soundperformancelab com DI L Manual CLASSIC VITALIZER Model 9215 Dual channel program equaliser Classic Vitalizer Model 9215 2 L R amp D Wolfgang Neumann Version 3 1 8 2000 The information in this document has been carefully verified and is assumed to be correct However Sound Performance Lab 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 authorisation 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 conse quential 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 authorised 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 98 34 0 Fax 49 21 63 98 34 20 eMail info soundperformancelab com www soundperformancelab com 2000 SPL electronics GnbH All Rights Reserved C MVEKOCIUCEION rale 4 HOOKUP sesstissastecsatcstescasstesisatanteancatsacdeadecesd avast ERA AE 4 CONNECHONS sioni RA RS 5 Applications Recording Studio Setups 1 Vitalizer between Mixer and Recorder _ in 6 2 Vital
17. ss end To hear the effect of the MID HI TUNE control in isolation in crease the PROCESS DEPTH and set the SUB BASS and HARMONICS controls to 0 Next try advancing the SUB BASS control both clockwise and counter clockwise and listen to the different effect on the character of the bass end At this point it is also interesting to hear the difference the DEEP button makes full range monitors needed near field monitors do not generally have the necessary low frequency capability to reveal the extent of the low frequency processing applied by the VITALIZER To hear the effect of the SUB BASS in isolation turn up the PROCESS DEPTH control set HARMONICS to minimum and set the MID HITUNE fully counter clockwise to its maximum frequency of 22 kHz In the next step advance the HARMONICS control and listen to the high end details To hear the effect of this control in isolation set the PROCESS DEPTH to minimum Note that the MID HI TUNE frequency control still influences the action of the HARMONICS section Finally turn up the STEREO WIDTH control to the 12 o clock position and note the soft spreading stereo image ke K Tey Al First Steps Control Elements Active Output Process Depth Part 1 Process Solo Sub Bass 10 L The ACTIVE function allows to switch between the processed and unprocessed signal The green status LED indicates that the channel is active A relais hard bypass circ
18. try is driven by a signal combining the original dry signal and the output signal of the MID HI TUNE filter The HARMONICS control determines how much of the restored harmonics are added back to the original signal Though the circuitry of the VITALIZER is inherently very quite please note that applying any significant degree of high frequency proces sing will show up any noise present as part of the signal source For this reason the signal source should be as noise free as possible The harmonics control is independent of the PROCESS DEPTH control N IK We M Working on established inter channel phase principles the STEREO WIDTH control increases the subjective soundstage width of any stereo source The off centre signals of the stereo source are detected and fed back phase inverted to the opposite channel This effect can be applied to overall mixes as well as to single instruments Very interesting is the spreading of the stereo image of overhead mics of drums sets choruses or horn sections The Surround Processor section is independent from all other processes and is not affected by the ACTIVE buttons or PROCESS DEPTH controls To deactivate the effect of this section the STEREO WIDTH control should be set fully counter clockwise In standard applications a STEREO WIDTH setting above the 2 o clock position is not recommended for complete mixes However such settings can produce some very interesting special
19. uitry works on both XLR and Jack connections In case of a power failure the unit is swit ched to hard bypass The outer ring of the dual concentric control sets the output level and is usually set in its fully clockwise position giving unity gain However intensive processing especially of the bass end may increase the overall signal level The GAIN control may be used to control the output accordingly The inner ring of the dual concentric control regulates the inten sity of the equalisation process The effect only pertains to the SUB BASS and MID HI TUNE controls Effects generated using the HARMONICS or STEREO WIDTH controls are not affected The PROCESS SOLO button may be used to compare the processed signal with the dry signal Alternatively a processed only output can be created necessary when using the VITALIZER in the effects send return loop of a mixing console The SUB BASS control is arranged so as to have no effect when set to its central position denoted by a on the scale Turned clock wise the processing produces a tight punchy bass sound free from boomyness The scale markers in the clockwise half of the scale are square markers to give a visual indication that a tight or sharply defined bass sound is being produced When turned in the counter clockwise direction a very deep warm bass sound is created This is denoted by circular markers on the counter clockwise half of the scale suggesting a rounded soun
20. witch on rear panel Fuse 630 mA Operating Temperature 10 C 40 C Relative Humidity 5 92 Dimensions 19 EIA rack mounting unit 482 x 44 x 232 mm N IK We M SPL electronics GmbH hereafter called SPL products are warranted only in the country where purchased through the authorized SPL distributor in that country against defects in material or workmanship The specific period of this limited warranty shall be that which is described to the original retail purchaser by the authorized SPL dealer or distributor at the time of purchase SPL does not however warrant its products against any and all defects 1 arising out of materials or workmanship not provided or furnished by SPL or 2 resulting from abnormal use of the product or use in violation of instructions or 3 in products repaired or serviced by other than authorized SPL repair facilities or 4 in products with removed or defaced serial numbers or 5 in components or parts or products expressly warranted by another manufacturer SPL agrees through the applicable authorized distributor to repair or replace defects covered by this limited warranty with parts or products of original or improved design at its option in each respect if the defective product is shipped prior to the end of the warranty period to the designated authorized SPL warranty repair facility in the country where purchased or to the SPL factory in Germany in the
21. ystem of a console in much the same way as a reverb or delay unit as long as the PROCESS SOLO switch is active The aux return mixing stages in some consoles are designed in a more cost effective and simpler way than in the VITALIZER That s why it might be possible that the sonic effect of the VITALIZER sounds different when using the unit on the aux send return system Il Inputs L R Vitalizer Outputs e e o o o o e Vitalizer Inputs Outputs L R Master Outputs Console L R Compressor 5 To obtain better transparency and a full rich sound even if very long reverb times are used the processing of the reverb can be interesting too Connect the VITALIZER right after the reverb unit and feed the VITALIZER outputs to the aux returns Recorder Inputs e e e o o L R Master Outputs L R Console 6 It is also possible to use the VITALIZER either in place of or to supplement an equalizer for enhancing individual channels or sub groups Recorder Inputs L R Aux Sends L R Aux Returns L R eee Eee Multi Track Master Outputs L R Console Insert Send 2 e g bass Insert Send 1 e g vocals Insert Return 1 vocals Insert Return 2 bass TH MK Applications Studio Application 4 Ifused together witha compressor the VITALIZER is to be inserted behind the compressor Studio Application 5 The VITALIZER inserted
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