Sound Performance Lab 2711 Microphone User Manual
Contents
1. Manual WIC GA A 65 28 39 es Preference Mic Pre RackPack Module Model 2711 Single channel microphone preamplifier module Manual Preference Mic Pre Model 2711 Version 1 0 8 2007 Designer Wolfgang Neumann This user s guide contains a description of the product It in no way represents a guarantee of particular characteristics or results of use The information in this document has been carefully compiled and verified and unless otherwise stated or agreed upon correctly describes the product at the time of packaging with this document Sound Performance Lab SPL continuously strives to improve its products and reserves the right to modify the product described in this manual at any time without prior notice This document is the property of SPL and may not be cop ied or reproduced in any manner in part or fully without prior authorization by SPL SPL electronics GmbH Sohlweg 55 41372 Niederkruechten Germany Phone 49 0 2163 983 40 Fax 49 0 2163 983 420 E Mail info soundperformancelab com Internet www soundperformancelab com CE Declaration of Conformity Manufacturer SPL electronics GmbH Type of Equipment Audio Signal Processor Product RackPack Preference Mic Pre Model 2711 Compliance Engineer Wolfgang Neumann Test Basis EN50081 1 1992 EN50082 1 1992 EN60065 1993 EN61000 3 3 1995 EN60065 2002 EN55013 2001 EN55020 2002 EN61000 3 2 2000 73 23 EWG 93 68 EW2. 3dB even while MicGain is set very low and the 10dB button deactivated the time has come to press the Pad button It illuminates when it is activated RackPack Preference Mic Pre Phase Reverse High Pass Filter Control Elements Phase Reverse O With the phase reverse button you invert the polarity of the micro phone signal When not pressed button is not illuminated the polar ity is in phase After pushing the button button is illuminated the polarity is inverted The phase reverse feature comes in very handy if you have to switch the polarity of the XLR input according to the polarity of the micro phone or the microphone cable The pin wiring of the XLR sockets are as follows Pin 1 ground Pin 2 hot Pin 3 cold l Sometimes it is useful to switch the polarity of a microphone for exam y ple in the case of M S miking A second classic application is the mik ing of a snare drum with two microphones that are placed above and below the snare Since both drum heads move in the same direction when the drum is played the microphones are out of phase Switch the polarity of the bottom mic and you avoid any cancellations when you join both signals in the mix High Pass Filter a Log The high pass filter also known as rumble filter helps to eliminate any interferences within the lowest frequencies The first order filter operates smoothly with 6dB per octave starting from 75 Hz with 3 dB This charac
3. Mic Gain In this case you can activate the 10dB button to have more headroom in the display IMPORTANT To exclude any audible distortion the OVL LED should only light up shortly It starts illuminating 3 dB before a potential overload so first illumination does not indicate an overload but that the limit of leveling is reached Avoid permanent illumination of the OVL LED to exclude overloads also refer to Overload LED on page 13 RackPack Preference Mic Pre VU Meter PPM 10dB Control Elements VU Meter The VU meter displays the output level of the preamp The gauge indi cates levels from 20dB to 5 dB If necessary you can lower the sen sitivity by 10dB so that the gauge goes up to 15 dB output level see 10 dB below and About Leveling on the previous page The VU meter is custom made to meet SPL specifications and assures a balanced optical perception thanks to it s optimized ballistics An especially interesting feature is the option to switch between two display modes VU mode and PPM mode The VU mode VU Volume Unit displays average levels thus provides information on the over all loudness The PPM mode PPM Peak Program Meter displays the peak levels The integration time of the display complies with the BBC require ments In VU mode the rise time up to odB is approx 300 ms In PPM mode the rise time up to odB is about 2ms and the release time down to 20dB is at a slow 1 5 second
4. SPL product manuals from our web site http www soundperformancelab com Symbols And Notes IN THIS MANUAL A LIGHTNING SYMBOL WITHIN A TRIANGLE WARNS YOU ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR DANGEROUS ELECTRICAL SHOCKS WHICH CAN ALSO OCCUR EVEN AFTER THE MACHINE HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED FROM A POWER SOURCE AN EXCLAMATION MARK WITHIN A TRIANGLE IS INTENDED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF IMPORTANT OPERATIONAL ADVICE AND OR WARNINGS THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED BE ESPECIALLY ATTENTIVE TO THESE AND ALWAYS FOLLOW THE ADVICE THEY GIVE The symbol of a lamp directs your attention to explanations of impor tant functions or applications Attention Do not attempt any alterations to this machine without the approval or supervision of SPL electronics GmbH Doing so could nullify com pletely any and all of your warranty guarantee rights and claims to user support Scope Of Delivery The scope of delivery comprises e The module e This manual e Four Philips screws to mount the module to the back panel if mo dule is delivered separately from the frame Further screws needed for mounting the module remain when you remove front and rear covers from the RackPack frame RackPack Preference Mic Pre When recording acoustic instruments or vocals using a microphone is inevitable The actual output level of a microphone is very low and therefore has to be boosted to studio or line level o dB with a pream plifier Sometimes signals have to be boosted by a fact
5. F OUTPUT F PROJECT Preference Mic Pre 2711_block DESIGN DATE SHEET 171 W Neumann 21 08 2007 11 17 43 SPL electronics GmbH 41372 Niederkr chten Germany A B E D E 17 Preference Mic Pre RackPack Specifications 18 Audio Frequency Range CMRR 10 Hz bis 200kHz 84dBu at 1kHz with 30 dBu input level and 30dB Gain THD amp N 1kHz Input Level 30dBu 60dBu Noise EIN Equivalent Input Noise Dynamic Range Input Gain THD SN 30dB 0 0035 60dB 0 047 Gain Noise Level A weighted 72dB 57 0dBu 60dB 69 0dBu 30dB 91 7 dBu 129 0dBu 114 0dB XLR connector electronically balanced Impedance unbalanced Impedance balanced Max Input Level Outputs ca 1 6k0hm ca 3 2kOhm 18 dBu 38dBu with Pad activated Output 1 XLR connector electronically balanced Impedance unbalanced Impedance balanced Max Outpul Level ca 750hm ca 1500hm 22 dBu Output 2 XLR connector electronically balanced Impedance unbalanced Impedance balanced Max Outpul Level Control Elements Mic Gain Range Pad High Pass Phantom Power Supply Dimensions amp Weight Height x Width x Depth Weight ca 750hm ca 1500hm 22 dBu 18 dB to 72dB 20dB fg 75 Hz 3dB 48V 132mm x 46 9 mm x 315 mm 5 2 X 1 84 X 12 4 inches 0 3kg 0 66 lbs Note o dBu 0 775 V Specifications are subject to change without notice RackPack Preference Mic Pre Measuremen
6. G We herewith declare that the construction of the Preference Mic Pre Model 2711 is in compliance with the standards and regula tions mentioned above Notes on environmental protection At the end of its operating life this product must not be disposed of with regular household waste but must be returned to a collection point for the recycling of electrical and electronic equipment The wheelie bin symbol on the product user s manual and packag Ea ing indicates that The materials can be re used in accordance with their mark ings Through re use recycling of raw materials or other forms of recycling of old products you are making an important contribution to the protection of our environment Your local administrative office can advise you of the responsible waste disposal point WEEE Registration 973 34988 O 2007 SPL electronics GmbH All rights reserved Names of other companies and their products are trademarks of their respective owners RackPack Preference Mic Pre Important Security Information 4 HOOKUP g eege ere faerdeg SR cess 6 Scope Of Delivery oo 502 eccscagedacdenees anne irnos 6 Introduction oa e dad ova 7 Main Features civic ais 8 Rear Panel Connections 8 WINNE seser A 8 XLR Sockets Channel Split 9 Control Elements 22787 EEEES ENEE ENEE ire 10 MicGain About Leveling ecos 10 VU Meter PPM 10dB uu cece ccc eee e cece tence eeeeeneeeeeenes 11 48 V Phantom Power Supply Pad
7. e spilled or sprayed on the machine Such actions can lead to dangerous electrical shocks or fire OPENING THE DEVICE Open the device only to fit or exchange modules The fitting and or exchange of modules should only be carried out by qualified persons In the light of possible physical damage or injuries any manipulation is at your own risk In order to avoid any residual voltage the device should be disconnected from any power source at least 5 minutes prior to opening it If you handle the device improperly or ignore the manual part of the delivery of the RackPack frame you risk to damage the device or expose yourself to an electric shock In these cases SPL electronics GmbH denies any responsibility Electrical Power Run this machine ONLY from sources which can provide proper power at the prescribed rating When in doubt about a source contact your dealer or a professional electrician To be sure you have isolated the machine do so by disconnecting the power cord from your wall connection Be sure that the power cord plug is always accessible When not using the machine for a longer period make sure to unplug it from your wall power socket Power Cord Protection Make sure that your power cord is arranged to avoid being stepped on or any kind of crimping and damage related to such event Do not allow any equipment or furniture to crimp this power cord Power Connection Overloads Avoid any kind of overload in connec tions to wall
8. en you set the MicGain you have to consider the type of micro phone that you are using dynamic or condenser microphone as well as its sensitivity The sensitivity of a dynamic microphone is at around 2mV Pa whereas the sensitivity of a condenser microphone can be up to 20mV Pa The result is a difference in output of 20dB You should also consider the sound pressure level of the sound source the distance of the microphone to it and the acoustics of the room when you set the preamplification About Leveling Initially you should always ensure to have deactivated the 10dB but ton so that the VU meter displays correct values see 10dB on page 11 Now turn up the MicGain control until the VU meter displays max imum levels between odB and 3dB At this level you don t risk any overdrive when you experience sudden and unexpected peaks in the level of the source Always remember that the VU meter only shows average values and that a peak level can be much higher up to 10 dB If necessary turn on the PPM mode to see the actual peak levels Usually levels of around odB and 3 dB are safe If however you expe rience very high peaks already at minimum Mic Gain values i e drums brass instruments you can activate the PAD function see PAD on page 12 The input level is now reduced so that you can regulate Mic Gain again in a useful range If you know in advance that the level will be very consistent you can always turn up
9. focus during the development of the Preference Mic Pre was its acoustic transparency and its natural representation of the source signal Reducing DC offsets in the audio signal paths is a decisive part of this design job DC offsets are produced in relatively large amounts especially when amplifying a microphone signal because the signal is amplified by extreme factors from the pico volt range to odB nominal level DC off sets impair the signal quality as they induce noise and distortion that lead to a diffuse sound The Preference Mic Pre s servo drive design minimizes these problems much more effectively than the common solution based on capacitors by setting the DC offset to almost o mV In addition to that the active servo drive circuitry tends to produce less distortions than passive capacitors The servo drive design incorporates three operational amplifiers The SSM 2019 is the first op amp The second op amp acts as a Sensor to detect voltage differences These differences are then compensated for in a third op amp working as summing stage Of course an elaborate active servo drive circuitry is a more expen sive solution than simply using passive capacitors but especially in a microphone preamplifier this effort pays off with improved sound quality RackPack Preference Mic Pre Capacitors Outputs Channel Split Foil And Styroflex Capacitors Only the best MKP and styroflex capacitors are used in the various cir cuits T
10. have fallen and shows any sign of having been damaged This also applies to any situation in which the machine has not been subjected to any of these unusual circumstances but still is not functioning normally or its performance is substantially alte red In cases of damage to the power cord or its plug first consider turning off the main circuit breaker before unplugging the power cord Replacement Substitute Parts Be sure that any service technician uses original replacement parts or those with identical specifications as the originals Incorrectly substituted parts can lead to fire electri cal shock or other dangers including further equipment damage Safety Inspection Be sure always to ask a service technician to con duct a thorough safety check and ensure that the state of the repaired machine is in all respects up to factory standards Cleaning In cleaning do NOT use any solvents as these can damage the chassis finish Use a clean dry cloth if necessary with an acid free cleaning oil Disconnect the machine from your power source before cleaning RackPack Preference Mic Pre 5 Hook Up gt BB Fitting A Module The fitting and or exchange of modules should only be carried out by qualified persons Please read the manual of the RackPack frame It contains all information needed to fit a module as well as all safety and notes and warnings If you don t have the manual at hand you can download it like all
11. hey sound more open and dynamic in contrast to the conven tional ceramic capacitors Outputs Both output stages are electronically balanced and can be used inde pendently They are capable of driving very long cables up to a few hundred yards depending on the capacity of the cables and the input stages on the other end The maximum output level is 22 dBu Channel Split Since the Preference Mic Pre has two independent outputs it always offers you two routes for one input channel If for example a RackPack is configured as a channel strip one output can feed the next module while the second output is used to record the direct preamp signal Another exemplary studio application would be to send one signal directly into the A D converter to be recorded in your DAW while the second signal is used for latency free monitoring e g cue mix for the singer RackPack Preference Mic Pre Technology 15 Copy Master Recall Settings Artist Album O Or Title vu 0 O of D WIC GA i 52658 30 3 Engineer Al Z Track s Group Date 16 RackPack Preference Mic Pre Block Diagram A B C D E 48U lt 48U Input Pad Mic Gain Low Cut Ee ae gt OUTPUT GND S our 71808 Output 1 D po A
12. icrophone to the electronically balanced XLR input The outputs of the Preference Mic Pre are electronically can use both XLR output sockets simultaneously balanced too You XLR pin wiring Pin 1 ground Output Ge balanced unbalanced Pin 2 hot Pin 3 cold The illustration shows the correct pin wiring of the balanced XLR sockets if an unbalanced wiring is required 1 GND 2 hot 3 cold Channel Split Since the Preference Mic Pre provides two independent outputs it Kn ep always offers you two routes for one input channel If for example a RackPack is configured as a channel strip one pre amp output can feed the next module while the second output is used to record the direct preamp signal 4 Another exemplary studio application is to send one signal directly into the A D converter to be recorded in your DAW while the second signal is used for latency free monitoring e g cue mix for the singer In live applications Output 1 can be routed to Front Of House FOH while Output 2 feeds the monitoring mixer RackPack Preference Mic Pre Control Elements 10 Mic Gain About Leveling MicGain With the MicGain control you can regulate the preamplification of the microphone signal It ranges from 14 dB to 72 dB The input stage can handle input levels of up to 18dB The value set with the Mic Gain con trol defines the output level equally for both Output1 and Output 2 Wh
13. nd it directly to SPL Or use the online registration form that may be reached at www soundperformancelab com international clients or www spl usa com US clients RackPack Preference Mic Pre
14. oococccccccccnccnnncccnnco os 12 Phase Reverse High Pass Filter Signal LED Overload LED 13 e TEE 14 SSM 2019 Servo Drive Design 14 Foil And Styroflex Capacitors Outputs Channel Split 15 Copy Master Recall Settings c cece cece e eee eee eee 16 Block Diagram NEEN SEENEN de vet n Ee Sg 17 Specifications s ENEE RER ARBED 18 Me aSUreMents iii EEN ENEE EE 19 CMRR Frequency Range 19 A nei inani er R n EE ENR EnEn 20 RackPack Preference Mic Pre Contents Important Security Information Please note and retain this information Carefully read and follow all of the safety and operating instructions before you use the machine Be doubly careful to follow all warnings and special safety instructions noted in this manual and on the unit The following information refers to modules built into the RackPack frame Connections Only use the connections as described Other connec tions can lead to health risks and equipment damage Water And Humidity Do NOT use this machine anywhere near water for example near a wash basin or bath in a damp cellar near swim ming pools or the like In such cases there is an extremely high risk of fatal electrical shocks Insertion Of Foreign Objects Or Fluids NEVER allow a foreign object through any of the machine s chassis openings You can easily come into contact with dangerous voltage or cause a damaging short circuit NEVER allow any fluids to b
15. or of 2000 or more As a consequence the resulting sound quality provided by the preamp is of paramount importance so a good microphone preamp that does not overdrive is the definitive requirement in order to record acoustic instruments or vocals with sufficient dynamics and untainted sound The section Technology from page 14 explains how the Preference Mic Pre meets these requirements Main Features The Preference Mic Pre offers preamplification values of up to 72 dB with lowest noise operation and a high common mode rejection A VU meter with two modes for average levels VU and peak levels PPM displays the output levels A very stable phantom power supply 48V is provided to power con denser microphones The polarity ofthe microphone can be switched with the phase reverse switch Ahigh pass filter protects against low frequency interferences Two LEDs are placed into the VU window to concentrate all displays in one area The signal LED SIG indicates that an input signal is present the overdrive LED OVL warns against potential overdrives RackPack Preference Mic Pre Introduction Rear Panel Connections Wiring STUDIO en AD DAW Cue Mix Monitoring E or Nis Further oe Module RackPack D O O LIVE 8 RackPack Preference Mic Pre XLR Sockets Channel Split Rear Panel Connections XLR Sockets Connect your m
16. ro phones requiring external current generally condenser microphones Such microphones are dependent upon a clean consistent and noise free power supply for optimal operation and audio quality The Preference Mic Pre continuously delivers precisely 48 V and a maxi mum current of 14 mA which will power all microphones IMPORTANT All microphones with balanced ground free outputs can be used with the phantom power activated Unbalanced microphones may only be used with phantom power deactivated Phantom power should only be activated when using microphones that require it Please be sure to deactivate phantom power with all other microphones including tube microphones which are supplied from their own power supply thus need no extra phantom power supply ALWAYS FOLLOW THESE RULES WHEN WORKING WITH PHANTOM POWER THE INPUT STAGES OF THE PREMIUM MIC PRE CAN BE DAMAGED IF YOU DO NOT ACT ACCORDINGLY 1 First connect the microphone to the Preference Mic Pre 2 Then activate phantom power you can start working now 3 When you have finished recording turn the phantom power off first 4 DO NOT disconnect the microphone from the Preference Mic Pre UNTIL phantom power has been switched off for a minute and all residual current is discharged Pad The Pad function allows you to attenuate the input signal by 20dB so that you can process even very high levels i e from drums or brass instruments If the VU meter shows levels above
17. s This calibration ensures to display even short peaks up to about 6dB since the needle does not have to travel the entire distance of the gauge every time PPM O PPN The PPM button allows to switch the VU metering characteristics from VU display mode button is deactivated and not illuminated to PPM display mode button is active and illuminated A D converter dis play also make use of the PPM mode Monitoring peak levels is most important to avoid overloading the converter and to prevent audible distortion Peak levels are always above the average levels It may make sense in most cases to also press the 10dB button to prevent the needle from getting stuck on the right side of the gauge 10dB a 10 With this button you can change the sensitivity of the VU display If you press the 10dB button button is illuminated the sensitivity of the display is lowered by 10dB With the needle for example at odB a value of 10 dB is displayed Now you can read values of up to 15 dB You always have to add these 10dB to the displayed values for example if you compare these values with those of an A D converter Remember that A D converters show peak levels not average levels For comparison press the PPM button to activate the PPM mode RackPack Preference Mic Pre 11 Control Elements 48 V Phantom Power Supply Pad E A A oD 12 48 V Phantom Power Supply The Preference Mic Pre provides 48 volt phantom power for mic
18. sockets extension or splitter power cords Always keep manufacturer warnings and instructions in mind Overloads create fire hazards and risk of dangerous shocks RackPack Preference Mic Pre Important Security Information Lightning Before thunderstorms or other severe weather disconnect the machine from wall power but to avoid life threatening lightning strikes not during a storm Similarly before any severe weather dis connect ALL the power connections of other machines and antenna and phone internet cables which may be interconnected so that no light ning damage or overload results from such secondary connections Air Circulation Chassis openings offer ventilation and serve to pro tect the machine from overheating NEVER cover or otherwise close off these openings NEVER place the machine on a soft surface car pet sofa etc Make sure to provide for a mounting space of 4 5 cm 2 inches when mounting the machine in racks or cabinets Controls And Switches Operate the controls and switches only as described in the manual Incorrect adjustments outside safe para me ters can lead to damage and unnecessary repair costs Never use the switches or level controls to effect excessive or extreme changes Repairs Unplug the machine and immediately contact a qualified technician when you think repairs are needed or when moisture or foreign objects may accidentally have gotten in to the housing or in cases when the machine may
19. teristic usually helps in most cases and has the least sonic disadvantages If you need to filter on a more extreme scale even second order filters 12dB octave are overstrained frequently and sonic disadvantages become more and more apparent In those cases a variable filter is the means of choice Signal LED The signal LED SIG indicates immediately whether an input signal is existent or not The LED starts responding at a minimum level of 25 dB Overload LED The overload LED OVL warns 3dB before a potential internal over load thus indicates that a headroom of 3dB is left Avoid overloads as they may result in unwanted distortions As soon as the OVL LED illuminates permanently you have to reduce the amplification with the Mic Gain control until the LED turns off or only lights up shortly also refer to About Leveling on page 10 RackPack Preference Mic Pre Technology 14 SSM 2019 Servo Drive SSM 2019 The Preference Mic Pre is suitable for all common dynamic and con denser microphones It works along the principles of an instrumenta tion amplifier which is a technology that is also used in measurement and medical equipment due to its high common mode rejection of stray pick ups It is based on the semiconductor SSM 2019 which sounds more balanced than available alternatives Low noise and distortion values as well as a broad bandwidth and a fast slew rate are its forte Servo Drive Design The main
20. ts Sound Performance Lab CMRR 08 20 07 13 48 31 a Ap 60E d 70L B ES 80 90 100 E 10 20 50 100 200 500 1k 2k 5k 10k 20k Hz CMRR with 30dBu input level and vu 30dB black input gt output 1 grey input gt output 2 CMRR 30dB at27 Sound Performance Lab Frequency Response THD N 08 20 07 12 13 27 ratio 35 A m 0 2 2 E D 0 175 C 0 15 GE 0 125 d E E B 06 0 1 E MN u E MS 0 075 E 0 05 2C E 0 025 HS S 10 20 50 100 200 500 k 2k 5k 10k 20k 50k 200k Hz Frequency Response and THD N ratio with 30dBu input level and vu 30dB black frequency response grey THD N ratio Freq Resp THD at27 RackPack Preference Mic Pre 19 Guarantee 20 Guarantee Product Registration All SPL products come with a two year manufacturer s guarantee against defects in material or assembly from the date of purchase End users are supported in the two year guarantee through their distribu tor or dealer In such cases please contact your dealer for full guaran tee conditions and service Direct SPL product support requires product registration Please fill out the guarantee card enclosed in the package legibly in printed let ters and se
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