Sound Performance Lab 2383 Stereo Amplifier User Manual
Contents
1. wwwmewwewenwannnwwa 10 Control elements oo eecsccessecssseeeeseceeseecesaeeesseeees 11 Clean Gain Tube Gain Output Level 11 Source Hi Pass Phase 12 Imped Q Phantom serssiicssiriseiss 13 UU ii Wa 14 Power LED LED Level Display ua 15 Operation iii 16 Setting levelsontheGainStation8 16 VA ii 18 Application examples wwwwemwmemmmamenemamna 19 Vocals speech va ceseeseeesseceseeeteees 20 Acoustic instruments orchestra 20 Acoustic guitar with pickup _ 20 GUITAL AMPS sesssssssssvavssassvestessseesssnessoassosavesvvacieeenscdes 20 Electri BaSS ii pt Tro EEN iE 21 Keyboards samplers drum machines 21 Tube distortions with GainStation8 21 Drums Snare Drum 22 Kick DrUM ia 22 TOMS ia 22 Overheadi ii 22 Technology iwa 23 External power Supply waaswa 26 Technical Specifications ssssccssscccssuccsvsvtenssctsnccsssaecsavecsees 27 DimensionS Weight cscesccsssecesecssecessceseceeeeseseeseeeseeees 28 Options Information on Lundahl input transformers 28 Warranty asssrtvseseveecetenavciveceaveciaeusaspssetesvetuacasvencabecsdesyese 29 GainStation 8 Contents Introduction Input makes all the difference Modern audio production relies increasingly on digital systems for recording and mixing processes DAW s digital consoles etc The advantages of digital audio are manifold and include affordable storage comfortable2. User s Guide Gain Q t Station aoni a Prani Utro fast wideband Input Amplifiers GainStation 8 Model 2383 Eight channel microphone and instrument preamplifier User s Guide GainStation8 Model 2383 Version 1 0 6 2003 Designer Ruben Tilgner 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 documentis the property of SPL and may not be copied or repro duced in any manner in part or fully without prior authorization by SPL SPL electronics GmbH Sohlweg 55 41372 Niederkruechten Germany Tel 49 0 2163 983 40 Fax 49 0 2163 983 420 Email info soundperformancelab com C 4 www soundperformancelab com 2003 SPL electronics GmbH All rights reserved Names of other companies and their products are trademarks of their respective owners GainStation 8 IO UU WI 4 Before ygu egin ui 7 Rear panel connections 8 Wiring 8 General advices 9 Connectors and switches
3. GainStation 8 Technology Wa External power supply Gas In the case of the power supply no expense was spared After all the power supply is one of the primary factors in the audio quality and overall sound of any device Just like the best coffee beans in the world will not produce a good cup of coffee with poor water the best circuits can t produce a great sound with unreliable inconsistent current In order to provide optimal current the GainStation8 was outfitted with an external power supply Properly installed transformer hum and interference should never be an issue and the unit should deliver clean clear audio The 185 VA transformer is generously proportioned to ensure plenty of power in any situation and proper current for the various circuits Further interference rejection is provided by a power on relay which requires only minimal current The power supply design keeps the GainStation s internal circuitry free from AC power which could negatively influence the sensitive preamps Entirely new circuit designs were developed to process the various direct currents The 30V current for example utilizes a discrete voltage regulator with barely measurable noise High speed rectifier diodes and total capacities of 53 600 mF ensure sufficient current to process even the most powerful impulses In addition most currents are stabilized using 400 V 100 nF MKP foil condensers to ensure plenty of current f
4. 34dBu Max Input Level Mic Input Hi Z Input 17 dBu Input Impedance Instrument input MO Output impedance 750 Slew Rate Clean Gain 30dB Tube Gain off Output Level 6dB 240 V s Phantom power 48V 2V Power consumption w o AD Converter 140W GainStation 8 a Dimensions weight Dimensions W x H x D 482 x88 x237 mm Weight w o Lundahl transformer 6 3kg External power supply dimensions 219 X 85 X257mm Weight 6 8 kg Options The following accessory is optionally available e Lundahlinput transformer upgrades after sale by authorized service personnel or SPL only Information on Lundahl input transformers Transformers have the characteristics usually associated with other analog components like tubes or coils they sound warmer fatter punchier more direct improved presence without boosting the top end One main reason for this is that transformers cancel out a large amount of odd harmonics those portions of an audio signal that sound harsh to human ears The GainStation 8 s input transformer delivers 7 dB of additional passive gain which must be added to the printed values Technical specifications are subject to change without notice G GainStation 8 GainStation 8 Warranty SPL products are manufactured using carefully selected compo nents and materials and state of the art production techno logy Every SPL product is thorough inspected and tested before leaving the facto
5. to your equipment e Leave repairs and maintenance to a qualified service techni cian Should foreign objects fall inside the case contact your authorized dealer or support person e To avoid electric shock or fire hazards do not expose your unit to rain or moisture e Incase of lightning unplug the unit e Always unplug the cable by pulling on the plug only never pull on the cable e Never force a switch or knob e Use a soft lint free cloth to clean the case Avoid cleaning agents as they may damage the unit GainStation 8 RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN CAUTION AVIS RISQUE DE CHOC LECTRIQUE NE PAS OUVRIR iring GN9 anaejs pjoo Sury 304 d 1 10 29UU0 SYL SUHIM Uld paouvjoqun s 0UBIs Jaa aul sJUaWwNJ SU paduvjvg ajosuo buikiw S13P1033J SIaJIJAUO plor E 04 z GND yndyno 41X SUHIM Uld r pio oy 7 GND t ndul 9 1W Y1X SUMIM Uld d ZT0E8E NSd E8Ez EES aaay za Asn uwawaimba SIL 20SM sumva s1 vsD103S USN ON GainStation 8 anywa ni zavw kutuo NOS ia W oseaan ansaan pies sees non sepa soy acy Cvann wa Cwann wa ann wa Cwann wa Civann C1vann wa z Msi zano M as dno Mash eno Mash zino MT YAISHI MSN zano TZEOEZI 8 uoneys ueg 2 i Tino Tino Tino Tino
6. 120V 60 Hz 110 V 120 V 60 Hz 3 2 A slow blow Rear panel connections MIC INPUT PUSH INSTR IN UNBAL OUT1 BAL OUT2 BAL gt Ge MIC INPUT Dynamic condenser or tube microphones can be connected to the Mic Input The 48V switch provides the phantom power necessary for some microphones see also Control elements Phantom on page 13 The Mic Input can also be used as a balanced connection for professional audio equipment with a maximum output level of 20 dBu The Clean Gain already delivers 10dB of minimum preamplification this leaves you with 4 dB of headroom IMPORTANT NOTE Always switch the phantom power 48 V off before connecting anything other than phantom powered condenser microphones INSTRUMENT LINE INPUT The Instr In is for electric guitars and basses or other high impe dance line level signals such as keyboards samplers drum machines etc with unbalanced outputs If a balanced connector TRS is inserted the ring of the plug is automatically connected to the ground to ensure proper unbalanced operation ANALOG OUTPUTS 1 2 The preamplified output signal is fed to the balanced Analog Outputs Since the XLR and 1 4 TRS connectors are wired in parallel an unbalanced connection at one connector will cause the other connector to operate unbalanced e g if a mono 1 4 plug is inserted into the 1 4 jack the corresponding XLR socket will also
7. GainStation 8 E Application examples ED Vocals speech The tube stage is well suited for adding presence to vocals Exercise caution when setting levels particularly with the clean stage since vocals can be extremely dynamic The FET limiter can be very helpful here to level peaks in a subtle musical fashion and ensure safe levels for AD conversion Once the limiter is properly set see Limiter page 20 tube gain can be added as required Acoustic instruments orchestra The tube stage should be used very sparingly if at all when miking recording orchestras or acoustic instruments to ensure the highest possible S N ratio Levels should be set with the utmost care since distortion and clipping are easily heard and absolutely undesirable in classical and most acoustic record ings In general the limiter should only be used to protect the A D converter or digital recorder Acoustic guitar with pickup A combination of clean and tube stages will deliver good results here Lower tube gain settings between 1 and 9 dB will result in avery acceptable S N ratio Moderate use of the peak limiter will provide the best protection against clipping Guitar amps As with acoustic guitars combining the clean and tube stages is especially effective when miking guitar amps Higher Tube Gain settings result in more punch and loudness The more distorted the guitar sound the less limiting is required since the distor tion
8. Tino M Ze Anani JW Y snd mmi H FIN ansans C YBIH diu paoueyequn Sup NDVI GN 97015 MOT BU 43H dL paouereg SUPA NIVI mota Eud G WAH 2 wa JONS T Wa FUPI WX ANdNI Ja KddNS Y3MOd Rear panel connections slpubis Jana aul pa2uojoq osjo J AnDua0 auoydondiw General advices Rear panel connections Again while the GainStation8 s housing is EMV proof and protects against HF interference placement of the unit is very important since it amplifies microphone signals as well as other unwanted signals Thus it is extremely important that the external power supply not be positioned near the GainStation 8 IMPORTANT Adjust the voltage setting on the back of the external power supply so that it corresponds with the power conditions Before connecting the GainStation8 or any other equipment turn off all power The following graph shows the correct wiring for connecting unbalanced signals to the balanced XLR connectors Output balanced unbalanced The Line Input connector is designed for unbalanced signals only The TRS output connector see Analog Outputs page 10 can be operated both with balanced and unbalanced wiring Simply use a mono 1 4 plug for unbalanced operation GainStation 8 VOLTAGE FUSE FUSE RATING 220 V 240V 50 Hz 220V 240 V 50 Hz 1 6 A stow blow 110 V
9. amplifier are connected to a secondary differential amplifier also based on a matched transistor pair that handles current conversion GainStation 8 Technology gt E Technology ED An output stage which also operates in class A mode with over 6 mA of closed circuit current functions as a current amplifier The transistors and resistors utilized also had an enormous effect on the audio quality To facilitate selection we assem bled several models and subjected them to extensive listening tests All this trouble more than paid off the final GainStation 8 op amp has a slew rate of over 100V ps several times faster than industrial op amps This is an absolute prerequisite for clean transparent and dynamic audio Transients are depicted with unparalleled accuracy resulting in an open airy and reali stic sound The clean stage is based on a fully discrete balanced instru ment amplifier and also operates in class A mode The special circuit configuration ensures consistent frequency response at virtually every gain setting With its slew rate of over 200V us it is able to amplify fast transients and extremely high frequencies with almost no distortion An op amp subsequently converts the instrument amplifier s output signal into an unbalanced signal which is fed to the tube The tube type a Sovtek 12 AX7 LPS was also selected after extensive measurements and listening tests This tube type delivers an open
10. in turn a more solid rhythmic performance and perception If the GainStation 8 is used as a preamp musicians will imme diately notice that they hear and feel what they are playing much better which leads to improved playing and a better recording The track will have more punch and dynamics greatly improved presence and almost palpable detail In short the instrument sounds incredibly authentic and alive Beta tests with the GainStation 8 showed that all instrumentalists enjoyed playing more and in many cases were truly amazed at what their trusty instrument was capable of Given this improvement in the input signal one is much less inclined to equalize and compress in many cases you will prob ably find that you can do without additional processing which not only saves an enormous amount of time and processor power but also has an extremely positive effect on the final result The GainStation 8 itself offers effective sound shaping capabil ities at recording most notably via the tube stage which can be completely bypassed or continuously added to the preamp circuit allowing everything from extremely subtle warmth to a very noticeable tube saturation effect The integrated limiter can be used to protect an internal or external AD converter from clipping or for example to add punch to drum tracks which in turn reduces or in many cases even eliminates the need for subsequent compression Put simply the more tracks are reco
11. operate unbalanced IMPORTANT NOTE The output connectors can deliver an output level of up to 34 dBu Please ensure that all other equipment can handle these levels to prevent possible damage GainStation 8 Control elements CLEAN GAIN This potentiometer controls the amount of preamplification provided by the class A solid state stage Arange of up to 63 dB is provided For more information please see Setting levels on the GainStation 8 on page 16 IMPORTANT NOTE If a Lundahl input transformer is installed add 7 dB to the printed values TUBE GAIN This potentiometer controls the amount of preamplification provided by the tube stage This stage follows the clean solid state stage so that the gain values of the two stages are addi tive Setting Clean Gain at 20dB and Tube Gain at 15 dB results in 35 dB of total preamplification Turning the Tube Gain control fully counter clockwise causes the tube stage to be deactivated and bypassed via a relay TIP For optimal signal noise ratios at high preamplification values the majority of preamplification should be achieved via the solid state stage adding just enough of the tube stage for the desired sound Due to the nature of tubes and tube circuitry the tube stage is somewhat noisier than the solid state stage OUTPUT LEVEL This potentiometer adapts the output level to devices following in the chain or to the converter At o dB the output level is equal to the
12. any weak spots in the chain the insistence upon each link being as good as the next It makes no sense to use a world class op amp with an improperly engineered power supply or lower quality passive components such as standard resistors and condensers The GainStation8 is based on fully discrete op amps that operate in class A mode Class A operation dictates that both end transistors are constantly conducting current to prevent distor tion In conventional class B amplifiers each transistor carries a half wave and distortion occurs every time current moves from one transistor to the next Class A operation requires much higher closed circuit current approximately 6mA with this op amps or roughly three times the total current consumption of a conventional amplifier which in turn leads to increased heat generation Several months went into the development of the GainStation 8 op amp First we tested several different circuit configurations using test equipment as well as listening tests with a wide variety of program material It became more and more apparent that less complicated circuits provided better audio results The GainStation 8 s input differential amplifier utilizes an extre mely low tolerance thermal coupled matched transistor pair in a single casing This prevents deviances between the transi stors to ensure minimal THD total harmonic distortion even at various temperatures The resistors in the initial differential
13. disclaims liability for any implied warranties including implied warranties of merchantability and or fitness for a specific purpose after the warranty period This warranty gives you specific legal rights You may have other rights which vary from country to country and state to state Some of the above limitations may not apply to you SPL electronics GmbH 41372 Niederkruechten Germany Manual GainStation 8 Model 2383 All you need is imagination good ears and three letters
14. documentation of your other equipment regarding maximum input levels GainStation 8 Combining different amounts of clean and tube gain will create various effects The GainStation 8 operates virtually distortion free with the tube stage bypassed The sound is clean and trans parent with extreme detail and very low noise The clean stage is ideal for most acoustic instruments as well as jazz or clas sical recordings If you activate the tube stage and increase the gain setting slowly you will notice that once you reach a certain level harmonic distortion enters the signal The sound becomes punchier and fatter and attains more loudness At this setting the tube stage is still relatively noise free and ideal for adding a bit of presence and liveliness to signals that may otherwise sound dull or lifeless This setting works very well with stringed instruments like acoustic guitars electric and acoustic basses and violins since it highlights the harmonics of the strings Naturally these effects become more pronounced as the amount of Tube Gain is increased The tube can be driven to full satu ration to produce pronounced distortion which can be very effective with synthesizers samplers and drum machines that lack punch Signals recorded in this fashion will generally cut through a mix with no trouble at all GainStation 8 Operation M Operation Ga Limiter To achieve the desired results with the integrated limi
15. ecial diodes that convert signal peaks into a type of saturation Depending on the signal this allows levels to be effectively and subtly limited This type of limiting works very quickly reliably limiting even microsecond long transients and is very effective for drums and percussion The peak limiter also enables maximum loudness Operation is displayed via the Limit LED The FET limiter is additionally available when the tube stage is activated The FET circuit operates with a Field Effect Transistor FET which is connected to the tube and enables always in conjunction with the peak limiter a reduction of signal ampli tude Thus this limiter works ina similar fashion to a compressor which makes it very effective for signals that undergo unfore seeable level changes i e vocals speech guitar bass piano etc and where minimum loss in signal quality is desired The peak limiter is always active post FET limiter to ensure reliable protection The Limit LED also displays the operation of the FET limiter always somewhat more calmly than with peak limiting IMPORTANT NOTE If the tube stage is deactivated while FET limiting is active the LED will continue to display in FET limiting mode For more information on using the limiters please see page 18 Limiter GainStation 8 Control elements POWER Switches the unit on or off The switch illuminates with delay because it is fed by the 250 V anode power don t pa
16. editing recall capabilities and automation On the downside digital systems still do not offer the same audio qualities and sound characteristics of high end analog equipment Especially digital equalizers and other aspects of the mixing domain cannot compete with the open transparent sound of the best analog gear So today more than ever your input signal has to sound as good as possible the quality of your original tracks will largely define the end result Lifeless or dynamically lacking signals are often over processed with EQ compression and other effects in an attempt to compensate often an extremely tedious process in the digital domain that doesn t always produce the desired results Attacking this problem on the preamplification front with the goal of noticeably improving a signal and sending it along its path with a healthy foundation requires a great deal of thought and engineering effort To this end the GainStation8 employs technologies that not only satisfy test equipment but also and mostimportantly the user Components and circuits were care fully chosen and designed on the basis of extensive measure ments and listening tests In short developing the GainStation8 was a major undertaking that required immense amounts of time and experience GainStation 8 Main technical features of the GainStation8 Custom designed and built fully discrete class Aop amps no off the shelf stuff here The GainStation s o
17. internal level indicated by the LED display The OUTPUT LEVEL control allows an additional 6 dB of amplification or 26 dB of reduction The output level control is post limiter to allow maximum levels to an external converter IMPORTANT NOTE If the internal level is noticeably above 18 dB the orange 18 dB LED is brightly illuminated and the output level is set to 6 dB the output level at the analog outputs can be up to 34 dBu Please ensure that all other equipment can handle these levels to prevent possible damage GainStation 8 NG oti 22 ly Mic 7dB w transformer A lt VaM ii 11 Control elements Hizo Mic Nor Rev 12 SOURCE This switch allows you to select between the Mic and Instrument inputs Both inputs can remain connected at all times regard less of which input is selected When first thrown after powering up the unit this switch can cause a noticeable pop due to the discharge of residual current This is normal and no cause for concern HI PASS This switch activates the integrated high pass filter which oper ates at a 50 Hz center frequency and 12 dB octave often called a rumble filter The filter is entirely passive avoiding addi tional active circuitry that could potentially degrade the signal and cuts 6dB pre and 6dB post solid state preamplification to prevent the amplification of unwanted low frequency signal portions PHASE The phase reverse function
18. l recording and the fact that more and more material remains in the digital domain from start to finish have raised demands on preamplifiers The GainStation 8 is predes tined to act as a premium recording front end ensuring that signals of all kinds are preamplified with the highest quality whether as an alternative to existing console preamps or as a stand alone solution between source and A D converter The quality of your recordings has a major influence on the subsequent mixing process good recordings require less processing in later stages Improved transparence and intelligi bility can be achieved with less equalization and compression if the signals are recorded optimally often allowing individual signals to be mixed at lower levels without compromising their presence The GainStation 8 can also effectively improve live recordings and mixes Particularly in live situations microphone signals must often travel extremely long distances to reach the FOH or mobile console resulting in high cable capacities which can degrade and color the sound In this application we recommend placing the GainStation 8 on stage This allows for short cable runs to the preamps whereas the GainStation s gain structure and fast output stages can easily drive the longer runs that ensue The following section while not attempting to represent a complete guide or answer all questions provides several oper ational tips for various instruments
19. n8 Start with the limiter switched off With a representative signal present at either the MIC or HI Z input set the desired combi nation of Clean and Tube Gain so that the 9dB LED illuminates brightly When this LED illuminates weakly you have 9dB of gain When brightly lit you have 15 17dB which still leaves you with a good 9dB of headroom in the range displayed by the orange 18dB LED before clipping The orange LED illumi nates dimly at 18dB and brightly at around 26 dB The red Clip LED should never illuminate this indicates clipping in the clean stage which generally should be avoided as it will lead to distortion of the solid state circuitry You may find this desir able in some rare cases we had lots of fun creating heavily distorted guitar sounds The Clip LED does not display high amplification levels in the tube stage that could lead to distortion The GainStation 8 inten tionally allows tube saturation since tube distortion contrary to transistor distortion is often a desirable effect Once you have adjusted the gain levels as described above use the Output Level control to set the optimal output level for subsequent devices in the chain IMPORTANT NOTE The Output Level control should not be set above odB when working with high internal levels of more than 18dBu Otherwise extremely high output voltages of up to 34dBu approximately 38Veff can occur which can damage other equipment Please refer to the
20. nic If the tube stage is active when the unit is switched on it can take several seconds before a signal can be heard this time is necessary for the tube to reach operating temperature IMPORTANT NOTE Never disconnect the GainStation 8 from its external power supply while the unit is switched on Always turn it off first and wait at least one minute so that all current can dissipate before disconnecting the multipin connector Failure to do so can cause severe damage to components LED LEVEL DISPLAY The level display shows the peak level before output level control A special circuit allows the LED s to vary in brightness to display in between values The 30 LED illuminates weakly at 30dB and reaches full brightness at odB The odB LED illumi nates weakly at odB and reaches full brightness at 9 dB and so on The CLIP LED operates post CLEAN GAIN stage and displays clipping at this point in the signal path It will not react to tube saturation in the tube stage since this can be a desired effect GainStation 8 POWER li Oe Oe Oe OF a 5 M Operation up ua In spite of its quality and flexibility the GainStation 8 s trans parent user interface allows quick intuitive operation The unit is suited for a wide variety of applications The following sections will provide an overview of the most important opera tional concepts and several application examples Setting levels on the GainStatio
21. on a clean consis tent and noise free power supply for optimal operation and audio quality The GainStation 8 continuously delivers precisely 48V and a maximum of 14mA which will power all micro phones IMPORTANT NOTE All microphones with balanced ground free outputs including tube microphones can be used with the phantom power activated First connect the microphone to the GainStation 8 then activate the phantom power When finished first deactivate the phantom power and wait at least 30 seconds before disconnecting the microphone to allow residual current to discharge Phantom power should only be activated when using micro phones that require it Please be sure to deactivate phantom power with all other microphones Unbalanced microphones may only be used with phantom power deactivated The 48VLED illuminates to indicate activated phantom power When deactivating phantom power it can take several seconds for the LED to go out since the 48V current dissipates rather slowly When changing microphones you should wait until the LED is completely dark before re patching GainStation 8 IMPED Q 200 1 2K10k O CHANTOM 48V Off M Control elements CO CIIMITER Fet Off Peak Ea LIMITER The GainStation8 offers two types of output level limiting Peak and FET The limiter is pre output level control so that the limited signal can be optimally adapted to an external converter The peak limiter operates with sp
22. or fast transients 48V phantom power is also processed using discrete low noise voltage regulators and fed directly to the microphone conduc tors through two resistors Last but not least the 250V anode current is regulated by a voltage regulator to compensate for AC influences GainStation 8 Technical specifications Frequency response Clean Gain 30dB Tube Gain off output level odB 0 5 dB lt 1 Hz 125 kHz Frequency response Clean Gain 30dB Tube Gain off output level odB 3 dB lt 1 Hz 310 kHz Frequency response Clean Gain 30dB Tube Gain 1dB output level odB 0 5 dB lt 4Hz 125 kHz THD N Clean Gain 24dB Tube Gain off output level 6dB 20 22 kHz 25 dBu out 0 00038 THD N Clean Gain 23dB Tube Gain 1dB output level 6dB 20 22 kHz 25 dBu out 0 032 Noise Clean Gain 10dB Tube Gain off output level odB 20 22 kHz A weighted 99 6dBu Noise Clean Gain 30dB Tube Gain off output level odB 20 22 kHz A weighted 94 6dBu Noise Clean Gain 60dB Tube Gain off output level odB 20 22 kHz A weighted 68 4 dBu Noise Clean Gain 20dB Tube Gain 10dB output level odB 20 22kHz A weighted 86 5 dBu EIN Clean Gain 60 dB Tube Gain off output levelo dB 20 22kHz A weighted 400 128 4 dB Dynamic response 20 22kHz A weighted 2130 dB Common Mode Rejection Clean Gain 30 dB Tube Gain off 1 kHz Input 30 dBu output level o w o transformer 280 dB Maximum Output Level
23. p amps feature 60 Volt operating voltage twice as high as most common op amps for an incredible dynamic range An extremely high amplifier slew rate of 200 V microsecond ensuring clean transmission of high frequency signal portions and rapid transients with virtually no cut off An almost entirely DC coupled signal path making signal degenerating condensers unnecessary An optimized layout guarantees the shortest possible signal paths while generously proportioned grounding surfaces ensure low impedance and maximum shielding All switching functions are handled by encapsulated relays with gold plated contacts All resistors are within 0 1 tolerance and were selected after extensive listening tests A no compromise power supply with extensive additional shielding and seven separately wound and regulated volt ages The power supply is of primary importance to audio quality its importance should not be underestimated A tube stage utilizing premium MKP foil condensers and a select 12 AX7 LPS tube for clear dynamic audio GainStation 8 Introduction Introduction This cutting edge technology ensures that signals recorded with the GainStation 8 have more presence and substance and will easily cut through a mix even at lower levels Extremely low frequency signals are tight and transparent with clear into nation Percussive transients are interpreted more precisely which leads to a clearer rhythmic content and
24. process levels dynamics GainStation 8 Application examples Electric Bass If an electric bass is directly connected to the instrument input a combination of clean and tube stages is usually best In the case of extreme dynamics the FET limiter will deliver excellent results and a tight punchy bass sound that usually needs no additional compression Keyboards samplers drum machines Electronic sound sources allow you to fully utilize the GainStation 8 s potential The clean stage is excellent for clear glassy sounds and pads and a combination of clean and tube stages for most other sounds The more dynamic the material the more effectively you can utilize the limiter Tube distortions with GainStation 8 The GainStation can be a great creative tool for creating distor tion effects for suitable instruments and loops Try using very high tube gain settings so that the 18 dB LED is constantly illu minated Increasing the clean gain will feed more level to the tube stage intensifying the tube saturation effect Activating the peak limiter will add a different type of distortion with more overtones The FET limiter will not add distortion but will create hard limited sounds with an extreme loudness effect GainStation 8 H Application examples ED Drums snare drum Exercise caution when setting levels to avoid clipping Drums are notorious for fast powerful transients that can easily add 10 dB to the a
25. rded with the GainStation 8 the more solid and trans parent and easier to mix the entire recording will be GainStation 8 Before you begin It makes good sense to think about where you place your GainStation8 before connecting it It should be positioned so that you can easily reach it but there are other considerations Try not to place it near heat sources or in direct sunlight and avoid exposure to excessive vibrations dust heat cold or moisture It should also be kept away from transformers motors power amplifiers and digital processors IMPORTANT NOTE When installing the GainStation 8 in a rack please be sure to leave about a unit 1 5 to 2 inches of space above it to ensure sufficient circulation If possible install the unit in a rack with other analog units to avoid interference from digital units such as clock frequencies We recommend covering the empty rack space above the GainStation 8 with a blind panel to reduce the amount of dust and debris sucked into the unit by its fan The fan side of the housing must always be kept free IMPORTANT NOTE Never disconnect the GainStation 8 from its external power supply while the unit is switched on Always turn it off first and wait at least one minute so that all current can dissipate before disconnecting the multipin connector Failure to do so can cause severe damage to components In addition please e Donot open the case You may risk electric shock and damage
26. reverses the polarity of the micro phone signal turning the phase by 180 to correct phase inverted signals caused by multiple signal sources A voice over artist for example hears himself during recording through the headphones and simultaneously through the bones in his head Phase inversion will cause an unnatural sound and even minimal variations in distance to the microphone will cause drastic variations in the sound Phase inversion is also commonly encountered when using multiple microphones ona single sound source The GainStation8 s phase reverse switching is achieved passively via a relay pre preamplification to avoid additional active circuitry GainStation 8 Control elements IMPED Q This 3 way switch allows you to select between three input impedances for the Mic Input In general higher impedances increase levels and emphasize high frequencies while mids and bass frequenices are dampened Conversely a lower impedance causes lower levels and emphasizes bass and mid frequencies The Imped Q Wert does not have to be equivalent to the output impedance of the microphone We recommend the highest impedance setting as starting position 10 000 Ohm Now it must be evaluated acoustically if lower settings are delivering better results PHANTOM The GainStation8 provides 48Volt phantom power for micro phones requiring external current generally condenser micro phones Such microphones are dependent up
27. ry including acoustic and electronic testing SPL warrantees the SPL 24 96 AD Converter Model 2376 to be free of defects in materials or workmanship for a period of 24 months after the date of purchase Should any trouble caused by defects in materials or workmanship develop during this period SPL will repair or at our option replace the product at no charge Should SPL choose to replace the product we reserve the right to replace it with a newer model In order to validate your warranty you must either return the enclosed warranty registration card completely filled out to SPL or register your product online within 14 days of purchase You may register your product online at www soundperformancelab com or in the USA or Canada at www spl usa com The warranty period begins on the date of purchase The warranty is non transferable Repairs or replacements do not extend the warranty period This warranty does not apply if e the product was not purchased from an authorized SPL dealer e repairs are required due to normal wear and tear e the product has been abused misused or improperly maintained or if repairs or alterations have been made or attempted by any other than authorized SPL service personnel e the serial number has been removed or defaced In no event shall SPL be liable for any indirect incidental or consequential damages from the sale or use of this product either during or after the warranty period SPL
28. ter it is important to understand its operation The threshold value is fixed at 20 dBu The clean and or tube gain settings determine the amount of limiting so that these settings more or less work like a threshold control When the limiter is activated it levels everything above 20 dBu The orange 18 dB LED which displays this level range varies in brightness depending on limiting The actual amount of limiting is displayed by the Limit LED which becomes brighter as more level reduction is applied The peak limiter sounds different with the tube stage activated since leveling occurs somewhat asymmetrically with the tube in the signal path so that the negative half wave is leveled with a much flatter curve To determine the ideal limiter setting for the internal converter activate the peak limiting mode and adjust the Clean and or Tube Gain to a setting well above your working level so that the Limit LED illuminates brightly Then reduce the Output Level until the AD OVLLED goes out Now your gain levels can be returned to their normal settings and the limiter can be switched into FET mode if desired The same method should be used with an external converter except that in this case the external unit s clip LED is used for calibration If you are only using the FET limiter and your program material contains few fast transients the output level can be set somewhat higher GainStation 8 Application examples The advent of digita
29. transparent sound excellent noise values and is especially reliable A generously proportioned 2 2 UF WIMA MKP decoupling capacitor is utilized to ensure clean punchy low frequency response Animpedance converter adapts the tube s high impedance signal to the output stage which also utilizes fully discrete op amps and can easily drive extreme cable lengths Coupling condensers were used as sparingly as possible to avoid their inherent disadvantages such as diffuse sound slurring and loss of dynamics Instead servo circuits were utilized to eliminate DC artifacts GainStation 8 The Instrument Input is a fully discrete impedance converter that also operates in class A mode It is based on a low noise field effect transistor that is especially well suited to this task due to its extremely high input impedance The signal then passes to the clean gain stage In order to ensure the shortest possible signal paths all swit ching functions are handled by optimally positioned encapsu lated gas filled relays with gold plated contacts the switches themselves only trigger the relays Since resistors also greatly affect audio quality the entire audio signal path utilizes pain stakingly selected resistors with 0 1 tolerance The op amp circuits use premium FKP foil condensers which sound much more open than ceramic types and provide more natural dynamic response All circuit boards have oversized grounding surfaces for optimal shielding
30. verage level In addition few drummers or any musicians for that matter are so disciplined that they don t play louder during a take or concert than they do during sound check Experiment to see whether or not you like the sound of the tube stage and in what proportion It s definitely a good idea to use peak limiting to protect converters and or other equip ment and prevent unwanted distortion see Limiter page 20 In FET mode the limiter may be more audible than you d like it to be when used on drums Bass drum Here pretty much the same applies as for snare drum The peak limiter may tend to accentuate the attack or click of the bass drum which can lead to undesirable sound variations with less disciplined drummers Toms Level setting is not quite as critical with toms Moderate use of the FET limiter will provide pleasant yet effective leveling Overheads Using the tube stage on overheads can give the entire drum set extra punch and presence don t worry if the 18 dB LED illumi nates brightly in this case Higher tube gain levels will increase the punch and loudness effect The FET limiter is an additional creative tool on overheads GainStation 8 Inside the GainStation8 The most time consuming part of the development of the GainStation 8 was searching for selecting and matching compo nents PCB s and IC s One decisive factor in achieving impec cable audio quality is the refusal to accept
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