 |
320D
Compellor - Dual Mono / Stereo Automatic Level
with Digital and Analog I/O |
| |
| Since
the introduction of the original Compellor in 1983, no other
audio level controller has met with such success.
Around the world, in broadcasting, recording, or sound reinforcement,
the Compellor is specified more than any other level controller. |
|
GET THE BEST OF BOTH
WORLDS!
|
DUAL
MONO OR STEREO
The 320D converts between acting as two independent mono processors
and one linked stereo processor by front panel selection. This
is true with both analog and digital I/O.
ANALOG or DIGITAL IN, ANALOG and DIGITAL OUT !
The 320D serves as a fine A to D converter with processing.
When you use the analog input, the digital output contains the
Compellor's processing and is therefore ready for use in almost
any application. Conversely, the 320D serves as a fine D to
A converter. When you use the digital input, the analog output
contains the Compellor's processing, and is properly levelled
and packaged.
ANALOG AND DIGITAL AUDIO INTERFACES
The professional analog audio inputs and outputs are fully balanced
and adapt to consumer or professional operating levels at the
touch of a button. Analog or digital source selection is made
at the rear panel. For
digital interfacing, the 320D contains a high quality 24 bit
low noise codec to receive digital audio and transmit digital
audio. Once the incoming digital audio is converted by the
DAC section, it passes through the compellor as normal audio.
The audio output is then converted back to digital by the
ADC section of the codec.
The
rear panel AES3 jacks are standard professional 110 ohm interfaces.
There is no word clock input or output. Synchronizing is done
from the AES3 input signal or an internal clock. When a digital
input is present, the output is synchronized to the input
sample rate. If no digital input is present, the digital output
automatically locks to the internal default sample clock.
The user can specify the sample rate by changing the internal
crystal. Spare crystals for 32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz, and 96kHz
are supplied with the unit free of charge.
The
model 320D codec translates the -20dBfs level of the digital
audio source to the 0dB reference within the Compellor circuits.
The average output levels will target around -20dBfs. The
selectable peak limiter's threshold translates to -6dBfs.
Thus, no digital audio output peaks will rise above -6dBfs
when the limiter is on. The combination of averaging the level
around -20dBfs and holding peaks below -6dBfs packages the
audio perfectly for natural sound quality and for most transfer
or transmission purposes. For example, the digital audio would
be ready for direct input toan MP3 encoder, HD recorder, Broadcast
digital STL, .wav file, etc. |
| FEATURES |
| • |
Frequency
Discriminate Leveler - No bass pull-back in music |
| • |
Dynamic
Release Computer |
| • |
Dynamic
Verification Gate - adds greater transparency |
| • |
Silence
Gate - Locks gain when audio stops |
| • |
Process
balance - Lets you have any combination of leveling and
compression |
| • |
True
Bypass - no electronics in bypass |
| • |
AES3
I/O up to 96kHz |
| • |
Analog I/O - Fully balanced professional |
| • |
High
Reliability - Famous Aphex Engineering |
| • |
Stereo
& Dual Mono - Use as two separate channels or linked
for stereo |
| • |
Source
Select - Choose digital or analog input |
| • |
Dual Outputs - Use BOTH digital and analog at the same
time with either input selected |
|
|
Typical Uses |
| • |
Broadcast
pre-processing |
• |
MP3
Encoding |
| • |
Recording |
• |
Installed
and Mobile sound |
| • |
DAW
input |
• |
Mastering
|
| • |
Satellite
uplinks |
• |
Home
Stereo |
| • |
Background
Music |
• |
Ham
Radio |
| • |
Tape
Duplication |
• |
Cable
TV |
|
| Leading
Aphex Technology |
| The
Compellor circuits are totally unique. By throwing away all
conventional design ideas, we created audio processing with
unprecedented sound transparency, yet is exceedingly effective
at controlling levels. Because our designs are patented, no
other company has been able to match the performance. Algorithms
like our "DVG", "DRC", and "FDL"
have yet to find any rivals. |
| Unmatched
Reliability |
| Aphex
engineering and manufacturing produces products that last and
last without need for repairs or calibration. Some Compellors
have literally been in 24 hour use in the same rack for a decade,
or longer! When you specify a Compellor, you know it will do
its job flawlessly and give you peace of mind. |
| Digital
Advancements |
| The
first Compellor was introduced in 1983 as an analog product.
Because of their advanced technology, most of those older units
are still in regular use. Since that time, newer models have
been produced, still in analog form. Digital technology of today
promises many improvements in user interfaces, and sometimes
in sound quality, but not in audio processing algorithms. No
digital Processor can match an analog Compellor for sound quality
and effectiveness. Nevertheless, many of today's systems need
a Compellor that can interface to digital audio.With the Model
320D, Aphex brings you just that. You get all the advantages
of the analog processor with AES3 connectivity. |
| Compression
- Leveling - Limiting: A Very Brief Tutorial
|
| Two
properties of audio that can cause problems are the average
level (the "loudness") and unpredictable peaks that
can clip. The Compellor handles both problems for you, fitting
the sound into an ideal sound envelope package. The
Compellor's "Frequency Discriminate Leveler" (FDL)
section with the "Dynamic Verification Gate" (DVG)
and the "Silence Gate" (SG) slowly corrects the
volume level of an audio stream with very complex algorithms
that hide its work. It works differently at different frequencies,
for example. It locks up when the sound stops and resumes
instantly when sound reappears. When you listen, you know
the levels are made more even, but you don't perceive the
levels are shifting.
The
Compellor's Variable Slope Compressor with the "Dynamic
Recovery Computer" and the "DVG" work on top
of the leveling platform to add adaptable compression that
helps you match the texture of changing audio sources. Again,
you don't hear "pumping" or other audio artifacts,
just very natural sound that is evenly consistent in loudness.
The
Compellor's limiter acts on peaks that shoot beyond typical
audio crest factors. Extremely peaky sounds will be brought
into an envelope that is easy to handle by any analog or digital
recording or transportation medium including digital codecs.
|
| ARCHITECT'S
SPECIFICATIONS |
| A
single rack space electronic audio level controlling device
with both analog and AES3 digital audio I/O combining leveling,
compression, and limiting for automatically and continuously
correcting audio levels. The level controller shall be of such
design as to reduce the audible artifacts of compression. It
shall also be of such design as to prevent the rising of background
noises when the audio source stops producing sound. The leveling
function shall adapt discriminately to frequencies in a manner
to reduce the impression of bass sounds losing impact in music.
The compression function shall contain a means to adapt itself
to the peak factor of sound so as to improve the consistency
of volume levels. The limiter shall operate at a threshold of
14dB above the 0VU reference level. Digital and analog audio
outputs shall be simultaneously available. The input shall be
switchable between the analog and digital sources. The AES3
I/O shall operate normallyat sample rates from 32kHz to 96kHz. |
| Specifications
- 320D Compellor |
NOMINAL
OPERATING LEVEL:
user selectable on back |
+8dBu |
-10
dBV |
| Analog
Inputs |
|
|
| Connector |
3
pin XLR Female |
|
| Type |
Transformerless
servo balanced RFI filtered |
|
| Impedance |
22k
ohms balanced, 11k ohms unbalanced |
|
| Operating
Level |
user
selectable +4dBu or -10dBv |
|
| Max
input level |
+27dBu
(ref = +8); +25dBu (ref = +4) |
+10dBV
(ref = -10) |
| CMRR |
>90dB
at 100Hz >70dB at 1kHz >50dB at 20kHz |
| Digital
Inputs |
| Connector |
3
pin XLR female |
| Type |
Transformer
balanced |
| Impedance |
110
ohms |
| Analog
Outputs |
| Connector |
3
pin XLR male |
| Type |
electronic
servo balanced (unbalanced without 6dB loss) |
| Impedance |
65
ohms bal or unbal (nominal load 600 ohms or greater) |
| Max
level out (bal) |
+25dBu
(ref = +4) |
+10.8dBV
(ref = -10) |
| Max
level out (unbal) |
+20dBu
(ref = +4) |
+10.8dBV
(ref = -10) |
| Digital
Outputs |
| Connector
|
3
pin XLR Male |
| Type |
Transformer
balanced |
| Impedance
|
110
ohms |
| Audio |
|
| Frequency
Response |
±1dB
10Hz to 65kHz |
|
Hum and noise (1k tone at unity gain) |
|
|
No gain reduction |
-67
dBu (ref = +4) |
-86dBV
(ref = -10) |
| 10dB
gain reduction |
-74
dBu (ref = +4) |
-89dBV
(ref = -10) |
| Crosstalk
at 20kHz |
-65
dBu (ref = +4) |
-78dBV
(ref = -10) |
| Dynamic
THD |
typically
.05% for 1kHz at 20dB gain reduction |
| Static
THD |
.025%
at maximum output level |
| IMD,
max output |
.13%
(ref = +4) |
.4%
(ref = -10) |
|
| System
Functions |
|
| Compression
|
|
| Frequency
Discriminate Leveling |
|
| Peak
Limiter |
|
| Dynamic
Verification Gate (DVG) |
|
| Dynamic
Recovery Computer (DRC) |
|
| Silence
Gate |
|
| Stereo
Enhance |
|
| Threshold |
|
| Compressor
|
30dB
below nominal level |
| Leveler |
30dB
below nominal level |
| Limiter |
14dB
above nominal level |
| Ratio
|
| Compressor
|
1.1:1
to 3:1 program dependent |
| Leveler |
20:1
|
| Limiter |
>30:1
|
| Attack
Times |
| Compressor
|
5
to 50msec program dependent |
| Leveler
fast |
20Hz
= 1.5 Sec >1kHz Frequency Discriminate Leveler |
| Leveler
slow |
20Hz
= 5 Sec >1kHz Frequency Discriminate Leveler |
| Limiter |
1
uSec |
| Release
Times |
| Compressor
|
200mSec
to 1 Second program dependent |
| Leveler
fast |
3
sec |
| Leveler
slow |
10
sec |
| Limiter |
200
msec |
| Digital
Audio |
| Input
SR |
Locks
to 32, 44.1,48, 88.2, 96kHz ±3% |
| I/O
Type |
AES/EBU
110 ohms XLR |
| Default
Output SR |
User
definable by replacing crystal; 48kHz standard |
| Word
Clock |
Not
Supported |
| Other
Specifications |
| Power
Requirements |
100
- 120 - 220 - 240 VAC, 50-60Hz 20 Watts |
| Dimensions |
1.75"H
x 19"W x 10.125" D (44.5mm x 482.6mm x 257mm) (allow
for wire dress) |
| Net
Weight |
8
lbs (3.6 kg) |
|
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