 |
661
Tube Compressor/Limiter |
| Expressor
Easyrider with Tubessence
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The
Aphex Model 661 is a totally new type of compressor incorporating
vacuum tube technology with the latest innovations in audio
compression. This single-channel compressor/limiter is loaded
with features, consolidating for the first time in one rack
space, three patented Aphex circuits: Tubessence®,
Easyrider®, and High Frequency Expander®. |
| The
Unique 661 Circuitry |
| Tubessence
is a true tube circuitwhich provides that "vintage"
tube sound without high the heat, bulk, short life, fragility,
and sonic variability found in traditional tube designs.
Easyrider
is an Automatic mode that actually works, consisting of the
Wave dependent Compressor™ (WDC) circuit which takes
the guesswork out of compressing individual instruments and
vocals especially in live mixes. WDC automatically adjusts
attack and release times according to the complexity of the
program material. Its No-Knee™ compression curve makes
the transition into compression virtually invisible.
In
the Manual mode, the Model 661 provides the full complement
of compressor adjustments such as Ratio, Attack, and Release,
for maximum flexibility. Express yourself and get those "punch",
"slap", "fat", "pump", and "squeeze"
sounds fast and clean.
The
661 includes the patented High Frequency Expander®
(HFX) which decompresses high frequencies, with user-adjustable
ratio and corner frequency. Add "life" and "air"
to your compressed signals without fear of background noise
pumping.
The
Spectral Phase Refractor™ restores
clarity and punch to your tracks. Bass frequencies are more
defined with more apparent power. Higher frequencies also
seem to gain more detail and presence.
Use
the Model 661 to control dynamics for mixdowns, protect your
sound system's loudspeakers from transients and distortion
or shape the sound of individual instruments and vocals. Compress
dynamic levels without fear of reducing frequency response.
Whatever type of dynamics control you're looking for, it can
be done with the Model 661 Tube Compressor / Limiter Expressor®.
|
| Application |
| • |
Music
Production - Improve the sound on individual instruments, vocals
and mixes |
| • |
Sound
Reinforcement - A roadable tube compressor/limiter in only one
rack space |
| • |
Broadcast
& Post Production - A great vocal processor and a powerful
studio tool |
| • |
Project
Studios - Improve the sound of digital recorders and workstations
|
| • |
Musicians
- The ultimate compressor for the professional guitar, bass,
keyboard instrument rig |
| Features |
| • |
Auto
or full Manual operation. In Auto mode, compression parameters
constantly change for best sound |
| • |
A
true tube circuit (Tubessence) in the output stage for a "warm",
"live" and "full" sound |
| • |
HFX
allows the use of high compression ratios without the loss of
high frequencies |
| • |
SPR
increases the apparent bass energy level, without amplitude
equalization or bass boost |
| • |
Use
Sidechain Access sends jacks for creative processing (de-essing
and ducking) |
| • |
Stereo,
dual mono or master/ slave operation for total flexibility |
| Using
the Aphex Model 661 >>>>>>
PLEASE REFER TO THE FIGURES BELOW FOR CALLOUT NUMBERS |
| Front
Panel Controls |
| 1 |
The
PROCESS IN / BYPASS Switch operates a bypass
relay (indicated by a yellow LED) that connects the Main Audio
input directly to the Output, completely bypassing the 661.
PROCESS IN (indicated by a red LED) engages the 661 circuitry.
|
| 2 |
The
SPR Switch controls the Spectral Phase Refractor
circuit. SPR can reverse the effect of accumulated low frequency
time delays caused by audio passing through too many electronic
stages. |
| 3 |
The
INPUT Control sets the amount of gain in the 661's
input stage. |
| 4 |
The
THRESHOLD Control sets the level above which
input signals will be processed by the 661's gain control circuitry
in a manner defined by the settings of the various AUTO or MANUAL
controls |
| 5 |
The
OUTPUT Control sets the amount of gain in the
661's output stage, restoring level lost by compression (make-up
gain). |
| 6 |
The
LOW CUT Switch inserts a 6dB per octave low
cut filter with an 80Hz corner frequency into the sidechain.
This is most useful when using the 661 (two in stereo link mode)
to process a stereo mix-down of bass predominant material. |
| 7 |
HIGH
FREQUENCY EXPANDER (HFX) is a form of dynamic equalization
that boosts high frequencies when gain reduction occurs. The
HFX RATIO Control sets the amount of equalization (6 dB per
octave shelving) for the amount of Gain Reduction. At 1:1 there
is 1 dB of High Frequency Expansion (or boost) for every 1dB
of Gain Reduction. |
| 8 |
The
FREQUENCY Control lets you set the (HFX) corner
frequency of the shelving EQ anywhere between 2 kHz to 20 kHz.
|
| 9 |
The
AUDIO LEVEL Meter monitors the Input and Output
level depending on the position of the switch below the meters.
A red CLIP LED at the right of the meter indicates clipping.
|
| 10 |
The
GAIN REDUCTION meter shows the amount of compression
in 2dB steps with a maximum of 30dB. |
| 11 |
UNLINK
must be engaged for normal operation of one 661. Depressing
LINK or SLAVE when using only one 661 will cause the unit to
malfunction. |
| 12 |
LINK
is engaged when two 661's are used in stereo. Both 661's must
have the LINK switch engaged. |
| 13 |
SLAVE
is used when two 661's are being configured for a master/slave
operation. Only the unit acting as a SLAVE should have the SLAVE
switch engaged. The master unit needs to be in LINK. |
| 14 |
The
LED at the top of the POWER SWITCH illuminates
when the unit is powered. |
| A/M
|
The
AUTO / MANUAL Mode Switch determines if the
661's primary control parameters will be manually adjusted by
the user or automatically adjusted by the 661. In the AUTO (Easyrider)
Mode the Fast / Slow switch is active while Soft Knee, Ratio,
Attack and Release are defeated. In the MANUAL Mode, Soft Knee,
Ratio, Attack and Release are active, while the Fast / Slow
switch is defeated. |
| A1
|
AUTO
MODE: When in the AUTO Mode the attack and release
characteristics of the Easyrider circuit are automatically adjusted
based upon the waveform of the input. The SLOW/ FAST Switch
selects between two ranges of the automatic release circuit.
|
| M1 |
MANUAL
MODE: The SOFT KNEE Switch in the OFF position results
in a transition at threshold that is of the abrupt Hard Knee
type. In the ON position (indicated by red LED), signals are
processed more gradually and the transition is less noticeable.
|
| M2 |
The
RATIO Control determines the amount of change
in output level for a given change in input level above threshold.
This is expressed as a ratio: relative input vs. output. The
range of this control is 1:1 to 30:1. |
| M3
|
The
ATTACK Control adjusts the time in which the
661 will reduce the gain after an increase in input over threshold.
The range of the control is .05 to 100 ms. |
| M4
|
The
RELEASE CONTROL adjusts how long it takes the
661 to release gain reduction after a decrease in input level.
The range of this control is .04 to 4 seconds. |
|
| FRONT
PANEL VIEW, CONTINUED > |
|
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| Rear
Panel Controls |
| 1 |
VOLTAGE
SELECTION & FUSE: AC line power is supplied to
the unit via an integral receptacle/fuse holder on the rear
panel which meets all of the international safety certification
requirements and also doubles as a radio frequency line filter. |
| 2 |
LINK
provides two different methods of linking the VCA control between
two 661's: Stereo Link and Master/Slave. To link two 661's,
insert a 1/4" TS cable into the Link jack on both units.
|
| 3 |
SIDECHAIN
ACCESS provides a 1/4" TS jack to send the output
of the 661 into an external processing device and a return 1/4"
TS jack for returning the output of an external processing device
into the 661. |
| 4 |
The
OPERATING LEVEL Switch on the rear panel selects
the nominal operating level to either +4dBu or -10dBV. This
switch sets the dynamic range of the 661's circuitry to best
match your standard operating level, and also sets the 0dB calibration
of the front panel AUDIO LEVEL Meter to equal the reference
level selected. |
| 5 |
Two
servo-balanced INPUT Connectors are provided,
choose either a 3- pin XLR female connector or a 1/4" TRS
phone jack. |
| 6 |
Two
servo-balanced OUTPUT Connectors are provided,
choose either a 3- pin XLR male connector or a 1/4" TRS
phone jack. |
| 7 |
A
WIRING TABLE is printed on the back panel for assistance
in the proper wiring of connectors. |
 |
| FRONT
PANEL VIEW, CONTINUED > |
 |
SPECIFICATIONS
- Aphex Model 204 - Aural Exciter and Optical Big Bottom
Tube
Compressor / Limiter Expressor / Easyrider with Tubessence |
NOMINAL OPERATING LEVEL:
user selectable on back |
+4dBu |
-10dBV |
| AUDIO |
|
|
| |
Frequency Response |
±0.5
dB 2 Hz to 110 kHz |
same |
| |
Dynamic Range |
94dB |
same |
| |
Hum and Noise (no G.R.),
(unweighted 10Hz-22kHz) |
-83dBu |
-95dBV |
| |
Crosstalk (10Hz-22kHz
at max output) |
-80dB |
same |
| |
THD @ max output |
.6% |
same |
| |
THD @ nominal output +6dB |
.15% |
same |
| |
IMD @ max output |
.5% |
same |
| |
IMD @ nominal output +6dB |
.25% |
same |
| INPUT |
|
| |
Connector |
3 pin XLR
female and TRS 1/4" phone jack |
| |
Type |
Transformerless,
differential servo balanced with RFI filter |
| |
Impedance |
Balanced |
20k
ohms |
same |
| |
Unbalanced |
10k
ohms |
same |
| |
Nominal Level |
+4dBu |
-10dBV
(-7.8dBu) |
| |
Maximum Level |
+25dBu |
+13dBV
(+15.2dBu) |
| |
CMRR (typical) |
>90dB
at 100Hz; >70dB at 1kHz >50dB at 20kHz |
| OUTPUT |
|
|
| |
Connector |
3 pin XLR
male and TRS 1/4" phone jack |
| |
Type |
Transformerless
differential servo used balanced or unbalanced |
| |
Impedance |
Balanced |
65
ohms |
same |
| |
|
Unbalanced |
65
ohms |
same |
| |
Nominal Level |
+4dBu |
-10dBV
(-7.8dBu) |
| |
Maximum Level |
Balanced |
+22dBu |
+8dBV
(+10.2dBu) |
| |
|
Unbalanced |
+20dBu |
+8dBV
(+10.2dBu) |
| COMPRESSION
PARAMETERS |
|
| |
Threshold |
Auto |
Variable -30dB to +20dB |
| |
|
Manual |
same |
| |
Ratio |
Auto |
Easyrider No-Knee Compression
Curve starts at 1.1:1 and ends at 6:1 |
| |
|
Manual |
starts at 1:1 and ends
at 30:1 |
| |
Attack Time |
Auto |
Program (waveform) dependent |
| |
|
Manual |
.05 to 100 ms |
| |
Release Time |
Auto |
Program (waveform) dependent |
| |
|
Manual |
.04 to 4 seconds |
| |
Input Control Range |
30 dB |
| |
Output Control Range |
40 dB |
CONTROLS,
FUNCTION SWITCHES, AND METERING |
| |
Controls |
Input, Threshold, Output,
Ratio, Attack, Release, HFX Ratio, Frequency (HFX)
|
| |
Switches |
Process In/Bypass, SPR,
Slow/Fast, Auto/Manual,Soft Knee, Low Cut, Input/Output
(meter select), Unlink, Link, Slave, Power |
| |
Meters |
Audio Level (Input and
Output) Gain Reduction |
| OTHER
SPECIFICATIONS |
| |
Power Requirements |
100 / 120 / 220 / 240
VAC 50-60 Hz 20 Watts |
| |
Dimensions |
19"W x 1.75"H x 10.125"
overall Depth (482.6mm x 44.5mm x 257.2mm) |
| |
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Depth behind front panel:
9.25" (234.95 mm) 1 Rack U
high |
| |
Net Weight |
5.5 lbs (2.27 kg) |
|
| |
Shipping Weight |
9 lbs (4 kg) |
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