dbx 160XT - Front Panel Controls; Bypass, Slave, and Threshold

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Introduction
Other features include:
OVER EASy® /Hard Knee Selection - allows
selection between our famous Over Easy com-
pression curve and the classic "Ha rd Knee"
curve popularized by the original dbx 160,
161 and 162.
True RMS Level Detection - senses the power
in the program in a musical manner , much as
the ear does, giving results superior to peak
or average detection.
Hardwire System Bypass Switch - allows the
audio to pass even if the unit is unplugged,
and is also useful for comparing the pro-
cessed and unprocessed signal.
Front Panel Stereo Coupling Switch - couple s
two 160XTs or a 160XT and a 160X toge ther
for stereo operation at the push of a button.
19 Segment Display - for high resolution mon-
itoring of True RMS input and output levels .
12 Segment Display - indi cating GAIN
REDUCTION.
Meter Calibration - input / output meter cali-
bration, so the 160XT can be used in a variety
of situa tions where the "O" reference is not
consistent.
¼" Input and Output Connectors - we kept
the 1/4" phone jacks from the 160X, with the
Front Panel
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160XT
BYPASS
Bl.AVE
THRESHOLD 01/Bl EASY
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output capable of driving its own additional
600Q load (single-ended) in addition to any
load at the XL output.
Detector Input - useful for specia l applications
including frequency conscio us compression
in which an external equalizer is used.
DC-controlled Parameters - the signal does
not pass thru any of the parameter controls.
Instead a DC voltage controls all functions
which eliminates any possibility of potenti -
ometer noise as the con trols age.
The dbx 160XT is capab le of handling a wide
range of applications. In the studio, the 160XT can
_be used on everything from vocals to percussion.
In live sound reinfor cement , the 160XT can allow
the engineer to get that "fat studio sound" out of
the drum kit or provide protection limiting for the
speakers . In radio or television broadcast, the
160XT will produce stable voice levels, even with
non-professional subjects.
dbx 160XT
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OUTPUT • • • • • • •• • • • • - GAIN AEDUCTlON
- -
OUTPUT OISPI.AY
G.V,I COMPRESSOR/LIMITER
Figure 1: Front Panel
A. BYPASS switch and indicator
Depressing the BYPASS button creates a "hard -
wire bypass " of the 160XT's circuitry by con-
necting the input directly to the output; If the
160XT is being provided with AC power , an
LED above the switch turn s ON in Bypass
mode.
B. SLAVE switch and indicator
Depressing the SLAVE button on one 160XT of
a stereo pair determines that the other 160XT
will be the Master (the controlling unit ). The
LED above the SLAVE button turns ON when
the 160XT is in Slave mode, indicating that the
front panel functions (with the exception of BY-
PASS and DISPLAY select switches) are deacti-
vated and under control of the Master 160XT.
When neither 160XT is in Slave mode , each will
operate normally as a single channel compres-
sor /limiter.
C. THRESHOLD control
Adjusting this knob sets the threshold of com-
pression from-40dBu (7.8mVrms) to +20dBu
(7.8Vrms).
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