dbx 160XT - Front Panel Functions; Compression and Metering Settings

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Front Panel
E
F
G
0 N'UT
dbx
• •
-10 THRESHOLD 4:1 1:1
-ec,~0 ..:.•~ 3:1~~~
1
40~•10 -· 2:1~.;:,1
-10 • +10 --,__ e e e e e e ee e e e e e eee e e e I.E\IEL
--------.r--=-«> SO 10 1G 10 e e 6 4 3 I 1 0 1 2 4 I 10 10 +
160XT
40 Bm +20dlm 1:1 •1 :1
OUT1'IIT • • • • • e eee e e e - GAIN REDUCTION
- +l!Ooll
BYPASS 61.AIIE
~- COMPRESslON
THRESHOID ~= EASY RATIO
~T OISPI..AY
COMPRESSOR/LIMITER
D
H
Figure 2: Front Panel
D. OVER EASY switch
Depressing this button selec ts the Over Easy©
compression characteristic. The amber
:n:1RESHOLD LED turns ON when the signal
1s 1n the Over Easy region. When this button is
out, the 160XT operates as a hard-knee com-
pressor /limiter.
In hard-knee compression mode, the threshold
is defined as that point above which the output
level no longer changes on a 1:1 basis with
changes in the input level. In Over Easy mode,
the threshold of compression is defined as the
middle of the Over Easy threshold region, that
Front Panel
F. COMPRESSION RATIO control
Rotating this control clockw ise increases the
amount of compression from 1:1 (no compres-
sion) up to infinity:1 (no increase in output
level, regardless of input level increases above
threshold); further clockwise rotation increa ses
compressio n into the INFINI1Y + region, up to
a maximum of-1:1 (i.e., a ldB increase in input
level above threshold causes a 1dB decrease in
outp ut level). In the INANl1Y + region, the
160XT inverts the program dynamics for spe-
cial effects.
G. OUTPUT GAIN control
Adjusting this control varies the amount of
fixed gain (up to +20dB) in the 160XT's output
amplifie r stage. The OUTPUT GAIN·contro l
does not interact with the threshold of compres-
•
s1on.
H. DISPLAY switch and indicator
Depressing this button causes the upper LED
array to display the INPUT level to the 160XT.
With the button out, the OUTPUT level is dis-
played. A pair of LEDs immediately above the
DISPLAY swi tch indicates the selected display
status.
is, "half-way" into compress ion, as shown in
Figure (See Figure 13).
E. THRESHOLD indicators
These three LEDs indicate the relation ship of
the input signal level to the threshold of com-
pression. The green "BELOW" LED is ON
when the signal is below threshold and the red
"ABOVE" LED is ON when the signal is above
threshold. When the 160XT is switched to Over
Easr ~ode, the amber LEJ? is ON when the sig-
nal 1s 1n the Over Easy region (See Figure 13).
dbx 160XT
I. LEVEL and GAIN REDUCTION displays
The upper row of 19 LEDs displays either the
INPUT or OUTPUT level, as selected with the
DISPLAY switch. This display is factory set so
that OdB is equivalent to +4dBu input or output
level (1.23Vrms), but may be reset with the rear
panel METER CALIBRATION trimmer. (See fol-
lowing pages.)
The lower row of 12 LEDs displays up to 40dB
of GAIN REDUCTION caused by the 160XT.
(Fixed gain changes due to the OUTPUT GAIN
con trol are not displayed by the GAIN REDUC-
TION LEDs but are reflected in the OUTPUT
level display.)
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