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Manual
Machine Head
Model 9737
Digital Tape Saturation Processor
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SOUND PERFORMANCE LAB MACHINE HEAD MODEL 9737 Manual by Hermann Gier Version 1.3 – 1/1999 The information in this document has been carefully verified and is assumed to be correct. However Sound Performance Laboratory (SPL) reserves the right to modify the product described in this manual at any time. Changes without notice. This document is the property of SPL and may not be copied or reproduced in any manner, in part or full without the autho- rization of SPL. Limitations of Liability: In no e
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Foreword 3 Contents Thanks 3 Introduction 4 Operation Safety 5 Connections 6 Installing Updates 6 Quick Start 7 Analogue Tape Recording Signal Flow 7 Control Elements 8 ACTIVE 8 INPUT GAIN 8 DRIVE 8 HF-ADJUST 9 OUTPUT GAIN 10 HIGH TAPE SPEED 10 LC-DISPLAY 10 LED CHAINS 10 PRESETS 11 INFO (HARDWARE DIALOGUE)11 Specifications 15 Warranty 16 Dear customer, Foreword Thank you for the confidence you have shown towards SPL electronics GmbH by purchasing the SPL MACHINE HEAD. You have decided to use a
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The MACHINE HEAD is a creative sound and dynamics processor Introduction within SPL´s Digital-Red series. Concept: The algorithm used by MACHINE HEAD computes authentic tape saturation effects, hitherto unavailable in the Creating authentic tape digital domain. saturation effects. The subjective sonic effects are an increase in loudness and a better penetration of the mix at identical peak level. The sound becomes warmer and more powerful, and the process elimi- The sound becomes warmer nates t
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Indicators and meters: SIGNAL-LEDs to verify data MACHINE HEAD is equipped with PPM displays for input and stream output levels. The first LED of each input and output meter is a signal (SIG.) LED which illuminates when a compatible digital Clip-LEDs data stream is present at the inputs. The LEDs are a first indi- cator to check the data stream. If the LEDs do not illuminate the Input and Output data stream is interrupted or invalid. PPM metering The top LEDs of each input and output meter indi
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Before connecting the MACHINE HEAD switch the power off at Connections all connected units. The rear panel provides AES/EBU- and S/P-DIF-inputs and outputs. Any additional channel, status and user-bits are passed through unaltered, and the outputs can be used at the same time if required. The MACHINE HEAD operates with 24 bit word width. It accepts 16 to 24 bit inputs and will create output signals according to the input resolution. For synchronisation purposes WORDCLOCK IN and WORDCLOCK THROUG
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All controls are in the start-off positions: Quick Start INPUT GAIN 0, DRIVE 0, HF-ADJUST 0, OUTPUT GAIN 0, TAPE SPEED 15 1. Press ACTIVE. LED illuminates. 2. Increase the DRIVE-value to saturate the “virtual” tape. Set DRIVE to about 6. If the output level increases, use the OUTPUT GAIN control to compensate for the increase. 3. If more saturation is wanted, it may be necessary to reduce the INPUT GAIN slightly to prevent clipping. 4. Use the HF-ADJUST control to create the typi
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Control Elements 7 5 6 9 1 8 2 3 4 10 The ACTIVE function switches the MACHINE HEAD on or off. The 1 Active illuminated LED indicates that the processing has been activated. The software bypass also compensates for the 5ms time Relay hard-bypass for delay between processed and unprocessed signal. AES/EBU input and output The AES/EBU input and output are equipped with relay- hard-bypass. In the event of a power failure the MACHINE HEAD is automatically switched to hard-bypass (power failure safe
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The higher the DRIVE the more intense gets the saturation of the tape. While increasing the DRIVE value the output level may increase, too. Compensate for this by reducing the OUTPUT GAIN value (see 5) and monitor the OUTPUT LEVEL meters. The subjec- tively the perceived loudness will increase more dramatic than the actual PPM value! Practical values for the DRIVE Recommended values are 3 to 8 for the DRIVE-parameter are 3 to 8. which corresponds with +10dB to +15dB for the actual DRIVE LEVEL s
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OUTPUT GAIN varies the output level of the digital data stream. Output Gain 5 It is variable between -12 dB and +12 dB in 0.1 dB steps. The adjusted OUTPUT GAIN value is shown in the LC-display (see 7) and in the OUTPUT PPM meter (see 8). Compensating a level and/or loudness increase In practice you will start with the OUTPUT GAIN set to 0dB. In due to processing case you have used high DRIVE values you will use the OUTPUT GAIN to compensate for the slight level increase. You can also use the O
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The DRIVE LEVEL metering shows the recording level of the “virtual tape machine”. The display range is -10dB to +21dB. The DRIVE LEVEL ist adjusted with the DIRVE control (see 3). The OUTPUT PPM meters show the peak level after the OUTPUT GAIN control (see 5). The first LED in each INPUT and OUTPUT PPM meter is a signal (SIG.) LED to indicate that a valid digital source is connected and detected. This LED helps you to verify the signal flow within a digital processing chain. If one SIG. LED is n
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Depressing STORE and APPLY simultanouesly for about one 10 Info second gets you into a hardware dialogue, called INFO. The LC- display shows status informations of the digital data stream. With UP/DOWN you will jump from one page to the next or previous. If a selection is provided use APPLY to select. 1. Software version and date 2. Selecting inputs: The MACHINE HEAD automatically searches for an input signal. If both inputs are connected the AES/EBU input will be selected first. If you want to
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Press APPLY (if S/P-DIF is detected): S/P-DIF with wordclock detected or: S/P-DIF input without wordclock is detected 3. Displaying the detected sample frequency: The SAMPLE FREQUENCY will be detected automatically. The display either shows 44,1 kHz, 48 kHz or 32 kHz. 4. Displaying the Audio-Error flag: NO = no error detected; YES = error detected 5. Displaying the CRC-Error flag: NO = no error detected; YES = error detected 6. Displaying the Channel Difference Error flag: NO = no error detecte
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9. Displaying the Emphasis flag: NO = no emphasis; YES = with emphasis 10. Selecting a serial port: RS-232 interface for update-download from PCs or (press APPLY): RS-422 interface for update-download from MACs. 11. Selecting a MIDI channel: Depress APPLY to step from MIDI CHANNEL 01 up to MIDI CHANNEL 16. In order to increase operation safety only send the necessary MIDI data to the MACHINE HEAD. Unnecessary information may lead to system failure. You can use MIDI to create a MIDI fade out, i
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Input/Output Specifications Sample rate frequency, autom. 32-48kHz AES/EBU, twisted pair (1) AES 3 AES/EBU in- & output impedance 110 Ohms S/P-DIF, co-axial (2) SPDIF-2 S/P-DIF input impedance 75 Ohms Wordclock In/Through, co-axial BNC Wordclock in-/output impedance 75 Ohms MIDI In/Through yes RS 232 yes RS 422 (max +/- 14V) yes Clip display yes Input transformer (AES/EBU) yes Output transformer (AES/EBU) yes Relay Hard Bypass (AES/EBU) yes Measurements AES/EBU: Jitter 1ns S/P-DIF: Jitter 3ns Wo
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SPL electronics GmbH (hereafter called SPL) products are Warranty warranted only in the country where purchased, through the authorized SPL distributor in that country, against defects in material or workmanship. The specific period of this limited warranty shall be that which is described to the original retail purchaser by the authorized SPL dealer or distributor at the time of purchase. SPL does not, however, warrant its products against any and all defects: 1) arising out of materials or wor
