dbx 1046 User manual

MODEL 1046
Operation Manual

WARNING FOR YOUR PROTECTION
READ THE FOLLOWING:
KEEP THESE INSTRUCTIONS
HEED ALL WARNINGS
FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS
THE APPARATUS SHALL NOT BE EXPOSED TO DRIPPING OR SPLASHING
LIQUID AND NO OBJECT FILLED WITHI LIQUID, SUCH AS VASES, SHALL
BE PLACED ON THE APPARATUS.
CLEAN ONLY WITH A DRY CLOTH.
DO NOT BLOCK ANY OF THE VENTILATION OPENINGS. INSTALL IN AC-
CORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS.
DO NOT INSTALL NEAR ANY HEAT SOURCES SUCH AS RADIATORS,
HEAT REGISTERS, STOVES, OR OTHER APPARATUS (INCLUDING AMPLI-
FIERS) THAT PRODUCE HEAT.
ONLY USE ATTACHMENTS/ACCESSORIES SPECIFIED BY THE MANUFAC-
TURER.
UNPLUG THIS APPARATUS DURING LIGHTNING STORMS OR WHEN
UNUSED FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A
polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding
type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or third
prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit your out-
let, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs,
convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
Use only with the cart stand, tripod bracket, or table specified by the manufac-
ture, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving
the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when
the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug
is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the
apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or
has been dropped.
POWER ON/OFF SWITCH: If the equipment has a Power switch, the Power
switch used in this piece of equipment DOES NOT break the connection from
the mains.
MAINS DISCONNECT: The plug shall remain readily operable. For rack-
mount or installation where plug is not accessible, an all-pole mains switch with
a contact separation of at least 3 mm in each pole shall be incorporated into
the electrical installation of the rack or building.
FOR UNITS EQUIPPED WITH EXTERNALLY ACCESSIBLE FUSE RECEP-
TACLE: Replace fuse with same type and rating only.
MULTIPLE-INPUT VOLTAGE:This equipment may require the use of a different
line cord, attachment plug, or both, depending on the available power source at
installation. Connect this equipment only to the power source indicated on the
equipment rear panel.To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, refer servic-
ing to qualified service personnel or equivalent.
If connected to 240V supply, a suitable CSA/UL certified power cord shall be
used for this supply.
Safety InStructIonS
NOTICE FOR CUSTOMERS IF YOUR UNIT IS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER CORD.
WARNING: THIS APPLIANCE SHALL BE CONNECTED TO A MAINS SOCKET OUTLET WITH A
PROTECTIVE EARTHING CONNECTION.
The cores in the mains lead are coloured in accordance with the following code:
GREEN and YELLOW - Earth BLUE - Neutral BROWN - Live
As colours of the cores in the mains lead of this appliance may not correspond with the coloured
markings identifying the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows:
•The core which is coloured green and yellow must be connected to the terminal in the plug
marked with the letter E, or with the earth symbol, or coloured green, or green and yellow.
•The core which is coloured blue must be connected to the terminal marked N or coloured black.
•The core which is coloured brown must be connected to the terminal marked L or coloured red.
This equipment may require the use of a different line cord, attachment plug, or both, depending
on the available power source at installation. If the attachment plug needs to be changed, refer
servicing to qualified service personnel who should refer to the table below. The green/yellow
wire shall be connected directly to the units chassis.
CONDUCTOR WIRE COLOR
Normal Alt
LLIVE BROWN BLACK
NNEUTRAL BLUE WHITE
EEARTH GND GREEN/
YEL GREEN
WARNING: If the ground is defeated, certain fault conditions in the unit or in the system to
which it is connected can result in full line voltage between chassis and earth ground. Severe
injury or death can then result if the chassis and earth ground are touched simultaneously.
The symbols shown above are internationally accepted symbols that warn of
potential hazards with electrical products. The lightning flash with arrowpoint in
an equilateral triangle means that there are dangerous voltages present within
the unit. The exclamation point in an equilateral triangle indicates that it is
necessary for the user to refer to the owner’s manual.
These symbols warn that there are no user serviceable parts inside the unit.
Do not open the unit. Do not attempt to service the unit yourself. Refer all
servicing to qualified personnel. Opening the chassis for any reason will void
the manufacturer’s warranty. Do not get the unit wet. If liquid is spilled on the
unit, shut it off immediately and take it to a dealer for service. Disconnect the
unit during storms to prevent damage.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Manufacturer’s Name: dbx Professional Products
Manufacturer’s Address: 8760 S. Sandy Parkway
Sandy, Utah 84070, USA
declares that the product:
Product name: dbx 1046
Note: Product name may be suffixed by the letters-EU.
Product option: None
conforms to the following Product Specifications:
Safety: IEC 60065 -01+Amd 1
EMC: EN 55022:2006 (N/A; Analog Product)
IEC61000-4-2
IEC61000-4-3
IEC61000-4-4
IEC61000-4-5
IEC61000-4-6
IEC61000-4-8
IEC61000-4-11
Supplementary Information:
The product herewith complies with the requirements of
the:
Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC
EMC Directive 2004/108/EC.
RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC
WEEE Directive 2002/96/EC
With regard to Directive 2005/32/EC and EC Regulation
1275/2008 of 17 December 2008, this product is designed,
produced, and classified as Professional Audio Equipment
and thus is exempt from this Directive.
Roger Johnsen
Vice-President of Engineering
8760 S. Sandy Parkway
Sandy, Utah 84070, USA
Date: June 14, 2010
European Contact: Your local dbx Sales and Service Office or
Harman Music Group
8760 South Sandy Parkway
Sandy, Utah
84070 USA
Ph: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
DECLARATION OF
CONFORMITY
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
eLectroMaGnetIc
coMPatIBILIty
This unit conforms to the Product Specifications noted on the
Declaration of Conformity. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
• this device may not cause harmful interference, and
• this device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation.
Operation of this unit within significant
electromagnetic fields should be avoided.
• use only shielded interconnecting cables.
u.K. MaInS PLuG WarnInG
A molded mains plug that has been cut off from the cord is unsafe.
Discard the mains plug at a suitable disposal facility.
NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU
INSERT A DAMAGED OR CUT MAINS PLUG INTO A 13
AMP POWER SOCKET.
Do not use the mains plug without the fuse cover in place.
Replacement fuse covers can be obtained from your local retailer.
Replacement fuses are 13 amps and MUST be ASTA approved to
BS1362.
If you want to dispose this product, do not mix it with general household waste. There is a
separate collection system for used electronic products in accordance with legislation that
requires proper treatment, recovery and recycling.
Private household in the 25 member states of the EU, in Switzerland and Norway may return their used
electronic products free of charge to designated collection facilities or to a retailer (if you purchase a similar
new one).
For Countries not mentioned above, please contact your local authorities for a correct method of disposal.
By doing so you will ensure that your disposed product undergoes the necessary treatment, recovery and
recycling and thus prevent potential negative effects on the environment and human health.

1
Contents
Introduction ................................................................................ 2
Inspection.................................................................................... 2
Warranty ..................................................................................... 2
Connecting the 1046 to your system.......................................... 3
Operating Controls ...................................................................... 3
Rear Panel Operations................................................................. 6
Applications ................................................................................. 7
Installation Considerations .......................................................... 8
Specifications ............................................................................... 9
Manual Contents

2Introduction
Introduction
Congratulations and thank you for your purchase of the dbx 1046 Quad Compressor Limiter. The dbx 1046 is
a high performance multifunctional unit designed to deliver all the flexibility and power that a professional
user demands. The dbx 1046 incorporates the new advanced dbx V2™ VCA for high system performance. We
recommend you take a moment to read through this Operation manual. It provides information that will assist
you in system set-up.
Inspection
Verify that the 1046’s package contains the following:
 • 1046Unit(accordingtoModelnumbermarkedonpackage)
 • ACPowerCord
 • OperationManual
 • RegistrationCard
 • 4RackMountScrewsandWashers
Ifanyoftheseitemsaremissing,contactdbxcustomerserviceat(801)568-7660.
Warranty
1. The warranty registration card that accompanies this product must be mailed within 30 days after purchase
datetovalidatethiswarranty.Proof-of-purchaseisconsideredtobetheburdenoftheconsumer.
2.dbxwarrantsthisproduct,whenboughtandusedsolelywithintheU.S.,tobefreefromdefectsinmaterials
and workmanship under normal use and service.
3. dbx liability under this warranty is limited to repairing or, at our discretion, replacing defective materials
thatshowevidenceofdefect,providedtheproductisreturnedtodbxWITHRETURNAUTHORIZATIONfromthe
factory,whereallpartsandlaborwillbecovereduptoaperiodoftwoyears.AReturnAuthorizationnumber
must be obtained from dbx by telephone. The company shall not be liable for any consequential damage as a
result of the product’s use in any circuit or assembly.
4. dbx reserves the right to make changes in design or make additions to or improvements upon this product
without incurring any obligation to install the same additions or improvements on products previously
manufactured.
5.Theforegoingisinlieuofallotherwarranties,expressedorimplied,anddbxneitherassumesnorauthorizes
any person to assume on its behalf any obligation or liability in connection with the sale of this product.
In no event shall dbx or its dealers be liable for special or consequential damages or from any delay in the
performance of this warranty due to causes beyond their control.

3
Connecting the 1046 to your system
To connect the 1046 to your system, refer to the following steps:
• Turn off all equipment before making any connections.
• Mount the 1046 in a rack
Install the 1046 in a rack with the rack screws provided. It can be mounted above or below anything
thatdoesnotgenerateexcessiveheat.Ambienttemperaturesshouldnotexceed113˚F(45˚C)when
equipment is in use. Although the unit is shielded against radio frequency and electromagnetic
interference,extremelyhighfieldsofRFandEMIshouldbeavoided.
• Make audio connections via XLR, 1/4” TRS, or 1/4” TS plugs.
Both types of connectors for the inputs and outputs can be used for balanced or unbalanced
connections. The use of more than one connector at a time for the input/output pair could unbalance
balanced lines, cause phase cancellations, short a conductor to ground, or cause damage to other
equipment connected to the 1046.
• Apply power to the 1046
 ConnecttheACpowercordtotheACpowerreceptacleonthebackoftheunit.RoutetheACpower
cord to a convenient power outlet away from audio lines. The unit may be turned on and off via the
rear panel power switch or from a master equipment power switch.
Operating Controls
Front Panel
CHANNEL ONE
INPUTSOUTPUTS
OPERATING
LEVEL
+4 dBu
-10 dBV
CHANNEL TWO
INPUTSOUTPUTS
OPERATING
LEVEL
+4 dBu
-10 dBV
CHANNEL THREE
INPUTSOUTPUTS
OPERATING
LEVEL
+4 dBu
-10 dBV
CHANNEL FOUR
INPUTSOUTPUTS
OPERATING
LEVEL
+4 dBu
-10 dBV
200-240V
50/60Hz
100-120V
50/60Hz
FUSE: REPLACE WITH SAME
TYPE FUSE AND RATING.
ATTENTION: UTILISER UN
FUSIBLE DE RECHANGE DE
MEME TYPE ET CALIBRE.
100-120V: 250mA 250V
SLOW BLOW
200-240V: T 125mA L 250V
POWER: 25 WATTS
MADE IN USA
MODEL 1046
LIMITERCOMPRESSOR
INPUT / OUTPUT LEVEL dBu THRESHOLDGAIN REDUCTION dB
LIMITERCOMPRESSOR LIMITERCOMPRESSOR LIMITERCOMPRESSOR
1046
Quad
Compressor/
Limiter
OverEasy I/O Meter Bypass
PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS
OUTPUT GAIN
0
-20
-10 +10
+20
dB
RATIO
3:1
:1
8:1
4:1
1:1
1.5:1
2:1
OFF
+20
+14
+12
+4
+6
+10
dBu
THRESHOLD
-10 0
+20
+10
-40
-30
-20
dBu
INPUT / OUTPUT LEVEL dBu THRESHOLDGAIN REDUCTION dB
OverEasy
I/O Meter Bypass
OUTPUT GAIN
0
-20
-10 +10
+20
dB
RATIO
3:1
:1
8:1
4:1
1:1
1.5:1
2:1
THRESHOLD
-10 0
+20
+10
-40
-30
-20
dBu
INPUT / OUTPUT LEVEL dBu THRESHOLDGAIN REDUCTION dB
OverEasy I/O Meter Bypass
OUTPUT GAIN
0
-20
-10 +10
+20
dB
RATIO
3:1
:1
8:1
4:1
1:1
1.5:1
2:1
THRESHOLD
-10 0
+20
+10
-40
-30
-20
dBu
INPUT / OUTPUT LEVEL dBu THRESHOLDGAIN REDUCTION dB
OverEasy I/O Meter Bypass
OUTPUT GAIN
0
-20
-10 +10
+20
dB
RATIO
3:1
:1
8:1
4:1
1:1
1.5:1
2:1
THRESHOLD
-10 0
+20
+10
-40
-30
-20
dBu
CHANNEL ONE
CHANNEL TWO CHANNEL THREE CHANNEL FOUR
PeakStop Plus
PeakStop Plus PeakStopPlus PeakStop Plus
Stereo
Couple
Stereo
Couple
-24 -18 -12 -6 0 +6 +12 [phone]-24 -18 -12 -6 0 +6 +12 [phone]-24 -18 -12 -6 0 +6 +12 +18
30 25 20 15 10
631
-24 -18 -12 -6 0 +6 +12 [phone]
+
+++
Gain Reduction Meter-This8stagemetershowstheamountofgainreductionduetobothcompressionand/
orIntelligentPredictiveLimiting™,displayinggainreductionfrom0to30dB.
Compressor Threshold Control - This control sets the level above which compression occurs, and has a 60 dB
range.
Connecting the 1046 to your system

4
OverEasy® Switch -OverEasy®providesasmoothtransitionfromthecompressor’slinearregiontothe
compressed region. This smooth transition greatly reduces compression artifacts and allows higher compression
ratioswhilestillmaintainingthenaturalcharacteristicsofthesignal.TheswitchlightstoindicateOverEasy®
processingisenabled.Whenconventionalhardkneeprocessingisdesired,disabletheOverEasy®function.See
Figure 1 below.
1:1
2:1
4:1
:1
−15
−10
−5
0
+5
+15
+20
+10
INPUT LEVEL (dB)
OUTPUT LEVEL (dB)
−15 −10 −5
0+5 +15 +20
+10
RED
Below Threshold
Above Threshold
OverEasy Range
GREEN
A
M
BE
R
-15
-10
-5
0
+5
+15
+20
+10
INPUT LEVEL (dB)
OUTPUT LEVEL (dB)
-15-10-5 0+5 +15 +20 +10
1:1 Unity
2:1
4:1
:1
20:1
RED
Above Threshold
GREEN
Below Threshold
Rotation Point Threshold
1:1
2:1
4:1
:1
−15
−10
−5
0
+5
+15
+20
+10
INPUT LEVEL (dB)
OUTPUT LEVEL (dB)
−15 −10 −5
0+5 +15 +20
+10
RED
Below Threshold
Above Threshold
OverEasy Range
GREEN
A
M
BE
R
-15
-10
-5
0
+5
+15
+20
+10
INPUT LEVEL (dB)
OUTPUT LEVEL (dB)
-15-10-5 0+5 +15 +20 +10
1:1 Unity
2:1
4:1
:1
20:1
RED
Above Threshold
GREEN
Below Threshold
Rotation Point Threshold
Figure 1: Hard Knee Compression Curve and OverEasy® Compression Curve.
Compressor Ratio Control - This control selects the ratio between input and the output levels for signals
abovethelevelsetbytheCOMPRESSIONTHRESHOLDcontrol.Itisadjustablebetween1:1and∞:1.Note,when
OverEasy®processingisselected,theratiotransitionssmoothlyfromthelineartothecompressedregion.As
thesignalexceedsthethreshold,theratioapproachestheratiosetbytheCOMPRESSORRATIOcontrol.
Figure 2 shows the effect of 2:1 compression on a signal as it rises above and falls below the threshold. Below
the threshold the signal is not affected. Above the threshold, the output signal increases by only half of the
increase(indB)oftheinputsignallevel.Inotherwords,witha2dBincreaseininputlevel,theoutput
increases by only 1 dB, hence the 2:1 compression ratio.
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
10
Time
Signal Level (dBu)
Below Threshold
Above Threshold
Input Signal
Output Signal
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
10
Time
Signal Level (dBu)
Below Threshold
Above Threshold
Input Signal
Figure 2: Compression Effect on Signal Level with a 2:1 Ratio at a -20 dBu Threshold
Input/Output Level Meter-This8-stagemeterdirectlyreadstheinputandoutputlevelswhentherear-panel
OPERATINGLEVELSWITCHisinthe+4dBuposition.Inthe-10dBVposition,theinputsignalisboostedby
11.8dB(thedifferencebetween+4dBuand-10dBV)toconvertasemi-pro-10dBVlevelsignaltotheprofes-
sional+4dBuinternallevelofthe1046,whiletheoutputsignalisattenuatedby11.8dBtoconvertbacktoa
-10dBVlevel.Sincethemeteriscalibratedfor+4dBuoperation,itreadsabout12dBhigherthantheactual
inputandoutputsignallevelswhentheOPERATINGLEVELSWITCHissetto-10dBV.
Operating controls

5Operating Controls
Input/Output Meter Switch-ThisswitchselectsthesignalformeteringbytheINPUT/OUTPUTLEVELMETER.
The switch lights indicating the input signal is currently being sent to the meter. When the switch is in the out
position, the output signal is selected for metering, and the switch will not be illuminated.
Output Gain Control -Thiscontrolsetstheoutputgainofthecompressor.Itcanbecontinuouslyadjusted
between-20dBand+20dB.Usethiscontroltocompensateforsignallevellossduetocompressionandto
adjustthenominaloutputleveloftheunit.
Bypass Switch - This switch bypasses the unit completely, “hard-wiring” the input directly to the output, and
the signal is not processed in any way. The switch will light indicating that the unit is currently bypassed.
PeakStopPlus™ Level Control - This control sets the level to which the output signal is reduced whenever
itexceedsthislevel.Itcanbeadjustedbetween+4dBuand+22dBu(OFF).ThisPeakStopPlus™limiter
uses a propietary dbx two-stage limiting process. The first stage is the Instantaneous Transient Clamp™
which clamps the signal with a soft logarithmic clamp function. This logarithmic function assures that the
signalwillnotexceedthelevelsetbythePeakStopPlus™LEVELcontrolbymorethan2dBtypically,and
that it will not introduce harsh artifacts. The second stage is a unique program limiter featuring Intelligent
PredictiveLimiting™.Itsfunctionistomonitortheinputsignalandintelligentlypredicttheamountofgain
reduction needed to keep the output signal below the ceiling set by the Instantaneous Transient Clamp™.
ThePeakStopPlus™limitermustcomeaftertheOUTPUTGAINcontrol.IftheOUTPUTGAINissettoohighas
comparedtothePeakStopPlus™LEVELcontrol,continuouslimitingcanoccur.WhilePeakStopPlus™istypically
used as a protective function, creative effects can be achieved by intentionally driving the signal into heavy
PeakStopPlus™limiting.GreatcarehasgoneintothedesignofthePeakStopPlus™limitertokeepitacoustically
transparent. Appropriate use of it can protect your gear while keeping the signal free of artifacts.
PeakStopPlus™ Threshold (+) LED Indicator-ThisLEDilluminateswhentheoutputsignalexceedsthelevel
setbythePeakStopPlus™LEVELcontrolindicatingthatPeakStopPlus™limitingisoccurring.
Figure3illustratestheprotectiveactionofthePeakStopPlus™limiter.Thesignalwiththethinlineweight
represents an unaltered input signal. As you can see, peaks of the input signal exceed the clamping level. The
signal with the heavier line weight represents the output signal. The peaks of the input signal which exceeded
the clamping level are not allowed to exceed this level at the output. This instantaneous protective action is
invaluable for driver protection in speaker systems and for digital recording where it is desirable to record as
“hot” as possible, while still avoiding the disastrous result of running out of headroom. Following this clamping
action,IntelligentPredictiveLimiting™takesover,typicallywithin5ms,aslongastheinputsignalcontinues
toexceedthePeakStopPlus™threshold.Thisprogramlimiterquicklyattenuatestheinputsignaltoalevel
safelybelowtheclampinglevel,typically2dBlowerthantheclampinglevel.ThePeakStopPlus™levelcontrolis
calibrated to this lower level, so if an absolute ceiling is required, set the level 2 to 3 dB below the front panel
setting.
TheattackandreleasetimesoftheInstantaneousTransientClamp™arezero,whiletheIntelligentPredictive
Limiting™ attack and release times are program-dependent. That is, for larger excursions over the threshold, the
attacktimespeedsup,andforsmallerexcursionsoverthethreshold,theattacktimeslowsdown.Similarly,for
largeexcursionsoverthethresholdwhichcausemorePeakStopPlus™gainreduction,thereleasetimeincreases
and is roughly proportional to the amount of gain reduction that occurred.

6Rear panel operations
Time
Output Signal
Input Signal
Output Signal
Intelligent Predictive Limiting™
Release Time
Attack Time
}2 dB Typically
Figure 3: Protective Action of the PeakStopPlus™ Limiter
Stereo Couple Switch - These switches change the 1046 from four independent compressors into two stereo
compressors. In stereo mode, Channel 1 is the master and Channel 2 is its slave, and Channel 3 is the master
andchannel4isitsslave.EachoftheChannel2and4controlsandswitchfunctionswillbeoverridenand
controlledbytheChannel1and3controlsandswitches,respectively,exceptfortheI/OMeterandBypass
switches.Also,Channel2’sand4’sCompressorThreshold,andPeakStopPlus™Thresholdmeterswillbedisabled,
whiletheseslavechannels’GainReductionmeterswillindicatetheamountofgainreductionoccurring,as
ontheirmasters’GainReductionMeters.All4channelshaveequalprecedenceasfarassignalprocessingis
concerned.Thedbx1046usesTrueRMSPowerSumming™,anextremelyaccurateandmusicalwaytocombine
detectoroutputsinastereosituation.Theswitchwilllighttoindicatethatthe1046isintheStereoCouple
mode.
Rear Panel Operations
Rear Panel
FUSE: T 300mA L 250V
30
AC Power Receptacle-UsethesuppliedACcabletoconnecttheunittoACpower.TheACreceptacleincludes
anintegralpull-outfusedrawerwhichcontainstwofuses;theactivefuseandasparefuse.Replacethefuse
with the same type and rating only.as indicated on the rear panel.
Audio Inputs-EachchannelfeaturesbothXLRand1/4”TRSelectronicallybalancedinputs.Inputsmaybeused
inabalancedorunbalancedconfiguration.NotethattheXLRand1/4’inputsmayNOTbeusedsimultaneously.

7
Applications
Audio Outputs-EachchannelfeaturesbothXLRand1/4”TRSservo-balancedoutputs.Outputsmaybeused
inabalancedorunbalancedconfiguration.UnliketheinputsboththeXLRandthe1/4”outputsmaybeused
simultaneously.Anoutputtransformeroptionisavailablewhenverylongcabledistancesarerequired(see
“Specifications”).
Operating Level Switch-Thisswitchselectsbetweena-10dBVand+4dBunominaloperatinglevel.When
theswitchisintheinposition,a-10dBVoperatinglevelisselected.Whenitisintheoutposition,+4dBuis
selected. This switch affects both the input and the output levels.
Applications
Fattening Kick Drums and Compressing Other Drums
Weak, flabby kick drums often have too much boom, and not enough slap. To tighten them up, start with
the1046adjustedforamediumtohighRATIO(e.g.,6:1),adjusttheTHRESHOLDcontrolsothattheGAIN
REDUCTIONmetersshow15dBofgainreduction,thenincreasetheRATIOifnecessary.InOverEasy®mode,
the1046takesslightlylongertoreactthaninHardKneemode,andwillthereforeemphasizetheslapatthe
beginning of the note and reduce the boominess of its body. The 1046 also works well for tightening snare
drums and tom toms and can be used with drum machines to effectively alter the character of any electronic
drum sound.
Raising a Signal Out of a Mix
Sincereducingdynamicrangeincreasestheaveragesignallevelbyasmallamount,asingletrackcanberaised
outofamixbyboostingitslevelslightlyandapplyingcompression.Startwitha2:1RATIOandarelativelylow
THRESHOLDsetting(-20dBu).Adjustbothcontrolsasnecessary.
Compressorshavealsobeenusedtobringvocalstotheforefrontofamixinvolume-restrictedstudios(e.g.
homestudios).Startbyaddingafoamwindscreentothemic(ifitdoesn’thaveone).SettheRATIOto10:1and
theTHRESHOLDto-10dBu.Withyourmouthapproximately2inchesfromthemic,singthevocalpart,butwith
lessvolumethannormal.Usephrasingtogivethepartsomeintensity.Anequalizer(e.g.,adbx242Parametric
Equalizer,dbx30SeriesGraphicEqualizers)oravocaleffectsdevice(e.g.,adbx290digitalreverb)canbe
added to further define the performance.
Note: When compressing a stereo program with a 1046, the factors affecting a compression curve and
theactualRATIOandTHRESHOLDsettingsarethesameasthosepreviouslycoveredwithreference
to single channels of program material. However, it will generally be found that large amounts of
compression are more audible in a mixed stereo program than they might be on the separate tracks that
were mixed to create the program.
Smoothing out Microphone Levels
When distance is created between the vocalist and the microphone there will be a variation in the signal level.
Startwithlowcompression(around2:1)tosmoothoutanyvariations.Limitingalsobenefitsintelligibilityby
allowing low-level input signals to be reproduced through the system at higher volume.
Smoothing out Musical Instrument Levels
Compressionsmoothsoutthevariationsofloudnessamonginstruments.Usingthe1046canalsoincreasethe
instrument’s sustain. Compress the instrument’s output with a ratio of about 4:1.
Speaker Protection
Compressors are frequently used to prevent excessive program levels from distorting power amps and/or

8Installation considerations
damagingdriversinasound-reinforcementsystem(whetheryou’redoingauditorium,church,orclubsound
engineering,orareamobileDJ,orliketopushthelimitsofyourhome’saudioentertainment center).Setthe
1046forlimiting(HardKneemodeOn,withaRATIOof10:1orgreater)andadjusttheTHRESHOLDtoprovide
15dBormoreofcompression(justafewdBbelowtheinputclip).Forlow-levelsignals,the1046won’tchange
gain, but if large signals come along, the gain will be reduced to prevent clipping and save sensitive system
components from excessive heat buildup or other types of damage.
Note:PeakStopPlus™Limitingcanalsobeusedtopreventspeakerdamage.
Preventing Digital Recording Overload
Somedigitalrecordersandsamplersproduceaudibledistortionwhentheyexceedtheirmaximumoperatinglevel.
The1046canbeusedtoensurethataudioinputdoesnotoverloadadigitalrecorder’sA/D(analog-to-digital)
converters. The 1046 can perform this function quietly enough for all digital media. To use the 1046 so that no
changesingainoccurunlessanemergencyarises(wildlyexcessivelevels),setHardKneemodeOn,theRATIOto
∞:1,andtheTHRESHOLDhighestlevelbeforedigitaloverload.
Note:PeakStopPlus™limitingcanalsobeusedtopreventraucous-soundingdigitaloverload.
Installation Considerations
Hookups and Cabling: The1046isdesignedfornominal-10dBVor+4dBulevels.The1046canbeusedwith
either balanced or unbalanced sources and the outputs can be used with either balanced or unbalanced loads,
provided the proper cabling is used.
Normal Balanced Connections for Inputs and Outputs
Connection XLR TRS1/4”Jack
 Ground:   Pin1  Sleeve 
 High:   Pin2  Tip 
 Low:   Pin3  Ring 
Normal Unbalanced Connections for Inputs and Outputs
Connection XLR TRS1/4”Jack TS1/4”Jack
 Ground:   Pin1  Sleeve   Sleeve 
 High:   Pin2  Tip   Tip 
 Low(ground): Pin3  Ring   Sleeve 
Tie pin 3 to the ground for unity gain in/out of the 1046 when using unbalanced input connections to
balanced output connections or balanced input connections to unbalanced output connections. To do
otherwise won’t hurt the unit but will result in unmatched input to output levels, and the level control will
not be properly calibrated.

9
Specifications
Input
Connectors: Female XLR and 1/4” TRS (Pin 2 and tip hot)
Type: Electronically balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered
Impedance: Balanced > 50 kΩ, unbalanced >25 kΩ
Max Input Level: > +24 dBu balanced or unbalanced
CMRR: 40 dB; Typically >55 dB at 1 kHz
Output
Connectors: Male XLR and 1/4” TRS (Pin 2 and tip hot)
Type: Servo-balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered
Impedance: Balanced 60Ω, unbalanced 30Ω
Max Output Level: > +21 dBu, >+20 dBm balanced/unbalanced
System Performance
Bandwidth: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0/-0.5 dB
Frequency Response: 0.35 Hz to 200 kHz, +0/-3 dB
Noise: < -94 dBu, unweighted, 22 kHz measurement bandwidth
Dynamic Range: > 118 dB, unweighted
THD+Noise: 0.009% typical at +4 dBu, 1 kHz unity gain
0.09% typical at +20 dBu, 1 kHz, unity gain
< 0.1% any amount of compression up to 40 dB, 1 kHz
IMD: < 0.1% SMPTE
Interchannel Crosstalk: < -85 dB, 20 Hz to 20 kHz
VCA: dbx V2™
Stereo Coupling: True RMS Power Summing
Compressor
Threshold Range: -40 dBu to +20 dBu
Ratio: 1:1 to ∞:1
Threshold Characteristic: Selectable OverEasy® or hard knee
Attack/Release Characteristic: AutoDynamic™
Attack Time: Program-dependent, typically 15ms for 10 dB, 5 ms for 20 dB, 3 ms for 30 dB
Release Time: Program-dependent, typically 125 dB/sec
Output Gain: -20 to +20 dB
Limiter
Threshold Range: +4 dBu to +22 dBu (off)
Ratio: ∞:1
Limiter Type: PeakStopPlus™ two-stage limiter
Stage 1: Instantaneous Transient Clamp™
Attack Time: Zero
Release Time: Zero
Stage 2: Intelligent Predictive Limiting™
Attack Time: Program-dependent, typically <5 msec
Release Time: Program-dependent, typically 22 dB/sec
Function Switches
OverEasy®: Activates the OverEasy® compression function.
I/O Meter: Switches between monitoring input and output levels on the Input/Output Level meter.
Bypass: Activates the direct input-to-output hard-wire bypass.
Operating Level (rear panel): Switches the nominal operating level between -10 dBV and +4 dBu simultaneously for both input and output levels.
Stereo Couple: Couples channels in stereo pairs. Channels One and Three become the master channels.
Indicators
Gain Reduction 8 segment LED bar graph at 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 dB
Input/Ouptut Level 8-segment LED bar graph at -24, -18, -12, -6, 0, +6, +12, and +18 dBu
Limiter Threshold: 1 LED to indicate PeakStopPlus™ limiting
Function Switches: LED indicator for each front-panel switch
Specifications

10
Power Supply
Operating Voltage: Factory selected: 100-120 VAC 50/60 Hz or 200-240 VAC 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption: 30 Watts
Fuse: 100-120 VAC: T 300 mA L 250V
200-240 VAC: T 160 mA L 250V
Mains Connection: IEC receptacle
Physical
Dimensions: 1.75” H x 19” W x 9” D
44.5 x 483 x 229 mm
Weight: 7.4 lbs.
3.4 kg
Shipping Weight: 9.8 lbs.
4.4 kg
Options
Output Transformer
Per Channel: Jensen® JT-123-dbx or BCI™ RE-123-dbx
Note: Specifications subject to change.
Specifications

Notes

18-2244V-C
PrintedinChina
8760SouthSandyPkwy.
Sandy,Utah84070
Phone:(801)568-7660
Fax:(801)568-7662
Email:[email protected]
Website: www.dbxpro.com