DIYRE COLOUR DUO User manual

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2-CHANNEL COLOUR CHANNEL STRIP
COLOUR DUO
Operation Manual

Welcome to the Colour Duo
Thank you for purchasing the Colour Duo. Now let’s get oriented.
The Duo is designed to be the ultimate Palette for the Colour format. It is a two-channel, combination mic preamp
and line-level processor. The channels can be used independently or as a stereo pair. The Colour section features
three Colour slots with independent controls, a makeup gain/trim control, and a wet/dry mix knob. Colours can
be swapped via the Duo’s unique drawer feature without having to disconnect or power down the unit.
If you purchased your Colour Duo as a DIY kit, please visit the online assembly guide:
diy.re/duo-manual
Quick Start Guide
This manual will help you get the most out of your Duo by covering the features in-depth and demonstrating
some use cases. But the Duo is also designed to be easy and intuitive to use, so if you’d rather play around than
read, just follow the steps below:
• Plug the external power supply into the POWER INPUT jack and then into an outlet.
• Connect a microphone to the MIC INPUT jack or a line output to the LINE INPUT jack.
• Connect either the XLR or ¼” TRS output jack to a line input on your audio interface.
• Press the ACTIVE switch to engage audio.
• Start Colouring!
1

Front Panel Description
GAIN (not labeled): Sets the mic preamp gain, between +20 and +66dB
48V: Engages phantom power
HPF: Engages the 80Hz high-pass lter
COLOUR: Engages the Colour section. When this switch is out the entire Colour section, including the controls
for TRIM and MIX, is bypassed.
Ø: Flips the polarity of the mic signal by 180 degrees
PAD: Engages the -20dB pad
MIC/LINE: Switches between MIC (default) and LINE (pressed in) modes. In MIC mode the input is taken from
the MIC INPUT jack, and the Gain knob and all preamp switches are in-circuit. In LINE mode the input is taken
from the LINE INPUT jack and the 48V, HPF, Ø, and PAD switches are disabled.
COLOUR KNOB x 3 (not labeled): Adjusts the level of each Colour without changing the overall gain
COLOUR SWITCH x 3 (not labeled): Engages each Colour and also indicates which Colour is in each position.
Every Colour module automatically sets the LED to a unique hue when installed.
TRIM: Adjusts the post-Colour volume by -14/+10dB; set to the center position for unity gain.
MIX: Blends the dry signal with the output from the Colours
ACTIVE: Engages/disengages power to the drawer. Turn the ACTIVE switch o before removing the drawer to
prevent pops, then engage the switch after re-inserting the drawer.
2

Rear Panel Description
POWER INPUT: DC power input from the external power supply
THRU: Used for powering multiple Duos from a single, external power supply. To daisy chain, run a 5-pin XLR
cable from the THRU jack of the rst Duo to the POWER INPUT jack of the next unit to be powered. Up to four
Duos can be powered by a single external power supply.
MIC INPUT: Balanced, XLR microphone input
LINE INPUT: Balanced, XLR/TRS combo input
OUTPUT: Parallel XLR and TRS output jacks. Both are balanced and carry the same signal, but only one can be
used at a time. If a jack is plugged into the TRS output jack, the XLR output will be muted.
Using The Drawer
The Colour Duo is the rst Palette to allow for swapping Colours without using any tools or powering down the
unit. To remove the drawer, simply loosen the two thumb screws on the front panel and pull the drawer toward
you. Removing and inserting the drawer with the power on is completely safe for the equipment. However we
recommend disengaging the ACTIVE switch before removing the drawer to prevent a pop in your speakers.
This is the recommended process for swapping Colours:
• Disengage ACTIVE switch
• Loosen thumb screws and remove drawer
• Swap Colours
• Insert drawer and tighten thumb screws completely
• Engage ACTIVE switch
Rack or Desktop Use
You can use the Duo on a desktop or mounted in a standard 19” rack. Use the provided rubber feet for desktop
use, or the rack ears for rack mounting. Note that if you have applied the rubber feet, you will need to remove
them for rack mounting.
3

Use Cases
Because of its versatile array of inputs and outputs, there are many ways to use the Colour Duo. This section
illustrates three of them.
Two-Channel Mic Preamp
Besides being a Colour processor, the Duo is also a pair of no-compromise microphone preamps. With the
Colour section bypassed, you can use them as a pair of transparent, low-noise preamps. Or engage Colours for
processing on the way in.
• Connect microphones to the two MIC INPUT jacks. They can be a stereo pair or two dierent mics for
dierent sources.
• Make sure the MIC/LINE switch is in the out position on both channels.
• Connect the OUTPUT jacks to two line inputs on your audio interface.
• Create two tracks in your DAW and set their sources to the two line inputs you connected to in the previous
step.
• Start recording.
Stereo Bus Processor
Because of its stepped controls, the Duo makes an excellent stereo bus processor. In this example we will put the
Duo across the mix bus for some subtle nishing.
• Connect two outputs from your audio interface to the LINE INPUT jacks. On most interfaces, channels 1/2
are reserved for the studio monitor outputs, so you’ll likely want to use outputs 3/4 or higher.
• Connect the OUTPUT jacks to the two line inputs on your interface that correspond to the outputs you
chose in the previous step. That is, if you used outputs 3/4 you should also connect the Duo to inputs 3/4.
• Create a hardware insert and set the inputs and outputs to the channels you chose in the previous steps.
Check the documentation for your DAW if in doubt about how to create hardware inserts.
Hardware Insert for Mixing
You can also use the Duo as two independent Colour processors. In this example, we’ll set up the Duo as a
hardware insert on two separate tracks.
• As in the previous case, connect the Duo’s LINE INPUTs and OUTPUTs to a pair of channels on your audio
interface. For this example we’ll use channels 3 and 4.
• Choose the two tracks in your DAW you want to aect with the Duo. Let’s use Bass and Kick for this example.
• Create a hardware insert on the Bass track using input/output 3, and on the Kick track using input/output 4.
• You can now use the two channels of the Duo as if they were plugins on the Bass and Kick tracks. When
you are ready to capture your processing, you can live render the individual tracks or live bounce the entire
session (consult your DAW’s manual for how to do these).
4

Troubleshooting
If the unit doesn’t power up:
• Check the blue LED on the external power supply. If this LED is on, the problem is further down the line. If
this LED is o, contact us for a replacement power supply.
• Check the connection between the I/O board and drawer. Make sure the drawer is completely inserted and
that the thumb screws are screwed in. Power is passed to the audio circuitry through the two sets of large
connectors CON1 and CON2.
• Make sure the ACTIVE switch is in. No power will pass to the drawer when this switch is out.
If there’s no audio at the output:
• Make sure the MIC/LINE switch is in the correct position for the type of input you’re using.
• Similarly, make sure you are plugged into the correct input jacks for the input type.
• Make sure the ACTIVE switch is in.
• If you are using a microphone that requires phantom power, make sure the 48V switch is in.
• Check the output jacks. Note that if there is a cable plugged into the TRS output jack, the XLR output will be
muted.
• Make sure no empty Colour slots are engaged. If there is no Colour in a slot, engaging that slot will mute
the signal.
If there’s excessive distortion:
• Make sure you are connected to the correct input. Connecting a line output to the MIC INPUT will usually
clip the signal.
• Check your input levels. It’s easy to accidentally overdrive analog gear when connecting it to a digital
interface. DAWs use the dBFS scale, where 0dB is the absolute highest level the software can reproduce.
Analog pro audio gear, on the other hand, is calibrated to +4dBu. Unfortunately, there is no standard
conversion between dBFS and dBu, but it’s common for 0dBFS to be as high as +24dBu. This means that if
you are sending an average level of -6dBFS from your DAW, the Colour Duo is seeing a whopping +18dBu
at the input. This level will create signicant distortion in most Colour modules, and does not leave much
room to turn the Colour knobs without clipping. So, when in doubt, turn down the level coming out of your
DAW a bit.
5

Block Diagram
Audio enters the Duo through either the MIC INPUT or LINE INPUT. The MIC INPUT can amplify the mic signal
up to 60dB, while the LINE INPUT has a xed attenuation of -6dB. The MIC/LINE switch selects which input is
sent to the rest of the unit.
Signal is then sent to the Colours in series. Each Colour contains a bypass switch, and a dual-gang potentiometer
which controls gain before the Colour and attenuation after. The Colours feed a gain/trim stage to make up for
the gain or loss from the Colours. This signal then feeds the wet/dry mix stage, where it is summed with the dry
signal from before the Colour section. The COLOUR switch selects between the output from the mix stage or the
output from the MIC/LINE switch. This feeds the balanced output which provides +6dB gain.
6

Specications
Line Input
Impedance: 24kΩ
Max Input Level: 27.5dBu
Mic Preamp
Input Impedance: 3.6kΩ with pad out, 7.2kΩ with pad in
Gain: 20-66dB
HPF: 80Hz, 6dB/octave
Pad Attenuation: 20dB
EIN (Equivalent Input Noise): -130dBV
Line Output
Output Impedance: 50Ω
Max Output Level: +22dBu
General
Colour Drive Control Range: -6 to +12dB
Trim Control Range: -14 to +10dB (unity at center)
Distortion: 0.005% at 1kHz with Colour section bypassed, 0.008% with Colour section engaged
Frequency Response: ±0.2dB 20Hz to 20kHz rel. 1kHz
Noise: -96dBu, 20Hz to 20kHz, input terminated with 600 Ohms
Power Rails: ±16vDC, +48vDC
Wall Power: 100-240VAC, ~50/60Hz 2.5A
Dimensions
Width: 19” with rack ears, 17” without
Height: 1.72”
Depth: 8.5”
7

Replacement Parts
Below is a list of o-the-shelf components (other than custom parts) should you need a replacement down the
road. For parts listed ‘DIYRE’ please contact us for replacements at diy.re/contact
REFERENCE DESIGNATOR VALUE MAN. PART NUMBER SOURCE
BR1 Diode bridge DF06M-E3/45 Vishay
CON1A, CON2A DIN 41612, female 9272326804 Harting
CON1B, CON2B DIN 41612, male 9221326921 Harting
IC1 (drawer) 1512 mic preamp 1512P08-U THAT Corp.
IC1, IC2 (I/O board) 1256 input receiver 1256P08-U THAT Corp.
IC2-IC5 5532 dual opamp NE5532P TI
J1, J5 TRS output jack PJ-644D Daier
J2, J6 3-pin XLR output jack, male NC3MAAH-1 Neutrik
J3, J7 3-pin XLR/TRS combo input jack NCJ6FA-H Neutrik
J4, J8 3-pin XLR input jack, female NC3FAAH1 Neutrik
J9 5-pin Power thru jack, female AC5FAH-AU-B Amphenol
J10 5-pin Power input jack, male AC5MAH-AU-B Amphenol
N/A Threaded thumb screw plate Custom DIYRE
N/A PCB rail card guide E-500 Bivar
N/A External switch-mode power
supply
Custom DIYRE
Q1 BC327 transistor BC32740BU ON Semiconductor
Q2 BC337 transistor BC33740BU ON Semiconductor
N/A Rubber feet 95495K66 McMaster-Carr
SW1-SW4, SW1_DB-SW6_DB Pusbutton switch PD-S2L Well Buying
SW4, SW1_DB, SW4_DB,
SW5_DB, SW6_DB
Lightpipe switch cap PBLP-1001 Bivar
U1 DPDT 24V relay J104D CIT
VR1 C1k potentiometer Custom DIYRE
VR2, VR3, VR4, VR6 B20k potentiometer Custom DIYRE
VR5 B10k potentiometer Custom DIYRE
VR1 knob Skirted aluminum knob Custom DIYRE
VR2-VR6 knob Non-skirted aluminum knob Custom DIYRE
8

Recall Sheet
Print your own at diy.re/recall
Ch 1. Colour 1:
Ch 1. Colour 2:
Ch 1. Colour 3:
Date:
Artist:
Project:
Track:
Instrument (Ch. 1):
Instrument (Ch. 2):
Ch 2. Colour 1:
Ch 2. Colour 2:
Ch 2. Colour 3:
Ch 1. Colour 1:
Ch 1. Colour 2:
Ch 1. Colour 3:
Date:
Artist:
Project:
Track:
Instrument (Ch. 1):
Instrument (Ch. 2):
Ch 2. Colour 1:
Ch 2. Colour 2:
Ch 2. Colour 3:
Ch 1. Colour 1:
Ch 1. Colour 2:
Ch 1. Colour 3:
Date:
Artist:
Project:
Track:
Instrument (Ch. 1):
Instrument (Ch. 2):
Ch 2. Colour 1:
Ch 2. Colour 2:
Ch 2. Colour 3:
Ch 1. Colour 1:
Ch 1. Colour 2:
Ch 1. Colour 3:
Date:
Artist:
Project:
Track:
Instrument (Ch. 1):
Instrument (Ch. 2):
Ch 2. Colour 1:
Ch 2. Colour 2:
Ch 2. Colour 3:
Ch 1. Colour 1:
Ch 1. Colour 2:
Ch 1. Colour 3:
Date:
Artist:
Project:
Track:
Instrument (Ch. 1):
Instrument (Ch. 2):
Ch 2. Colour 1:
Ch 2. Colour 2:
Ch 2. Colour 3:

Safety
As with any electronic device, operating the Colour Duo safely requires some common sense and respect for the dangers of
electrical power. Treat your Colour Duo like a hair dryer. Don’t turn it on when it’s wet, only clean it with a dry cloth, and if you
spill a liquid on it unplug it immediately and don’t turn it back on until it’s been repaired by a tech.
Warranty
DIY Recording Equipment, LLC (DIYRE) warrants this product to be free from defects and will remedy any such defects free
of charge according to the terms of this warranty. DIYRE will repair or replace at its option any defective component(s) of this
product, excluding the coating and labeling for a period of two (2) years from the original date of purchase. In the event that
a particular product is no longer available, DIYRE will replace the product with a similar product of equal or greater value.
To make a request or claim under this limited warranty, return your Colour Duo prepaid to DIYRE with a copy of the original
invoice. This limited warranty will not apply if the product has been damaged due to abuse, misuse, misapplication, accident, or
as a result of service or modication by the user. This warranty applies only to units assembled by DIYRE, not DIY kits.
Disclaimer
The Colour Duo is an electronic device intended to be used with properly grounded ampliers and other audio devices.
Connecting the Colour Duo to mis-wired or faulty equipment may result in electric shock. The user is responsible for using
the Colour Duo safely and DIYRE disclaims liability for any damage or injury resulting from the use of this product. If you are
not completely sure of the safety of connecting the Colour Duo to a certain piece of equipment, consult a qualied technician
before proceeding.
Attribution 4.0 International, DIY Recording Equipment, LLC, 2020