Ecler COMPACT8 User manual

50-0109-0102 COMPACT8 EN
COMPACT8
ANALOGUE PREAMPLIFIERS & MIXERS
Installation Analogue Mixer
USER MANUAL

2
INDEX
IMPORTANT REMARK.............................................................................................................3
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS...............................................................................4
IMPORTANT NOTE...................................................................................................................5
INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................5
INSTALLATION..........................................................................................................................6
5.1. Placement and mounting......................................................................................................... 6
5.2. Connectable Signal Sources................................................................................................... 7
OPERATION AND USAGE......................................................................................................8
6.1. Start up.......................................................................................................................................... 8
6.2. Monitoring .................................................................................................................................... 8
6.3. Channel gain and equalization............................................................................................... 8
6.4. Channel indicators ..................................................................................................................... 9
6.5. Talkover......................................................................................................................................... 9
6.6. Outputs.......................................................................................................................................... 9
CONSIDERATIONS.................................................................................................................10
7.1. Ground loops, background noise ........................................................................................10
7.2. Cleaning ......................................................................................................................................10
FUNCTION LIST.......................................................................................................................11
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS .......................................................................................12
DIAGRAMS ...............................................................................................................................13
10.1 Configuration Diagram .........................................................................................................13
10.2 Block Diagram .........................................................................................................................14

3
IMPORTANT REMARK
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is
intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage”
within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to
constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the
user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing)
instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.
WARNING (If applicable): The terminals marked with symbol of “ ” may be of
sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock. The external wiring connected
to the terminals requires installation by an instructed person or the use of ready-made
leads or cords.
WARNING:To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose this equipment to rain or
moisture.
WARNING:An apparatus with Class I construction shall be connected to a mains
socket-outlet with a protective earthing connection.

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with dry cloth.
7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or
other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
9. 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 the third
prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your
outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at the plugs,
convenience receptacles, and at the point where they exit from the apparatus.
11. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
12. Unplug the apparatus during lightening sorts or when unused for long periods of
time.
13. Refer all servicing to qualified 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.
14. Disconnecting from mains: When switching off the POWER switch, all the
functions and light indicators of the unit will be stopped, but fully disconnecting
the device from mains is done by unplugging the power cable from the mains
input socket. For this reason, it always shall remain easily accessible.
15. Equipment is connected to a socket-outlet with earthing connection by means of
a power cord.
16. The marking information is located at the bottom of the unit.
17. The apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing and that no objects
filled with liquids, such as vases, shall be placed on apparatus.
WARNING:This product must not be discarded, under any circumstance, as
unsorted urban waste. Take to the nearest electrical and electronic waste
treatment centre.
NEEC AUDIO BARCELONA, S.L. accepts no liability for any damage that may be caused
to people, animal or objects due to failure to comply with the warnings above.

5
IMPORTANT NOTE
Thank you for choosing our Ecler COMPACT8, Installation Analogue Mixer!
It is VERY IMPORTANT to carefully read this manual and to fully understand its
contents before any connection in order to maximize your use and get the best
performance from this equipment.
To ensure optimal operation of this device, we strongly recommend that its maintenance
be carried out by our authorised Technical Services.
Ecler COMPACT8 comes with a 3-year warranty.
INTRODUCTION
The COMPACT 8 merges flexibility, simplicity and ECLERs renowned quality into an
universal mixer which has been specially designed for non-technical users. This simple
and intuitive mixer is suited for a broad variety of installations, ranging from conference
rooms, church sound systems, or sport events to outdoor P.A. or presentations just to
name a few.
Its reduced size and the specially designed chassis make it ideal both for rack mounting
or as a table-top unit. Last but not least, the technological concept and the carefully
selected electronic components make this mixer a 100% professional unit.
The COMPACT 8 incorporates 8 mixable channel, each with different input capabilities:
•Channel 1-2-3 LINE A / LINE B / MICRO
LINE B switchable to PHONO from rear panel
MICRO switchable to MICRO ATT from rear panel
•Channel 4-5-6 LINE A / LINE B / MICRO
MICRO switchable to MICRO ATT from rear panel
•Channel 7 LINE A / AUX / MICRO
AUXILIARY on front panel
MICRO switchable to MICRO ATT from rear panel
•Channel 8 LINE A / MICRO ATT / MICRO
Additional MICRO input on front panel

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All channels feature a lever switch input selector, independent gain control for each
channel and 3-band tone controls with semiparametric adjustment for the mid-band.
(Center frequency adjustable, fixed Q)
All inputs are PFL capable in order to visually (through the VU meters) and acoustically
(through headphones) monitor any signal connected to the inputs of the unit.
INSTALLATION
5.1. Placement and mounting
The first thing to take into account when looking for the placement of the COMPACT 8
is your comfort and an easy access to all the connections.
The COMPACT 8 has 19" (482.6mm), 4U (177mm) rack mounting ears that allow you to
place it in a standard rack.
Because of the high gain of the PHONO and MIC inputs, the mixer must be placed as far
as possible from noise sources (dimmers, engines, etc.) as well as from any mains cable.
You should never, under any circumstance, remove the metallic cover of the mixer.
The COMPACT 8, being a low consumption unit, does not need any cooling; you should
anyway avoid exposure to extreme temperatures and the operating environment must
be as dry and dust free as possible.
The COMPACT 8 operates under voltages between 90 and 264 V at 47 to 63 Hz. This
device features an over dimensioned power supply that adapts to the mains voltage in
any country of the world with no need to make any adjustments.
In order to protect the mixer from eventual mains overloads, it has a time-lag 0,5 A (32)
mains protection fuse. Should this fuse ever blow off, disconnect the mixer from mains
and replace it with an identical one. NEVER REPLACE THE FUSE WITH ANOTHER ONE
WITH A HIGHER VALUE.
ATTENTION: Changing the fuse must be performed by qualified technical
personnel.

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5.2. Connectable Signal Sources
•Turntables / Phono: They must be fitted with a magnetic cartridge with nominal
output level between -60dBV and -20dBV (1 to 100 mV). The PHONO (38) inputs
of the COMPACT 8 have a high headroom (margin before saturation) and it can
handle higher output cartridges than what is usual. These inputs are supplied with
a nominal input sensitivity of -40dBV (10mV).
•Microphones: The MIC inputs (23-27) are ready for a nominal input level of -50dBV
(3,16 mV) and are equipped with COMBO connectors. The MIC ATT switch on the
rear panel (28) allows a 20dB attenuation on the input sensibility, so that it is
changed from -50 to -30dB (3,16 to 31,6 mV). The COMBO connector provides
both a XLR plug and a ¼’’ Jack in the same receptacle. The connection of balanced
signals is as follows:
XLR 3
¼¨ Jack
Hot or direct signal
>
Pin 2
Tip
Cold or inverted signal
>
Pin 3
Ring
Ground
>
Pin 1
Sleeve
Low impedance (200 to 600) monophonic microphones must be used. In case of
working with an unbalanced connection, the ground pin and Pin 3 (or the ring of a
TRS Jack) must be short circuited.
The COMPACT 8 features a Phantom power supply for the connection of
condenser microphones. A switch for general activation of the phantom power can
be found on the rear panel of the unit (30). The supplied phantom power is 18 VDC.
•LINE Inputs: The sensibility of the line inputs (13-37-38) is rated at 0dBV (1V). CD,
DAT, MP3, DVD Audio Players, Tape recorders, cassettes, tuners or videos should
be connected to LINE inputs.
Additional line level sources may be connected to the “AUX 7” (13) input, which is
located on the front panel and is electrically linked to channel 7.
•Headphones: In order to achieve the best performance, they should be high
impedance type (200 600). They must be connected to the headphones out (22)
connector, a standard 1/4" stereo jack. Connect ground to sleeve, ring to right and
tip to left.
•Power amplifiers: See paragraph 6.6.

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OPERATION AND USAGE
6.1. Start up
Power up the mixer by pushing the POWER (15) switch. The green pilot-light, integrated
into the switch itself, will immediately light up. Although the noise generated by
powering up the COMPACT 8 is reduced to a bare minimum and is nearly null with the
OUT (17 and 20) controls down, it is always advisable not to forget about this power-up
sequence: sound sources, mixer, equalizers, active filters and power amplifiers. Power
down the equipment by following the inverse sequence. This way the peaks or transients
produced by powering up / down a device do not affect the following one in the audio
chain and, as a result, they do not reach the loudspeakers, which are the most vulnerable
audio elements in this case.
6.2. Monitoring
The COMPACT 8 is equipped with an acoustical and visual monitoring system, through
headphones and VU METER. When switching ON any of the PFL buttons (7), signal(s)
present at the input(s) will be heard through the headphones and seen on the VU METER.
If no switch is at the ON position, the signal present at the main mix bus is monitored
(open faders).
6.3. Channel gain and equalization
These controls allow individual input sensitivity and tone adjustments for each channel.
Thanks to the GAIN (1) control, you can precisely adjust the signal level of an incoming
musical signal to match the level of the music that is playing on air through another
channel. This operation may be performed visually (through the left VU-meter) and
acoustically (through the headphones), successively comparing both signals with the PFL
buttons. The Gain knobs offer an adjustment range of ±20dB.
The three band tone controls (6-9-10) affect bass, mid and treble frequencies and offer
a ±15dB variation range. Please be careful when using the tone controls in order not to
overload the loudspeakers.
Furthermore, the mid-section features a semiparametric control (8) that allows
adjustment of the center frequency. The frequency adjustment range goes from 300Hz
to 6k5Hz.

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6.4. Channel indicators
Each of the 8 input channels features two indicators. The green SP LED (4) shows the
presence of signal on the currently selected input. The indicator lights up at a threshold
of –40dBV.
The red PEAK LED (3) warns about the risk of saturation, that is exceeding the
recommended signal input level limit. This LED may sporadically flash without risk of
damaging the unit, but it should never stay lit continuously. This indicator lights up at a
threshold of 10dBV
6.5. Talkover
This device automatically reduces the signal level of the main output. This happens at
the first voice "hit" of the speaker on the microphone (or line) plugged into channel 8.
When the speaker stops talking, the music level comes up to the initial level. This
function is enabled through the TALKOVER (25) switch, and has efficiency, EFF (26), i.e.
main signal level attenuation (between 0 and 30dB) and recovery time, TIME (14), the
time necessary for a progressive come back to the original level (between 0,1 and 3 sec).
The Talkover can be activated by channel 7 if certain internal jumpers for the
bus-assignment are re-soldered. See configuration diagram.
This modification must be performed by an Authorized Technical Service.
6.6. Outputs
The COMPACT 8 mixer has two independent outputs, OUT 1 (34-35) and OUT 2 (33).
Each one has its own volume control.
The COMPACT 8 is adjusted by default at 0dBV(1V) outputs level. This can
be internally modified to +6dBV(2V). See configuration diagram. This
modification must be performed by an Authorized Technical Service.
You must be careful when setting up the general output level of the mixer. The "clip"
display of the connected power amplifiers must never remain permanently lit but do it
only occasionally by following the rhythm of the bass signals that are being played.
The OUT1 output (34-35) is balanced or symmetrical, and the pin-out of the connector
is as follows:
Hot or direct signal
>
Pin 2
Cold or inverted signal
>
Pin 3
Ground
>
Pin 1

10
The balanced circuit simulates an output transformer, so if you wish to use OUT 1 in non-
balanced mode, you should short circuit the unused pin to ground. Otherwise, the signal
will not have an appropriate level and quality.
The OUT 2 output (33) is non-balanced or asymmetrical.
The COMPACT 8 has one recording output REC (36), which is pre-talkover, i.e. no signals
which activate the talkover are passed to this output, so no attenuation occurs).
CONSIDERATIONS
7.1. Ground loops, background noise
You should always make sure that the signal sources coming to the unit, as well as all
devices connected to its outputs do not have their grounds interconnected, that is; ground
must never come from two different devices. Should this ever happen, noises could occur
and seriously interfere the sound quality.
Cable shielding, when connected to the chassis, must never be interconnected, so as to
avoid ground loops.
The COMPACT 8 mixer has been designed for the lowest possible background noise.
Independently from the electronic design itself, background noise level will directly
depend on the right installation and use of the mixing unit.
I. e.: setting a channel VOL to "2" and the output to "10" is not the same as the other way
round. In the first case, the signal coming to the mixing amplifier - which has got its own
noise - is low, and so is the signal-to-noise ratio (low signal). When the output amplifier
boosts the whole signal we will get a very high background noise. In the second case -
with the channel fader at maximum - the mixing level is high, and so is the signal-to-
noise ratio. When the signal reaches the VOL OUTPUT and is boosted, it will keep a
much better signal-to-noise ratio than in the preceding case.
7.2. Cleaning
The front panel should not be cleaned with dissolvent or abrasive substances because
silk printing could be damaged. To clean it, use a soft cloth slightly wet with water and
neutral liquid soap; dry it with a clean cloth. Be careful that water never gets into the unit
through the holes of the front panel.

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FUNCTION LIST
1Input sensitivity adjust, GAIN
2Input selector
3LED indicator, PEAK
4LED indicator, SP
5LED indicator, PFL
6Treble control, TREB
7Prefader listening control, PFL
8Midrange semiparametric frequency
adjust, FREQ
9Midrange control, MID
10 Bass control, BASS
11 Channel gain, VOLUME
12 Space for identifying label
13 Line input, AUX 7
14 Talkover Recovery time control, TIME
15 Mains switch and indicator, POWER
16 LED VU Meter
17 Volume control OUTPUT 2, OUT 2
18 LED indicator, L+R
19 Left and Right signal sum, L+R
20 Volume control OUTPUT1, OUT 1
21 Headphones volume control, VOL
22 Stereo jack, headphones
23 Microphone balanced input, MICRO 8
24 LED indicator, TALKOVER ON
25 Talkover switch
26 Talkover effect control, EFF
27 Microphone balanced input, MIC
28 Microphone input sensitivity switch, ATT
29 Ground pin, GND
30 Phantom switch, PHANTOM
31 Mains socket
32 Fuse holder
33 RCA output, OUT 2
34 Right channel balanced output, OUT1 R
35 Left channel balanced output, OUT1 L
36 Recording output, REC
37 Line input, LINE A
38 Line input, LINE B
39 Phono –line switch, PHONO –LINE B

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TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
COMPACT8
Inputs Sensitivity nom/Impedance
LINE (A-B-AUX)
0dBV/50k
PHONO
-40dBV/50k
MICRO (BAL)
-50dBV/>1k
MICRO ATT (BAL)
-30dBV/>1k
Outputs Level/Minimum Load
OUT 1 (BAL)
0dBV/6001V *(+6dB 2V)
OUT 2
0dBV/2.2k1V *(+6dB 2V)
REC
0dBV/10k
HEADPHONES
200mW/200
Frequency Response
LINE
10Hz÷30kHz -1dB
MICRO BAL
10Hz÷30kHz -1dB
PHONO
RIAA ±0.5dB
THD+N
LINE
<0,03%
MICRO
<0,06%
PHONO
<0,04%
CMRR
MICRO
>75dB @ 1kHz
Signal Noise Ratio
LINE
>100dB
MICRO
>85dB
PHONO
>95dB
Gain control all inputs
GAIN
± 20dB
Tone control
GAIN
±15dB
BASS
90Hz
MID
300Hz ÷ 6,5kHz
TREBLE
12kHz
Talkover
Time
0,3 / 3 seg
Effect
0 / -30 dB
Signal Present indicators
LINE
-40dB
MICRO
-90dB
Clip indicators
+10dB
Phantom voltage
+18VDC/5mA max.
Mains
90-264VAC 47-63Hz
Power consumption
33VA
Dimensions
Panel
482,6x177mm
Depth
221,6mm
Weight
5,2kg
(*) Internally selectable

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DIAGRAMS
10.1 Configuration Diagram
FACTORY ADJUSTED PROGRAM (TALKOVER DISABLED)
SOLDERING CONFIGURATION.
BUS ASSIGNMENT
INPUT 7
INPUT 8
MICRO (TALKOVER ENABLED)
BOTTOM VIEW.
CAUTION: DISCONNECT THE UNIT FROM THE MAINS SUPPLY
REMOVE THE SHIELDING PLATE.
ATTENTION: ANY CHANGE IN THE CONFIGURATION OF THE UNIT MUST BE CARRIED OUT BY A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN.
OUTPUT LEVEL
OUT 2 OUT 1
0dB +6dB FACTORY ADJUSTED

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10.2 Block Diagram
ON
+
L
INPUT 1 TO 6
R
0dB LINE A +
LINE A - LINE B - MIC
+
--
PFL
-VOL.
+VS
LINE LINE
0dB LINE B L (inputs 1-2-3) -40dB PHONO R MIC INPUT 7 0dB LINE A L
R
TREB
PHONO PHONO
+
BASS
GAIN
--
+ATT
S.P.
MID FREQ
-
PEAK
LINE A - MIC - AUX
+ +--
PFL
-VOL.
+VS
PHANTOM
PFL-L
PGM-R
PGM-L
CTR-PFL
MIC-R
MIC-L
PFL-R
ANALOG SWICTH PFL/MIX
L R
REC
L
R
ATTENUATOR
PHONES
+ +
VOL.
+
L
AUX 0dB R MIC INPUT 8
R
LINE A 0dB L
TREB
+ +
BASS
GAIN
--
+ATT
S.P.
MID FREQ
-
PEAK
LINE A - MIC - MIC ATT
+
---VOL.
+VS
-50dB MIC
Only Input 8
+
GAIN BASS
--
S.P.
MIDTREB FREQ
-
PEAK
L+R
TALKOVER
TIME
EFF
PFL
PHANTOM
BAL BAL
-
GAIN OUT
L
OUT 1
-
VOL. GAIN OUT
-L
GAIN OUT R
R
OUT 2
+VDC -
VOL. GAIN OUT

15
All product characteristics are subject to variation due to production tolerances.
NEEC AUDIO BARCELONA S.L. reserves the right to make changes or improvements in the design or
manufacturing that may affect these product specifications.
For technical queries contact your supplier, distributor or complete the contact form on our website,
in
Support / Technical requests.
Motors, 166‐168 08038 Barcelona ‐ Spain ‐ ([phone] | [e-mail] | www.ecler.com