Fostex AR501 User manual

AR501 MIC PREAMPLIFIER
Owner's Manual

2
Table of contents
3
6
9
15
17
19
21
22
24
25
27
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Names and functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Input and Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Switches and LED's inside Battery Cover . .
Power supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chassis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Typical connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Input and Output specications . . . . . . . . . . .
Performances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dimensions and weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Block Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3
1. Names and functions
< Input Panel >
< Output Panel >
INPUT
Balancedinput
XLR-3P(Female)
BALANCEDOUT
Balancedoutput
XLR-3P(Male)
DC-IN
DCpowerinlet
microUSB
UNBALOUT
Unbalancedoutput
Stereominijack
R-IN
Audiosignalinput
forRight
Stereominijack

4
< Top Panel >
BATTERYCOVER
Coverforbattery
andswitches
Transparentplastic
INPUTSEL
Inputselectorswitch
LINE/MIC
PHANTOMPOWER
Powersupply
formicrophone
OFF/P48
PEAKINDICATOR
Red
HPF
Highpassfilter
80/160(Hz)
GAIN
Gainselectswitch
L/•/•/H
POWER
INDICATOR
PowerindicatorLED
Red/Green/Yellow
ATTENUATOR
Attenuatorswitch
OFF/ATT
POWER
Powerswitch
OFF/ON
BATTERY
Battery
compartment
R6,AAbattery

5
< Bottom & Side Panel >
SHOERAIL
USERLABELAREA
Areatoattachuserlabel
TRIPODSOCKETHOLE
Screwholefortripod
1/4”
SERIALLABEL
Labelforserialnumber
JOINTSTOPPER
Grooveforfixingjoint

6
2. Input and Output
< Input >
INPUTSEL
MIC
LINE
Nominal
-60/-45/-30/-20dBu
+4dBu
Max
-40/-25/-10/0dBu
+24dBu
INPUTConnector
Connectheretheoutputfrommicrophoneorlinelevelequipment.
UseINPUTSELswitchaccordingtothetypeofdeviceconnected.
(Referto3.SwitchesandLED’ sinsideBatteryCover.)
[Connector]:XLR(Female)/Pin:3pins(PinNo.2asHOT)
[Inputimpedance]
LINE: 10kΩ or higher
MIC: 2kΩ or higher
[Inputlevel]

7
< Output >
ATT
OFF
ON
Nominal
-10dBV
-50dBV
MAX
+10dBV
-30dBV
BALANCEDOUTConnector
Outputthelinelevelaudiosignalinbalancedconfiguration.
[Connector]:XLR(Male)/Pins:3pins/No.2asHOT
[Nominaloutputlevel]:+4dBu
[Max.outputlevel]:+24dBu
[Applicable load impedance]: 10kΩ or more
UNBALANCEDOUTConnector
Outputtheaudiosignalinunbalancedconfiguration.(The
samesignalwillappearonbothLandRchannels.)
YoucanreducetheoutputlevelbyusingATTswitch.
((Referto3.SwitchesandLED’ sinsideBatteryCover)).
[Connector]:Stereominijack/ø3.5mm
[Nominaloutputlevel]:-10dBV
[Max.outputlevel]:+10dBV

8
< Misc. >
R-INconnector
Connectingalinelevelaudiosignalherewillresultanoutput
viaUNBALANCEDOUTconnectorRightchannel.
ItisusefulwhenconnectinganotherAR501toperformin
stereo.
[Connector]:Stereominijack/ø3.5mm
DC-INconnector
Usetoconnectanexternalpowersource.
RecommendedDCvoltageis5V.
Anordinarymobilebatterypackcanbeused.
[Connector]:microUSB
[Inputvoltage]:5V±3%
[Currentconsumption]:100mApeak.
Note:Whenicomingvoltagegoesbelowtheabovespec.orif
itcutsout,AR501willautomaticallyswitchthepowersource
tointernalbattery.

9
3. Switches and LED's inside Battery Cover
MIC
LINE
OFF
P48
INPUTSELSwitch
UseINPUTSELswitchaccordingtothetypeofequipment
connected.
Fordynamicorcondensertypemicrophone
Forlinelevelequipmentsuchasanaudiomixer.
*WhenchoosingLINE,nosignalbecomesavailableon
BALANCEDOUTconnector.
PHANTOMPOWERSwitch
Powersupplyforcondensermicrophone
INPUTSELSwitch
UseINPUTSELswitchaccordingtothetypeofequipment
connected.
Novoltagesupplied.
48VvoltageissuppliedtoINPUTconnector.24V
willbesuppliedatpowersavingmode.

10
H
・
・
LINE
80
160
Reducingthefrequencyrangeof80Hzand
below.
Reducingthefrequencyrangeof160Hzand
below.
HPF(HighPassFilter)Switch
Usedtoreducelowfrequencynoisesuchaswindblowon
themicrophoneorhumnoisegeneratedbyACpowerfacility.
*Attenuation:-6dB/oct.
GAINSwitchandPEAKIndicator
Usedtoadjustthemicrophoneampgainaccordingtothe
microphonesensitivity.SettheGAINswitchappropriately
referringtothePK(PEAKindicator)LEDandtheinputlevelof
equipmentconnectedtoOUTPUT.
MICSensitivity(dBu)
-60
-45
-30
-20
GAIN(dB)
+64
+49
+34
+24
*WhentheGAINisadjustedproperlyacccordingtothechart
above,thenominallevelwillappearviaOUTPUTconnector.

11
OFF
ON
Noattenuation(nominaloutputlevel:-10dBV)
Attenationapplied(nominaloutputlevel:-50dBV)
OUTPUTATTSwitch
UsedtoattenuatethesignallevelatUNBALANCEDOUT.
SettoONwhenconnectingtolowinputequipmentsuchas
micinofDSLRcamera.
BatteryCompartment
InsertapieceofAAbattery.
Typeofbattery:Ni-MH(Nickel
MetalHydride),Alkaline
POWERSwitch
Mainpowerswitch
ofAR501
POWERINDICATOR
PowerindicatorLED.
(Fordetail,refertonextpage.)

12
< POWER Indicator >
Lit when power turns ON. LED condition differs depending on the
function mode.
[Internal battery]: Right after powering on
Lightingpattern
Normalmode/Preparingtosettingup
Powersavingmode/Preparingtosettingup
Setupcompleted
(1sec.)x3times
(1sec.)x3times Flashinggreentwicerapidly
for3sec.period
G Green
R Red
Flashinggreenonceslowly
for3sec.period
G Green
Flashingred3timesrapidly
If you operate the PHANTOM POWER switch from OFF to ON to OFF
during the setting up period, AR501 will enter Power saving mode.
It will reduce the internal circuitry working voltage and cut down the
power consumption by approx. 40%. (The supply voltage at P48 is
going to be 24V during the power saving mode.)
The power saving mode will be memorized internally.
In order to cancel the mode, turn the power OFF once, then repeat
the same MIC POWER switch operation again.
During operation, the indicator will perform as following.

13
* Replace the battery when Red LED becomes ashing.
* Replace the battery immediately when Red LED is lit solid as the
power is forced to OFF on both internal circuitry as well as P48.
[Internal battery]: During normal mode operation
•••
•••
•••
•••
•••
Lightingpattern P48 BATT.
amount
Flashing:
GGreen2times
Flashing:
YYellow2times
Flashing:
GGreen2times
Red1time
Flashing:
Y Yellow2times
R Red1time
R Red
Litsolid
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
Forcedto
OFF
High
Low
High
Low
Runout

14
[Internal battery]: During power saving mode operation
•••
•••
•••
•••
•••
Lightingpattern P48 BATT.
amount
Flashing:
GGreen
Flashing:
YYellow
Flashing:
GGreen1time
Red1time
Flashing:
YYellow1time
RRed1time
R Red
Litsolid
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
Forcedto
OFF
High
Low
High
Low
Runout
* The supply voltage at P48 is 24V during the power saving mode.
* Replace the battery when Red LED becomes ashing.
* Replace the battery immediately when Red LED is lit solid as the
power is forced to OFF on both internal circuitry as well as P48.
[DC IN]: During operation
•••
••• Litsolid:
G Green
Litsolid:
Y Yellow
OFF
ON
Lightingpattern P48
* During DC-IN operation, no preparation to the setting up will not be
executed.
* During DC-IN operation, the battery amount is not detected.

15
4. Power
< Internal Battery >
AR501 uses a piece of AA battery.
The sutied type of battery is N-MH rechargeable battery or Alkaline
battery.
* AR501 does not have battery charging function.
Operating time reference value.
NormalMode Powersavingmode
P48(Powertomic)
BatteryType
OFFOFF ON ON
P48(Powertomic)
AlkalineBatt.
(LR6)
Ni-MH
(eneloop)
Ni-MH
(enelooppro)
Approx.
9hours
Approx.
10hours
Approx.
12hours
Approx.
3hours
Approx.
4hours
Approx.
5hours
Approx.
15hours
Approx.
16hours
Approx.
18hours
Approx.
8hours
Approx.
9hours
Approx.
11hours
Caution
* The above chart is only a reference. It does not guarantee the actu-
al operating time. The operating time differs depending on the using
condition and environmental variations.
* Ni-MH battery gradually reduce its max. capacity by repeating the
cycle of discharge.
* For the measurement of the above chart, we have used brand new
Ni-MH battery once discharged and then fully charged.

16
Memo
* As spontaneous self-discharge occurs on Ni-MH battery, we rec-
ommend using it immediately after charging or charge it rigt before
using. Alternatively, we recommend the next generation rechargeable
battery that has improved self-discharge characteristic such as "en-
eloop".
* As Alkaline battery drastically reduces its discharge characteristic
under low temperature, we recommend Ni-MH battery under such
circumstances.
* eneloop is a registered trade name.
< External Power >
Memo
* When powered by an external power source, AR501 does not con-
sume the power from internal battery.
* The power indicator becomes lit (use of internal battery makes the
indicator ashing.).
* If the external power cuts out with some reason, it will automatically
switch the power source to the internal battery. It is possible to use
the external power as main source and internal battery as backup
source.
DC-INConnector
AR501canbepoweredbyconnectinganexternalpower
sourcetoDC-INsuchasmobilebatterypack.

17
5. Chassis
< Screw hole for tripod >
< Shoe rail >
AR501provides1/4”threadonthebottomchassis
sothatyoucanattachittoastandardtripodand
cameragear.
Byinsertingthejointplatecomesinthepackage
here,multiplenumberofAR501canbejointed.
Pleasereferto<Joint>onthesection6.
Accessoriesformoredetails.

18
< Attaching user label >
AR501hasapitonthebottomchassistostickauserlabelfor
theusers’convenience.Useitforattachingalabelintheway
youlikesuchascompanyIDandadministrativecontrolnumber
plate.Sincethepitisretracted,itavoidsthelabelgetting
damagedwhenattachingatripod.
Recommendedlabeldimensions:41x13mm,CornerR2.5mm

19
6. Accessories
< Joint (coupling plate) >
Used to joint multiple numbers of AR501.
Make the shoe rail of every unit facing each other and insert the joint
in between.
Fit the joint to one unit rst and then attach the other later.
Other purpose of joint is; xing the joint to somewhere like a wall us-
ing 3 mm in diameter screw holes, then attach the AR501 to the joint.
Recommended screw: 3 mm in diameter, more than 10 mm in length,
counter-sunk type screw (other type cannot be used).
* Before fixing the joint, ensure the fixing area has enough
strength to hold the AR501.
WALL

20
84mm
< Reference dimensions >
< Cable >
Used to connect AR501 unbalanced output to other equipment
such as a DSLR camera and audio recorder and also to connect 2 x
AR501's in cascade.
For the convenience of handling, a curl cord is used.
[Connectors]: stereo min plug ø 3.5 mm.
[Length]: 20 cm when shrunk, 40 cm when fully expanded.