Gainlab Audio GL-TC1 User manual

DICTATOR STEREO VARI-μCOMPRESSOR
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OPERATION AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Please note that the GL-TC1 Dictator is intended for professional use. It’s not a
consumer electronic device. Its installation and use require certain professional
sound engineering knowledge and skills. Lack of this knowledge may result in
malfunction, damage or personal injury.
■Use only grounded electrical outlet!
■Do not open the device and don’t do any modifications on it!
■Do not attempt to repair or replace any of the components unless
specifically instructed to do so in this guide.
■Pay attention to not put any solid matter (flammable things, coin, nail etc)
or liquid (water, alcohol etc.) inside device.
■Do not twist or break the power cord or place heavy objects on it. Doing
so may damage the cable and cause a short circuit. Damaged cables can
cause fire and electric shock!
■Protect the device from intesive external shock! (for example: falling
down)
Never use the device in following conditions:
-Extreme temperature
-Moisture
-High humidity
-Rain
-Dust
-Heavy vibration
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DICTATOR STEREO VARI-μCOMPRESSOR
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In the following cases, turn offthe machine immediately, unplug the
power cord, and contact us (www.gainlabaudio.com):
■if the mains plug of the appliance is damaged
■if you notice smoke or an unusual odor
■if any object or liquid gets inside the device,
■if the device has been exposed to rain or other moisture,
■if the device does not operate normally
■Do not connect the appliance to a mains socket to which an electrical
appliance controlled by an inverter, switching power supply (eg
refrigerator, washing machine, microwave, air conditioner) or a appliance
with a motor is connected.
■Depending on the use of the electrical device, power supply noises may
cause a malfunction or audible noise on this unit.If a separate electrical
outlet cannot be used, connect a noise filter between this and the other
electrical appliance.
■The appliance heats up during several hours of continuous operation.
This is normal and not a cause for concern.
■Turn offall devices before connecting the device to other devices. This will
prevent damage to speakers and other equipment.
■Use of the unit near amplifiers or other equipment that contains a
transformer may cause noise. To resolve this issue, relocate the device or
move it away from the interfering device.
■Noise may be caused by using a wireless communication device near the
device, such as a mobile phone. Such noise can occur when making,
receiving, and diverting a call. If you experience this problem, move the
wireless device away from the device or turn it off.
■This unit may interfere with radio and television operation, so do not use
near such receivers.
■If the device is transported to a location with a very different temperature
and / or humidity, moisture may condense inside. Using the device in this
condition may result in damage or malfunction. Therefore, wait a few
hours for the moisture to completely evaporate before using the
appliance.
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DICTATOR STEREO VARI-μCOMPRESSOR
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CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE
Clean the appliance daily with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth. Use a soft,
abrasion-free cloth to remove stubborn dirt. Then wipe the device with a dry
cloth. Never use benzine, thinner, alcohol or other solvents, strong alkaline or
acidic cleaners as they may cause discoloration and deformation.
OVERVIEW
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DICTATOR STEREO VARI-μCOMPRESSOR
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LEFT, RIGHT METERS
The meters provide information - optionally -
on the magnitude of the signal level leaving the
unit or the degree of interference from the
compressor.
Being a stereo compressor, the right-hand VU
meter shows the levels for the right channel,
while the left-hand VU meter shows the levels
for the left channel. Meter units express values
in Volume Units (VU).
MECHANICAL RESET FOR THE METERS
With the device turned off, use a straight slotted screwdriver to turn the
mechanical reset screw until the pointer is in the center of the 20-point value on
the lower scale.
METER MODE SWITCH
Specifies whether the instrument clusters show the degree of
compression or the output signal level. Set the mode switch to
the up position to check the amount of compression. Set the
mode switch to the down position to check the output signal
level.
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DICTATOR STEREO VARI-μCOMPRESSOR
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INPUT LEVEL SWITCH
With the help of the input signal level controller, it is
possible to increase the signal level entering the device if,
for example, it does not reach the lowest interference
threshold level, or if we want to achieve additional gain on
the input for any reason. To adjust the input signal level,
turn the control knob counterclockwise until the mark
on the control knob points in the direction of the
desired boost level.
OUTPUT LEVEL SWITCH
As a result of the dynamics control, the level of the
output signal of the device suffers a certain level
decrease, this is the case with most dynamics control
devices, this is a normal phenomenon. The output
signal level controller provides an opportunity to
compensate for this signal level loss. To compensate
for the output signal level, turn the output signal level
control clockwise until the mark on the control knob
points in the direction of the desired compensation
value.
COMPRESSION RATIO, BYPASS
In the case of the DICTATOR, unlike the most dynamics
controllers based on classical electron tube circuits, it
is possible to select two types of compression ratios.
In the LOCOMP position, we get the sound of a classic
tubular compressor such as the Farchild 670 and so
on. Generally, this mode is recommended for use on
a combiner and master bus, and for compressing
tracks wich contains fine details. In the HICOMP
position, we can hear a much higher rate of
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DICTATOR STEREO VARI-μCOMPRESSOR
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compression, the refraction curve of which is also much more angular. This
mode is especially recommended for sound design purposes, as well as on
buses and tracks where you want to make the dynamics control audible
specifically. At a high threshold value, it is used for buses intended to be coarser-
sounding, and for tracks whose saturation and thickening may be necessary for
mixing. In BYPASS mode, the device galvanically connects its outputs and inputs,
so we can always check the sound of the compression compared to the original
signal. To select the operating mode, turn the switch clockwise until the rotary
selector points in the direction of the desired operating mode.
TIME CONSTANT - ATTACK
The sound we hear during compression is basically
determined by the speed of the time constants,
which in most cases will result from the nature of the
program signal.
The time constant marked ATTACK can be used to
determine how long it takes for the compressor to
reach the maximum of its intervention range when
approaching the set intervention threshold level. To
change the speed at which the procedure rises,
turn the switch labeled ATTACK counterclockwise
to set a slower procedure, or turn it clockwise to set a faster procedure. As it
is an electron tube circuit, the time constants are difficult to express in an
exact way. The following table helps to determine the approximate time of
the ATTACK parameter:
TIME CONSTANT - RELEASE
FASTEST
15ms
FAST
25ms
SLOW
40ms
SLOWEST
60ms
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DICTATOR STEREO VARI-μCOMPRESSOR
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The RELEASE parameter determines how long it takes
for the compressor to complete the intervention if the
input signal level falls below the set intervention
threshold level.
To change the run speed of the procedure, turn the
switch labeled RELEASE counterclockwise to set a
slower procedure, or turn it clockwise to set a faster
procedure.
INTERVENTION - THRESHOLD
T h e i n t e r v e n t i o n t h r e s h o l d l ev e l ,
THRESHOLD, determines the signal level at
which the dynamics controller starts
compressing. The timing of the intervention
can be manipulated by the operator by
setting the time constants discussed above,
which has a significant influence on the
nature of the sound. The extent of the
interference on the two VU
meters can be monitored if the
instrument cluster mode toggle
switch is set to the up position. In
this case, the home position of
the instrument cluster is at 0 and
shows the degree of signal level
reduction to the left (in the
negative direction) per dBu unit.
After switching between the LOCOMP and HICOMP positions, it may be
necessary to readjust the threshold level and time constants.
FASTEST
200ms
FAST
350ms
SLOWEST
600ms
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DICTATOR STEREO VARI-μCOMPRESSOR
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Due to the nature of the equipment, the higher the gain reduction value, the
higher the compression ratio. To adjust the threshold level, turn the knob
labeled THRESHOLD clockwise to set the lower threshold level, or turn the knob
counterclockwise to set the higher threshold level.
CHANNEL LINK/UNLINK
The Dictator is set to two-channel mode by
default. In such cases, the aim is for the right
and left channels to run together as much as
possible. However, in certain situations, it may
be advantageous to eliminate the coexistence of the two channels. In this case, it
is possible to separate the auxiliary circuits of the device. To separate the
auxiliary circuits, use the switch once and check on the lower indicator lights
that the compressor is in the desired operating condition. Use the switch
again to return to linked mode.
SIDECHAIN FILTER
Depending on the program signal, it is often necessary for
the dynamics controller not to react to deep frequency
components. In such cases, it is advisable to filter out
these low-frequency components from the auxiliary
circuit signal controlling the compressor with a high-pass
filter that does not allow a signal to the control circuit
below a set cut-offfrequency.
To set the filter, turn the switch labeled SIDECHAIN
FILTER so that the rotary knob points towards the cut-
offfrequency value below which you no longer want to
allow a signal to go to the auxiliary circuit.
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DICTATOR STEREO VARI-μCOMPRESSOR
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POWER SWITCH
The unit is switched on with the switch marked POWER. Set
the switch labeled POWER to the up position if you want to
turn on the unit. Set the switch labeled POWER to the down
position when not in use.
Due to the tube design of the device, it is advisable to leave
a “warm-up time” of 15-20 minutes before starting use.
ATTENTION! the switch labeled POWER puts the device in
standby mode, does not completely disconnect it from the
mains, if you want to disconnect the device completely from the mains, unplug the
device from the mains or switch offthe main switch at the IEC socket !
GROUND LIFT
The switch on the back of the device allows the outgoing
audio connection to be disconnected from ground, thus
eliminating ground loop phenomena that occur under
certain conditions. To adjust the ground defrost, set the
GROUND LIFT switch on the rear panel to the up position."
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