Klark Teknik square one dynamics User manual

dynamics
operator
manual

dynamics
OPERATOR MANUAL
Klark Teknik
Klark Teknik Building
Walter Nash Road
Kidderminster
Worcestershire
DY11 7HJ
England
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ktsquareone.com
Square ONE Dynamics Equaliser - Operator Manual
DOC02-SQ1DYNAMIC Issue A - December 2005
© Telex Communications (UK) Limited
In line with the company’s policy of continual improvement, specifications and function may be
subject to change without notice. This Operators Manual was correct at the time of writing. E&OE.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
These symbols are internationally accepted symbols that warn of potential hazards with electrical products.
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.
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
WARNING:TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE
AVIS:RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE. NE PAS OUVRIR
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 a dry cloth.
7. Do not block any of the ventilation openings.
Install in accordance with the manufacturers
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 plugs, convenience
receptacles, and the point where they exit from
the apparatus.
11. Only use attachments / accessories specified by
the manufacturer.
12. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or
when unused for long periods of time.
13. Refer all servicing to qualified personnel.
Servicing is required when the apparatus is
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.

Telex Communications (UK) Limited, Klark Teknik Building,
Walter Nash Road, Kidderminster. Worcs. DY11 7HJ. England.
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
www.ktsquareone.com
EU DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
We, Telex Communications (UK) Limited of Klark Teknik Building, Walter Nash Road, Kidderminster,
Worcestershire, DY11 7HJ, declare that a sample of the following product:
to which this declaration refers, is in conformity with the following directives and/or standards:
Signed: .................................................. Date: 22nd December 2005
Name: Simon Harrison
Authority: Research and Development Director, Telex Communications (UK) Limited
Attention!
Where applicable, the attention of the specifier, purchaser, installer or user is drawn to special limitations of
use which must be observed when these products are taken into service to maintain compliance with the
above directives. Details of these special measures and limitations to use are available on request and are
available in product manuals.
Company registration No. 2414018. A Subsidiary of Telex Communications Inc.
Product Type Number Product Description Nominal Voltage(s) Current Freq.
Square ONE Dynamics Analogue Dynamic
Processor
115V AC
230V AC
300mA
150mA
50/60Hz
Directive(s) Test Standard(s)
89/336/EEC Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive amended
by 92/31/EEC & 93/68/EEC 73/23/EEC,
Low Voltage Directive, amended by 93/68/EEC
Generic Standard Using EN55103 Limits and Methods EN50081/1
Class B Conducted Emissions PAVI EN55103
Class B Radiated Emissions PAVI EN55103
Fast Transient Bursts at 2kV EN61000-4-4
Static Discharge at 4kV EN61000-4-2
Electrical Stress Test EN60204
Electrical Safety EN60065 7th Edition

Contents
Square ONE Dynamics i
Contents
Welcome! __________________________________________ 1
Safety precautions ___________________________________ 2
Safety warnings 2
General precautions 2
Power 3
Handling the equipment 3
Installation 4
Location 4
Audio connections 4
Radio frequency interference 5
Class B device 5
Electric fields 5
Operation 5
Safety equipment 5
Optional equipment 5
Special accessories 5
Features___________________________________________ 6
Getting started______________________________________ 7
Unpacking 7
Checking the mains fuse 7
Installation 7
Connecting the power cable 7
Connecting the audio cables 8
Channel I/O pin-outs 8
Side chain EXT KEY inputs 9
Connecting to unbalanced equipment 10
Powering up the unit 10
Front panel________________________________________ 11
Rear panel ________________________________________ 14
Audio connections 15
Mains supply 15
Using the Square ONE Dynamics _______________________ 16
Stereo and multiple channel operation - linking 17
Solo bus 18
External key 18

Contents
ii Square ONE Dynamics
Compressor _______________________________________ 19
Principles of compression 19
Modes of operation 20
Compressor soft knee and RMS (default setting) 20
Compressor hard knee and RMS 20
Compressor hard knee and vintage 20
Compressor soft knee and vintage 20
Lo-Q frequency-conscious compressor 21
Hi-Q frequency-conscious compressor (de-esser) 21
Limiter 21
Threshold 22
Attack 22
Release 23
Ratio 24
Hard knee and soft knee 25
Side chains 25
De-essing 26
Gate _____________________________________________ 27
Principles of gate operation 27
Creative use 27
Gate operation 28
Threshold 28
Attack 28
Release 29
Range 29
Intelligent threshold shift (i-TS) 29
Music PA 29
Conference PA 29
Interfacing with the console 30
Using gates with compressors 31
Instrument synchronisation 32
Envelope shaping 32
Gating vocals 33
Applications _______________________________________ 34
Compression 34
Drums and percussive instruments 34
Stringed acoustic instruments 34
Stringed electric instruments 34
Electronic instruments 34
Brass instruments 34
Sung vocals 34
De-essing 34
Spoken word 35

Contents
Square ONE Dynamics iii
Gating 35
Removal of background noise from electronic sources 35
Drums and percussive instruments 35
Audio signal path ___________________________________ 36
Balanced/unbalanced audio __________________________ 37
Balanced audio 37
Principles of balanced audio 37
Connecting balanced and unbalanced equipment 38
Technical specification_______________________________ 39
Crib sheet_________________________________________ 41
Service information _________________________________ 42
Routine maintenance 42
Cleaning the unit 42
Checking/replacing the mains fuse 42

Contents
iv Square ONE Dynamics

Welcome!
Square ONE Dynamics 1
Welcome!
Thank you for purchasing a Klark Teknik Square ONE Dynamics. The Square ONE Dynamics is a
user-friendly, high-performance, eight-channel analogue dynamics processor designed for live sound
reinforcement with applications in both front-of-house and monitoring situations. Other possible areas for
use include broadcasting, the recording studio and installation.
The Square ONE Dynamics provides a wide variety of easy-to-use controls for precise manipulation of
compression parameters. These enable you to, for example, alter the character of an instrument being
processed or make sounds seemingly louder but without distortion. Other features include gating for creative
and corrective applications and channel linking for stereo or multi-channel operation.
Your Square ONE Dynamics forms an integral part of the Square ONE range, which was conceived by Klark
Teknik to offer audio professionals a suite of easily accessible, high-performance audio equipment, designed
to provide no-compromise sonic quality with a feature set that offers all essential facilities and functions. It
represents the very best of British design and engineering combined with contemporary, efficient
manufacturing methods, and will give you many years of reliable service.
All this is backed up, of course, by the standard Klark Teknik three year warranty.
Please take the time to complete and return the registration card and, to obtain the best results with a
minimum of effort, also read this operator manual.
Finally, enjoy your Klark Teknik Square ONE Dynamics!

Safety precautions
2Square ONE Dynamics
Safety precautions
Before installing, setting up or operating this equipment please ensure that you have read and
fully understand all of this section and the “IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS” at the front of
this manual.
This equipment is supplied by a mains voltage that can cause electric shock injury!
The following special limitations must be observed in order to maintain safety and electromagnetic
compatibility performance.
Safety warnings
This equipment is fitted with a 3-pin power socket. For safety reasons the earth lead must not be
disconnected.
Signal 0V is connected internally to the chassis.
To completely disconnect this equipment from the AC mains, unplug the mains lead from the
power outlet.
Do not expose this equipment to dripping or splashing and ensure that no objects filled with
liquids, such as vases, are placed on the equipment.
To prevent shock or fire hazard, do not expose the equipment to rain or moisture. To avoid
electrical shock do not remove covers. Refer servicing to qualified personnel only.
The power supplies - even the DC ones - have a high current!
General precautions
The following information gives basic safety precautions that should be observed to reduce the risk of fire,
electric shock and personal injury:
• Only properly trained service personnel familiar with this manual and with the generally applicable safety
regulations should service the equipment.
• Safety instructions detailed in the manual should be understood and properly implemented.
• In the event of ground loop problems, disconnect the signal screen at one end of the connecting cables.
Note that this can only be done when the equipment is used within a balanced system.
• Never operate damaged equipment and never operate equipment with damaged cables.
• Any part that is damaged should be properly repaired or replaced. This must be done by a fully trained
and authorised service engineer.
• Observe all warnings, cautions etc. on any part of the equipment.
• Do not remove, hide or deface any warnings or cautions.

Safety precautions
Square ONE Dynamics 3
Power
THE POWER SUPPLY SHOULD NEVER BE OPERATED WITH THE MAINS EARTH DISCONNECTED!
This unit should only be operated with the power supply connected to ground via the ground in the mains
connector.
The internal power supply is a switch mode type that automatically senses the incoming mains voltage and
will work where the nominal voltage is in the range 100VAC to 240VAC.
A single, fused IEC mains inlet is provided on the rear panel. The correct lead for connection in the area to
which the unit was shipped is supplied with the unit. The equipment should only be plugged into the mains
outlet using the supplied lead.
Please note that the power supply contains LETHAL VOLTAGES greatly in excess of the mains voltage and that
its rails can produce extremely large currents that could burn out equipment and wiring if shorted. All testing
and servicing must ONLY be carried out by approved service engineers.
We strongly recommend that, for safety and to optimise the life and performance of the equipment, the
mains cable plug is removed from the power outlet when the equipment is not to be used for extended
periods of time or during electrical storms.
When removing the equipment’s electric plug from an outlet, always hold the plug itself and not the cable.
Pulling out the plug by the cable can damage it.
Never insert or remove an electric plug with wet hands.
Handling the equipment
Completely isolate the equipment electrically and disconnect all cables from the equipment before moving it.
When lifting or moving the equipment, always take its size and weight into consideration.
Do not insert your fingers or hand in any gaps or openings on the equipment, for example, vents.
Avoid inserting or dropping foreign objects, such as paper, plastic, metal etc., into any gaps or openings on
the equipment, for example, vents. If this happens, turn off the power immediately and unplug the power
from the AC outlet. Then have the equipment inspected by the manufacturer's qualified service personnel.

Safety precautions
4Square ONE Dynamics
Installation
Before installing the equipment:
• Make sure the equipment is correctly connected to the protective earth conductor of the mains voltage
supply of the system installation through the mains lead.
• Power to the equipment must be via a fused spur.
• The power plug must be inserted in a socket outlet provided with a protective earth contact. The
electrical supply at the socket outlet must provide appropriate over-current protection.
• Both the mains supply and the quality of earthing must be adequate for the equipment.
• Before connecting up the equipment, check that the mains power supply voltage rating corresponds with
the local mains power supply and that the mains fuse is of the correct type and rating.
Location
• Ideally a cool area is preferred not in close proximity to power distribution equipment or other potential
sources of interference.
• Do not install the equipment in places of poor ventilation.
• Do not install this equipment in a location subjected to excessive heat, dust or mechanical vibration.
Allow for adequate ventilation around the equipment, making sure that its vents are not obstructed. To
prevent excessive heating of the equipment, avoid mounting it directly above power amplifiers or other
devices that radiate significant amounts of heat such as, radiators and heaters. Keep the equipment out
of direct sunlight. Where necessary use fan cooled racks.
• Make sure that the mains voltage and fuse rating information of the equipment will be visible after
installation.
• Do not use the equipment in the vicinity of electrical devices, such as computer monitors or mobile
phones, which may generate electrical noise.
Audio connections
To ensure the correct and reliable operation of your Square ONE Dynamics, only high quality balanced,
screened, twisted pair audio cable should be used.
XLR connector shells should be of metal construction so that they provide a screen when connected to the
console and should have Pin 1 connected to the cable screen.

Safety precautions
Square ONE Dynamics 5
Radio frequency interference
Class B device
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to
part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to
radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by
one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio TV technician for help.
Electric fields
Caution:
In accordance with Part 15 of the FCC Rules & Regulations, “… changes or modifications not
expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment.”
Should this product be used in an electromagnetic field that is amplitude modulated by an audio frequency
signal (20Hz to 20kHz), the signal to noise ratio may be degraded. Degradation of up to 60dB at a frequency
corresponding to the modulation signal may be experienced under extreme conditions (3V/m, 90%
modulation).
Operation
To avoid electrical shock, never operate the equipment with the covers removed.
Safety equipment
Never remove, for example, covers, housings or any other safety guards. Do not operate the equipment or
any of its parts if safety guards are ineffective or their effectiveness has been reduced.
Optional equipment
Unless advised otherwise, optional equipment must only be installed by service personnel and in accordance
with the appropriate assembly and usage regulations.
Special accessories
To comply with part 15 of the FCC Rules, any special accessories (that is, items that cannot be readily
obtained from multiple retail outlets) supplied with this equipment must be used with this equipment; do not
use any alternatives as they may not fulfil the RF requirement.

Features
6Square ONE Dynamics
Features
The Square ONE Dynamics analogue dynamics processor performs dynamic compressor and gate functions,
and has the following features:
• Eight clearly labelled channels, each one comprising:
- Control knobs for adjusting Threshold, Compressor Gain, Attack, Release, Gate Hold, Ratio/Range and
Side Chain Frequency.
- Hard Knee and Vintage switches used in combination to provide four compressor modes.
- Swept frequency side chain filter with Filter In and Narrow switches.
- Solo, External Key, Compressor/Gate and Bypass switches.
- Input and Attenuation level LED meters in the ranges -40dB to +18dB and -2dB to -20dB,
respectively, to show how the outboard processing is performing.
- LEDs for enabled/disabled status indication on some switches.
• Each channel has a processor that can perform as either a compressor or gate.
• Compressor can operate in RMS or peak sensing type (‘vintage’) modes. Each mode has hard knee or
soft knee options. The vintage mode emulates the performance of old classic valve-type compressors.
Other types of compression available are:
- Lo-Q (wide bandwidth) frequency-conscious compressor.
- Hi-Q (narrow bandwidth) frequency-conscious compressor; also known as a de-esser.
- Limiter.
• Intelligent threshold shift (i-TS) to reduce ‘chattering’ within the gate.
• Stereo or multi-channel operation provided by Link switches between channels.
• Variable frequency band pass filter that acts on the side chain signals.
• Solo bus for monitoring the side chain filter during the performance via electrically balanced input and
output via female and male XLR connectors.
• Each channel has electrically balanced input and output via female and male XLR connectors and also a
1/4” TRS-balanced jack socket for External Key input.
• Mains supplied via an IEC socket on rear panel.
• Fuse drawer contains easily replaceable mains fuse with a compartment for a spare.

Getting started
Square ONE Dynamics 7
Getting started
Observing the guidelines in “Safety precautions” on page 2, carry out the following to get your Square ONE
Dynamics unit fully operational.
Unpacking
Carefully unpack your Square ONE Dynamics equipment package.
Then please inspect the Square ONE Dynamics unit carefully for any signs of damage that may have occurred
during transit and notify the courier immediately if you discover any.
Check the contents of your Square ONE Dynamics equipment package. If there are any parts missing,
incorrect or faulty, please contact your local distributor or Klark Teknik at the address at the front of this
manual.
Please retain the original packing in case you should need to return the equipment to the manufacturer or
supplier, or transport or ship the unit later.
Checking the mains fuse
Before installing the equipment you need to make sure that the mains fuse fitted is of the correct type and
rating for your unit. To do this refer to “Service information” on page 42.
Installation
This unit is designed for mounting in any 19” EIA standard rack. Four rack-mount holes in the front panel are
provided for rack mounting and are designed to fully support the weight of the unit in the rack.
Note: Avoid over-tightening the rack-mount screws, as this could damage the front panel.
The position of the unit will depend upon how it is to be used. However, when positioning the unit, avoid
placing it where the control knobs may be damaged by being accidentally knocked or snapped off. Also, try
to avoid placing the unit directly near or on any power distribution units or power amplifiers.
Connecting the power cable
Making sure that the mains power at the power outlet is off, connect the mains cable supplied with your
Square ONE Dynamics to the mains power outlet and then to the mains socket at the rear of your unit.

Getting started
8Square ONE Dynamics
Connecting the audio cables
Making sure that all equipment is switched off, connect your Square ONE Dynamics to the rest of your audio
equipment as shown in the following subsections. For more details on balancing, see “Balanced/unbalanced
audio” on page 37.
Channel I/O pin-outs
Unbalanced I/O
1
3
2
1
3
2
Female
XLR
Male
XLR
Pin 2: Hot signal
Pin 1: Screen/Ground
Pin 3: Cold signal
Pin 3: Cold signal
Balanced I/O
Pin 2: Hot signal
Pin 1: Screen/Ground
Pin 2: Hot signal
Pin 1: Screen/Ground (not
connected at unbalanced end)
Pin 3: Ground at unbalanced
end
Pin 3: Ground at unbalanced
end
Pin 2: Hot signal
Pin 1: Screen/Ground (not
connected at unbalanced end)