KRWX KERWAX REPLICA User manual

Operating Manual
Model KRWX-REP
TUBE LINE PREAMPLIFIER

KERWAX Replica – Operating Manual
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Safety Information......................................................... 4
General Information........................................................ 5
1. Introduction .......................................................... 7
1.1 About the Replica ..................................................... 7
1.2 A word from Christophe Chavanon ....................................... 7
2. Preparation ........................................................... 8
2.1 Contents of the Box ................................................... 8
2.2 Unboxing the Unit ..................................................... 8
2.3 Installation and Use .................................................. 9
2.4 First Operation ....................................................... 9
3. Names and Functions of Parts ......................................... 10
4. Using the Replica .................................................... 13
4.1 Making Connections ................................................... 13
4.2 Processing Features .................................................. 13
4.3 Signal Paths ......................................................... 14
4.4 Controls ............................................................. 16
4.5 Starting Point ....................................................... 17
4.6 Audio Processing ..................................................... 18
4.7 Replacing Vacuum Tubes ............................................... 19
5. Troubleshooting ...................................................... 20
6. Technical Specifications ............................................. 21
7. Recall Sheet ......................................................... 22
8. Warranty ............................................................. 23

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SAFETY INFORMATION
NOTES, NOTICES AND CAUTIONS
i A note indicates important information that helps you make better use of
your equipment.
Ü A notice indicates potential damage to hardware and tells you how to avoid
the problem.
ê A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury or
death.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
ê SELECT THE RIGHT MAIN OPERATING VOLTAGE RANGE USING THE 115V/230V VOLTAGE
SELECTOR ON THE REAR PANEL BEFORE USING THE DEVICE.
ê THE DEVICE MUST BE CORRECTLY SET UP AND CONNECTED TO A GROUNDED ELECTRICAL
OUTLET.
ê ALWAYS USE THE CORRECT FUSE TYPE ACCORDING TO THE MAIN OPERATING VOLTAGE.
ê ALWAYS USE THE SAME FUSE CAPACITY FOR REPLACEMENT.
ê DO NOT OBSTRUCT VENTILATION SLOTS. THIS WOULD CAUSE OVERHEATING AND
IRREMEDIABLY DAMAGE THE DEVICE.
ê NEVER TRY TO OPEN THE PANELS WHEN DEVICE IS POWERED. LETHAL HIGH VOLTAGES
INSIDE COULD CAUSE ELECTRIC SHOCK.
ê DO NOT TRY TO REPAIR THE DEVICE BY YOURSELF. SHALL YOU ENCOUNTER HARDWARE
FAILURE, PLEASE CONTACT MULANN IMMEDIATELY IN ORDER TO TAKE APPROPRIATE
ACTION.
ê DO NOT LEAVE THE DEVICE UNATTENDED WHILE IN OPERATION.
ê NEVER OPERATE THE DEVICE NEITHER IN EXPLOSIVE NOR IN DUSTY ENVIRONMENT.
ê THE DEVICE MUST NOT BE USED EITHER OUTSIDE OR IN CONDENSING ENVIRONMENT.
ê ALWAYS KEEP THE DEVICE AWAY OF LIQUIDS AND LIQUID PROJECTIONS.

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GENERAL INFORMATION
MANUFACTURING INFORMATION
This product is manufactured in France by MULANN.
Address: 9 rue Blaise Pascal
22300 Lannion, FRANCE
Telephone: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mulann.com
CERTIFICATION INFORMATION
This product is CE certified (European Union).
RECYCLING INFORMATION
MULANN recommends that customers dispose of their used equipment hardware and
peripherals in an environmentally sound manner. Potential methods include
reuse of parts or whole products and recycling of products, components, and/or
materials.
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive
In the European Union, this label indicates that this product should
not be disposed of with household waste.
It should be disposed at an appropriate facility to enable recovery
and recycling. For information on how to recycle this product
responsibly in your country, please contact your town hall or retailer.
This logo indicates that the transportation box is recyclable.
We recommend to save it for future uses such as moves or product
service.
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
All information, texts and photos are the sole property of MULANN and cannot
be reproduced without prior written agreement. Informations provided are not
contractual and are subject to modification. Great care was taken during the
preparation of this Operating Manual, however, as we cannot guarantee its
accuracy, it should be used for reference only.
Trademarks used in this document are registered trademarks of MULANN, unless
stated otherwise. Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document
to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names of their products.
MULANN disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other
than its own.
Contents copyright © 2016-2017 MULANN. All rights reserved.

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Designed by KERWAX
Manufactured by MULANN
FRANCE

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1. INTRODUCTION
Thank you for choosing KERWAX Replica! We hope it will give you years of
satisfaction and musical creativity. It was manufactured in France with the
finest materials and components, by and for professional audio users. Please
read this operating manual thoroughly before operating your new Replica.
1.1 ABOUT THE REPLICA
KERWAX Studio is a residential and all-analog recording studio located in a
former boarding school in Brittany. Fully loaded with an exceptional
collection of analog vintage gear from the 1940’s to the 1970’s, it hosts an
internally developed 24-channel vacuum tube mixing console to meet the
requirements of in-house sound engineers and producers.
The Replica includes 2 channels of this unique mixing console, integrated into
a compact 5U rack enclosure. Its design, inspired by 50's and 60's tube
amplifiers, allows to fully exploit intrinsic properties of vacuum tubes such
as natural compression, saturation and distortion, which bring colors and
textures that can't be found in today's digital audio products.
With balanced conception, the Replica features dual-mode audio processing:
standard L/R (dual mono or stereo) and M/S (Mid/Side). With 2 vacuum tubes
per channel, it allows you to strongly process the audio signal, by varying
its non-linear and linear features.
Not only the Replica has high quality construction, but also excellent audio
properties. Its sound has been carefully adjusted for months and validated at
KERWAX Studio. Versatile, it is compatible with any music style or instrument.
This operating manual will guide you through the endless possibilities of your
Replica. It was conceived to be as accessible and clear as possible, to help
you understand basic operation before discovering its capabilities as a daily
creative tool.
For more information, please visit our website:
kerwaxreplica.recordingthemasters.com
1.2 A WORD FROM CHRISTOPHE CHAVANON
"Our machine was conceived to facilitate the physical experience of tweaking
the sound and forget about rules and limits in the art of music production.
Pick the tubes, shape your sound.
Turn the knobs... and enjoy...!"
Christophe Chavanon
Owner, KERWAX Studio

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2. PREPARATION
2.1 CONTENTS OF THE BOX
The shipping box comes with the Replica model KRWX-REP and an accessory box
containing the following items:
- 1x 3-pole power cord adapted to the country of destination,
- 2x fuses allowing to change the operating voltage,
- 4x protective feet (optional).
2.2 UNBOXING THE UNIT
When receiving your Replica, inspect the shipping box for any damage before
accepting and signing for the delivery.
- Open the shipping box.
- Take out the protective crate with the help of the strapping.
- Cut the strapping and open the protective crate.
- Lift the Replica carefully and place the device on an horizontal, stable
and non-slip surface.
- Remove the protective bag and check thoroughly the condition of the unit.
- Open the accessory box and check if all the accessories listed above are
present.
i If any accessories are missing, if the unit is damaged or fails to operate,
please contact MULANN immediately.
i The protective crate contains custom foams that should not be removed.
i The shipping box and protective crate should be retained. They are
specifically designed to ensure maximum protection of the device: they
will be useful for service or future use.

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2.3 INSTALLATION AND USE
The Replica can be installed and used in 2 different ways:
- Rack integration,
- Free-standing.
• Rack integration
The Replica is designed to be installed in a standard 19-inch width (482 mm)
equipment rack. Its height conforms with a standard 5U (5 units) rack space.
To install the Replica in a standard equipment rack:
- Align the device against the screw holes of the equipment rack.
- Secure the device using 4 standard rack screws with washers.
Ü Considering its weight (23.37lbs), at least 2 persons are required to
ensure its proper installation.
• Free-standing
Place the unit on an horizontal, stable and non-slip surface. To avoid
scratching the bottom of the device when using it, install the 4 optional
protective feet (included in the accessory box) under the chassis.
Ü Do not obstruct the ventilation slots. It could cause overheat and you
could irremediably damage the device. Extra room must be kept free around
the Replica to ensure good air circulation.
2.4 FIRST OPERATION
ê WARNING: PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE
CONNECTING THE DEVICE TO MAINS POWER. IF THE WRONG MAINS VOLTAGE OR WRONG
FUSES ARE SELECTED, YOU COULD IRREMEDIABLY DAMAGE THE DEVICE!
The Replica supports both 110V-120V and 220V-240V mains voltages.
The voltage selector is preset at the factory to the mains voltage of the
country of destination.
To change the operating voltage of the device:
- Remove the security sticker placed over the AC power connector or unplug
the power cord from mains if connected.
- Open the fuses holder tray using a small screwdriver and remove the
installed fuses.
- Put the new fuses inside the fuses holder and close the tray.
- Set the voltage selector to the desired operating voltage (110V-120V or
220V-240V) using a small screwdriver.
Ü Only when these steps have been completed, plug the AC power cord into a
properly grounded AC outlet.

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3. NAMES AND FUNCTIONS OF PARTS
i The names and functions of parts indicated below and described in the
following pages are used as references throughout the next chapters.
FRONT PANEL
#1 to #16
i #3 to #17 functions are described for one channel only.
REAR PANEL
#17 to #19
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