Lewitt LCT 640 TS User manual

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RAW AND NON-DESTRUCTIVE
CAPTURE THE SCENE
MULTI-PATTERN FLAGSHIP WITH THE OPTION TO ADJUST THE POLAR PATTERN AFTER THE RECORDING
// LCT 640 TS
USER MANUAL

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// Index
Box Content ........................................................... 3
Intro .................................................................. 3
Features .............................................................. 4
User Interface ......................................................... 6
Operating Modes and Setup ........................................... 7
Multi-pattern Mode // ................................................ 7
Dual Output Mode // ................................................. 8
// Important Facts About Polar Patterns................................. 9
How to read a polar pattern diagram // ................................. 9
// Most Common Polar Patterns and Characteristics....................10
// Some Technical Background.......................................11
// How To Create Different Polar Patterns Manually .....................11
// Change Pattern With The POLARIZER ...............................12
Installation MAC // ..................................................12
Installation Windows // ..............................................13
// What To Do With A Dual Output Mode?...............................14
Automate/change the polar pattern after the recording // ...............14
Change the direction of the microphone, not only the polar pattern // ....14
MS stereo with only one LCT 640 TS // ...............................14
MS - the fun way //..............................................14
MS - the easy way // ............................................15
// Stereo applications with two LCT 640 TS ............................15
XY and Blumlein // ..................................................15
AB stereo // ........................................................16
ORTF // ...........................................................16
// Perfect Match Technology...........................................17
// Frequency Chart ....................................................18
// Specications ......................................................19
// Regulatory Information..............................................20
// Safety Guidelines ...................................................20

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// Intro
Thank you for choosing the LEWITT LCT 640 TS! In return, we will make your life way easier. Recording
with the LCT 640 TS will offer you a level of exibility you wouldn’t have guessed being possible.
There are certain developements that fundamentally changed the way how things are being done - like
digital photography compared to analog photography and later on the giant leap from jpg compression
as standard to the open RAW standard enabeling the photographer to change things like exposure and
white balance after the picture has been taken already. The LCT 640 TS also provides such a leading
development - but now for the music industry.
Using both outputs of the LCT 640 TS while recording is more like capturing the whole session instead
of just recording a source. It adds the freedom of changing the polar pattern dynamically from cardioid
all the way to Figure-8 during post-production. In fact while mixing your track, you could still turn your
microphone by 180° although you’ve nished your recording days ago. And we haven’t even touched all
the possibilities of two LCT 640 TS in a stereo-stereo setup ...
You see, recording with the LCT 640 TS is different than using any other large-diaphragm condenser
microphone: it’s record now, decide later.
// Box Content
LCT 640 TS microphone
LCT 40 SHx shock mount
LCT 40 Wx windshield
LCT 40 PSx Pop Filter
DTP 40 Lb articial leather bag
Black military-grade ightcase

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// Features
Dual-output mode // The LCT 640 TS provides the sigal of the front and the back
capsule separately. That way any kind of polar pattern from Omnidirectional to
Cardioid, to Figure-8 can be realized dynamically. And the most fascinating fact;
you can change the polar pattern after the recording during post-production.
Customized or one-click // Plug in your 3pin XLR as you would do with any
other mic and you’ll get a large diaphragm multi-pattern condenser mic. Plug in
the included mini 3pin XLR and experience all the possibilities of a true next gen
recording microphone.
MS stereo with only one mic // Record “Mid Side” stereo with only one LCT 640
TS. Just point the side of the microphone to the source!
The Polarizerplug-in // The Polarizer is a newly developed DAW plug-in. Change
or ne-tune the polar pattern during post-production, both on PC and Mac. The
Polarizer supports VST, AU and AAX.
Low-cut lters // They do exactly what they say, they cut low frequencies. Low-
cut lters eliminate low-frequency sounds to compensate the proximity effect
and reduce structure-borne noise.

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Pre-attenuation // Pre-Attenuation reduces the sensitivity of a microphone. Use
it to avoid clipping when recording very loud sound sources.
Key Lock // The Lock function makes the 3 pushbuttons inactive, to avoid
accidental change of settings.
Clipping Indicator // If the input signal is very loud the electronics inside the
microphone will distort - in other words, the signal will clip. The Status Indicator
will blink red to alert the user to adjust the pre-attenuation setting.
Clipping History // It is easily possible to miss if clipping occured during the
recording. The clipping history makes it possible to check if the microphone
clipped since it was last turned on by the phantom power.
Perfect Match Technology // Every number of LCT 640 TS will always form
matched pairs - thus the LCT 640 TS is the ideal tool for professional stereo and
surround recordings.

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// User Interface
1Polar pattern indicator // Use center pushbutton to select polar pattern; omni // broad // cardioid //
super cardioid // gure-8. Only available in Multi-pattern Mode! Not illuminated in Dual Output Mode!
2Low-cut indicator // Use left pushbutton to change the low-cut settings. Activate the low-cut to get
rid of unwanted low frequencies and structure born noise.
3Status indicator // Illuminated white: standard operation Illuminated green: Dual Output Mode
Flashing red: clipping occurs Not illuminated: key-lock active
4Pre-attenuation indicator // Use right button to select the pre-attenuation. Use this setting to avoid
clipping when recording very loud sound sources.
5Pushbuttons
Key-lock // Hold the left pushbutton for more than 2 seconds to activate the key-lock mode. Now all
pushbuttons are locked until you press the left button for 2 seconds again.
Clipping History // Hold the right pushbutton for more than 2 seconds to enter clipping history. If the
status indicator ashes green/white no clipping occured. If the status indicator ashes red/white clipping
occurred. The illuminated pre-attenuation symbols show at which pre-attenuation setting the clipping
occurred. Press any button for more than 2 seconds to exit clipping history. Once you exit the clipping
history or remove 48V the history is deleted.
1
23
5
A
4
B

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// Operating Modes and Setup
Unlike other microphones, the LCT 640 TS features a Dual Output mode that
enables engineers to record the front and back diaphragm of the capsule
individually. Ok, that maybe does not sound as spectacular as the bold font
indicates, but it denitely is. So let’s put it in other words:
The LCT 640 TS makes it possible to change and ne-tune the polar pattern
seamlessly all the way from omnidirectional to gure-8 as well as to turn the
recording direction of the microphone by 180° - even after the recording
session.
This leads for example to the ability to add as much room sound as desired post-
recording and makes a wide range of unique stereo recording techniques possible.
But the LCT 640 TS can also be used as a standard multi-pattern microphone.
The next section will explain how to set up the microphone for the two modes:
Multi-pattern Mode //
In this mode your LCT 640 TS will behave just like any other multi-pattern
condenser microphone. The LCT 640 TS is automatically set to this mode when
plugging it up with a standard 3 pin XLR cable.
// Use a 3 pin XLR cable to connect the LCT 640 TS to your microphone preamp,
mixing console or audio interface.
// Turn on phantom power!
// Status indicator of the microphone will light up white.
// Choose one of the ve preset polar patterns by pushing the center pushbutton.
// Adjust the settings on the microphone to your needs.
See section User Interface for a walkthrough of the UI elements.

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// Operating Modes and Setup
Dual Output Mode //
Now this is where the magic starts. Set to Dual Output Mode the LCT 640 TS
enables you to change and ne-tune the polar pattern of your mic at any given
time before and after the recording during post-production.
// Use a standard 3 pin XLR cable to connect output A to your microphone preamp,
audio interface or mixing console.
// Connect output B with the included adapter cable to your second microphone
preamp channel, audio interface or mixing console.
// Turn on 48V phantom power on both channels!
// Press and hold center pushbutton for 2 seconds to enter dual output mode.
// Status indicator will light up green.
// Make sure to set the input gain on your preamp to the same amplication for
both channels! This is essential to create the polar patterns later on.
// Use your mixing console or DAW to create the polar pattern or use our Polarizer
plugin here.
// Attention
It takes up to 20 seconds after phantom power is applied till the microphone
reaches it’s full sensitivity!
It takes up to 20 seconds till the switch between polar patterns is complete!
Always apply phantom power to output A for normal operation
Always apply phantom power to outputs A and B in Dual Output Mode.

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// Important Facts About Polar Patterns
It is very important to understand the basic principles about polar patterns in order to get the best out of
everyrecording.The polar pattern of a microphone determines the sensitivity on different angles. In other
words, it denes how much of the signal will be picked up by the microphone from different directions.
By selecting the right pattern, you can avoid unwanted sound sources to bleed into your signal, adjust
the mix between dry and room sound or change the frequency response and handling noise sensitivity.
How to read a polar pattern diagram // First of all you have to be able to read a polar pattern diagram
properly. In fact it alone tells everything you need to know in order to foresee the result during recording.
The polar pattern consists of a circle, representing a 360° eld surrounding the microphone. 0° is the
“front” of the microphone and the angle where the microphone has its maximum sensitivity. The scale
of the circle consists of smaller circles, each representing a 5dB decrease in sensitivity. Typically it goes
till -25dB.
When looking at polar pattern diagrams it is important to know what the dB values actually mean.
The decibel (dB) is a logarithmic unit to compare two values. If the specication of a cardioid pattern
microphone states it has a rear rejection of 25 dB, it means that the most sensitive part (0°) and the least
sensitive part (180°) is compared.
To get a feeling for dB values let us give you an example, even if it includes a bit of maths: For (sound)
pressure, current and voltage +6 dB is double signal, +20 dB leads to 10 times the signal. As a typical
rear rejection for a cardioid pattern is about -20 dB, it means that sound sources in the back are picked
up only at 1/10th sensitivity in comparison to the front signals.
0º
-5 dB
-15 dB
-20 dB
-10 dB
30º330º
60º300º
90º270º
120º240º
150º210º
180º

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// Most Common Polar Patterns and Characteristics
Omnidirectional // the omni pattern has the same sensitivity to sound coming from any direction. This
can be problematic in a bad sounding room or in a live situation where you have Monitors and a PA system
as it can lead to feedback. It can also shine in good sounding rooms and time based stereo recording
techniques. The omni pattern gets more directivity the smaller the wavelength gets in comparison to the
capsule size.
It has the best bass response, attest frequency response overall and is the least sensitive to handling
or wind noise.
Figure-8 // The Figure-8 pattern has the same sensitivity at 0° and 180°, it is the least sensitive at 90°
and 270°. This makes it very interesting for various stereo recording techniques (Mid Side, Blumlein). It
can also be very helpful in situations where you do not want a signal coming from a 90° angle to bleed
into the microphone.
Bass response is the weakest of all polar patterns and it is the most sensitive to wind and handling noise.
Cardioid // That’s the most commonly used polar pattern, it is most sensitive at 0° and the least sensitive
at 180°. This makes it a great choice for most applications. It is easy to blend out a bad sounding room,
a noisy fan in the background and other things alike and get a dry signal.
Wide Cardioid // A mix between omni and cardioid with all their characteristics.
Supercardioid // Supercardioid leads to even more directivity as a cardioid pattern. It is very useful in
live situations as it allows for very high gain before feedback. It also keeps the signal very dry because
you get a lot of direct signal from your sound source.
Cardioid
Figure-8
Omnidirectional
Supercardioid
Wide Cardioid