LYDKRAFT TUBE-TECH MEC-1A User manual

Product Description
The TUBE-TECH MEC 1A Recording Channel is a one
channel recording unit, featuring a microphone
preamplifier equalizer and compressor. The shelving and
the bell filters are designed around a tube operational
amplifier.
Both Input and Output are balanced and have fully
floating transformers with a static screen. The power
supply and the sidechain circuit is based on solid state
circuitry. With the exception of the output stage all
DC voltages are stabilised.
Compressor
•Optical gain reduction element
•Linkable for stereo applications
•Variable Attack and Release parameters
•Ratio 1,5:1 to 10:1
General
•Master Output Gain (off to +10 dB)
•Clickless swap relay (Eq. <-> Compressor)
•VU-Meter showing output or compression
•Frequency response @ -3dB: 5 Hz to 60 kHz
•Low Noise: < - 85 dBu @ 10 dB gain
•Conductive plastic potentiometers
•Reg. power supply w. toroidal transformer
The MEC-1A encompasses the all tube based designs of the MP 1A Microphone Preamplifier,
EQ 1A Equalizer and CL 1B Compressor in a powerful, two-unit recording package – designed
and hand crafted to deliver the warmth of vintage quality recordings with unrivaled accuracy,
purity and realism.
three-in-one valve solution
RECORDING CHANNEL
Product Features
Microphone Preamplifier
•+20 dB to +70 dB Gain
•Phantom Power (+48 V)
•Phase Reverse
•-20 dB pad
•Lowcut filter (20 Hz/12 dB oct, 40 Hz/6 dB oct)
•High-impedance DI-input (>1 Mohm)
Equalizer
•Three bands with variable Q
•Low: 20, 30, 50 70, 100 & 160 Hz (+/- 15 dB gain)
•Mid (Bell type): 40, 60, 80, 130, 250, 500 Hz, 1 kHz,
1.6, 2.5, 4, 7 & 10 kHz (+/-12 dB or +/-20 dB gain)
•High: 4, 6, 8, 12, 18 & 26 kHz (+/- 15 dB gain)
MEC 1A
sound engineering

MEC 1A technical specifications
Impedance
Input, Mic. Preamp: > 1,2 kohm
Input, DI: > 1 Mohm/82pF
Output: < 60 ohm
Frequency response @ -3 dB: 5 Hz to 80 kHz
Distortion THD+N @ 40 Hz
0 dBu < 0,10 %
+10 dBu < 0,10 %
Max. output: +26 dBu < 1 %
Max. input: +21 dBu < 1 %
Noise Rg=200 ohm
Output Gain @ +20 dB +60 dB
22 Hz-22 kHz: < -82 dBu < -60 dBu
CCIR-468-4: < -72 dBu < -50 dBu
CMRR @ 10 kHz: < -60 dB
Gain (0 to 10 dB, 1 dB step)
(20 to 60 dB, 10 dB step)
Mic. Preamp: 20 dB to 70 dB
DI: 10 dB to 60 dB
Compressor
Ratio: 1,5:1 to 10:1
Threshold: off to -20 dBu
Attack: 1 ms to 100 ms
Release: 60 ms to 2 s
Tubes
ECC 81 3 pcs
ECC 82 1 pcs
ECC 83 3 pcs
Dimensions
Height: 2 units 88 mm 3,5"
Width: 483 mm 19,0"
Depth: 205 mm 8,1"
Weight
Net: 5,5 kg 12,1 lbs.
Shipping: 6,9 kg 15,2 lbs.
Power requirements
@ 115 V/230 V, 50-60 Hz: 30-45 W
Notes
All specifications @ RL=600 ohm
Lydkraft reserves the right to alter
specifications without prior notice
Dealer
Mose Allé 20 •2610 Rødovre •Denmark •T [phone] •F [phone] •www.tube-tech.com
LYDKRAFT

Lydkraft ApS
Mose Allé 20, DK2610 Rødovre
Denmark
1
(980112)
TUBE-TECH MEC 1A
Recording channel
Description:
The TUBE-TECH recording channel MEC 1A is a combined microphone and DI
preamplifier, equalizer and optical compressor intended for recording directly to any
recording media.
Microphone preamp:
The microphone preamplifier consists of a microphone input transformer (with a static
screen) with a step-up of +10 dB, two dual tube preamplifiers with two stepped gain
switches, one with 10dB/step (coarse) and one 1dB/step (fine) giving a total gain range of
+20dB to +70dB.
The microphone input is provided with a switchable -20dB attenuation (PAD), switchable
+48 V phantom-power and phase reverse.
A highpass filter for the microphone and the DI input is switchable between off, 20 Hz and
40 Hz.
The microphone input is capable of accepting levels of up to +6 dBU (1.55V) at 40 Hz
without the PAD. With the PAD switched into the circuit, the MEC 1A can be used as a
unity gain line amplifier accepting levels up to +26 dBU (15.5V) at 40 Hz.
The high impedance DI input is unbalanced and placed in the circuit directly after the input
transformer. The gain range for this input is +10dB to +60dB. When in use, the microphone
input is disabled.
Equalizer:
The equalizer has low and high shelving filter with a gain range of +/- 15dB, each with 6
switchable frequencies and a band filter with a gain range of +/- 20dB, 12 switchable
frequencies and a bandwidth control.
The shelving and the bell filters are designed around a dual tube operational amplifier.
The equalizer has a separate in /out switch.
Compressor:
The compressor is of the optical device type. It has controls for ratio, threshold, attack and
release. A switch selects between manual attack and release and fixed attack and release.
With the link switch it is possible to link several units together on two independent bi-
directional buses. The compressor has a separate in /out switch.
In normal operation the equalizer is in front of the compressor, but a switch enables the
compressor to be in front of the equalizer.
COMPRESSOR INTERCONNECTION:
The side chain sockets for interconnection of several compressors are located on the rear
panel.
A switch (link1/link2) on the front selects which compressors are interconnected, and on
which bus they are connected.

Lydkraft ApS
Mose Allé 20, DK2610 Rødovre
Denmark
2
(980112)
The interconnection implies, that the unit that performs the most compression is controlling
the others. To choose which one you want to control, select the attack/release time, the
threshold and the ratio on that unit, and turn the threshold fully counter clockwise on the
reminding compressors.
It is of course possible to have all the interconnected compressors control each other
simultaneously.
NB: Remember to set the ratio control and the gain control in the same position
on the "slaves". Otherwise the stereo image could be shifted during
compression.
The attack/release-control on the slaves will have no effect.
The input/output capability of the side chain-circuit allows up to ten compressors to be
linked together. They are connected in parallel with a standard 1/4" stereo jack/-jack cord
(tip: bus 1, ring: bus 2).
The two-jack socket on the rear panel is connected in parallel and both are input/output.
VU-Meter:
The vu-meter can be switched between output level and compression.
Output gain:
A level control with a gain from off to +10dB is placed at the output of the unit.
MIC PRE-AMP CONTROLS:
GAIN: Coarse: The gain switch has a range from +20dB to +60dB in steps of 10dB.
Fine: The gain switch has a range from 0dB to +10dB in steps of 1dB.
LOW CUT: The highpass filter is selectable between off,20 Hz (12dB/octave) and
40 Hz (6dB/octave).
PHANTOM: The phantom switch turns the +48V DC power on and off.
The +48V DC is supplied to the microphone input via two 6,81 K resistors.
PAD: This switch selects between either 0dB or -20dB attenuation in front of the
microphone transformer.
DI: The Direct Input is an unbalanced, high impedance input intended for various
instruments.
It goes directly into the preamplifier and has a gain range of +10dB to +60dB
EQUALIZER CONTROLS:
LOW SHELF:
GAIN: The gain control is continuously variable from 0 dB to 15 dB.

Lydkraft ApS
Mose Allé 20, DK2610 Rødovre
Denmark
3
(980112)
FREQ. Hz: There are a choice of six frequencies: 20, 30, 50, 70, 100, 160 Hz.
(The frequency is 3dB from max./min.)
(Boost/cut) Determines whether the gain control shall be boosting or cutting.
MIDBAND:
GAIN: The gain control is continuously variable from 0 dB to 20 dB.
FREQ. Hz: There is a choice of twelve frequencies:
40, 60, 80, 130, 250, 500, 1k, 1,6k, 2,5k, 4k, 7k, 10k.
BW: The bandwidth control is continuously variable from sharp to broad.
(Boost/cut) Determines whether the gain control shall be boosting or cutting.
HIGH SHELF:
GAIN: The gain control is continuously variable from 0 dB to 15 dB.
FREQ. kHz: There is a choice of six frequencies: 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, and 26
(The frequency is 3dB from max. /min.)
(Boost/cut) Determines whether the gain control shall be boosting or cutting.
EQ in/out: Switches the frequency network in and out.
COMPRESSOR CONTROLS:
RATIO: The ratio control varies the ratio by which the input signal is compressed.
If the ratio selected is to 2:1, and the input signal increases 10 dB, the output
signal is only increased by 5 dB.
The ratio control is continuously variable from 1,5:1 to 10:1.
THRESHOLD: The threshold is the point where the compressor begins its action. It is
defined as the point where the gain is reduced by 1 dB.
The threshold is continuously variable from off to -20 dBm.
COMP in/out: This switch defeats the compressor side chain circuit
ATTACK: The attack control chooses how fast/slow the compressor responds to an
increase in the input signal.
The attack control is continuously variable from 1 to 100 milliseconds.

Lydkraft ApS
Mose Allé 20, DK2610 Rødovre
Denmark
4
(980112)
RELEASE: The release control chooses how fast/slow the compressor responds to a
decrease in the input signal.
The release control is continuously variable from 0,07 to 2,5 seconds.
ATT/REL: There are two settings of the switch:
There are two settings of the switch:
1.Fixed. Attack time: 1 msec
Release time: 50 msec
2. Manual. Attack time: from 1 msec to 100 msec
Release time: from 0.07 sec to 2,5 sec
link1-off-link2: Interconnects several compressors on bus 1or bus 2. There is no
difference between the two busses.
If the switch is left in the mid position, the compressor works entirely
independently.
OUTPUT GAIN: The gain control is used to "make up" for the gain loss that takes place when
the unit is compressing.
The gain control is continuously variable from off to +10 dB.
METER: The VU-meter switch has two positions:
1. Compression The VU-meter is reading gain reduction.
It’s rest position is "0 VU", and the amount of compression is shown as a
decreasing deflection in dB.
2. Output The VU-meter is reading the level at the output socket.
"0 VU" is equivalent to +4 dBm.
NB: Leave the meter switch in position compression as it might introduce
distortion if left in the output position.
EQ-COMP/COMP.-EQ:
In the position EQ-COMP, the signal from the mike-preamp. goes to the
equalizer and thereafter to the compressor.
In the position COMP. -EQ the signal from the mike-preamp. goes to the
compressor and then to the equalizer.

Lydkraft ApS
Mose Allé 20, DK2610 Rødovre
Denmark
5
ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE: (980810)
CAUTION:
Before making any adjustment let the unit heat-up at least 30 min.
Always check the DC voltages at the power supply.
ADJUSTMENT OF PSU:
1) The DC voltage in TP202 shall be +240V.
Adjust with P201.
2) The DC voltage in TP203 shall be +150,0V.
Adjust with P202.
3) The DC voltage in TP204 shall be -150,0V.
Adjust with P203.
ADJUSTMENT OFFSET IN TUBE-OP-AMPS:
1) The DC voltage in TP1 shall be < +/-50mV.
Adjust with P1.
THE GRE SHALL BE MARKED BETWEEN 1.005-1.175
ADJUSTMENT OF BASIC GAIN:
1) Set the “PAD”on “off”.
2) Set the “Low cut”on “off”.
3) Set the gain control “Coarse”on "20".
4) Set the gain control “Fine”on "0".
5) Turn all “Gain”controls on the EQ fully CCW and the in/out switch on "Out”.
6) Turn the “Threshold”fully CCW and the “Comp”in/out switch on "Out".
7) Turn the “Output gain”fully CW.
8) Apply a signal of 1 kHz, -20,0 dBU to the mike input.
9) Adjust the preset “Gain”P2 (on amp/psu PCB) to an output reading of +10,0 dBU.

Lydkraft ApS
Mose Allé 20, DK2610 Rødovre
Denmark
6
ADJUSTMENT GAIN CONTROLS IN LOW/HIGH SHELVING AND MIDBAND: (980112)
LOW SHELVING:
1) Apply a signal of 20 Hz, -20,0 dBU to the mike input.
2) Turn the GAIN-control at "0". Turn the freq. switch to "160Hz".
3) When switching between boost and cut, observe that the level is exactly the same
(<+/- 0,1dB).
Adjust with P5 located on the front PCB.
HIGH SHELVING:
1) Apply a signal of 20 kHz, -20,0 dBU to the mike input.
2) Turn the GAIN-control a "0". Turn the freq. switch to "4 kHz".
3) When switching between boost and cut, observe that the level is exactly the same
(<+/- 0,1dB).
Adjust with P7 located on the front PCB.
MIDBAND:
1) Apply a signal of 1kHz -20,0 dBU to the mike input..
2) Turn the GAIN-control a "0". Turn the Freq. switch to 1kHz
3) When switching between boost and cut, observe that the level is exactly the same
(<+/- 0,1dB).
Adjust with P2 located on the front PCB.
ADJUSTMENT OF COMPRESSION TRACKING:
1) Turn the THRESHOLD-control fully counter-clockwise.
2) Set the RATIO-control at 2:1.
3) Set the bus select switch at link 1.
4) Apply a signal of 1 kHz, -20,0 dBU into the input.
5) Adjust the OUTPUTGAIN-control to an output-reading of 0,0 dBU.
6) Apply a DC-voltage of +250,0 mV into the side chain jack socket (tip) and observe
that the output level has dropped to -10,0 dBU.
7) If this is not the case, adjust the level with P 12, to obtain a drop of exactly -10,0 dB.

Lydkraft ApS
Mose Allé 20, DK2610 Rødovre
Denmark
7
ADJUSTMENT OF THE VU METER READING "COMPRESSION": (980112)
1) Turn the THRESHOLD-control fully counter-clockwise.
2) Switch the METER-selector to Compression.
3) Set the RATIO-control at 2:1
4) Apply a signal of 1 kHz, -20,0 dBU into the input.
5) Adjust the OUTPUTGAIN-control to an output-reading of 0,0 dBU.
6) Adjust P 14 until the meter is reading 0 VU.
7) Apply a DC-voltage of +250,0 mV into the side chain jack socket and observe that
the output level has dropped to -10,0 dBU. If this is not the case, adjust the
compression tracking (see above)
8) Adjust P 13 until the meter is reading -10,0 VU.
9) Remove the DC-voltage from the side chain jack socket (by setting the bus select
switch in the neutral position).
10) Repeat step 6 - 9.
NB: The VU-meter accuracy should be within +/- 0,5 dB when reading compression.

SPECIFICATIONS for TUBE- TECH MEC 1A
Impedance Tubes
Input, Mic. Preamp: > 1,2 kOhm ECC 81 3 pc
Input, DI: > 1 Mohm/82pF ECC 82 1 pc
Output <60 Ohm ECC 83 3 pc
Frequency response @ -3dB 5 Hz to 80 Hz Dimensions
Height: 2 units 88 mm 3,5”
Distortion THD+N @ 40Hz Width: 483 mm 19,0”
0 dBU 0,10 % Depth: 205 mm 8,1”
+10 dBU 0,10 %
Max. output: +26 dBU <1 % Weight
Max. input: +21 dBU <1 % Net: 5,5 kg 12,1 lbs
Shipping: 6,9 kg 15,2 lbs
Noise Rg=200 Ohm
Output Gain @ +20 dB +60 dB Power requirements
22 Hz-22 kHz < -82 dBU < -60 dBU @ 115 V/230 V, 50-60 Hz 30-45 W
CCIR-468-4 < -72 dBU < -50 dBU
CMMR @ 10 kHz < - 60 dB
Gain (0 to 10dB, 1dB step)
(20 to 60dB, 10dB step)
Mic. Preamp 20 to 70 dB
DI 10 to 60 dB
Compressor
Ratio: 1,5:1 to 10:1 Notes
Threshold off to –20 dBU All specifications @ RL = 600 Ohm
Attack 1 ms to 100 ms Lydkraft reserves the right to alter
Release: 60 ms to 2 s specifications without prior notice