Rebis Audio RA226 User manual

Rebis Audio Ltd. RA226 Digital Sampler User Guide
CONTENTS Page
Caution 2
Powering Up 2
Controls 3, 4
Detailed Description
Input Level Set 5
Recording 5
Sampling 5
Multiple Samples 6
Editing 6
Playback 7
Delay Mode 8
Operation (brief)
Record 9
Playback 9
Editing 10
Multiple Samples 10
Drop-ins 10
Pitch Shift 11
Sample Length 11
Bandwidth 11
Delay/Echo 12
Phasing 12
Keyboard Control 12
Audio Trigger 13
Remote Trigger 13
Installation
Handling 14
Audio Connections 14
Phono Rack 14
Earthing 15
Memory Expansion 15
Remote Control 15
Pin Connections 16, 17
Specifications 18

CAUTION
The Rebis RA226 Digital Sampler contains Static Sensitive devices.
Handle only by the front panel unless in a suitable anti-static environ-
ment.
Store in the conductive plastic bag supplied until installed in a Rebis
rack frame.
POWERING UP
When the RA226 is used with the Rebis Modular Rack Mount power
supply and a selection of other modules in the same rack the power but-
ton on the power supply has to be pressed twice quickly to achieve the
full 40V required to drive the RA226.
The LED on the power supply will be bright when the output is correct.

CONTROLS:
LEDS: Indicate signal level at the input to the digital section.
Red LED indicates overload.
INPUT: Adjusts the input gain of the unit. (up to +20dBm)
MIX: Output blend control sets a balance between input and output.
FEEDBK: Sets the amount of output signal fed back to the input to
control the number of repeats in delay mode.
PITCH: In playback mode varies the pitch of the sample. Also sets
both the maximum sample and delay time and the bandwidth of the
processed signal.
START: Used to set the beginning point of the sample both in record
and playback modes.
END: Used to set the end point of the sample in record and playback
and the range and length of the delay time.
DELAY: Selects the echo mode ofoperation.On pushing this button
either 2 Seconds or full delay range is selected depending on the posi-
tion of the END control. The associated LED indicates when delay
mode is selected.
REC: Selects the sample mode of operation. When pushed it's associat-
ed LED starts flashing indicating that the unit is waiting for an input
over a preset threshold level. On receiving a signal over this level the
LED illuminates continuously and the input signal is recorded into the
section of memory defined by the positions of the START and END
controls.

LOOP: Joins the start and end of the sample to form a continuous loop.
Pushing a second time deselects the option.
LATCH: Changes play buttons from momentary to latching action.
Pushing a second time deselects the option.
REV: This button starts or stops the sample playing in the reverse di-
rection. It's LED illuminates while the sample is being played in re-
verse.
FWD: This button starts or stops the sample playing in the forward
direction. It's LED illuminates while the sample is being played for-
wards.
PITCH:
Bandwidth on the unit is variable and can be traded off against avail-
able recording time using the Pitch control. This control has the same
effect as the speed control on a tape machine, if it is used after a record-
ing has been made then it directly varies the pitch of the sound when
played back. The C.V. input to the module when used takes over con-
trol of this function so that samples can be played musically using any
keyboard which has a C.V. output. The front panel control acts a fine
tune when the C.V. input is being used.
When recording samples the Pitch control or C.V. if connected still
operate so these controls must be set to the centre of the required range
(by playing a suitable note on the keyboard with C.V.) if the full pitch
range is required on playback. If full bandwidth and a lower pitch range
is required then this control should be set nearer the clockwise end
(higher up the keyboard with C.V.).

Detailed Description of Operation
Input Level Set:
To obtain the best results with the RA226 it is essential to set the in-
put level accurately. This is adjusted with the input Level control and
correct operation is obtained when all three green LEDs are on for most
of the time with the red LED only flashing occasionally.
Recording:
Recording samples on the RA226 is made easy by an automatic
record function which is set internally at a preset threshold level
of -20dBm. Pushing the Record button starts the Record LED flashing
and the unit waiting for a suitable input level. When an input is detected
which is above the internal threshold level then the input signal is re-
corded into a section memory defined by the positions of the Start and
End controls.
While the signal is being recorded the Record LED stays on continu-
ously and when the section of memory is full the sample just recorded
is played back forwards, indicated by the FWD LED coming on.
Pushing either the Loop or Latch buttons will stop this automatic
playback if required.
Sampling:
The simplest way to get a feel for how to operated the unit as a sam-
pler is to record a full length sample of speech into the unit and then
play it back in all the different modes. To do this set the Start control
fully anti- clockwise, the End control fully clockwise, the Pitch control
to +.5 oct, the Mix control central and the Feedback control anticlock-
wise. Connect the unit to the insert points of a microphone channel and
set the Level control to obtain the correct reading on the LEDs while
speaking into the microphone. Now push the Record button and talk for
eight seconds.
The unit will playback the sample auto- matically when it has fin-
ished recording. You can now experiment with the different play modes
and Start and End edit controls as described in the Introduction section

of this manual. In addition you can try varying the pitch of the sample
whilst in playback with the Pitch control.
Sampling: (cont)
Samples can be recorded into any part of memory by setting the Start
and End controls to define the section before pushing the Record but-
ton,but make sure that the End control is set more clockwise than the
Start control.
Multiple Samples:
Multiple samples can be recorded into memory by adjusting the Start
and End controls before recording each sample. These samples can then
be played back independently by resetting the Start and End controls to
the original settings before pushing the FWD button.
Samples can be 'dropped into' any section of an existing recording by
defining the section beforehand with the Start and End controls.
A special remote control unit will soon be available which will allow
up to eight user defined sections of memory to be played back instantly
in either direction.
Editing:
All of the recorded material can be heard by setting the Start control
fully anticlockwise, the End control fully clockwise and pushing the
FWD button. Any recorded sample can be edited down to individual
notes by the use of these same controls.
If the Start control is set later in memory than the End control when
the sample is played then the whole of memory is played except the
section between the controls. This is useful in editing out part of a sam-
ple which is not required.
Setting any controls or operating any buttons except Delay and
Record will not permanently alter any sample in memory but merely
select a different section to be played back. Feel free to experiment with
the edit controls and playback modes described later, you cannot dam-
age your sample, it will all still be in memory if you require it.

Playback:
There are four different playback modes which can be used in either
direction and are defined by the state of the Loop and Latch switches in
combination as follows:
1. Loop and Latch off.
The sample plays once only in the selected direction while the play
button is held down. Pushing either play button at any time always
starts the playback from the selected end.
2. Latch on.
The play buttons only have to be touched to start playback in the se-
lected direction once only. Touching the opposite play button before the
end of playback reverses playback from the point reached.
3. Loop on.
The sample is played for as long as the play buttons are held down in
a continuous cyclic loop in the selected direction. The sample is played
each time from the point last reached.
4. Latch and Loop on.
The play buttons only have to be touched to start continuous cyclic
playback in the selected direction. Touching the same play button again
stops the playback, touching it again restarts playback from the end se-
lected. Touching the opposite play button whilst in playback reverses
the playback from the point reached.
A few minutes experience with the RA226 audibly demonstrates that
these play modes simply provide a vast range of sample effects.
the same as the maximum sample time and is dependant on the number
of expansion boards installed.
Once the Delay button has been pushed and the Delay LED is on
then the End control sets the actual delay time obtained as a percentage
of whichever maximum time has been selected.
When the maximum delay time is 1.3 seconds the delay mode uses
the last 1.3 seconds of memory only, any samples stored in memory up
to this point will not be affected by using the Delay mode. However
when the full delay time is selected all of memory is used and any sam-
ples will be lost.

Delay Mode:
The delay mode is selected with the Delay pushbutton and when
pushed one of two maximum delay times are selected depending on the
setting of the End control.
Before selecting this mode you should decide whether you require
any more than 1.3 seconds delay (at 16kHz bandwidth), if you do then
you must set the End control clockwise before pushing the Delay but-
ton. If 1.3 seconds is adequate set the End control anticlockwise and
push the Delay button.
When the maximum delay time is 1.3 seconds the delay mode uses
the last 1.3 seconds of memory only, any samples stored in memory up
to this point will not be affected by using the Delay mode. However
when the full delay time is selected all of memory is used and any sam-
ples will be lost.
The Mix control should be used to obtain the required blend of input
and output signals. If an echo send line is being used to drive the unit
then none of the input signal will normally be needed at the output and
the Mix control can be turned fully clockwise. Alternately if the unit is
wired into the insert points of a mixing console then the amount of echo
mixed with the input will be controlled on the RA226 by setting the
Mix control near it's centre.
The delay time is now variable with the End control from two milli-
seconds (anticlockwise) to the maximum time selected (clockwise).
The Feedback control is used to set the number of repeats, from one
with it anticlockwise to almost an infinite number with it fully clock-
wise.
The Pitch control will set the bandwidth of the delayed signal and can
be useful in making echoed signals sound more natural. This control
also has an effect on the delay time and can be used as a fine tune if a
particular time is required.

Operating Instructions (brief)
Record
1.Set MIX control midway.
2.Adjust INPUT control
(optimum level = +10db).
3.Set START to 0%.
4.Set END to 100%.
5.Set PITCH to +1.
6.Press RECord button.
RECord LED flashes while RA226 waits for input.
LED steady indicates RA226 is recording.
Sample will playback automatically when memory is full.
If sample is satisfactory turn MIX control to OP to disable input.
The automatic playback can be stopped if necessary by pressing LOOP
or LATCH.
Playback
Momentary - Press FWD or REV buttons for momentary
playback.
One Shot - Engage LATCH button first for single touch
playback of entire sample.
Continuous Loop - Engage both LOOP and LATCH buttons.
Step - Engage LOOP button only to step through
looped sample.

Editing
The START and END controls define which part of the recorded sam-
ple will be played.
1.Turn the START control CW to edit from the front of the sample.
2.Turn the END control ACW to edit from the end of the sample.
Swap the positions of these two controls to remove a "window" from
the sample.
Note: START/END settings are scanned at the moment the sample
starts to play therefore adjusting the END control while sample is play-
ing will have no effect until next play.
To save time when editing long samples it is advisable to adjust the
end point first. i.e.Set the START control a little before the required end
point to save playing the whole sample.
It is also worth considering use of the REVerse and PITCH controls to
assist precise editing.
Multiple Samples
The START and END controls can be adjusted prior to recording a
sample to define the memory zone which it will occupy.
This facility can be used to reduce the time taken to record short sam-
ples. It also allows several samples to be stored in memory simultane-
ously and short samples to be inserted in longer ones.
Drop Ins
The RA226 can be switched in and out of record to perform orthodox
drop ins.
1.Set mode, LATCH on, LOOP off.
2.Play sample with FWD button held down.
3.Press REC button and RA226 will start recording. (Both buttons can
now be released).
4.Press REC button to drop out of record.