Rupert Neve Designs MBC User manual

Operations ManualOperations Manual
MBC
Master Buss Converter

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 ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the
manufacturer’s 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. Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or
table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with
the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution
when moving the cart/apparatus combination to
avoid injury from tip-over.
13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or
when unused for long periods of time.
14. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required
when the apparatus has been 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.
15. This apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing, and no
object filled with liquids, such as vases or beer glasses, shall be placed
on the apparatus.
16. Do not overload wall outlets and extension cords as this can result in a
risk of fire or electric shock.
17. This apparatus has been designed with Class-I construction and must
be connected to a mains socket outlet with a protective earthing
connection (the third grounding prong).
18. This apparatus has been equipped with a rocker-style AC mains power
switch. This switch is located on the rear panel and should remain
readily accessible to the user.
19. The MAINS plug or an appliance coupler is used as the disconnect
device, so the disconnect device shall remain readily operable.
20. NOTE: 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 o 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 the
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.
CAUTION: Changes or modifications to this device not expressly
approved by Rupert Neve Designs LLC, could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment under FCC rules.
21. This apparatus does not exceed the Class A/Class B (whichever is
applicable) limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus as
set out in the radio interference regulations of the Canadian Department
of Communications.
ATTENTION — Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits
radioélectriques dépassant las limites applicables aux appareils
numériques de class A/de class B (selon le cas) prescrites dans le
réglement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicté par les ministere des
communications du Canada.
22. Exposure to extremely high noise levels may cause permanent hearing
loss. Individuals vary considerably in susceptibility to noise-induced
hearing loss, but nearly everyone will lose some hearing if exposed to
sufficiently intense noise for a period of time. The U.S. Government’s
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has specified
the permissible noise level exposures shown in the following chart.
According to OSHA, any exposure in excess of these permissible limits
could result in some hearing loss. To ensure against potentially
dangerous exposure to high sound pressure levels, it is recommended
that all persons exposed to equipment capable of producing high
sound pressure levels use hearing protectors while the equipment
is in operation. Ear plugs or protectors in the ear canals or over the
ears must be worn when operating the equipment in order to prevent
permanent hearing loss if exposure is in excess of the limits set forth
here:
Important Safety Instructions
CAUTION AVIS
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK. DO NOT OPEN
RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE. NE PAS OUVRIR
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK)
NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL
ATTENTION: POUR EVITER LES RISQUES DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE, NE PAS ENLEVER LE COUVERCLE.
AUCUN ENTRETIEN DE PIECES INTERIEURES PAR L'USAGER.
CONFIER L'ENTRETIEN AU PERSONNEL QUALIFIE.
AVIS: POUR EVITER LES RISQUES D'INCENDIE OU D'ELECTROCUTION, N'EXPOSEZ PAS CET ARTICLE
A LA PLUIE OU A L'HUMIDITE
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.
Le symbole éclair avec point de flèche à l'intérieur d'un triangle équilatéral
est utilisé pour alerter l'utilisateur de la présence à l'intérieur du coffret de
"voltage dangereux" non isolé d'ampleur suffisante pour constituer un risque
d'éléctrocution.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the
user of the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing)
instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.
Le point d'exclamation à l'intérieur d'un triangle équilatéral est employé
pour alerter les utilisateurs de la présence d'instructions importantes pour le
fonctionnement et l'entretien (service) dans le livret d'instruction
accompagnant l'appareil. WARNING — To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not
expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.
Duration,
per day in
hours
Sound Level
dBA, Slow
Response
Typical Example
8 90 Duo in small club
6 92
4 95 Subway Train
3 97
2 100 Typical music via head phones
1.5 102
1 105 Siren at 10 m distance
0.5 110
0.25 or less 115 Loudest parts at a rock concert
PORTABLE CART
WARNING

Table of Contents
Introduction
Block Diagram
Front Panel
Rear Panel
MBC Features
Specications
Limited Warranty
1
1
2
3
4
6
9

Rupert Neve Designs MBC: Master Buss Converter
Thank you for purchasing the Rupert Neve Designs Master Buss Converter. We hope you enjoy using this product as
much as we have enjoyed designing and building it. The MBC features TLA line inputs, Class-A analog signal paths, a
stereo VCA limiter and AKM Analog-to-Digital conversion.
1
MBC Block Diagram
+ +
2
3
VCA
RMS
+ +
CW
GND
-
GND
ADC CAL LIMITER IN
LINK
AES3 OUTPUT 1-2
CH 1 RELEASE
CH 1 THRESHOLD
+
-
GND
IN+ IN-
-
-
TRANSFORMER IN
CH 1 LINE IN
TRANSFORMER
CW
SILK
+
CH 1 GAIN
+
+
GND
+
GND
+
CH 1 S/C HPF
DIT
+ +
2
3
CH 2 LINE IN
+
GND
+
VCA
RMS
GND
+
CH 2 S/C HPF
+
-
CH 2 THRESHOLD
+ +
CW
GND
CH 2 RELEASE
+
-
GND
IN+ IN-
-
-
TRANSFORMER
CW
CH 2 GAIN
+
GND
ADC ADC
COAXIAL S/PDIF
OPTICAL S/PDIF
1
2
1
2
WORD CLOCK IN
WORD CLOCK OUT
GNDD
-14 dBFS
-16 dBFS
-18 dBFS
-20 dBFS
+ +
CH 1 LVL MTR
CH 2 GR MTR
CH 1 GR MTR
VCC VCC
CH 2 LVL MTR

MBC Front Panel
2
GAIN
0dB +20dB
THRESHOLD
-14 OVER
RELEASE
50mS 1S
0dBFs-12
-6-6
5 4 3 2 14.5 3.5 2.5 1.5 0.5 050 30 15 71060 40 20 12 8 6
LEVEL GR
10 6 2 0.514 8 4 1
CHANNEL B
- dBFS
FREQ GAIN
20Hz 250Hz 0dB +20dB
S/C HPF
THRESHOLD
-14 OVER
RELEASE
50mS 1S
0 dBFs-12
5 4 3 2 14.5 3.5 2.5 1.5 0.5 050 30 15 71060 40 20 12 8 6
LEVEL GR
10 6 2 0.514 8 4 1
CHANNEL A
- dBFS
dB dB
44.1 kHz
48 kHz
88.2 kHz
96 kHz
176.4 kHz
192 kHz
SYNC
SAMPLE RATE
WORD CLOCK FREQ
20Hz 250Hz
S/C HPFSILK
RED / BLUE
TEXTURE
MIN MAX
LINK
ADC CAL
REF = +4dBu
LIMITER IN
TRANSFORMER IN
-20 dBFS -18 dBFS -16 dBFS -14 dBFS
S/C HPF
Illuminated tactile switch
that engages the limiter
side-chain high pass lter LEVEL (-dBFS)
22-segment LED meter indicating level
in dBFS scaling
Sample Rate Indication
LED indication for selected digital output sample rate
SAMPLE RATE
Illuminated tactile switch that toggles through
all six available digital output sample rates
Digital Reference Standard Indication
LED indication for the selected ADC reference standards
ADC CAL Toggles through the four digital reference standards. Selected digital reference standard = +4dBu
TRANSFORMER IN Illuminated tactile switch that engages the custom Rupert Neve Designs transformer path
SILK Illuminated tactile switch that toggles through transformer SILK modes: OFF, RED, BLUE
FREQ
31-detent potentiometer that
controls the limiter side-chain
high pass lter within a range of
20Hz to 250Hz
GAIN
31-detent potentiometer that controls
the limiter gain from 0dB to +20dB
THRESHOLD
31-detent potentiometer that controls
the level at which limiting begins
GR 8-segment LED meter indicating limiter gain reduction in dB scaling
RELEASE 31-detent potentiometer that controls the limiter Release time constant within a
range of 50mS to 1S
SYNC
LED that indicates
when Word Clock
is locked
WORD CLOCK Illuminated tactile switch that enables Word Clock In and Out on the rear-panel BNC jacks
LIMITER IN
Illuminated tactile
switch that engages
the stereo limiter
LINK Illuminated tactile switch that engages stereo linking mode
within the limiter
TEXTURE 31-detent potentiometer that controls the amount of SILK when transformer mode is engaged
Brightness Recessed trimmer that allows the user to adjust the overall brightness of the front panel LEDs