SABINE GRAPHI-Q User manual

OPERATING GUIDE
Version 7
ThismanualwrittenforSabineGRAPHI-Qswith:
• GRQFirmwareVersion3.10
• GRQRemoteSoftwareVersion3.10
Visit Sabine’s website for the latest information and FREE
software/firmwareandoperatingguideupdates
www.SabineUSA.com

Manufacturer's Name: Sabine, Inc.
Manufacturer's Address: 13301 Highway 441
Alachua, FL 32615 USA
Type of Equipment: Equalizer
Model No.: GRAPHI-Q
Serial No.:
Year of Manufacture: 1999 and on
I, the undersigned, hereby declare that the equipment specified above conforms to the above
Directive and Standard.
Place: Alachua, Florida, USA Signature:
Date: February 20, 2000 Full Name: Doran Oster, Sabine President
Declaration of Conformity
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
Application of Council Directive: 73/23/EEC and 89/336/EEC
Standards to which conformity is declared:
EN 60065: 1993
EN 60742: 1995
EN 55103-1: 1997
EN 55022: 08:94 + a1:05:05
EN 55103-2: 1997

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GRQ-3101(1U,singlechannel,oneinput,twooutputs)
GRQ-3102 (2U, dual channel, one input & output per channel)
GRQ-3101S (1U, blank front panel slave, single channel, one input, two outputs)
GRQ-3102S (1U, blank front panel slave, dual channel, one input & output per channel)
GRQRemote forWindowsTM Softwareincludedwithevery unit;runs upto 8GRAPHI-QsperCOMport
(maximum of 2 COM ports)
•All front panel controls are analog-style; signal path is digital
•“Tweek-n-Peek”feature: Frontpaneladjustmentsof all parameters are shownin LED displayscreen
•24-bit A/D and D/A conversion, 32-bit processing
•20to 20KHz Frequency Response
•+29 dBV Maximum Signal Input & Output
•ClipGuardTM AdaptiveClipLevel Control
•FloatingPointSHARC Processor
•>110dB dynamic range (with ClipGuardTM)
Eachchannelprovides:
•31-band graphic EQ, with ± 6 or 12 dB range (selectable)
•High Cut Filter (3K to 20K) and Low Cut Filter (1K to 20K)
•FBXFeedback Exterminator:12 Filters,withTURBO Mode (AutoTurbomode via remote control)
•Compressor/Limiter, with controls forratio, threshold, and gain (attack,release, and knee adjustable
withremote)
•Digital Delay, with up to 1 second delay, adjustable in 20 microsecond increments
•Bypass: dedicated switches for FBX, EQ, and Delay with built in LED indicators
•LED Segmented Indicators: FBX Filters, Level, Gain Reduction
•LEDPoint Indicators:TURBO, Remote, EQRange
•LED Character Display: Delay setting, EQ fader boost/cut, High Cut Filter setting Low Cut Filter
setting,Compressor Ratio,Threshold, and Gain.
BackPanel:
•XLR & 1/4"TRS inputs & outputs
•RS-232 Serial input & output (additional serial input on the slave front panels)
•Remote switching (7-position contact closure switch; allows switch selection of all 69 stored GraphiQ
presets)
GRAPHI-QRemote SoftwareFeatures:
All front panel controls, plus more, including:
•FBX filter depth & width adjustments; switchable to parametric filters (depth, width & frequency
adjustments)
•View and edit response curves
•Graphic EQ Filter width adjustments
•Passwordprotection
•View & edit frequency response curves
•69user-defined stored presets
•Control and link up to 8 GRAPHI-Qs (16 channels of audio) per COM port (1 or 2 ports can be used)
•Future-proofFREEflash RAM upgrade capability: upgrade your firmwareandsoftware from the
Sabinewebsite (www.SabineUSA.com)!
Summary of Features
Summary of Features

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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Section One: Introduction .................................................................................................. 6
SectionTwo: Analog vs. Digital Signal Processing ........................................................... 7
SectionThree: Front and Back Panel Views....................................................................... 8
Section Four: Block Diagram/Internal Signal Path ............................................................ 10
Section Five: Installation .................................................................................................... 11
5.1. BETWEEN MIXER OUTPUT AND POWER AMPLIFIER. .....................................................................11
5.2. TWO CHANNEL GRAPHI-Q: MAINS AND MONITORS. ......................................................................11
5.3. USEWITH A POWERED MIXER..........................................................................................................12
5.4. USE AT A MIXER INSERT POINT. .......................................................................................................12
5.5. SINGLE CHANNEL GRAPHI-Q: ONE INPUTTWO OUTPUTS. ...........................................................12
5.6. WHAT NOTTO DO...............................................................................................................................13
Section Six: Using GRAPHI-Q Front Panel Controls .......................................................... 14
6.1. GRAPHIC EQUALIZER CONTROLS ...................................................................................................14
6.1.1. Front Panel Control .................................................................................................................... 14
6.1.2. Linking Channel Controls (Two Channel Units) .......................................................................... 15
6.1.3. The Tweek-n-Peek Feature (Front Panel Models only) ............................................................... 15
6.2. HIGH CUT/LOW CUT FILTERS ...........................................................................................................15
6.2.1. Front Panel Control .................................................................................................................... 15
6.3. FEEDBACK CONTROL AND PARAMETRIC EQUALIZATION ............................................................15
6.3.1. Glossary of Terms ...................................................................................................................... 15
6.3.2. Front Panel Control of FBX filters ............................................................................................... 17
6.3.3.Adjustments Available Only with Remote Control........................................................................ 19
6.4. COMPRESSOR/LIMITER CONTROLS ................................................................................................19
6.4.1. Front Panel Control .................................................................................................................... 19
6.5. DIGITAL DELAY CONTROLS ..............................................................................................................20
6.5.1. Front Panel Control .................................................................................................................... 20
6.6. BYPASS ..............................................................................................................................................20
6.6.1. Front Panel Control .................................................................................................................... 20
6.7. CHANGING FRONT PANEL DEFAULT SETTINGS ADJUSTABLE ONLY BY SOFTWARE.................20
Section Seven: GRQ-Remote Software Installation........................................................... 21
7.1.SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.....................................................................21
7.2.CONNECTIONS ...................................................................................................................................21
7.3. INSTALLINGTHE SOFTWARE.............................................................................................................22
Section Eight: Using GRQ-Remote Software..................................................................... 23
8.1.WELCOME SCREEN/NETWORK CHAIN SCREEN..............................................................................23
8.1.1. Default Control Status ................................................................................................................ 24
8.2. GRQ MAIN SCREEN ............................................................................................................................24
8.2.1.Graphic Equalizer........................................................................................................................ 24
8.2.2.High/Low Cut Filters.................................................................................................................... 24

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Table of Contents
8.2.3. Response Curve Display............................................................................................................ 25
8.2.4. Output Level............................................................................................................................... 25
8.2.5.FBX Feedback Exterminator & Parametric Filters ....................................................................... 25
8.2.6.Compressor/LimiterAdjustments ................................................................................................ 28
8.2.7.Digital Delay Adjustments ........................................................................................................... 29
8.2.8.Bypass ........................................................................................................................................ 29
8.3. LINKING PARAMETERS AND CONTROLWITHTHE GRQ-REMOTE SOFTWARE............................30
8.3.1. HowTo Set Linked Groups......................................................................................................... 31
8.3.2. Special Linking Considerations .................................................................................................. 31
8.4. RESET PARAMETERS ........................................................................................................................34
8.5. PRINTING GRAPHI-Q SETTINGS FOR DOCUMENTATION ................................................................34
8.6. STORING AND RECALLING GRQ PRESETS .....................................................................................35
8.6.1.Memory Storage and Recall Options .......................................................................................... 35
8.6.2. Contact Closure Switch Recall ................................................................................................... 36
8.7. ASSIGNING NAMESTOTHE GRAPHI-QS ..........................................................................................37
8.8. PASSWORD PROTECTIONWITH GRQ-REMOTE SOFTWARE ..........................................................37
8.8.1. Password Levels ....................................................................................................................... 37
8.8.2. Setting or Changing Passwords ................................................................................................. 38
8.8.3. Gaining Access WithYour Password .......................................................................................... 38
8.8.4. Removing Password Protection.................................................................................................. 38
8.8.5. Passwords For Multiple Units ..................................................................................................... 38
8.9. NAVIGATINGWITH MULTIPLE UNITS ................................................................................................39
8.10. UPGRADING GRAPHI-Q FIRMWARE AND SOFTWARE...................................................................39
8.10.1 How to UpgradeYour Firmware.................................................................................................. 39
Section Nine: Suggestions for Optimal Use of the GRAPHI-Q .......................................... 41
9.1. SYSTEM SETUP SUGGESTIONS ......................................................................................................41
9.1.1. Acoustics.................................................................................................................................... 41
9.1.2.EquipmentPlacement ................................................................................................................. 41
9.2. WIDE AND NARROW FILTERS: GRAPHIC, PARAMETRIC, AND FBX................................................42
9.3. RECOMMENDED EQ USAGE .............................................................................................................43
9.3.1. Set the Graphic EQ First ........................................................................................................... 43
9.3.2. Using FBX filters ......................................................................................................................... 44
9.3.3.Changing FBX filters to Parametric filters.................................................................................... 44
9.4. USING DIGITAL DELAY .......................................................................................................................45
9.4.1.Loudspeaker Synchronization ..................................................................................................... 45
9.4.2. Comb Filter Distortion ................................................................................................................ 46
9.4.3. The Precedence Effect: Aligning the Acoustic Image ................................................................ 48
9.4.4. Three Applications for Digital Delays .......................................................................................... 48
9.5. USINGTHE COMPRESSOR/LIMITER ..................................................................................................51
9.5.1. Suggested Compressor Settings................................................................................................. 52
SectionTen: TroubleshootingTips ..................................................................................... 53
Section Eleven: GRAPHI-Q Engineering Specifications ................................................... 55
SectionTwelve: Cautions &Warranty ................................................................................. 56

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Congratulations on your purchase of the Sabine GRAPHI-Q. This product represents our latest
breakthrough in our never-ending quest to improve the world’s sound.
Asidefromthepowerfularrayoffeaturespackedintoasingleunit (graphicEQ,FBXfilters,parametric
filters,highandlow cutfilters, delay,compression, andlimiting), theGRAPHI-Qalsooffersachoiceof
userinterfaces.
Computercontrol:learntoloveit. Astheworldbecomesanincreasinglydigitalplace,thecomputer
isomnipresent. Someregardthisasamixedblessing. Inaudioapplications,thedownsideofcomputer-
controlled digital audio stems from the unfamiliarity and operational limitations of its control interface.
Afteryearsofexperiencewithanalogcontrols,manysoundengineerspreferthe“hands-on”approach
tocontrolaudiowithknobs and faders. It’s intuitive and direct. To the analog lover, typing commands
onakeyboardfeelsawkwardandmayrequireredirectingone’sattentiontothecontrolinterface,rather
than the sound emerging from the speakers.
Onthe other hand, thereisno question that thedigitalsignal processing availablethroughacomputer
interfaceoffersimprovedprecisionandreliability ofcontrol overyour audio. Equalizationadjustments
inthedigitalrealmareexceptionally accurate, offer pinpoint resolution, and minimize phase distortion
and frequency drift. Compressor parameters not only can be set quite precisely, but also offer an
expanded range of adjustment and ease of storage and recall that are much more difficult to achieve
withanalogtechnology. And,withtheSabineFBXalgorithm,oneofthemostseriousproblemsofaudio
amplification —that lovely howling sound we call feedback —can be removed with the precision and
delicacy of laser surgery.
AnalogANDDigital-BestofBothWorlds. TheGRAPHI-Qcombinesthebestofbothworlds. Ifyou
needtoputyourhandsonfadersandknobstofullyexperienceaudio,weofferyoutheeaseandcomfort
of our “analog-style”front panel. Push, pull, turn, and tweak to your heart’s content!
If your fingers naturally gravitate toward computer keyboards, the GRAPHI-Q offers your kind of user
interface as well. Each GRAPHI-Q comes equipped with an RS-232 serial interface and the Sabine
GRAPHI-QRemoteforWindowsTM software. Allthefrontpanelcontrols,andsomeimportantadditional
ones, can be adjusted from your computer keyboard. And if you’re seriously addicted to the thrill of
punchingkeys,youcansavesomemoneyasyouindulgeyourselfwithaGRAPHI-QBlankFrontPanel
Slave unit. Only controllable via computer, these models make mis-adjustment by unauthorized,
untrained, or unthinking individuals impossible!
Whatever your control preference, the GRAPHI-Q opens up a world of signal processing power
previouslyunavailableatitsexceptionalprice. Allspecificationsaretopnotch(24-bitA/DandD/A,32-
bit internal processing) and all of its functions operate concurrently and ergonomically. So allow us to
suggest you read and study this entire manual to understand the whole story. Enjoy!
Section One: Intro uction
Section One: Intro uction

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Section Two: Analog vs. Digital Signal Processing
Section Two: Analog vs. Digital Signal Processing
Theongoingdebatecontinues:whatsoundsbetter,digitaloranalogsignalprocessing?Audioengineers
ALL have an opinion on this, but the lack of documented research on the topic makes all conclusions
tentative. Nonetheless, the audio industry is slowly moving to digital as circuit designs continuously
improveandtechnologyadvancesintotherealmof24-bitresolution—whichprovidesfineraudiodetail,
particularlyatlowlevelsofdynamicrange. Thetentativeconclusionwewouldsuggestisthatthesound
of digital circuits is widely variable, encompassing the capacity to sound remarkably like analog
circuits…andmuchmore. Beyondtheseconsiderations,however,thereareundeniableadvantagesto
digital signal processing…and one disadvantage that we believe we have solved with the Sabine
GRAPHI-Q.
THEADVANTAGES:
1. GREATERPRECISIONANDREPEATABLEACCURACY. Analogcircuitryproduceslessexact
andrepeatableadjustment. Identicalanalogcircuitsmayproducedifferentresultswhenprocessing
anidenticalaudiosignal,duetothetoleranceofcomponentscomprisingtheanalogcircuit. Digital
circuitsrelyonrepeatablemathematicalcalculationsandthusaremoreconsistent. Forequalizers,
thismeans that theslope, shape, andsymmetryof digital EQsareconsistent acrossfrequencies,
and from one application to the next.
2. LESSPHASEDISTORTION. Allequalizerscausesomedegreeofphaseshifting. Inanalogfilters,
thisphaseshiftexceedsthewidthofthefilter—oftenbyaconsiderablemargin. Inotherwords,the
phaseshiftencompassesfrequenciesbeyondtheboostorcutrangeofthefilter. Withdigitalfilters,
this phase shift can be restricted to within the filter width.
3. LESS FILTER DRIFT. Analog circuits rely on components that vary as they age and/or are
subjectedto different ambienttemperatures. Thisvariation can in turncauseanalog filters todrift
fromtheiroriginal settings. In contrast, digital filters are based on mathematical formulas and will
remainconstantovertimeandchangingtemperatures.
4. LESSNOISE. Asanalogpartswear,getdirty,orcorrode,readjustingthemcanintroducenoiseinto
thesignalpath. Allaudioengineersarefamiliarwiththesoundofa“scratchyfader.”Digitalcontrols
affect the signal, but are not actually in the audio path and thus cannot introduce noise.
5. RECALLANDSTORAGEOFSETTINGS. Becausedigitalfilterscanberepresentedmathemati-
cally,settingsareeasilystored, recalled, and copied to other channels or units. Analog filters are
dependentonthephysicalpositionofpotentiometersandsliders,andstoringandrecallingsettings
requiresservomotorsandautomatedrepositioningofcontrols. Thisisbothmoreexpensivetobuild
and produces less accurate results.
6. COST. Astechnologyimproves,featuresincreaseandpricesplummet. Nowhereisthistrendmore
apparentthaninthedigitalworld. DSPcircuitryisgenerallysmaller,lesscostly,andmorepowerful
than comparable analog circuitry, which means you get a lot more bang for your buck (or
DeutschMark, pound, or peso) with a digital box. Compare the price of the GRAPHI-Q to a high
quality analog graphic equalizer, and you’ll see what we mean—especially when you add a
compressor, delay, FBX and parametric EQ, and software interface to the comparison.
THEDISADVANTAGES.
1. FAMILIARITY AND EASE OF USE. The sole disadvantage of digital processors that few if any
soundengineers will arguehas to dowiththe familiarityanduser-friendliness ofthedigital control
interface. Many powerful DSP products are menu-driven and difficult to use. One very special
featureoftheGraphiQ3102and3101modelsisthefamiliaranalog-styleinterfaceofthefrontpanel.
The control surface looks, feels, and operates like a graphic equalizer from the 1970’s—with the
power and features of 21st century technology. If you’re a 21st century technophile who loves
computersandknobs,thenyouwon’tbedisappointedeither—justpluginaserialcable,loadupthe
software, and you’ll find a whole new world of hacker-pleasing software control waiting for your
command.
The GRAPHI-Q truly offers the best of both worlds —or maybe even the best of three worlds and five
dimensions.

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Section Three: Front an Back Panel Views
Section Three: Front an Back Panel Views
Clip LED-lights
at 3 dB below
clipping Signal
LED-lights when
input is above
30 dBV peak
GRQ-3101 BACK PANEL
Phoenix block connectors
For contact closure switch RS-232 Serial In Connect to serial port
of PC, or previous
GRQ in chain
RS-232 Serial Out
Connect to next
GRQ in chain 1/4” TRS connectors
Ground Lift Switch
Differing ground potentials between or
among interconnected equipment may
introduce hum or noise in audio. This
ground lift isolates pin 1 or input XLR from
signal ground (chassis ground isolated)
Power connector
& fuse
GRQ-3101S FRONT PANEL
Additional
RS-232 Serial In Power On LED
GRQ-3101S BACK PANEL
GRQ-3101 FRONT PANEL
FBX Section
12 filter indicators
Reset, Width,
Set, & Lock Fixed Filter
Controls
Compressor Section
Level Indicators
Ratio, Threshold, & Gain controls
Bypass Controls
Status LEDs
TURBO - Fast FBX Setup
REMOTE - GRQ Remote active
EQ Range - EQ fader range indicator
EQ faders
Adjust boost/cut for 31
specific frequencies
High & Low Cut Filters
Input signal &
gain reduction
indicators
Digital Delay
up & down controls.
EQ range
Press up & down buttons simulta-
neously to toggle EQ range between
+6 dB and +12 dB
Digital Delay / Tweek-n-Peek Display
Digital delay time value displayed. Also momentarily displays
current firmware at power up, or value of any front panel
control altered.
XLRXLRXLR

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Section Three: Front an Back Panel Views
GRQ-3102 FRONT PANEL
GRQ-3102 BACK PANEL
GRQ-3102S BACK PANEL
GRQ-3102S FRONT PANEL

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Section Four: Block Diagram/Internal Signal Path
Section Four: Block Diagram/Internal Signal Path