® The dbx 286A’s Mic Preamp and five processors can be used independently or in any combination. Why mic up vocals and instruments through a noisy, blurry mixer? The dbx 286A’s sonically pristine Mic Preamp has all the fea- tures you need, including wide-ranging input gain control, switchable 48V phantom power and an 80Hz high-pass filter. Use the 286A’s newly designed and patented OverEasy® Compressor to transparently smooth out uneven acoustic tracks or deliver that classic “in your face” rock vocal. Take out vocal sibilance and high frequency distor- tion in cymbals with the 286A’s frequency tunable De-Esser. Fine-tune the Enhancer’s HF Detail control to add sparkle and crispness to tracks. LF Detail control adds fullness and depth to vocals and bass instruments while simul- taneously cleaning up muddy low midrange frequencies. And, the Expander/Gate’s separate threshold and ratio con- trols allow you to subtly reduce headphone leakage or radically gate noisy guitar amps. The dbx 286A’s full complement of metering and status LEDs visually guide you to achieving the right sound. The floating balanced XLR mic input accepts balanced or unbalanced inputs. An additional 1⁄4" TRS phone jack can accept balanced/ unbalanced line signals to process live electronic instruments or pre-recorded tracks at mixdown. An insert jack between the 286A’s Mic Preamp and signal processing sections can be used to “loop out” to external processors (such as EQ) or to mix the Mic Preamp’s signal out to an external destination. The cost and hassle of patching together multiple processors for use on one track can be frustrating. The dbx 286A gives you all the tools you’ll need in one box, with the shortest signal path to help keep your music sounding clean. • New dbx standard internal power supply • Frequency control for De-Esser • Expanded meter to show heavy De-Essing • Above/Below threshold indicator for gate • +48VDC Phantom Power • Precision detented controls 8760 S. Sandy Pkwy. Sandy, Utah 84070 Phone (801) 568-7660 Fax (801) 568-7662 Int’l Fax (801) 568-7583 customer@dbxpro.com http://www.dbxpro.com A Harman International Company 18-1666-B 10/98 5 5 5 5 5 +30 4k -15 2:1 0 46 46 46 46 46 3 7 3 7 3 7 3 7 3 7 +15 +40 48V 1k 8k -30 -5 1.5:1 5:1 -10 +5 286A 2 8 2 8 2 8 2 8 2 8 PHANTOM HIGHPASS PROCESS LEVEL (dBu) (80Hz) BYPASS GAIN REDUCTION dB dB THRESHOLD POWER Mic Preamp/ 1 9 1 9 1 9 1 9 1 9 -20 -10 0 CLIP 30 25 20 15 12 963 16 - + CLIP +10 +60 OFF 10 OFF 10 800 10k OFF 10 OFF 10 OFF 10 OFF +15 MIN 10:1 -30 +10 Processor dB Hz dBu dB GAIN DRIVE DENSITY FREQUENCY THRESHOLD LF DETAIL HF DETAIL THRESHOLD RATIO GAIN MIC PREAMP COMPRESSOR DE-ESSER ENHANCER EXPANDER/GATE OUTPUT 286A MIC PREAMP / PROCESSOR 5 5 5 5 5 +30 4k -15 2:1 0 46 46 46 46 46 3 7 3 7 3 7 3 7 3 7 +15 +40 48V 1k 8k -30 -5 1.5:1 5:1 -10 +5 286A PHANTOM HIGHPASS PROCESS 2 8 2 8 2 8 2 8 2 8 LEVEL (dBu) GAIN REDUCTION dB dB POWER (80Hz) BYPASS THRESHOLD Mic Preamp/ -20 -10 0 CLIP 1 9 1 9 30 25 20 15 12 963 1 9 16 1 9 1 9 - + CLIP Processor +10 +60 OFF 10 OFF 10 800 10k OFF 10 OFF 10 OFF 10 OFF +15 MIN 10:1 -30 +10 dB Hz dBu dB GAIN DRIVE DENSITY FREQUENCY THRESHOLD LF DETAIL HF DETAIL THRESHOLD RATIO GAIN MIC PREAMP COMPRESSOR DE-ESSER ENHANCER EXPANDER/GATE OUTPUT 85-2575-X3 286A buyoff (1-14-98) 15 WATTS INSERT MONO PLUG RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN TIP = OUT (286A PREAMP OUT) 286A PREAMP OUT (MULT) PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS ATTENTION: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE - NE PA S OUVRIR TIP = PIN 2 = + A HARMAN INTERNATIONAL RING = PIN 3 = - WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC TIP = SEND (286A PREAMP OUT TO EFFECTS) STEREO COMPANY SHOCK DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE PLUG SLEEVE = PIN 1 = MODEL 286A MANUFACTURED UNDER ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING RING = RETURN (FROM EFFECTS TO 286A) 100V 50/60Hz MIC PREAMP/PROCESSOR U.S. PATENTS:4,234,804 4,316,107 4,329,598 4,331,931 4,403,199 120V 60Hz FOR USE AS AN EFFECTS LOOP OUTPUT INSERT LINE INPUT MIC INPUT 4,409,500 4,425,551 4,434,380 4,454,433 4,471,324 4,473,793 5,444,788 #85-3688-A 286A REAR ART (10-16-96) The microphone processor shall have one channel MIC INPUT Distortion Typically <0.05%THD, 20Hz- Floating balanced, Pin 2 Hot Impedance 20kHz, 15dB G/R, +10dBu 1.75kΩ with an audio frequency response of 20Hz — Maximum Level Output, DENSITY @ 0 0.2Vrms 20kHz +0.5, -0.5dB, an electronically floating bal- Gain Adjustment Range DE-ESSER +10dB to +60dB Phantom Power Characteristic WIdeband Gain Reduction +48VDC anced XLR microphone input with an impedance CMRR Frequency Range 800Hz to 10kHz High Pass, >40dB, typically 55dB of not less than 1.5kΩ and with a maximum input Release Time 12dB/octave Program- LINE INPUT Dependent; approximately Floating balanced, TIP Hot level of not less than 0.2Vrms. The unit shall also Impedance 1mS/dB 30kΩ unbalanced, 60kΩ balanced Maximum Level ENHANCER have an electronically floating balanced 1⁄4" TRS >+21dBu, balanced or unbalanced Gain Adjustment Range HF Detail Characteristic Program-controlled shelving -20dB to +30 dB line level input with an impedance of not less than CMRR equalizer, approximately 15dB >40dB, typically 55dB maximum HF boost 20kΩ and with a maximum input level of +21dBu. INSERT(4” TRS phone) LF detail Characteristic Bell-shaped boost @ 80Hz, bell- Normalled; tip is Send, ring is Return The impedance of the unbalanced 1⁄4" TRS output Ring :Impedance shaped cut @250Hz, ratio is >5kΩ Maximum Level approximately 2:1 >+21dBu shall be no more than 100Ω with a maximum out- Tip: Impedance EXPANDER/GATE 100Ω put level of not less than +21dBu. Total harmonic Maximum Level Threshold Range OFF to +15dBu >+21dBu, >+20dBm (600Ω load) Noise Expansion Ratio Adjustable 1.5:1 to 10:1 <-84dBu, unweighted (20Hz-20kHz); distortion shall typically be no more than 0.08% in Distortion Maximum Depth >50dB <0.01% THD, 20Hz-20kHz, +10dBu operation with all processing controls set to Off. Attack TIme Program-Dependent, approxi- mately 2mS Dynamic range shall typically be 105dB with pro- LINE OUTPUT (4” TRS phone) Release TIme Program-Dependent, approxi- Balanced/Unbalanced cessing engaged. Output level shall be adjustable Impedance amtely 10mS/dB 100Ω unbalanced, 200Ω balanced Maximum Level DYNAMIC RANGE Typically 105dB >+21dBu, >+20dBm (600Ω load) from -30dB to +l0dB via a front panel gain control. Gain Adjustment Range -30dB to +10dB A1⁄4" TRS insert jack with an input impedance of Noise Power Requirements 15 Watts <-80dBu (typically -85dBu, unweight- Operating Voltage DO: 120VAC 60Hz, 100VAC ed (20Hz-20kHz); not less than 5kΩ and maximum level of not less Frequency Response 50/60Hz; EU: 230VAC 50/60Hz 20Hz to 20kHz, +0.5, -0.5dB Distortion Operating Temperature 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F) than +21dBu and an output impedance of not more <0.08%THD, 20Hz-20kHz, +10dBu, all Processing Controls OFF than 100Ω and a maximum output level of not less COMPRESSOR Dimensions 1.75" x 5.75" x 19" (4.5cm x Threshold Range 14.6cm x 48.5cm) -40dBu to +20dBu than +21dBu shall be accessible at the rear panel. Threshold Characteristics Weight Net Weight: 4.68 lbs/2.13 Kgs OverEasy® The insert shall be positioned in the signal path Compression Ratio Shipping Weight: 6.54 lbs/2.97 >4:1 For input levels beyond 20dB Kgs above threshold between the output of the mic preamplifier and the Maximum Compression 30dB input to the processing section. The unit will pro- Attack Time Program-Dependent; adjustable Release Time Program-Dependent; adjustable vide up to six signal processing functions simulta- neously, including: preamplification, compression, de-essing, high spectral enhancement, low spectral enhancement and downward expansion/gating. The compression circuitry shall employ a hybrid feed-back, feed-forward design and a soft knee compression curve. The microphone processor shall have a gain control ranging from +l0dB to +60dB for Mic In and -20dB to +30dB for Line In, a phantom power switch which activates the +48VDC phantom power circuit, a High Pass Filter switch which activates a third order high pass filter with a 3dB corner frequency of 80Hz and a Process Bypass switch, which bypasses any subsequent dynam- ics processing in the unit. The processing section shall contain the following controls: Compressor Drive, Compressor Density, De-Esser Frequency, De-Esser Threshold, LF Detail, HF Detail, Expander/ Gate Threshold, Expansion Ratio and Output Gain. The following LEDs for metering and sta- tus indication shall exist on the unit: Input Level (3 LEDS), Input Clip, Phantom Power, High Pass Filter, Process Bypass, Compressor Gain Reduction (8 LEDs), De-esser (2 LEDs), Expander/Gate Threshold (2 LEDs), Output Clip. The power requirement shall be 100VAC 50/60Hz, 120VAC 60Hz for domestic or 230VAC 50/60Hz for Europe. Dimensions shall be 1.75" x 19" x 4" (4.45cm x 48 .2cm x 10.16cm), The net weight shall be 4.68 lbs/2.13 Kgs and the shipping weight shall be 6.54 lbs/2.97 Kgs. The unit shall be a dbx 286A Mic Preamp/Processor. dbx engineers are constantly working to improve the quality of our products. Specifications are, therefore subject to change without notice. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: ® dbx Professional Products • 8760 S. Sandy Pkwy. • Sandy, Utah 84070 Phone (801) 568-7660 • Fax (801) 568-7662 • Int’l Fax (801) 568-7583 customer@dbxpro.com • http://www.dbxpro.com A Harman International Company