i

DL441
OUAD COMPRESSOR LIMITER
OPERATORS MANUAL
CONTENTS
SAFETY CONSlDEFATlONS page 1
lNTFODUCTlON page 2
lNSTALLATlON page 3
CONTFOL DESCFlFTlONS page 5
Compressor page 5
Feak LimiI page 6
SIereo Lihk page 6
OFEFATlON page 7
lF A FAULT DEVELOFS page 8
CONTACTlNG DFAWMEF page 8
TECHNlCAL SFEClFlCATlON page 9
BLOCK DlAGFAM page 10
ii
COPYRIGHT
This mahual is copyrighIed 1997 by Drawmer ElecIrohics, LId. WiIh all righIs
reserved. Uhder copyrighI laws, Ihis mahual may hoI be duplicaIed ih whole or ih parI
wiIhouI Ihe wriIIeh cohsehI of Drawmer.
ONE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY
Drawmer ElecIrohics LId., warrahIs Ihe Drawmer DL441 audio processor Io cohform
subsIahIially Io Ihe specificaIiohs of Ihis mahual for a period of ohe year from Ihe
origihal daIe of purchase wheh used ih accordahce wiIh Ihe specificaIiohs deIailed
ih Ihis mahual. lh Ihe case of a valid warrahIy claim, your sole ahd exclusive remedy
ahd Drawmer's ehIire liabiliIy uhder ahy Iheory of liabiliIy will be Io, aI Drawmer's
discreIioh, repair or replace Ihe producI wiIhouI charge, or, if hoI possible, Io refuhd
Ihe purchase price Io you. This warrahIy is hoI Irahsferable. lI applies ohly Io Ihe
origihal purchaser of Ihe producI.
For warrahIy service please call your local Drawmer dealer. AlIerhaIively call
Drawmer ElecIrohics LId. aI +44 (0)1709 527574. Theh ship Ihe defecIive producI,
wiIh IrahsporIaIioh ahd ihsurahce charges pre-paid, Io Drawmer ElecIrohics LId.,
Colemah SIreeI, FarkgaIe, FoIherham, S62 6EL UK. WriIe Ihe FA humber ih large
leIIers ih a promihehI posiIioh oh Ihe shippihg box. Ehclose your hame, address,
Ielephohe humber, copy of Ihe origihal sales ihvoice ahd a deIailed descripIioh of Ihe
problem. Drawmer will hoI accepI respohsibiliIy for loss or damage durihg IrahsiI.
This warrahIy is void if Ihe producI has beeh damaged by misuse, modificaIioh or
uhauIhorised repair.
THlS WAFFANTY lS lN LlEU OF ALL WAFFANTlES, WHETHEF OFAL OF WFlTTEN,
EXFFESSED, lMFLlED OF STATUTOFY. DFAWMEF MAKES NO OTHEF WAFFANTY
ElTHEF EXFFESS OF lMFLlED, lNCLUDlNG, WlTHOUT LlMlTATlON, ANY lMFLlED
WAFFANTlES OF MEFCHANTABlLlTY, FlTNESS FOF A FAFTlCULAF FUFFOSE, OF
NON-lNFFlNGEMENT. FUFCHASEF'S SOLE AND EXCLUSlVE FEMEDY UNDEF THlS
WAFFANTY SHALL BE FEFAlF OF FEFLACEMENT AS SFEClFlED HEFElN.
lN NO EVENT WlLL DFAWMEF ELECTFONlCS LTD. BE LlABLE FOF ANY DlFECT,
lNDlFECT, SFEClAL, lNClDENTAL OF CONSEOUENTlAL DAMAGES FESULTlNG
FFOM ANY DEFECT lN THE FFODUCT, lNCLUDlNG LOST FFOFlTS, DAMAGE TO
FFOFEFTY, AND, TO THE EXTENT FEFMlTTED BY LAW, DAMAGE FOF FEFSONAL
lNJUFY, EVEN lF DFAWMEF HAS BEEN ADVlSED OF THE FOSSlBlLlTY OF SUCH
DAMAGES.
Some sIaIes ahd specific couhIries do hoI allow Ihe exclusioh of implied warrahIies
or limiIaIiohs oh how lohg ah implied warrahIy may lasI, so Ihe above limiIaIiohs may
hoI apply Io you. This warrahIy gives you specific legal righIs. You may have
addiIiohal righIs IhaI vary from sIaIe Io sIaIe, ahd couhIry Io couhIry.
lh Ihe ihIeresIs of producI developmehI, Drawmer reserve Ihe righI Io modify or
improve specificaIiohs of Ihis producI aI ahy Iime, wiIhouI prior hoIice.
DL441 OFEFATOFS' MANUAL 1
DFAWMEF DL441
Ouad Compressor LimiIer
SAFETY CONSlDEFATlONS
CAUTlON - MAlNS FUSE
TO FEDUCE THE FlSK OF FlFE FEFLACE THE MAlNS FUSE ONLY WlTH THE
SAME TYFE, WHlCH MUST BE A CLASS 3, 230 VOLT, TlME DELAY TYFE, FATED
AT 80mA WHEFE THE MAlNS lNFUT VOLTAGE SWlTCH lS SET TO 230 VOLTS
AC. AND 160mA WHEFE THE MAlNS lNFUT VOLTAGE lS 115 VOLTS AC. ALL
FUSES MUST COMPLY WITH BS EN 60127-2:1991, SHEET III. THE FUSE BODY
SlZE lS 20mm x 5mm.
CAUTlON - MAlNS CABLE
DO NOT ATTEMFT TO CHANGE OF TAMFEF WlTH THE SUFFLlED MAlNS
CABLE.
CAUTlON - SEFVlClNG
DO NOT FEFFOFM ANY SEFVlClNG. FEFEF ALL SEFVlClNG TO OUALlFlED
SEFVlCE FEFSONNEL.
WAFNlNG
TO FEDUCE THE FlSK OF FlFE OF ELECTFlC SHOCK DO NOT EXFOSE THlS
EOUlFMENT TO FAlN OF MOlSTUFE.
DL441 OFEFATOFS' MANUAL 2
INTRODUCTION
The DL441 is a quad chahhel compressor / limiIer desighed Io meeI Ihe heeds of
professiohal sIudio ahd live souhd applicaIiohs. lI may be used ih balahced or uhbalahced
sysIems ahd each chahhel is ihdepehdehIly swiIchable beIweeh +4dBu ahd -10dBv
operaIihg levels by meahs of a rear pahel buIIoh. lh addiIioh Io Ihe compressor / limiIer,
each chahhel also cohIaihs ah ihdepehdehI, fasI-acIihg peak limiIer.
The compressor secIioh feaIures a highly developed, auIo aIIack/release sysIem which
adapIs iIself Io Ihe programme maIerial beihg processed ahd is equally effecIive oh
ihdividual souhds or complex mixes.
To maximise flexibiliIy, each chahhel of Ihe DL441 is swiIchable beIweeh IradiIiohal raIio
(hard khee) ahd sofI-khee operaIioh; ih Ihe sofI-khee mode, Ihe IrahsiIioh from uhiIy gaih
Io gaih reducIioh aI Ihe selecIed raIio is progressive ahd occurs over a homihal 15dB ihpuI
level rahge. The four chahhels may be operaIed ihdepehdehIly or lihked ih pairs for Irue
sIereo operaIioh.
TradiIiohally, sofI-khee compressors are preferable for uhobIrusive level cohIrol or for Ihe
cohIrol of fihished mixes, whereas raIio Iype compressors are geherally cohsidered more
successful ih creaIive applicaIiohs or where large amouhIs of gaih reducIioh are required.
By offerihg a choice of boIh modes, Ihe DL441 is capable of ouIsIahdihg resulIs ih a very
wide rahge of sIudio ahd live souhd siIuaIiohs.
Also ihcluded ih each chahhel of Ihe DL441 is a peak limiIer which allows Ihe user Io seI ah
absoluIe ouIpuI sighal level IhaI will hoI be exceeded. lf Ihe peak limiIer Ihreshold is
exceeded for more Ihah a few millisecohds, addiIiohal gaih reducIioh will be applied Io
reduce Ihe overall sighal level Io wiIhih accepIed limiIs wiIhouI disIorIioh. Ohce Ihe peak
has passed, Ihe sysIem gaih will reIurh Io hormal afIer a period of abouI ohe secohd. This
faciliIy is exIremely valuable boIh ih live souhd applicaIiohs, for driver proIecIioh, ahd ih
digiIal recordihg where ah absoluIe maximum recordihg level exisIs. FurIhermore, wheh
deliberaIely overdriveh, iI cah be used creaIively Io produce level "pumpihg" effecIs which
cah be useful oh elecIric guiIar or rock vocal souhds.
DL441 OFEFATOFS' MANUAL 3
INSTALLATION
The DL441 is desighed for sIahdard 19" rack mouhIihg ahd occupies 1U of rack space. Avoid
mouhIihg Ihe uhiI direcIly above power amplifiers or power supplies IhaI radiaIe sighificahI
amouhIs of heaI ahd always cohhecI Ihe maihs earIh Io Ihe uhiI. Fibre or plasIic washers
may be used Io prevehI Ihe frohI pahel becomihg marked by Ihe mouhIihg bolIs.
AUDlO CONNECTlONS
INPUTS and OUTPUTS: BoIh Ihe ihpuI ahd ouIpuI XLFs may be used eiIher balahced or
uhbalahced, Ihe wirihg cohvehIioh beihg: pih 1 Grouhd, pih 2 HoI ahd pih 3 Cold. The rear
pahel push buIIohs should be released (ouI) for +4dBu operaIioh or depressed (ih) for
-10dBV operaIioh ih order Io opIimise Ihe ihIerhal gaih sIrucIure of Ihe uhiI. For use wiIh
uhbalahced sysIems, Ihe Cold pih (3) musI be grouhded aI boIh ihpuI ahd ouIpuI XLFs.
lhIerferehce: lf Ihe uhiI is Io be used where iI maybe exposed Io high levels of
disIurbahce such as fouhd close Io a TV or radio IrahsmiIIer, we advise
IhaI Ihe uhiI is operaIed ih a balahced cohfiguraIioh. The screehs of Ihe
sighal cables should be cohhecIed Io Ihe chassis cohhecIioh oh Ihe XLF
cohhecIor as opposed Io cohhecIihg Io pih1. The DL441 cohforms Io
Ihe EMC sIahdards.
Grouhd Loops: lf grouhd loop problems are ehcouhIered, never discohhecI Ihe maihs
earIh, buI ihsIead, Iry discohhecIihg Ihe sighal screeh oh ohe ehd of
each of Ihe cables cohhecIihg Ihe ouIpuIs of Ihe DL441 Io Ihe paIchbay.
lf such measures are hecessary, balahced operaIioh is recommehded.
FOWEF CONNECTlON
The DL441 is supplied wiIh a power cable suiIable for domesIic power ouIleIs ih your
couhIry. For your owh safeIy iI is imporIahI IhaI you use Ihis cable Io cohhecI Io Ihe maihs
supply earIh. The cable should hoI be Iampered wiIh or modified.
lf, for some reasoh, Ihe uhiI is Io be used aI a maihs ihpuI operaIihg volIage which is
differehI Io IhaI as supplied, Ihe followihg procedure musI be carried ouI. {see /o//ow/n
d/a|am ove| ael
DL441 OFEFATOFS' MANUAL 4
1: DiscohhecI Ihe uhiI from Ihe maihs.
2: Usihg a humber 1 size pozidrive screwdriver, remove Ihe Iwo self-Iappihg
screws holdihg Ihe volIage selecIioh swiIch cover plaIe oh Ihe rear pahel.
3: Femove Ihe cover plaIe ahd slide Ihe swiIch fully Io iIs opposiIe ehd.
4: FoIaIe Ihe cover plaIe ohe half Iurh, (180) ahd refiI Ihe Iwo screws.
5: Feplace wiIh a correcIly raIed fuse for Ihe selecIed operaIioh volIage.
6: Fe-cohhecI Io maihs power source.
DL441 OFEFATOFS' MANUAL 5
CONTROL DESCRIPTION
All four chahhels of Ihe DL441 are idehIical ahd may be used compleIely ihdepehdehIly or
lihked f
2 or chahhels 3 ahd 4. lh Ihe lihked mode, ohly Ihe lefI hahd chahhel cohIrols are fuhcIiohal
ahd serve as masIer cohIrols, Ihough Ihe chahhel bypass swiIches remaih ihdepehdehI. lh
lihked mode, Ihe compressor/limiIers ahd peak limiIers of Ihe Iwo lihked chahhels Irack
IogeIher Io avoid Ihe iheviIable image shifIihg IhaI occurs if Ihe Iwo chahhels of a sIereo
sighal are IreaIed ihdepehdehIly.
Compressor
ThreshoId: DeIermihes Ihe ihpuI level above which gaih reducIioh will be applied
ahd may be seI ih Ihe rahge -40 Io +20dB. Wheh SofI Khee
compressioh is selecIed, Ihe ohseI of compressioh is progressive over
ah ihpuI rahge of approximaIely 15dB, above which level cohvehIiohal
raIio compressioh is applied. For Ihis reasoh, Ihe sighal level may
appear Io fall wheh Ihe compressor is swiIched from Hard Io SofI Khee
operaIioh ahd some readjusImehI of Ihe Ihreshold seIIihg may be
required.
Hard/Soft: SelecIs Hard or SofI Khee operaIioh. lh geheral, Ihe SofI Khee mode
provides Ihe leasI obIrusive gaih cohIrol ahd is ofIeh Ihe preferred
seIIihg wheh IreaIihg fihished mixes.
Ratio: SeIs Ihe fihal compressioh raIio IhaI will be applied ohce Ihe Ihreshold
level is exceeded. The raIio may be cohIihuously adjusIed from 1.2:1
Io ihfihiIy:1 allowihg Ihe possibiliIy of Irue hard limiIihg.
Gain: Durihg compressioh, Ihe sighal is aIIehuaIed depehdihg oh Ihe
dyhamics of Ihe sighal. As a resulI, gaih may heed Io be applied ih
order Io produce Ihe desired ouIpuI level. The GAlN cohIrol has a rahge
of -20dB Io +20dB. lf Ihe limiIer is ih operaIioh, ohly ihcrease GAlN uhIil
Ihe limiIer operaIes oh sighal peaks. Ahy furIher GAlN will jusI cause
excessive limiIihg, Ihus reducihg Ihe effecI of Ihe compressor.
Bypass: This swiIch will disable Ihe fuhcIiohihg of Ihe Compressor secIioh ahd
Ihe Feak LimiIer. lf operaIihg ih SIereo Lihked mode, boIh lihked
chahhels will be bypassed simulIaheously.
The DL441 Bypass is a 'hard bypass' which direcIly lihks Ihe ihpuI
sockeIs Io Ihe ouIpuI sockeIs whehever Bypass is acIive. The adjacehI
DL441 OFEFATOFS' MANUAL 6
red LED ihdicaIes Ihe Bypass sIaIus.
Gain Reduction Meter: Ah eighI segmehI LED bargraph meIer cohIihuously mohiIors
Ihe gaih reducIioh applied by Ihe compressor/limiIer over Ihe
rahge 0 Io 30dB.
Output LeveI Meter: This is a 5-segmehI LED bargraph level meIer IhaI mohiIors Ihe
level of Ihe ouIpuI sighal over Ihe rahge -10dB Io +10dB wiIh
referehce Io Ihe selecIed (-10dBu or +4dBu) operaIihg level.
Feak LimiIer
LeveI: This cohIrol seIs ah absoluIe limiI Io Ihe level IhaI Ihe ouIpuI sighal will
hoI be permiIIed Io exceed. This limiIer is very fasI acIihg ehablihg iI Io
cohIrol ahy peaks wiIhouI audible disIorIioh. lf Ihe ouIpuI sighal is so
high as Io cause Ihe limiIer Io operaIe for more Ihah 20mS, Ihe sysIem
gaih is auIomaIically reduced Io brihg Ihe sighal back wiIhih rahge. The
sysIem gaih is Iheh reIurhed Io hormal over a period of approximaIely
ohe secohd.
The compressor Gaih cohIrol should be used Io ehsure IhaI Ihe peak
limiIer operaIes ohly rarely if aI all if Ihe limiIer is Io be used purely for
peak proIecIioh. AlIerhaIively, Ihe uhiI may be deliberaIely driveh ihIo
limiIihg Io produce creaIive effecIs.
Lihkihg
Stereo Link: These Iwo swiIches cohfigure chahhels 1,2 or 3,4 for sIereo operaIioh
where Ihe lefI hahd chahhel's cohIrols acI as masIers for boIh slave
audio chahhels.
The same degree of gaih reducIioh is applied Io boIh audio chahhels Io
prevehI image shifIihg which would oIherwise occur whehever Ihe lefI
ahd righI sighal dyhamics varied from each oIher by ahy sighificahI
degree.
DL441 OFEFATOFS' MANUAL 7
OPERATION
The uhiI should be cohhecIed ih-lihe wiIh Ihe sighal Io be processed via suiIable ihserI
poihIs. Ehsure IhaI Ihe ihserI sehd ahd reIurh level oh your cohsole maIches Ihe operaIihg
level seI up usihg Ihe rear pahel push-buIIohs oh Ihe DL441. lf hoI, selecI Ihe appropriaIe
operaIihg level oh Ihe DL441.
For moho use, each chahhel may be cohsidered as beihg compleIely ihdepehdehI ahd seI
up accordihgly. For use wiIh sIereo sighals such as compleIe mixes or submixes, Ihe
appropriaIe pair of chahhels should be swiIched Io SIereo Lihk mode ahd all seIIihg up dohe
usihg Ihe lefI hahd chahhel(s) cohIrols.
SeIIihg up is simplified by Ihe auIo aIIack ahd release sysIem which cohIihually opIimises
Ihe aIIack ahd release Iimes Io suiI Ihe dyhamics of Ihe maIerial beihg processed. The raIio
seIIihg depehds oh how firmly Ihe sighal dyhamics heed cohIrollihg; as a rule, higher raIios
provide a higher degree of cohIrol buI also Iehd Io be more audibly apparehI ih operaIioh
wheh high levels of gaih reducIioh are required. lh geheral, a higher compressioh raIio may
be used wheh ih SofI Khee mode wiIhouI compromisihg Ihe subjecIive souhd qualiIy.
Havihg selecIed Hard or SofI Khee ahd seI a suiIable FaIio, seIIihg up is simply a maIIer of
adjusIihg Ihe Threshold cohIrol uhIil Ihe desired amouhI of gaih reducIioh occurs. This is
judged parIly by ear ahd parIly by observihg Ihe gaih reducIioh meIer. Normally a maximum
gaih reducIioh of beIweeh 8dB ahd 12dB will be adequaIe. lf more gaih reducIioh appears
hecessary, iI is worIh cohsiderihg applyihg a cohservaIive degree of compressioh durihg
recordihg ahd Iheh furIher compressioh while mixihg.
Compressihg durihg a mix does ihcrease Ihe subjecIive level of Iape ahd oIher backgrouhd
hoises durihg pauses ahd quieI passages as maximum gaih is applied wheh Ihe sighal level
is mihimum. For Ihis reasoh, iI is uhwise Io use more compressioh Ihah is sIricIly hecessary.
Fihally, Ihe Gaih cohIrol may be seI Io provide Ihe required ouIpuI level usihg Ihe level
meIer as a guide. Avoid ruhhihg aI very high ouIpuI levels as Ihis reduces Ihe available
amouhI of sighal headroom ahd could lead Io disIorIioh ih exIreme cases. Ohce Ihe gaih is
correcI, Ihe Feak limiIer Level cohIrol should be adjusIed so IhaI Ihe limiIer LED ohly lighIs
briefly oh exIreme sighal peaks. AlIerhaIively, Ihe Feak limiIer Level may firsI be seI Io Ihe
desired value ahd Iheh Ihe compressor Gaih cohIrol adjusIed Io ehsure mihimum limiIer
acIiviIy.
The Feak limiIer has ho bypass cohIrol, buI Iurhihg Ihe Level cohIrol fully clockwise will
effecIively prevehI Ihe limiIer from operaIihg.
Compressors are ofIeh accused of dullihg Ihe souhd beihg processed, buI Ihe auIo circuiIry
ih Ihe DL441 has beeh desighed Io allow IrahsiehI souhds Io pass Ihrough cleahly, Ihus
maihIaihihg Ihe clariIy ahd Irahsparehcy of Ihe origihal source. SofI Khee operaIioh is
usually preferable wheh uhobIrusive gaih cohIrol is required.
DL441 OFEFATOFS' MANUAL 8
IF A FAULT DEVELOPS
For warrahIy service please call Drawmer ElecIrohics LId. Or Iheir hearesI auIhorised
service faciliIy, givihg full deIails of Ihe difficulIy. Oh receipI of Ihis ihformaIioh, service or
shippihg ihsIrucIiohs will be forwarded Io you. No equipmehI should be reIurhed uhder Ihe
warrahIy wiIhouI prior cohsehI from Drawmer or Iheir auIhorised represehIaIive.
For service claims uhder Ihe warrahIy agreemehI a service FeIurhs AuIhorisaIioh (FA)
humber will be giveh. WriIe Ihis FA humber ih large leIIers ih a promihehI posiIioh oh Ihe
shippihg box. Ehclose your hame, address, Ielephohe humber, copy of Ihe origihal sales
ihvoice ahd a deIailed descripIioh of Ihe problem.
AuIhorised reIurhs should be prepaid ahd musI be ihsured. All Drawmer producIs are
packaged ih specially desighed cohIaihers for proIecIioh. lf Ihe uhiI is Io be reIurhed, Ihe
origihal cohIaiher musI be used. lf Ihis cohIaiher is hoI available, Iheh Ihe equipmehI should
be packaged ih subsIahIial shock-proof maIerial, capable of wiIhsIahdihg Ihe hahdlihg for
Ihe IrahsiI.
CONTACTING DRAWMER
Drawmer ElecIrohics LId., will be pleased Io ahswer all applicaIioh quesIiohs Io ehhahce
your usage of Ihis equipmehI. Flease address correspohdehce Io:
Drawmer (Techhical Help lihe) : Colemah SI.: FarkgaIe : FoIherham : S62 6EL : UK
or, E-mail us oh : Iech@drawmer.co.uk
Drawmer dealers, AuIhorised service deparImehIs ahd oIher cohIacI ihformaIioh cah be
obIaihed from our web pages oh hIIp://www.drawmer.co.uk
DL441 OFEFATOFS' MANUAL 9
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
INPUT IMPEDANCE 20KOhm
MAXIMUM INPUT LEVEL +21dBu (+17dB ref. +4dBu)
OUTPUT IMPEDANCE 50 Ohm
MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL +20dBu
BANDWIDTH <12Hz Io 35KHz -1dB
CROSSTALK @10kHz BeIIer Ihah -80dB
@20kHz BeIIer Ihah -75dB
OUTPUT BALANCE BeIIer Ihah 40dB 20Hz Io 10kHz
INPUT CMR BeIIer Ihah 40dB 20Hz Io 10kHz
NOISE AT UNITY GAIN referehce +4dBu
Widebahd 22Hz - 22KHz CClF AFM lEC A O-Fk CClF
AV -90dB -98dB -99dB -100dB -88dB
FMS -89dB -96dB -97dB -98dB
DISTORTION
100Hz 1KHz 10KHz
UhiIy Gaih, +4dBu lhpuI < 0.02 < 0.015 < 0.035
+14dBu lhpuI, 10dB G.F. < 0.3 < 0.1 < 0.1
POWER REOUIREMENTS 115VolI or 230VolI aI 50-60Hz, 13 WaIIs
FUSE RATING 80mA for 230VolI, 60mA for 115VolI
CONFOFMlNG TO BS EN 60127-2:1991 SHEETlll
FUSE TYPE 20mm x 5mm, Class 3 Slo-Blo, 250VolI workihg
CASE SIZE 482mm (w) x 44mm (h) x 200mm (d)
WEIGHT (ihcl packagihg) 3.4 Kgs
DL441 OFEFATOFS' MANUAL 10
BLOCK DIAGRAM