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The Aphex Model 661 is a totally new
type of compressor incorporating vacuum tube technology with the latest
innovations in audio compression. This single-channel compressor/limiter
is loaded with features, consolidating for the first time in one rack space,
three patented Aphex circuits: Tubessence®,
Easyrider®, and High Frequency Expander®.
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| The UNIQUE
661 CIRCUITRY |
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Tubessence is a true tube circuitwhich
provides that "vintage" tube sound without high the heat, bulk,
short life, fragility, and sonic variability found in traditional tube designs.
Easyrider is an Automatic mode that
actually works, consisting of the Wave dependent Compressor™ (WDC)
circuit which takes the guesswork out of compressing individual instruments
and vocals especially in live mixes. WDC automatically adjusts attack and
release times according to the complexity of the program material. Its No-Knee™
compression curve makes the transition into compression virtually invisible.
In the Manual mode, the Model 661 provides
the full complement of compressor adjustments such as Ratio, Attack, and
Release, for maximum flexibility. Express yourself and get those "punch",
"slap", "fat", "pump", and "squeeze"
sounds fast and clean.
The 661 includes the patented High Frequency
Expander® (HFX) which decompresses high frequencies, with user-adjustable
ratio and corner frequency. Add "life" and "air" to
your compressed signals without fear of background noise pumping.
The Spectral Phase Refractor™ restores
clarity and punch to your tracks. Bass frequencies are more defined with
more apparent power. Higher frequencies also seem to gain more detail and
presence.
Use the Model 661 to control dynamics for mixdowns,
protect your sound system's loudspeakers from transients and distortion
or shape the sound of individual instruments and vocals. Compress dynamic
levels without fear of reducing frequency response. Whatever type of dynamics
control you're looking for, it can be done with the Model 661 Tube Compressor
/ Limiter Expressor®.
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| APPLICATIONS |
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Music Production - Improve the sound
on individual instruments, vocals and mixes |
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Sound Reinforcement - A roadable
tube compressor/limiter in only one rack space |
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Broadcast & Post Production
- A great vocal processor and a powerful studio tool |
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Project Studios - Improve the sound
of digital recorders and workstations |
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Musicians - The ultimate compressor
for the professional guitar, bass, keyboard instrument rig |
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| Features |
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Auto or full Manual operation. In
Auto mode, compression parameters constantly change for best sound |
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A true tube circuit (Tubessence)
in the output stage for a "warm", "live" and "full"
sound |
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HFX allows the use of high compression
ratios without the loss of high frequencies |
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SPR increases the apparent bass
energy level, without amplitude equalization or bass boost |
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Use Sidechain Access sends jacks
for creative processing (de-essing and ducking) |
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Stereo, dual mono or master/ slave
operation for total flexibility |
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| Using
the Aphex Model 661 |
| PLEASE
REFER TO THE FIGURES BELOW FOR CALLOUT NUMBERS |
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FRONT
PANEL CONTROLS |
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| 1. |
The PROCESS IN / BYPASS
Switch operates a bypass relay (indicated by a yellow LED) that connects
the Main Audio input directly to the Output, completely bypassing the
661. PROCESS IN (indicated by a red LED) engages the 661 circuitry.
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| 2. |
The SPR Switch controls
the Spectral Phase Refractor circuit. SPR can reverse the effect of
accumulated low frequency time delays caused by audio passing through
too many electronic stages. |
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| 3. |
The INPUT Control sets
the amount of gain in the 661's input stage. |
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| 4. |
The THRESHOLD Control
sets the level above which input signals will be processed by the 661's
gain control circuitry in a manner defined by the settings of the various
AUTO or MANUAL controls |
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| 5. |
The OUTPUT Control
sets the amount of gain in the 661's output stage, restoring level lost
by compression (make-up gain). |
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| 6. |
The LOW CUT Switch
inserts a 6dB per octave low cut filter with an 80Hz corner frequency
into the sidechain. This is most useful when using the 661 (two in stereo
link mode) to process a stereo mix-down of bass predominant material. |
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| 7. |
HIGH FREQUENCY EXPANDER
(HFX) is a form of dynamic equalization that boosts high frequencies
when gain reduction occurs. The HFX RATIO Control sets the amount of
equalization (6 dB per octave shelving) for the amount of Gain Reduction.
At 1:1 there is 1 dB of High Frequency Expansion (or boost) for every
1dB of Gain Reduction. |
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| 8. |
The FREQUENCY Control
lets you set the (HFX) corner frequency of the shelving EQ anywhere
between 2 kHz to 20 kHz. |
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| 9. |
The AUDIO LEVEL Meter
monitors the Input and Output level depending on the position of the
switch below the meters. A red CLIP LED at the right of the meter indicates
clipping. |
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| 10. |
The GAIN REDUCTION
meter shows the amount of compression in 2dB steps with a maximum of
30dB. |
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| 11. |
UNLINK must be engaged
for normal operation of one 661. Depressing LINK or SLAVE when using
only one 661 will cause the unit to malfunction. |
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| 12. |
LINK is engaged when
two 661's are used in stereo. Both 661's must have the LINK switch engaged. |
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| 13. |
SLAVE is used when
two 661's are being configured for a master/slave operation. Only the
unit acting as a SLAVE should have the SLAVE switch engaged. The master
unit needs to be in LINK. |
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| 14. |
The LED at the top
of the POWER SWITCH illuminates when the unit is powered. |
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| A/M |
The AUTO / MANUAL
Mode Switch determines if the 661's primary control parameters will
be manually adjusted by the user or automatically adjusted by the 661.
In the AUTO (Easyrider) Mode the Fast / Slow switch is active
while Soft Knee, Ratio, Attack and Release are defeated. In the MANUAL
Mode, Soft Knee, Ratio, Attack and Release are active, while the Fast
/ Slow switch is defeated. |
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| A1 |
AUTO MODE: When in
the AUTO Mode the attack and release characteristics of the Easyrider
circuit are automatically adjusted based upon the waveform of the input.
The SLOW/ FAST Switch selects between two ranges of the automatic release
circuit. |
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| M1 |
MANUAL MODE: The SOFT
KNEE Switch in the OFF position results in a transition at threshold
that is of the abrupt Hard Knee type. In the ON position (indicated
by red LED), signals are processed more gradually and the transition
is less noticeable. |
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| M2 |
The RATIO Control determines
the amount of change in output level for a given change in input level
above threshold. This is expressed as a ratio: relative input vs. output.
The range of this control is 1:1 to 30:1. |
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| M3 |
The ATTACK Control
adjusts the time in which the 661 will reduce the gain after an increase
in input over threshold. The range of the control is .05 to 100 ms. |
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| M4 |
The RELEASE CONTROL
adjusts how long it takes the 661 to release gain reduction after a
decrease in input level. The range of this control is .04 to 4 seconds. |
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FRONT
PANEL VIEWS |
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| FRONT
PANEL VIEW, CONTINUED > |
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REAR
PANEL VIEWS |
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| REAR
PANEL VIEW, CONTINUED > |
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SPECIFICATIONS - Aphex Model 661 |
Tube
Compressor / Limiter Expressor /
Easyrider with Tubessence |
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NOMINAL
OPERATING LEVEL:
user selectable on back |
+4dBu |
-10dBV |
| AUDIO |
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Frequency
Response |
±0.5
dB 2 Hz to 110 kHz |
same |
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Dynamic
Range |
94dB |
same |
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Hum
and Noise (no G.R.),
(unweighted
10Hz-22kHz) |
-83dBu |
-95dBV |
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Crosstalk
(10Hz-22kHz at max output) |
-80dB |
same |
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THD
@ max output |
.6% |
same |
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THD
@ nominal output +6dB |
.15% |
same |
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IMD
@ max output |
.5% |
same |
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IMD
@ nominal output +6dB |
.25% |
same |
| INPUT |
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Connector |
3 pin
XLR female and TRS 1/4" phone jack |
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Type |
Transformerless,
differential servo balanced with RFI filter |
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Impedance |
Balanced
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20k
ohms |
same |
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Unbalanced
|
10k
ohms |
same |
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Nominal
Level |
+4dBu |
-10dBV
(-7.8dBu) |
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Maximum
Level |
+25dBu |
+13dBV
(+15.2dBu) |
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CMRR
(typical) |
>90dB
at 100Hz; >70dB at 1kHz >50dB at 20kHz |
| OUTPUT |
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Connector |
3 pin
XLR male and TRS 1/4" phone jack |
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Type |
Transformerless
differential servo used balanced or unbalanced |
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Impedance |
Balanced
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65
ohms |
same |
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Unbalanced |
65
ohms |
same |
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Nominal
Level |
+4dBu |
-10dBV
(-7.8dBu) |
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Maximum
Level |
Balanced
|
+22dBu |
+8dBV
(+10.2dBu) |
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Unbalanced |
+20dBu |
+8dBV
(+10.2dBu) |
| COMPRESSION
PARAMETERS |
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Threshold |
Auto |
Variable
-30dB to +20dB |
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Manual |
same |
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Ratio |
Auto |
Easyrider No-Knee Compression
Curve starts at 1.1:1 and ends at 6:1 |
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Manual |
starts at 1:1 and ends
at 30:1 |
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Attack Time |
Auto |
Program
(waveform) dependent |
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Manual |
.05
to 100 ms |
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Release Time |
Auto |
Program (waveform) dependent |
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Manual |
.04 to 4 seconds |
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Input
Control Range |
30
dB |
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Output
Control Range |
40
dB |
| CONTROLS,
FUNCTION SWITCHES, AND METERING |
| |
Controls |
Input, Threshold, Output,
Ratio, Attack, Release, HFX Ratio, Frequency (HFX) |
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Switches |
Process In/Bypass, SPR,
Slow/Fast, Auto/Manual,Soft Knee, Low Cut, Input/Output (meter
select), Unlink, Link, Slave, Power |
| |
Meters |
Audio Level (Input and
Output) Gain Reduction |
| OTHER
SPECIFICATIONS |
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Power Requirements |
100 / 120 / 220 / 240
VAC 50-60 Hz 20 Watts |
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Dimensions |
19"W x 1.75"H
x 10.125" overall Depth (482.6mm
x 44.5mm x 257.2mm) |
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Depth behind front panel:
9.25" (234.95
mm) 1 Rack U high |
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Net Weight |
5.5 lbs (2.27
kg) |
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Shipping
Weight |
9 lbs (4
kg) |
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64k
64k
