BBE Sonic Maximizer BBE 422 - Manual (Page 5)

Applications
Various applications of the BBE'" process include:
Music and P.A. System
The BBE 422 has become a popular addition to many RA. systems because it makes a drastic improvement to the clarity
of the vocals without the usual excessive brightness associated with equalizers. In addition, the intelligibility ot the monitor
mix is greatly improved with the BBE™ process. The BBE 422 is inserted between the console output buss and the next
stage of amplification in the RA. system, if the BBE™ process is desired on the entire mix.
The BBE 422 unit is placed before any house graphic equalizers. All pink noise checks should be made with the BBE™
unit switched “out” to obtain the desired house curve. The BBE™ process is then dialed in to suit the music production.
Extreme console equalization normally used during live performance may be reduced due to the dynamic enhancement
effect of the BBE 422.
The BBE 422 is unbalanced input and output and the user should be aware of the level and impedance of the insert point
to insure proper operation of the BBE 422.
With this in mind, the BBE 422 may be inserted in many places within the console’s signal path to achieve specialized
and dramatic result. In the case of non-VCA sub-groups, the BBE 422 is inserted between “buss out” and “sub-group fader
in", for the application of the BBE™ process to a whole group of vocal microphones, for example.
If the BBE™ process is to be used on only one microphone source, the BBE 422 is inserted in the normal “insert send and
receive” points as a limiter or equalizer is patched.
If the RA. mixer does not have "insert points” or if the mixer is a powered-type unit without any way of interrupting the
signal path before the power amplifier, then the BBE 401 unit should be used. The BBE 401 accepts low levels direct from
microphones, electric guitars,etc. and interfaces directly to the RA. mixer.
Figure 1 shows the BBE 422 in a RA. system application where the 'A” channel is used for the main house mix and the “B”
channel is used for the monitor mix feed when two different amounts of processing are needed in each mix. Figure 1A
shows a powered mixer where the BBE 422 is inserted between the program out and the graphic equalizer in.
Home Studios
The BBE 422 gives a pro-edge to otherwise dull recordings on narrow-track width home recorders. Snare drums and
guitars take on a brighter tonal quality without equalization. Tape tracks recorded without BBE™ can be processed after the
fact by placing the BBE 422 between the tape track output and the mixer channel input. The BBE 422 saves poorly
recorded low-level instruments and brightens them without bringing up the tape hiss as equalizers do. The program
transients are audibly improved on just about any sound source, because the BBE 422 reduces the mid-range “smear” and
the associated masking effects.
Figures 2 and 2A show two applications of the BBE 422 in a home studio. Figure 2 shows that when recording, the BBE
422 is inserted between “buss out” and “tape track in”. By monitoring the tape track, the amount of processing can be
adjusted to suit your needs.
Figure 2A shows that when in playback, the BBE 422 process can be applied to a previously recorded tape track by
inserting the BBE 422 between the tape track output and the mixer line input. This is a mixdown set up and can help restore
lost clarity.
Cassette Copies
Since the BBE 422 is a single-ended playback process without encoding or decoding, the stereo BBE 422 is inserted
between the master two-track and the cassette recorder for punchier and crisper cassette copies. If you are very careful of
the amount of processing you are using and know the material, you should never have any trouble with “thin” sounding
copies. Figure 3 shows the BBE 422 in the cassette copy mode.
Industrial
The BBE 422 greatly improves intelligibilty in speech or music by improving the attack of the consonants that the human
ear needs in order to recognize the difference between like sounding words and syllables. This makes the BBE 422 a
natural for public address, intercom or wide area dispersion of pre-recorded music or voice announcements over an
existing old and dull loudspeaker system.
Figure 4 shows the BBE 422 inserted between the telephone matching adapter and the auxiliary input to the public
address intercom amplifier. Rlugging a microphone directly into the BBE 422 will not work. If the existing RA. amplifier has
no provision for auxiliary input, then the BBE 401 unit should be used. The BBE 401 accepts a microphone directly and then
interfaces with an existing RA. amplifier without costly on-site modifications.