TDM Audio 32CL-2 v.2 - Manual (Page 10)

© 1996 TDM Design, Inc. Compressor/Limiter Owner’s Manual Page 10
For example, if you are using your TDM compressor/limiter in a live sound application where
you have a mixing board, a master house equalizer, and the TDM compressor/limiter, connect
the output of the mixer to the input of the equalizer. Then connect the output of the equalizer
to the input of the TDM compressor/limiter. Finally, connect the output of the TDM compres-
sor/limiter to the input of the sound reproducing system (either the amplifiers or the crossover
in a multi-amped system). If the mix is stereo, use the two outputs of the channels that you
connected the left and right inputs to. These outputs should feed whatever the left and right
mix outputs would be feeding if you were not using the compressor/limiter.
Using Channel or Subgroup Inserts
Many mixing consoles provide channel inserts that let you insert signal processing equipment into
the signal path of a single sound source. Some provide subgroup inserts so you can insert signal
processing equipment into the signal path of a group of sound sources. This can be very useful.
For example, when mixing a musical group, it is often desirable to create a subgroup for vocals,
and then compress just that group. That way the dynamic range of all vocals can be evened out
and kept in front of the mix without the level of the rest of the group affecting it. You don’t want
the vocals going into compression when the drummer hits the snare or it will be very difficult to
understand them. Of course, it is also common to compress a single vocalist or instrument. In
fact, it’s quite common to see a subgroup for all background vocals with a single compressor, and
the lead vocalist with his or her own compressor in concert situations.
There are two basic varieties of console inserts. One kind includes two ¼” phone jacks— one send
and one return— that let you insert something into the signal path. With nothing plugged into the
return, the two are internally connected together so the signal just passes through. You can also
use just the send by itself as a channel output. Plugging anything into the return breaks the internal
connection so that whatever is plugged into the return is what gets heard in the mix. To use this
kind of mixer insert with the TDM 32CL series compressor/limiter, connect the send to the input
of a channel of the compressor/limiter. Then connect the return to the output of the same channel
of the compressor/limiter. You need one compressor/limiter channel for each mixer channel or
subgroup being processed.
The other kind of console insert is actually more common. There is a single tip-ring-sleeve type
connector for each channel or subgroup, and the send and return share a common ground lead.
The usual configuration is for the ring to be the send and the tip to be the return. That way you
can plug a ¼” phone plug halfway into the insert jack and use it as a channel output without
breaking the signal path. Plugging it all the way in sets up an insert and breaks the internal signal
path in the channel. To use this kind of channel insert with the TDM 32CL series compres-
sor/limiter, you need to make a special insert cable for each channel that you want to insert a
channel of compression into. To make an insert cable, use the following hookups.
•
Make two cables, each with a ¼” phone plug on one end.
•
On the other end, connect the ground (shield) leads of the two cables together.
•
Solder the joined shield leads to the sleeve of a tip-ring-sleeve phone plug.
•
Solder the hot lead of one of the two cables to the tip of the tip-ring-sleeve phone plug. Mark
the plug on the other end of this cable as “Tip”.