DBX processors....conquering pandora's box.

[PROJECT 2501]

Tape out - to - eq monitor in - to - pb/rec din - to - spectrophotometer huh? - to - man this sucks... ......
I don't believe that I have my processors wired correctly. I don't even know if it's advised to use all four processors at once. As of right now they serve only as visual entertainment and nothing more.
I'm in need of instructions on how to correctly chain these four components to my amplifier/preamp. Any insight is very much appreciated.

 

[sKiZo]

PRE/TAPE OUT > EQ > 224X > 3BX > 120A > AMP/TAPE IN

Nuttin to it! <G>

Standard rule of thumb when stacking processors is EQ first, then post processors, with bass enhancers last. In your case, I'd try swapping the 224x and 3BX while decoding and see if that makes any difference or adds "breathing" to the mix. I expect the 224x will be bypassed more times than not.

In all cases, start small and work your way up in small increments after giving your ears a chance to adjust. Looks like you've got everything cranked to max, and that's really overkill. I've never had my 3bx over about 1.3 both ranges, and the Boombox averages about a third of the way up at most, favoring boost over synth. VERY small tweaks on that can really make the music bloom once you're relatively where it needs to be.

I'd also hook everything up but just engage one at a time to see what that does - bypass buttons are handy for that sort of thing.

PS ... I got more buttons and lights than you do ... neener neener ... <G>

 

[Chip Chester]

Do you have DBX encoded tapes? If yes, and you have only one tape deck, put it in the tape loop with the deck and bypass it if not needed for certain tapes. If you don't have DBX encoded tapes, and won't be making any, then not sure why it's there.

Do you have sources that need bass expansion, or full-range dynamic expansion? Installing serially in either a tape loop or between preamp and amp will work.

If you want to feed all the inputs to see the light flash, but not necessarily use them, then an unused tape loop out will do the trick. No need to even hook up the outputs back into the system.

Equalizer can live between preamp and amp as well, assuming it has a bypass. If it has a tape loop also, you can put use it for one of the other devices, too.

I'm guessing all that stuff in-line can add a bit of noise, possibly even in bypass mode, unless it's a hard-wired, power-off bypass.

I choose not to become entangled with the photons. You're on your own.

Chip

 

[PROJECT 2501]

PRE/TAPE OUT > EQ > 224X > 3BX > 120A > AMP/TAPE IN

Nuttin to it! <G>

Standard rule of thumb when stacking processors is EQ first, then post processors, with bass enhancers last. In your case, I'd try swapping the 224x and 3BX while decoding and see if that makes any difference or adds "breathing" to the mix. I expect the 224x will be bypassed more times than not.

In all cases, start small and work your way up in small increments after giving your ears a chance to adjust. Looks like you've got everything cranked to max, and that's really overkill. I've never had my 3bx over about 1.3 both ranges, and the Boombox averages about a third of the way up at most, favoring boost over synth.

I'd also hook everything up but just engage one at a time to see what that does - bypass buttons are handy for that sort of thing.

Thanks for the reply.
Since i have everything bypassed or only wired to receive input, i do in fact have the settings of each unit at or near the upper limit of operation for the purpose of having as many flashing lights as possible on each of the units displays......I mean, if we're going to have a lightshow...let's have a freakin lightshow..right?

But, thank you....I'll follow your advice and see where it gets me..

 

[sKiZo]

Yeah ... flashing lights ... who needs em??

ME!!

I put this together a bit back. Some changes since, but basically the same. You'll notice the dbx stuff has a LOT of competition. ;-}

 

[Nightwisher]

Everything should be useful to some degree besides the 224x most likely (as has been mentioned). I love dbx stuff - got a 120 and a DAV-600 myself (we've got 4 other subharmonic synthesizers in the house). I've got a Pioneer EX-9000 dynamic range expander instead of a 3BX, and I like the Pioneer's fluorescent display better personally. Pretty dancing lights are always nice.

 

[PROJECT 2501]

PRE/TAPE OUT > EQ > 224X > 3BX > 120A > AMP/TAPE IN

Nuttin to it! <G>

Standard rule of thumb when stacking processors is EQ first, then post processors, with bass enhancers last. In your case, I'd try swapping the 224x and 3BX while decoding and see if that makes any difference or adds "breathing" to the mix. I expect the 224x will be bypassed more times than not.

In all cases, start small and work your way up in small increments after giving your ears a chance to adjust. Looks like you've got everything cranked to max, and that's really overkill. I've never had my 3bx over about 1.3 both ranges, and the Boombox averages about a third of the way up at most, favoring boost over synth. VERY small tweaks on that can really make the music bloom once you're relatively where it needs to be.

I'd also hook everything up but just engage one at a time to see what that does - bypass buttons are handy for that sort of thing.

PS ... I got more buttons and lights than you do ... neener neener ... <G>

More lights, buttons, and knobs you say?

Lights....I can't argue against that...... youve got club 54 right in your living room...definately seizure inducing....
But....
Buttons and knobs might be a bit more abundant on this side of the map....

 

[sKiZo]

I bow to you, oh mighty button master!

 

[sKiZo]

I've got a Pioneer EX-9000 dynamic range expander instead of a 3BX, and I like the Pioneer's fluorescent display better personally.

Got one of them myself a bit back, just for the display, as well as a couple Sansui's with nice graphical displays.

This has got to be one of the stranger ones in my collection ...

 

[Aptone]

A DBX 200x allows you to string three processors together

 

[sKiZo]

A DBX 200x allows you to string three processors together
View attachment 752473

Not to mention a lot of other stuff ... here's mine ...

Does tend to organize things a lot better as well.

 

[House de Kris]

Standard rule of thumb when stacking processors is EQ first, then post processors, with bass enhancers last...

As with all posts on forums, the reader should assume the answer is in the opinion of the writer. But, sKiZo has written it almost as it is a hard and fast rule, rather than opinion. In dbx manuals, they state, "If an external equalizer is connected, it should be placed after the dbx unit, as illustrated." So, standard rule of thumb of EQ first is a sKiZo rule, but the manufacturer of the equipment in question recommends otherwise. Still, there are no hard and fast rules in how you do things, so do what works best for you, the owner of the equipment.

 

[twiiii]

I use DBX 3bx, DBX 119, SAE EQ, in my processor loops. I have retired my 255 and 750 DBX tape deck processors. I'm not sure I agree with the EQ going first, if you use it in the cut mode only no problem, but in the boost mode by the time the 3bx and 224 get done you could have some real signal overloading issues. I used the 200 DBX for years until I retired my R2R tape decks, for hook up and ease of switching in the right unit to the right place. Now with just one Cassette deck and one CD recorder, my Mac C-34 pre-amp handles the switching very effectively. The DVD recorder is part of the HT set up. Fortunatly a 3BX does not boost peaks, it turns down quieter passages expanding the dynamic range down wards. This keeps from over loading components further down the amplification chain. Just don't tun up the volume to get all those red lights flashing. I never went past the second red row from center.

 

[Coytee]

Back when I had a 3bx, sumharmonic synth, 224....

I had the subharmonic synth plugged into the 3bx tape loop. This way I could bring it in/out or pre/post processor as I recall.

Net effect, it would allow the 3bx to expand the signal a bit. Never blew anything and worked great.