LTO ALTO GATE Manuale utente

User's Manual

LTO

www.altoproaudio.com

Version 1.0 July 2003

English

EXPANDER/GATE

ALTO GATE

SAFETY RELATED SYMBOLS

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

This symbol, wherever used, alerts you to the pre-

sence of un-insulated and dangerous voltages with-

in the product enclosure. These are voltages that

may be sufficient to constitute the risk of electric

shock or death.

Protective Ground Terminal

AC mains (Alternating Current)

Hazardous Live Terminal

ON: Denotes the product is turned on.

This symbol, wherever used, alerts you to impo-

rtant operating and maintenance instructions.

Please read.

OFF: Denotes the product is turned off.

WARNING

Describes precautions that should be observed to

prevent the possibility of death or injury to the user.

CAUTION

Describes precautions that should be observed to

prevent damage to the product.

Power Supply

Ensure that the mains source voltage (AC outlet)

matches the voltage rating of the product. Failure

to do so could result in damage to the product and

possibly the user.

Unplug the product before electrical storms occur

and when unused for long periods of time to reduce

the risk of electric shock or fire.

External Connection

Always use proper ready-made insulated mains

cabling (power cord). Failure to do so could result

in shock/death or fire. If in doubt, seek advice from

a registered electrician.

Do Not Remove Any Covers

Within the product are areas where high voltages

may present. To reduce the risk of electric shock do

not remove any covers unless the AC mains power

cord is removed.

Covers should be removed by qualified service

personnel only.

No user serviceable parts inside.

Fuse

To prevent fire and damage to the product, use only

the recommended fuse type as indicated in this

manual. Do not short-circuit the fuse holder. Before

replacing the fuse, make sure that the product is

OFF and disconnected from the AC outlet.

Protective Ground

Before turning the product ON, make sure that it is

connected to Ground. This is to prevent the risk of

electric shock.

Never cut internal or external Ground wires. Likewise,

never remove Ground wiring from the Protective

Ground Terminal.

Operating Conditions

Always install in accordance with the manufacturer's

instructions.

To avoid the risk of electric shock and damage, do

not subject this product to any liquid/rain or moisture.

Do not use this product when in close proximity to

water.

Do not install this product near any direct heat source.

Do not block areas of ventilation. Failure to do so

could result in fire.

Keep product away from naked flames.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Read these instructions

Follow all instructions

Keep these instructions. Do not discard.

Heed all warnings.

Only use attachments/accessories specified by the

manufacturer.

Power Cord and Plug

Do not tamper with the power cord or plug. These are

designed for your safety.

Do not remove Ground connections!

If the plug does not fit your AC outlet seek advice from

a qualified electrician.

Protect the power cord and plug from any physical

stress to avoid risk of electric shock.

Do not place heavy objects on the power cord. This

could cause electric shock or fire.

Cleaning

When required, either blow off dust from the product

or use a dry cloth.

Do not use any solvents such as Benzol or Alcohol.

For safety, keep product clean and free from dust.

Servicing

Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel only.

Do not perform any servicing other than those instruc-

tions contained within the User's Manual.

WARNING

PREFACE

Dear Customer:

researches.

For our LTO AUDIO TEAM, music and sound are more than a job... are first of all passion and let us say... our

obsession!

We have been designing professional audio products for a long time in cooperation with some of the major brands in

the world in the audio field.

The LTO line presents unparalleled analogue and digital products made by Musicians for Musicians in our R&D

Centers in Italy, Netherlands, United Kingdom and Taiwan. The core of our digital audio products is a sophisticated

DSP (Digital ound rocessor) and a large range of state of the art algorithms which have been developed by ourSP

Software Team for the last 7 years.

Because we are convinced you are the most important member of LTO AUDIO TEAM and the one confirming the

quality of our job, we like to share with you our work and our dreams, paying attention to your suggestions and your

comments.

Following this idea we create our products and we will create the new ones! From our side, we guarantee you and we

will guarantee you also in future the best quality, the best fruits of our continuous researches and the best prices.

Our LTO GATE is the result of many hours of listening and tests involving common people, area experts, music-

ians and technicians.

The results of this effort is that you can acquire an extremely efficient and universal dynamics processor. It Contains

several new circuits design which make the unit an ultimate dynamic processor: interactive Expander/Gate and super

low distortion VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplifier).

Nothing else to add, but that we would like to thank all the people that made the LTO GATE a reality available to

our customers, and thank our designers and all the LTO staff, people who make possible the realization of products

containing our idea of music and sound and are ready to support you, our customers, in the best way, conscious that

you are our best richness.

Thank you very much.

LTO AUDIO TEAM

Thanks for choosing LTO GATE and thanks for choosing one of the results of LTO AUDIO TEAM job and

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................4

2.1 Some Technical Stuff

2. THE CONCEPT BEHIND.........................................................................................................................4

2.2 Voltage Controlled Amplifier (VCA)

2.3 Inputs

3. CONTROLS................................................................................................................................................6

3.1 The Front Panel

3.2 The Rear Panel

5. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS .................................................................................................................................11

6. BLOCK DIAGRAM .....................................................................................................................................................12

4. INSTALLATION AND CONNECTION.......................................................................................................8

5.1 Mains Connection

5.2 Audio Connection

5.3 Rack Mounting

7. WARRANTY ...............................................................................................................................................................13

1. INTRODUCTION

Feature List:

2.1 Some Technical Stuff

2. THE CONCEPT BEHIND

The EXPANDER/GATE Section

You can select freely the EXPANDER/GATE mode in your unit. The two modes can reduce or cut-off the level

of audio signal below a certain set threshold to avoid unexpected noise.

Side-chain Filter

The adjustable parametric side-chain filter allows the user to select and eliminate certain frequencies that may

result in unwanted triggering of the gate and expander.

2.1.1 It is not just Music

You are now the owner of an LTO GATE. Your LTO GATE is based on many years of experience and is designed

to eliminate noise in systems, hiss and hum in amplifiers, surrounding noise and so on. For more information, please

read this manual carefully.

Good old analog technology: It will allow us to manufacture audio equipment with a very high dynamic range: up

to 125 dB. But the dynamic range of digital equipment is more or less 25 dB less. A further reduction in dynamic

range occurs with the use of tape recorders and/or vinyl records.

Yes, a piece of electronic will produce some noise. When the current flows through a conductor this will

generate a certain movement of the electrons and therefore: noise. And throughout the whole spectrum of

audio. Imagine what happens when this inherent noise will be amplified. Yes, today one can use "low-noise"

components but still such components will present a certain level of residual noise.

For example with tape recorders it will not be possible to get an S/N (signal to noise) ratio better than 70dB.

This level would not be accepted today by the increased sensitivity of the Listeners. It is possible to improve

the performance of a tape recorder: Absolutely no!

2.1.2 Introducing Audio Dynamics

The human ear can detect the noise generating by falling leaves as well as the roar generated by the taking

off space shuttle. Unfortunately no analog, nor digital device can reproduce such wide spectrum. Please look

at Chart. 1 and you will see the difference if dynamic capacity of various devices when compare to the human

ear. More problems occur when handling high level signals and low level signals. When you reach the high

level limit you may incur in distortion because of the dynamic range of the instrument therefore a certain

"reserve" must be maintained to avoid distortion.

Mountable in one standard 19" rack unit

Illuminated power switch

Manually adjustable HOLD and RELEASE time

Indicating gain attenuation with 8-segment LED

Range control for gate mode while ratio for expander mode

Balanced XLR and 1/4" TRS connectors for inputs and outputs

Super quality parts and rigid configuration for long life and full credibility

This reserve is known as "headroom" and it is usually set at 10 20 dB. Would not be easier just to reduce

the operating level? Yes, it would. But you would put low level music signals at the same level of the basic

noise floor so the overall quality of the signal would be highly deteriorated. Please look at Chart. 2 and note

the Usable dynamic range (including headroom) versus high level distortion generated by peaks, and Noise

floor level.

Chart. 1 The dynamic range capabilities of various devices

Chart. 2 The interactive relationship between the operating level and the headroom

Clipping Signal heavily distortedClipping Signal heavily distorted

Low level signal drowned out by noiseLow level signal drowned out by noise

Clipping Area

Noise Area

So the operating level must be as high as possible but not high enough to generate distortion.

There is a very easy way to obtain this. With the volume knob in hand you increase the volume during low

passages and decrease the volume during loud passages. Unfortunately even the Great Houdini would not

be fast enough to monitor carefully the speed of the musical signal and it would be impossible to detect signal

peaks and consequently levelling them out. Manual control is therefore out of question. The answer is AGC

(automatic gain control); a device that will monitor the signal in real time and that will adjust the gain for the

best S/N ratio without producing distortion.

Usable dynamic range

2.1.3 More about noise: Expanders and Noise-Gates

Now, we do not need dramatic expansion of a signal across the range; This would generate a resulting

dynamic range of over 150dB. For this reason the amplitude control will be applied only to those audio

signals which are below a set threshold. Those audio signals above the set threshold will not be affected.

Noise-gate can be regarded as a simple Expander. But the Expander will attenuate the audio signal contin

-uously below the set threshold while the noise-gate will simply dramatically cut-off the audio signal completely.

But if you sing into your microphone more gently in a soft passage, the level of the signal generated by your

voice will get much closer to the floor noise level and such floor noise will become disturbing. In order to kill

this problem Expanders and noise-gates are used. An expander is the opposite of a compressor: attenuating

the signal when the amplitude drops, they can limit the floor noise.

A lot of instruments such as microphones, amplifiers, guitar pickups, etc generate some noise, either at low

frequencies (hum) or at high frequencies (hiss). Such noise will inevitably interfere with the quality of your

audio signal. Now, if you scream into a microphone you will not hear the noise generated by such microphone

because such noise will be "masked" by the higher level of the signal, your voice in this case.

2.2 Voltage Controlled Amplifier (VCA)

The VCA is the soul of the LTO GATE and it is one of the best components available today in his category

thanks to its excellent performances in terms of distortion, linearity, noise and temperature stability.

2.3 Inputs

2.3.1 Take it easy: Balanced Inputs

3. CONTROLS

Pic. 1 The Front anel of he LTO GATEPT

1. Couple Switch

Pressing this push-button for stereo mode operation.

When engaged, the front channel will take control of the next channel and override all the controls and switches

of the next channel with exception of the SC Monitor.

2. POWER Switch

Turn the apparatus ON or OFF.

3.1 The Front Panel

To make your life easy and clean we have provided LTO GATE with electronically balanced inputs. Even if

you operate at high signal levels, hum and noise will be reduced automatically. There is also a servo-function

that will automatically adjust the internal level when unbalanced connectors are detected. The correction is

of 6dB and it will avoid differences in level in between input and output signal.

Your LTO GATE presents with four channels. Each channel is equipped with the same elements: 3 push-button

switches, 6 rotary controls and 11 LEDs. You can easily operate the stereo mode via pressing the Couple switch.

The details please refer to following content.

LTO

POWER

OFF

Hz Hz Hz

FREQUENCY FREQUENCY FREQUENCY

500 500

10K 10K 10K100 100 100

Oct Oct Oct

BANDWIDTH

1.2 500 1.2 1.2

0.7 0.7 0.72.3 2.3 2.3

SC FILTER SC FILTER SC FILTER

MON. MON. MON.

1515

1:1

RANGE

1:2 1:2

dBu dBu

35 35 35

10 10

Sec Sec SecSec Sec

0.5 0.50.5 0.5 0.5 0.5

44 4

0044 4

0.05 0.05 0.05

HOLD HOLD HOLD

Sec

RELEASE RELEASE RELEASE

THRESHOLD

HOLD 40 30 20 15 10 6 3 1

MODE MODE MODE MODE

CHANNEL 1 CHANNEL 3 CHANNEL 4

GATE GATE GATE

EXP.

COUPLE COUPLE COUPLE

RANGE RATIO

PARAMETRIC SC FILTER

EXPANDER / GATE

PARAMETRIC SC FILTER

CHANNEL 2

1:1 1:4

THRESHOLD

dBu

GATE

40 30 20 15 10 6 3

THRESHOLD

HOLD

GAIN REDUCTION (dB)GAIN REDUCTION (dB)

40 30 20 15 10 6 3

HOLD

THRESHOLD GAIN REDUCTION (dB)

FREQUENCY

500

10K100

Oct

SC FILTER

MON.

1:2

dBu

Sec Sec

0.5 0.5

0.05

HOLD RELEASE

RANGE RATIO

1:1 1:4

40 30 20 15 10 6 3

HOLD

THRESHOLD GAIN REDUCTION (dB)

1.2

0.72.3

1:2

AUDIO INTERACTIVE

QUAD EXPANDER / GATE

LTO GAT E

THRESHOLD BANDWIDTH THRESHOLD BANDWIDTH THRESHOLD BANDWIDTH

BYPASSBYPASS BYPASS

BYPASS

RANGE RATIO

1:1 1:4

EXP.EXP.EXP.

80 10

RATIO

1:4

EXPANDER / GATE EXPANDER / GATE PARAMETRIC SC FILTER EXPANDER / GATE PARAMETRIC SC FILTER

8 9 10

12 13

4. THRESHOLD LED

The "+" LED lights up when the expander / gate is activated.

The HOLD LED lights up when the hold circuit starts to work.

The "-" LED lights up when there are no audio signals below the set threshold.

3. THRESHOLD Control

This control adjusts the threshold level for the Expander / Gate Section in the range of Bypass to +10dBu.

Signals below this level cause expansion.

5. HOLD Control

It represents the amount of time that passes before the release process starts to work when the signal is below

the threshold point. (Used only in GATE mode.)

6. RELEASE Control

It determines the amount of time in the release process. The release time on LTO gate can be set from 0.05

to 4 seconds. (Used only in GATE mode.)

7. GAIN REDUCTION Meter

It indicates the gain reduction. The range displayed is from 1 to 40 dB.

8. SC FILTER Switch

This switch is used to activate the parametric side-chain filter. You can set its function by adjusting the frequency

and bandwidth control.

9. FREQUENCY Control

This control is used to choose frequency of the side-chain filter from 100Hz to 10kHz.

10.BANDWIDTH Control

This control is used to choose bandwidth of the side-chain filter from 2.3 to 0.7 octaves.

11.MONITOR Control

You can connect the side-chain control signal to the audio output using this switch. Engage it to eliminate the

functions of expander and gate. There are only frequency and bandwidth controls that can control the unit.

12.MODE Switch

It can set the operational mode of this unit. You are able to operate it as an expender when it is pressed. On the

contrary, you can operate it as a gate when it is not pressed.

13.RANGE/RATIO Control

The control is relying on the operational mode of this unit. The RANGE control can only be used in GATE mode.

It adjusts the amount of maximum gain reduction and covers a range from 0 to -80. The RATIO control can only

be used in EXPANDER mode. It determines the ratio between the input and output level of audio signals below

the set threshold level. This control manually adjustable from 1:1 to 1:4.

14.FUSE Holder / Voltage Selector

Your unit may have the voltage selector ( 115V/60Hz or 230V/50Hz) built into the Fuse Holder. With a small

screwdriver pull/pop out the Fuse Holder and rotate it so that the arrow showing the proper voltage in your area

points toward the other arrow in the upper left comer of plug assembly and reinsert.

Pic. 2 The Rear Panel of The LTO GATE

3.2 The Rear Panel

Caution: The fuse protecting the AC supplies circuits of this unit. The fuse can only be changed by a qualified

technician, in the event of a fault or changing the supply voltage. If the fuse continues to blow after replacing,

discontinue use of this unit before repaired.

AC INPUT

95-120V 60Hz

or 210-240V 50Hz

Rated Power

Consumption 18W

FUSE:

210-240V: T200mA 250VAC

95-120V: T400mA 250VAC

REPLACE FUSE WITH

CORRECT TYPE ONLY

Apparaten skall

anslutas till jordat

uttag nar den ansluts

till ett natverk

INPUT OUTPUT INPUT

OUTPUT

INPUT

OUTPUT

INPUT

OUTPUT

CHANNEL 1

CHANNEL 2CHANNEL 4 CHANNEL 3

A101

TIP/PIN 2

RING/PIN 3

SLEEVE/PIN 1

TIP/PIN 2

RING/PIN 3

SLEEVE/PIN 1

TIP/PIN 2

RING/PIN 3

SLEEVE/PIN 1

TIP/PIN 2

RING/PIN 3

SLEEVE/PIN 1

110-120V

220-240V

17 16

15. AC Inlet

Please don't plug power cord into this unit and AC power if voltage has not been correctly set.

THIS IS SET FOR

110V AC TO 120V

AC OPERATION

THIS IS SET FOR

220V AC TO 240V

AC OPERATION

220-240V

110-120V

220-240V

16. Audio In

The inputs are balanced XLR and 1/4" TRS connectors, they can be used to input signals.

17. Audio Out

The outputs are balanced XLR and 1/4" TRS connectors, they can be used to output signals.

4. INSTALLATION AND CONNECTION

4.1 Mains Connection

LTO GATE is provided with dual voltage plug. You must check the power supply voltage available in your country

before connecting the power cord in the wall outlet. Please see Page 8 for further information.

4.2 Audio Connection

The LTO GATE is equipped with balanced XLR connectors as well as 1/4" phone jack and can be connected with

other units in different ways to support a vast range of applications without experiencing a signal loss.

The fuse-holder above the AC connector on the rear of the chassis has 3 triangular markers (please refer to the

above pictures), with two of these triangles opposing each other, your unit is set to the operating voltage printed

next to these markers.

To change, pull fuse-holder out and rotate 180 , then push in again.

a. Wiring Configuration

Both types of connectors available on LTO GATE can be wired in balanced and unbalanced modes.

Please see following drawing for details:

For 1/4" TRS jack

Unbalanced Balanced

Gnd/Screen

Tip

Hot (+ve)

Cold (-ve)

Gnd/Screen

Tip

Ring

Sleeve

For XLR connector

XLR Unbalanced input XLR alanced inputB

2 Hot (+ve)

3 Cold (-ve)

1 Screen

Link3to1

2 Hot (+ve)

1 Screen

b. In Line Connection

Please see following drawing for details:

Tip

Ring

Sleeve

Tip

Ring

Sleeve

Tip

Sleeve

Tip

Sleeve

Tip

Sleeve

Cent er

Centre

Screen

Tip

Ring

Sleeve

TIP SLEEVE

TIP RING SLEEVE

Tip

Ring

Sleeve

Tip

Ring

Sleeve

Tip

Ring

Sleeve

Tip

Ring

Sleeve

Tip

Sleeve

TIP RING SLEEVE

TIP SLEEVE

SLEEVE RING TIP

Unbalanced

TIP RING SLEEVE

Balanced

SLEEVE TIP

SLEEVE RING TIP

Send

Return

Gnd/Screen

Tip

Ring

Sleeve

1/4" TRS insert

c. Insert Points Connection

RETURN, you can use an insert Y cable. Please see following drawing:

In case you are using the main inserts of your mixing console and you have a single jack for SEND and

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