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B Series Dynamics Module
for 500 Series Racks
User Guide
SSL Part Number : 82BPBM03B
Please recycle all packaging
FR
ÉLÉMENTS
D’EMBALLAGE NOTICE
Points de collecte sur www.quefairedemesdechets.fr
À DÉPOSER
EN MAGASIN À DÉPOSER
EN DÉCHÈTERIE
OU
Cet appareil et
son câble sont
recyclables
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Safety and Installation Considerations
This page contains denitions, warnings, and practical information to ensure a safe
working environment. Please take time to read this page before installing or using this
apparatus.
General Safety
• Read these instructions.
• Keep these instructions.
• Heed all warnings.
• Follow all instructions.
• Do not use this apparatus near water.
• Do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.
• Clean only with dry cloth.
• Do not block any ventilation openings.
• Install in accordance with the rack manufacturer’s instructions.
• There are no user-adjustments, or user-serviceable items, on this apparatus.
• Adjustments or alterations to this apparatus may affect the performance such
that safety and/or international compliance standards may no longer be met.
• This apparatus is not to be used in safety critical applications.
Caution
• This apparatus should not be used outside of the scope of API 500 series
compatible racks.
• Do not operate this apparatus with any covers removed.
• To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not perform any servicing other than that
contained in these Installation Instructions unless you are qualied to do so. Refer
all servicing to qualied service personnel.
Installation
• Ensure power is removed from the rack before tting or removing this apparatus to
or from the rack.
• Use the panel xing screws supplied with the rack to secure this apparatus into the
rack.
Instructions for Disposal of WEEE by Users in the European
Union
The symbol shown here is on the product or on its packaging, which indicates
that this product must not be disposed of with other waste. Instead, it is the
user’s responsibility to dispose of their waste equipment by handing it over to
a designated collection point for recycling of waste electrical and electronic
equipment. The separate collection and recycling of your waste equipment at
the time of disposal will help to conserve natural resources and ensure that
it is recycled in a manner that protects human health and the environment.
For more information about where you can drop off your waste equipment for
recycling, please contact your local city ofce, your household waste disposal
service or where you purchased the product.
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Standards Compliance
This apparatus complies with international EMC and Safety Standards when installed in a
fully compliant rack.
UKCA
UK Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (SI 2016/1101)
UK Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016 (SI 2016/1091).
The Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic
Equipment Directive (RoHS2) 2011/65/EU.
CE
EU Low Voltage directive (LVD) 2014/35/EU,
EU Electromagnetic Compatibility directive (EMC) 2014/30/EU.
The Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic
Equipment Directive (RoHS2) 2011/65/EU.
FCC
This device complies with Part 15 of FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Industry Canada
This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canada ICES-003. Cet appareil numérique
de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.
Electromagnetic Compatibility
BS EN 55032:2015, Class B. BS EN 55035:2017.
Electrical Safety
BS EN 62368-1:2014 + A11:2017, EN 62368-1:2014 + A11:2017, CSA CAN/
CSA-C22.2 NO. 62368-1 2nd Ed, 2014.
Environmental
Temperature: Operating: +1 to 30°C. Storage: -20 to 50°C.
Limited Warranty
Please refer any warranty claim to the supplier of this equipment in the rst instance. Full
warranty information for equipment supplied directly by Solid State Logic can be found on
our website:
www.solidstatelogic.com
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Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of this API 500 series compatible
SSL B Series Dynamics module.
This module has been specically designed to operate in an
API 500 series rack such as the API lunchbox® or equivalent. In
common with many such modules, the nominal input/output level is
+4dBu.
The SSL B-DYN 500 Series module comprises a compressor/limiter
and an expander/gate, the design of which returns faithfully to the
circuit and key components which dened the sound of the earliest
SSL B Series channel strip.
The Dynamics Section in the 4000 B-series console channel strip
was unlike any other SSL channel dynamics modules (4000 E-se-
ries, 9000- series etc.). It had a design more similar to the topology
of the SSL Bus Compressor. The compressor features three xed
ratios, 2:1, 4:1 & 10:1 with an additional ‘ds’ mode.
The circuitry and reponse of the B-DYN module uses the latest
component technology and is modelled on the original circuit design
of the SSL 4000 B-Series channel strip as Installed in the 80s in
‘The Stone Room’ at Virgin’s Townhouse Studio (London), Le Studio
(Montreal) and Record Plant (LA)
Operation
Please refer to the illustration opposite.
The IN button , located bottom right, switches the entire mod-
ule in and out of circuit.
The two vertical columns of LEDs , located top left, provide an
indication of dynamics activity. The row of green LEDs to the right
show Gate/Expander activity whilst those to the left indicate opera-
tion of the Compressor/Limiter.
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Compressor/Limiter
Stepped compression ratios 2:1, 4:1, 10:1 and ‘DS’.
The ‘DS’ setting is a xed 10:1 with an additional
12db/Oct high pass sidechain lter at approx. 7 kHz.
When ‘out, the compressor is bypassed
Whenever a signal exceeds the level set by this
control, the compressor will start to act at the ratio set
by the RATIO control. The THRESHold and RATIO
controls also provide automatic make-up gain. A
small improvement to the linearity of this control has
been made in the module over the original channel
strip control. This helps with Threshold tuning using
this smaller scale 500 series knobs.
6 dB/Oct High Pass Filter at 185 Hz in the Compres-
sor sidechain to help reduce bass pumping effects
Switched/xed release ranges from 0.2 s to 1.6 s with
additional ‘DS’ & AUTO release options.
Attack Time is approx. 30ms (2ms in DS mode)
How to use the SL 4000 B de-esser (DS) mode
Set the COMPRESSOR RATIO and RELEASE controls to
‘DS’. The de-ess ratio is a 10:1 ratio with 7 kHz ltered S/C
input signal, delivering broadband compression triggered by
sibilance. The ‘DS’ release is variable in accordance to the
signal between 30 & 50 ms. This is a much faster minimum
release than you would normally expect from an SSL Dynam-
ics section. Also Attack time changes to 2 ms in DS mode.
COMPRESSOR RATIO & RELEASE in ‘DS’ work inde-
pendently of each other & can be utilised in very creative
ways. E.g you can use the fast ‘DS’ attack/release without
using the ‘DS’ ratio, for aggressive compression.
RATIO
THRESH
HPF
RELEASE
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Gate/Expander
This section can act as a 20:1 Gate or as a 2:1 Expander when the
EXP button is pressed.
Controls the maximum amount of gain reduction
applied by the gate/expander. When set to ‘out’, the
gate/expander is bypassed.
Sets the threshold above which the the gate/
expander will be opened.
Sets how long the signal remains audible after the
gate/expander closes. Fixed settings of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4,
0.8 and 1.6 Seconds.
Switches the gate to expander mode with a gentle
curve, for subtler control of level below the threshold.
Attack Time is approx. 0.2 ms
RANGE
THRESH
RELEASE
EXP
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LINK
This button switches the dynamics sidechain to be linked/summed
if a link connection is implemented between a pair of modules.
This is an optional feature of the back-plane of some 500 series
compatible racks. ‘LINKing’ allows adjacant dynamics modules to
act as a stereo pair. The effect of the LINK sidechan sum means
that the dynamics module that is changing gain the most applies
the same gain to its paired module. This prevents image shifts with
stereo signals with dynamic stereo/panned content.
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Visit SSL at:
www.solidstatelogic.com
© Solid State Logic
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions
SSL® and Solid State Logic® are ® registered trademarks of Solid State Logic.
ORIGIN™, SuperAnalogue™, VHD™, 4K B™ and PureDrive™ are trademarks of Solid
State Logic.
All other product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and
are hereby acknowledged.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, whether
mechanical or electronic, without the written permission of Solid State Logic, Oxford, OX5
1RU, England.
As research and development is a continual process, Solid State Logic reserves the right
to change the features and specications described herein without notice or obligation.
Solid State Logic cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage arising directly or
indirectly from any error or omission in this manual.
PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS, PAY SPECIAL HEED TO SAFETY WARNINGS.
E&OE
March 2023
Revision History
Revision V2.0, March 2023 - Revised HPF Description
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