User manual RANE RA 30

[. . . ] OPERATORS MANUAL RA 30 REALTIME ANALYZER METER -30 -27 -25 -24 -21 -18 -20 -15 -12 -15 -9 -6 -3 -10 +3 -5 +6 +9 +12 0 1 SCALE VU SPL 120 CAL WEIGHT METER PINK CAL LINE MIC IN OFF AUX MIC -12 +12 USE RANE MIC ONLY! 0 dB 3 6 dB NORMAL 100 80 dB A C RTA NOISE OL SIG RA 30 REALTIME ANALYZER RTA 25 31. 5 40 50 63 80 100 125 160 200 250 315 400 500 630 800 1k 1. 25k 1. 6k 2k 2. 5k 3. 15k 4k 5k 6. 3k 8k 10k 12. 5k 16k 20k GAIN SOURCE CAL MIC Quick Start Since the RA 30 does RTA, SPL, and VU all in one, the first-time user can get a little lost. The real Quick Start is in the Step-by Step Instructions on page Manual-4. In addition, read these few tips as a reminder of what you already know: USE MORE THAN ONE TEST MICROPHONE LOCATION. Speaker dispersion characteristics vary greatly, from beamy highs to boomy bass bins. [. . . ] If the held peak value is greater than +12 dB on the VU scale, the 9 dB CREST FACTOR +12 dB LEDs stay illuminated. In this case, the Input gain can be decreased until the peak value is not "stuck" at +12 dB. For a calibrated peak measurement, the input gain can be set to minimum which sets the 0 dB mark on the VU scale to +16 dBu. Example: With the GAIN set to +4 dBu, the display shows a nominal signal with a 9 dB crest factor. The Peak Hold function is enabled or disabled by pressing the NORMAL button while in VU mode. +3 -5 +6 +9 +12 0 SCALE VU SPL 1 120 100 80 WEIGHT METER PINK 3 NORMAL 6 dB dB A C RTA NOISE 2. 5k 3. 15k 4k 5k 6. 3k 8k 10k 12. 5k 16k 20k II. Select the METER mode by pressing the METER/RTA button so the METER LED illuminates. Select the desired A- or C-weighting by pressing the WEIGHT button (see WEIGHTING FILTERS, next page). Read the SPL level from the display using the SPL scale (second row from the top). Example: Reading the middle row of green LEDS from left to right, the right-most illuminated LED corresponds to -7 dB, the 100 dB LED is illuminated, and A-weighting was selected (indicated by the A LED), the A-weighted SPL is 93 dBA. +3 -5 +6 +9 +12 0 SCALE VU SPL METER PINK 1 120 100 80 WEIGHT 3 NORMAL 6 dB 2. 5k 3. 15k 4k 5k 6. 3k 8k 10k 12. 5k 16k 20k dB A C RTA NOISE +0 -10 -20 dBr -30 -40 -50 -60 20 +0 -10 -20 dBr -30 -40 -50 -60 20 RTA Scales >+2 dB +1-2 dB ±1 dB ­1-2 dB 50 100 200 500 Hz 1k 2k 5k 10k 20k ±1 dB 50 100 200 500 Hz 1k 2k 5k 10k 20k <­2 dB SPL mode A-Weighting Curve SPL mode C-Weighting Curve >+6 dB +3-6 dB ±3 dB ­3-6 dB <­6 dB >+12 dB +6-12 dB ±6 dB ­6-12 dB <­12 dB III. Select the RTA mode by pressing the METER/RTA button so the RTA LED illuminates. Operates on the Input selected by the SOURCE switch: CAL MIC, LINE IN, or AUX MIC. Note: When LINE IN is selected, the RTA operates on the mono sum of the Left and Right Inputs. Select the scale by pressing the SCALE button, which sets the display in dB relative to the center row. Set the desired SCALE and adjust the GAIN control for a centered display. ThisjustgetsyouintoRTAmode. Thefollowingsectionsdescribethewholeenchilada. ±3 dB ±6 dB Manual- Alignment Instructions Since the RA 30 features a unique form of realtime analyzer, we highly recommend that you read this section before performing an alignment with pink noise. If you've never used an analyzer before, use these instructions on your first occasion. WEIGHTING FILTERS Used in SPL mode, the filter "weights" or gives more attention to certain frequency bands than others. Weighting filters are a special type of band-limiting filters designed to compliment the way we hear. frequency response is not flat, it is argued, we should not try to correlate flat frequency vs. Typically start with 6 dB SCALE and fine tune as you work down through 3 dB and then in some instances 1 dB. If the display is too "jumpy, " then the larger scales work better. MICROPHONE PLACEMENT If you are using the analyzer to measure response from a single predetermined location or "sweet spot, " then the mic naturally goes right there for testing. For larger audience areas, perform the pink noise test with at least two different test microphone locations for each separate channel of EQ. [. . . ] Feedback induced by specific stage mic/monitor speaker coupling can also be attenuated by leaving the stage mic turned up and running up the pink noise level through the monitor speaker until feedback occurs. Attenuate each feedback frequency, as indicated by the analyzer display, until the mic/monitor combination feeds back at two or more frequencies simultaneously. Usually the final EQ setting will be a compromise between a good monitor sound that doesn't get as loud, or a not-so-good monitor sound that gets louder before feedback. Place the Rane microphone at eye level of the performer and about six inches off to one side of the stage microphone, in line of sight to the monitor speaker. [. . . ]