Sep 1, 1998 - dbx DDP. Exclusive: dbx moves into digital processing. With 12 EQ types per hand, dynamics. Including Gun Club, Flesh for Lulu.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUThe 1U, rackmountable DDP offers a plethora of processing algorithms, including compression, limiting, expansion/gating, de-essing, and 3-band parametric EQ. Both dual-mono and stereo-linked operation are supported. The rear panel offers both XLR and 11/44-inch TRS connectors for balanced analog I/O.
The digital I/O option adds both AES/EBU and S/PDIF I/O to the rear panel. But there are no word clock connections, so multitracking with more than one unit in the digital domain is not feasible. Analog and digital outputs are always hot, but you must switch between analog and digital inputs. MIDI In and Out/Thru connectors facilitate MIDI Program Changes, parameter control and bulk dumps/loads. The AC cord is detachable. The front panel sports 16 buttons for accessing the different algorithm chains, parameters and utilities (plus a bypass button for the digital processing), and a data wheel for programming.
A generously sized LCD screen shows a wealth of info, including the program number, chain configuration of processing blocks, parameter values, digital I/O and gain reduction metering, stereo link status, threshold indicators for each processor in the chain (nice!), and a graphical representation of your current dynamics or EQ setup. Four wide-ranging analog I/O gain knobs accommodate both +4 and -10dB line levels without a sensitivity switch. As we'll soon see, this is not necessarily a good thing. The knobs are detented, allowing repeatable settings. The two eight-segment meters above the gain pots can be independently switched to show either analog input or output levels for each channel. Digital input level (-12 to +12dB range) is set via the Utilities menu. There is no dedicated control over digital output levels.
But, you get simultaneous temporary peak-hold and average metering in the digital domain. The sync source may be set for internal crystal, AES/EBU or S/PDIF, and the sampling frequency to either 48 or 44.1 kHz. I'M IN CHAINSThe learning curve for the DDP is much steeper than it needs to be, due to an applications-driven design philosophy geared toward semipro users. There are 50 factory programs, along with 50 RAM slots for user programs. A program consists of separate (or linked) left- and right-channel 'setups' such as the factory Bright Snare and Low Strings that suggest predetermined EQ and dynamics settings for specific applications (as if that's possible). Many of these set-ups use the same algorithm chains and differ only in their parameter values.
When you save a program, you're only storing the algorithm chain configuration and not any parameter values-you must also save a 'setup' in order to store parameter values.