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Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Dennis A. Bohn 04/10/13 12:22 PM,This article is provided by Rane Corporation. Mainstream digital audio dates from the introduction of the compact disc in the early 1980s. Today two serial interfaces coexist: AES3 (aka AES/EBU) for professional use and S/PDIF for consumer products. Simple low-cost passive conversion between them is possible—even easy—but it is also filled with cautions. The old rule that direct connection between AES/EBU and S/PDIF equipment is bad practice is relaxed today with new receiver chips tolerant to either interface. With… View this story
Filed in: AV • Feature • Blog • Study Hall • AV • Digital • Interconnect • Networking • Signal -
Monday, November 26, 2012
Dennis A. Bohn 11/26/12 01:12 PM,This article is provided by Rane Corporation. Objectively comparing pro audio signal processing products is often impossible. Missing on too many data sheets are the conditions used to obtain the published data. Audio specifications come with conditions. Tests are not performed in a vacuum with random parameters. They are conducted using rigorous procedures and the conditions must be stated along with the test results. To understand the conditions, you must first understand the tests. This article introduces the classic… View this story
Filed in: AV • Feature • Blog • Study Hall • AV • Measurement • Processor • Signal • Sound Reinforcement -
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Dennis A. Bohn 11/15/12 07:48 PM,This article is provided by Rane Corporation. While selecting a power amplifier for a specific loudspeaker is often rather easy, selecting a preamp for a specific microphone is not. Terminology is the problem. At one end we find power amplifier and loudspeaker manufacturers speaking the same language, or at least using the same vocabulary. Power amps are rated in watts and ohms, while loudspeakers are rated in ohms with a maximum power handling capability stated in watts. Unfortunately, at… View this story
Filed in: Live Sound • Feature • Blog • Study Hall • Microphone • Signal • Sound Reinforcement • System -
Tuesday, November 06, 2012
Dennis A. Bohn 11/06/12 01:28 PM,This article is provided by Rane Corporation. The dynamic range of an audio passage is the ratio of the loudest signal to the quietest signal. For signal processors the magnitude of the power supply voltages restricts the maximum output signal and the noise floor determines the minimum output signal. Professional-grade signal processing equipment can output maximum levels of +26 dBu, with the best noise floors being down around -94 dBu. This gives a dynamic range of 120 dB—an impressive… View this story
Filed in: AV • Feature • Study Hall • Production • Audio • AV • Processor • Signal • Sound Reinforcement -
Monday, July 30, 2012
Dennis A. Bohn 07/30/12 11:45 AM,This article is provided by Rane Corporation. Constant-voltage is the common name given to a general practice begun in the late 1920s and early 1930s (becoming a U.S. standard in 1949) governing the interface between power amplifiers and loudspeakers used in distributed sound systems. Installations employing ceiling-mounted loudspeakers, such as offices, restaurants and schools are examples of distributed sound systems. Other examples include installations requiring long cable runs, such as stadiums, factories and convention centers. The need to do it… View this story
Filed in: AV • Feature • Poll • Amplifier • AV • Installation • Interconnect • Loudspeaker • Power • Signal -
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Dennis A. Bohn 05/31/12 03:48 PM,You may have heard it said that equalizers are nothing more than glorified tone controls. That’s pretty accurate and helps explain their usefulness and importance. Simply put, equalizers allow you to change the tonal balance of whatever you are controlling. You can increase (boost) or decrease (cut) on a band-by-band basis just the desired frequencies. Equalizers come in all different sizes and shapes, varying greatly in design and complexity. Select from a simple single-channel unit with 10 controls on 1-octave… View this story
Filed in: AV • Feature • Study Hall • AV • Consoles • Mixer • Processor • Signal -
Thursday, May 03, 2012
Dennis A. Bohn 05/03/12 06:24 PM,This article is provided by Rane Corporation. This is an installment in a multi-part series. Additional segments are available here. Noise Low noise and low voltage don’t like each other. Low voltage usually means portable, and portable always means low current to prolong battery life. You can design low noise and low voltage if you can be a current pig, but if you must have low noise, low voltage and low current—well, that’s difficult. Everything works against you. The… View this story
Filed in: AV • Feature • Poll • AV • Digital • Installation • Interconnect • Signal • Sound Reinforcement • Technician • Audio -
Friday, April 13, 2012
Dennis A. Bohn 04/13/12 01:34 PM,This article is provided by Rane Corporation. Wye-connectors (or “Y”-connectors, if you prefer) should never have been created. Anything that can be hooked-up wrong, will be. You-know-who said that, and she was right. A wye-connector used to split a signal into two lines is being used properly; a wye-connector used to mix two signals into one is being abused and may even damage the equipment involved. Here is the rule: Outputs are low impedance and must only be connected… View this story
Filed in: AV • Feature • Poll • Study Hall • Analog • AV • Digital • Installation • Interconnect • Signal • Sound Reinforcement • System • Technician • Audio -
Monday, April 09, 2012
Dennis A. Bohn 04/09/12 11:23 AM,This article is provided by Rane Corporation. Selecting the right preamplifier for a given microphone, or conversely, selecting the right mic for a given preamp, involves two major factors along with several minor ones. First, the two big ones: Input headroom. Do you have enough? Noise. What will the preamp add to your mic? You need to determine whether the mic, under worst-case conditions, is going to overload the preamp input stage, and also whether the preamp is going… View this story
Filed in: AV • Feature • Poll • Product • Study Hall • AV • Microphone • Processor • Audio -
Monday, April 02, 2012Dennis A. Bohn 04/02/12 03:33 PM,This article is provided by Rane Corporation. This is the first in a multi-part series. Additional segments are available here. We live in an interesting age full of mind-numbing technical advancements and funny contradictions. It’s ironic in this computer age with corporate predictors saying that low-voltage audio information appliances are the next big thing that a completely mechanical device consisting of a platform, a stick and two wheels was just as popular as one of the most sophisticated computers… View this story
Filed in: AV • Feature • Poll • AV • Digital • Installation • Interconnect • Signal • Sound Reinforcement • Technician • Audio
Articles Tagged Dennis Bohn
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