Controls

Gap Threshold Level

Sets the program input level that triggers the device to start sampling the sense microphone input.

When the program input level is above the threshold, the sense microphone is ignored.

When the program input level falls below the threshold, the Now Sensing circuit becomes active.

Sense Delay Time

Sets the interval between the program material falling below the threshold level and the device sampling the input from the sense microphone.

When correctly set, this delay allows the acoustic signal level in the room to decay by about 10dB so that the program material is not detected by the sense microphone.

Sense RMS Time

Sets the sample rate for the RMS detector.

If this control is set to 1 second, the device will only use events that occur during a 1 second period to derive the calculated ambient level. The smaller the value, the more responsive the system will be to changes. In an industrial or public transportation environment, the time should be short (somewhere in the area of 2 seconds). In other applications, such as casinos and dining rooms, the time should be longer (around 30 seconds).

Ambient Threshold Level

Sets the input level from the sense microphone above which the device will increase the gain added to the program material, up to the maximum gain level.

Ratio

Sets the ratio of gain applied to the sense microphone input signal once it exceeds the ambient threshold level.

For instance, if the ambient level exceeds the ambient threshold level by 3 dB and the ratio control is set to 1.5 dB, the program material output level will increase by 4.5 dB.

Response Time

Sets the response time of the circuit once it exceeds the ambient threshold level.

A short response time will result in a signal that responds very quickly to changes in the ambient level in the room. A long response time will average the signal over a longer period of time, resulting in a slower, but smoother effect.

In most applications a short response time is not desirable.

Minimum Gain

Sets the minimum amount of amplification or attenuation to be applied to the output signal.

Maximum Gain

Sets the maximum amount of amplification or attenuation to be applied to the output signal.

Bypass

When activated, routes the input signal directly to the output channel without passing through the Gap Ambient Sensing Leveler device; however, unity gain is still applied to the output.

Now Sensing LED

Switches on when the ambient microphone sensing circuit is active.

Ambient Level Meter

Indicates the ambient sound level from the sense microphone input.

Gain Meter

Shows the amount of gain that is added to the output signal.

Note: This meter does not indicate unity if Bypass is pressed, although the actual gain applied does equal unity.