This item runs exclusively on an operating voltage of 230 V and therefore requires a voltage transformer to run in your country of United States.
Microphone processor
- Studio / Live microphone preamp
- 48V Phantom power, de-esser, enhancer, compressor and expander gate
- Design: 19", 1U
Channel strip at an unbeatable price
The dbx 286s is a full-featured channel strip that gives you a wide range of signal processing options. In addition to an input section for microphone and line signals, four other processors including a compressor and de-esser are available, which can be used individually and in different combinations. On the rear panel, the 286s offers an XLR microphone input and a line input and output plus an insert jack, which is located in the signal chain between the preamp and compressor. The dbx 286s also features several LED meters and status LEDs for important parameters such as gain reduction, clipping, and level. Thanks to its affordable price, the dbx 286s can be recommended for beginners in particular.
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A five-in-one unit
The input section features a mic preamp with 60dB of gain, 48V phantom power, and an 80Hz high-pass filter. Next in the signal chain is the patented OverEasy® compressor with drive and density as well as a fixed 4:1 ratio. The attack and release parameters vary depending on the level. A de-esser section with adjustable frequency range and threshold is located at the end. The subsequent enhancer section comes with independent controls for bass and treble. As the LF enhancer boosts at 80Hz and cuts at 250Hz using a Bell EQ, the HF enhancer works with a level-dependent shelving filter, whereby both the amplitude and the input frequency are controlled. The final processor is a noise gate with controls for attack and threshold. At the end of the chain, the level can be lowered by 30dB or raised by 10dB via an output control.
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Low-budget tip for beginners
With the dbx 286s, you get a lot of analogue processing options at an incredible price. Although the processors are limited to two adjustable parameters each, they deliver more than merely satisfactory results thanks to their preset parameters, some of which are level-dependent. This kind of easy-to-use control is especially useful for beginners who want to produce a decent sound in a short period of time without a lot of fuss. So if you don't have the budget for devices from SSL & Co. but still want to work "outside the box" with 19" hardware, you will have a lot of fun with the dbx 286s.
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About dbx
dbx was founded in 1971 by David E. Blackmer and is now part of Harman Industries. Headquartered in the US state of Utah, it has always been involved in the development of high-quality audio products. The company gained worldwide fame with the dbx noise reduction system of the same name, the aim of which was to increase the dynamics of professional tape recorders in studios and that came onto the market as a competitor to Dolby A in the early 1970s. Introduced in the late 1970s, the dbx 160 VCA compressor represents another milestone in the company's history and remains a popular classic to this day. Today, various top-class signal processors in different formats are included in the dbx range.
Multiple combinations
The dbx 286s combines five essential tools in one unit, which can be used either all together, in different combinations, or individually for recording as well as for mixdowns. If you want to skip a processing step, the rotary knobs of the respective section have to be set to the corresponding position. In this way, for example, the compressor can be used for compression while the HF enhancer provides freshness, without any other editing of the signal. There is also the option to bypass the entire processing stage in order to use the dbx 286s as a pure microphone preamplifier with a switchable 80Hz high-pass filter.
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DBX Effect and Signal Processors at a glance
