Format: Eurorack
Width: 6HP
Depth: mm
Current: 140mA @ + 12V, 40mA @ -12V
English Manual (pdf)
Xaoc Devices Minsk is a hybrid stereo image processor that combines digital and analog processing to provide advanced Mid / Side operations for stereo signal pairs.This unit can handle both the mid and side components individually, which affect the depth and breadth of the auditory image.The stereo width can be controlled with both the knob and CV, and the existing stereo image can be emphasized. It also has a two-dimensional effect that allows you to create a pseudo-stereo image based on a stereo or monaural input source.
The principle of M / S processing is simple: the M signal is obtained by scaling the sum of the left and right signals, and the S signal is obtained by scaling the difference between them.Precision is required to accurately cancel components that are the same but out of phase.Interestingly, if you apply the same sum and difference to M and S, everything is undone.This will eventually allow you to return to LR. The M / S representation does not magically separate the centrally located sound from the off-axis sound. The S signal contains only the components of the audio signal that are out of phase on the left and right channels and are canceled when they become monaural.This mainly represents the part of the stereo signal that is distinguished from monaural audio.If the sound is extremely panned, that is, it is only present on either the left or right channel, it will be equally divided by 50% on the M channel and 50% on the S channel.By separating the Mid and Side information, this unit can apply effects such as dynamics processing and equalizing independently to the depth and width of the auditory image.In addition to these special effects, the important advantage of this unit is that the Mid and Side signals can be processed individually or in completely different ways to maintain the balance and symmetry of the entire image. You can do it.
Minsk offers two methods for adding depth to audio signals: emphasizing existing stereo pairs and creating a pseudo-stereo image from a mono signal patched to the LEFT/MONO input. DIMENSION A , based on the Haas effect , introduces a short, very slowly changing delay between the left and right channels. Such delay variations confuse the human auditory system, which relies on interaural time differences to identify sound sources within a stereo field. In practice, this translates into a subtle animation of a stereo image with constant movement. DIMENSION B is based on early reflections found in many reverb spaces. In recording techniques that capture an acoustic scene using multiple microphones, the perception of space largely depends on the presence or absence of wall reflections. This unit simulates this effect using an algorithmic reverb ER network, with the output mixed with the Side signal and the degree of space adjusted by the IMAGE control.
Removing off-axis low-end components is a process often required in record cutting, and this unit facilitates this process by applying a high-pass filter to the S component. The SIDE HPF switch has three settings: 300, 50, and OFF. At 300Hz, a 12dB/Oct filter slope is used, while the 50Hz setting employs a steeper 24dB/Oct slope. Note that this filter does not affect the M component, so unless the mix is particularly unusual, its impact on the tonal balance will be minimal.
The IMAGE knob and its associated CV input control the width of the stereo image by applying variable gain to both the M and S components. When there is no CV input and the knob is in the center position labeled MID+SIDE, this control has no effect on the signal. Turning the knob to the left decreases the amplitude of the S component, narrowing the perceived image towards mono. Turning the knob to the right of the center increases the amplitude of the S component while simultaneously decreasing the gain of the M component, maintaining the overall energy of the signal. This artificially widens the stereo image and creates space in the center of the image. When the knob is set to the maximum value labeled 2 SIDE, there is no M component, only the S component, and the phases of the L and R signals are completely out of sync. Such a signal is not suitable for mono playback and will result in an unpleasant sound in many PA systems, so this setting should be used with caution. When CV is patched to the IMAGE CV input, the IMAGE knob functions as an offset. When the IMAGE knob is in the center position, a bipolar ±5V signal is required for full-range modulation. Additionally, when the knob is set to the minimum value of MID, the S component changes beyond zero due to bipolar modulation, resulting in mirroring (LR inversion) of the stereo image.
If the final stereo output is tilted,POSITIONYou can manually adjust the left-right balance using the knob.For accuracy, the operating range is limited to + 2 / -12dB.
A stereo image indicator consisting of six LEDs arranged vertically, horizontally and diagonally plays an important role in identifying potential signal problems.For proper stereo signals, all 6 LEDs will be lit or flashing.If the horizontal LED pair remains dark, the important component of S is absentIt means that the signal is very narrow in mono / stereo image.If the two LEDs in the vertical direction are dark, it means that the channels are out of phase.Two diagonal yellow LEDs indicate the intensity of the final LR output (after symmetry adjustment).
In general, Eurorack equipment does not have enough headroom, which can cause clip distortion when mixing two high-amplitude signals. Minsk guarantees safety by performing the L / R to M / S conversion at 2/1 scaling, but be aware that the IMAGE control introduces up to twice the gain in the S component. is.This will cause distortion if the original L and / or R signal is out of phase by more than 2Vpp.On the other hand, the conversion from M / S to L / R does not scale.This part is a complete analog circuit and may clip if the M and S signals patched to each input exceed 2Vpp.Also, extreme symmetry correction may cause distortion due to additional gain.You can maintain audio quality by always paying attention to the amplitude of the input and output signals.
