Dbx 386 Manuel D’Utilisation

®

Section 2

386

• Turn off all equipment before making any connections.

• Install the 386 in your rack with the provided rack screws. It is essential that when the 386

is being mounted in a rack mounting enclosure, the unit should be positioned with enough
room (at least one centimeter at the top and one centimeter at the bottom of the unit) to allow
proper ventilation.  The 386 should not be mounted above or below anything that generates
excessive heat.  Ambient temperatures should not exceed 113

0

F (45

0

C) when equipment is in

use.  Although the unit is shielded against radio frequency and electromagnetic interference,
extremely high fields of RF and EMI should be avoided where possible.

• Make audio connections via XLR, 1/4” TRS, or 1/4” TS plugs.

With the flexibility of the 386, various connection options are available.  For input con-
nection, use the XLR Microphone, 1/4” line or 1/4” instrument (front panel) inputs.  For
analog output connections, use either XLR or 1/4” Line output.  The use of more than
one connector at a time for the output section, could unbalance balanced lines, cause
phase cancellations, short a conductor to ground, or cause damage to other equipment
connected to the 386.

• Apply power to the 386.  Connect the AC power cord to the AC power receptacle on the back

of the unit. Route the AC power cord to a convenient power outlet away from audio lines.
The unit may be turned on and off from the rear panel power switch or from a master equip-
ment power switch.

1). Connect your mic cable to the Mic input of the 386  

NOTE: If you are using a mic with a separate power supply, such as a tube microphone, make

sure that you are not sending two sources of +48V phantom power to the mic. Use the
+48V from the mic’s power supply.  Use the +48V Phantom Power switch on the 386 for
all other microphones which require phantom power.

2). Set the front panel of the 386 to the desired settings, including phantom power, 20 dB pad,

phase, etc.  Connect the line output of the 386 to the console’s LINE INPUT, and ensure that
the console’s input selection switch is set to LINE, and the console’s gain control is set
appropriately low.  

3). Turn the 386’s DRIVE control to the minimum position.  Turn the OUTPUT LEVEL control

to the 12 o’clock position, and apply power to the 386. Make sure your console’s gain fader
is at the nominal level and begin to slowly increase the gain of the 386 using the DRIVE
control.  You should increase the gain until the mixing/recording device is operating at nom-
inal signal input level.