Heritage Audio 457623 Successor User Guide

: June 6, 2024
: Heritage Audio

Table of Contents

Heritage Audio 457623 Successor
INSTALLING THE SUCCESSOR COMPRESSOR
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
CONNECTION FEATURES
GETTING STARTED WITH THE UNIT
AN APPROACH TO USING THE SUCCESSOR
LIST OF CONTROLS
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
LIMITED 2 YEAR WARRANTY
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

Heritage Audio 457623 Successor

Heritage Audio 457623 Successor PRO

INSTALLING THE SUCCESSOR COMPRESSOR

Thanks for purchasing the HA SUCCESSOR STEREO COMPRESSOR. Please make sure the following items are in the box when you open it.

This manual.
HA SUCCESSOR main unit.
Power Supply labelled HA-PSU03.
IEC Cable.

Depending on your system requirements, you will need several XLR and MONO jack cables to hook up your system. Please check your input sources and output destinations and purchase the correct cables. The power supply is of the auto switching type so it works worldwide without adjusting anything. In case your country uses a different mains cable other than the one provided in the box, just get the correct one and you are done. Basic audio connections are just balanced left and right input and output connections by means of XLR. In case you want to make use of the external sidechain facilities, additional MONO Jack cables are needed as explained below: If you want to be able to trigger the Successor detector with an external stereo signal, a pair of MONO jacks is needed. If, in addition to this, you want to be able to further externally process the internal detector signal and return it into the unit, another additional pair of MONO jacks is needed. In case you have TRS JACKS instead of MONO (TS) ones, those are compatible as well, but keep in mind that the signals are unbalanced. The HA SUCCESSOR is able to accept input levels in excess of those that any interface can provide, so the chance that its input is overloaded is rare. However, it is able to provide output levels in excess of those that most interfaces can accept, so please keep this in mind.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Heritage Audio SUCCESSOR STEREO COMPRESSOR is a professional diode bridge- based dynamics processor is a convenient 1 RU format. It features transformer balanced inputs and outputs, and the outputs are driven by means of 73 type Class A amplifiers. Unlike vintage diode bridge designs, the HA SUCCESSOR has a range of attack and release times that goes from ultra-fast, FET like values, to very slow, VCA like gentle timings, making this unit arguably the most versatile bus compressor up to date. To make things even more versatile, a complex sidechain filter has been implemented, departing for the traditional high pass one. A blend circuit with ON/OFF function and an external sidechain accessible from the front panel rounds the pack and makes this machine the new Swiss knife in stereo dynamic processing, both in the pro and semi pro studios.

CONNECTION FEATURES

Heritage Audio 457623 Successor 1

The HA SUCCESSOR has the following connections:

INPUT L: Transformer balanced, accessible on an XLR connector.
INPUT R: Exactly as Input L.
OUPUT L: Transformer balanced, 73 type class A amp driven, accessible on an XLR connector.
OUTPUT R: Exactly as Output L
SIDECHAIN SEND L: Unbalanced at unity gain, able to drive up to 2Kohms. Allows to externally process the control signal L.
SIDECHAIN SEND R: Exactly as SIDECHAIN SEND L.
SIDECHAIN RETURN L: This unbalanced input allows to use an external control signal or return the processed internal sidechain to the detector L. This return precedes the internal filter, so it can be used even if an external sidechain signal is preferred.
SIDECHAIN RETURN R: Exactly as SIDECHAIN RETURN L.
POWER: Connects the external power supply by means of a 5 pin XLR.

GETTING STARTED WITH THE UNIT

Once you have made the right connections for your application, please POWER ON your unit and DEPRESS DYNAMICS IN to make sure the compressor is not activated. Audio should pass uncompressed and Meter´s light should be OFF. Turn EXT Sidechain push button OFF, as well as BLEND OFF. To start with, a slow attack and an AUTO release setting are good options. Sidechain filter OFF is too. Turn Threshold to maximum and press DYNAMICS IN. Set RATIO to 2:1. Fun begins. Meter´s light should turn ON to advise that dynamics are working. Turn Threshold control counter clock wise until you get the desired amount of compression. Recover lost gain with the gain makeup control and you´re done!

AN APPROACH TO USING THE SUCCESSOR

Using the HA SUCCESSOR in the manner explained above will give you instant gratification, however the unit is way more powerful. Playing around with ATTACK and RELEASE will change the sound A LOT. Very fast attack and releases will eat up transients and may make your sounds less punchy but more detailed at the same time. BLEND Control can help you restore punchiness to your sounds. The best way to learn is experiment! CAUTION : Very Fast attack and release times along with heavy amounts of compression may turn your music unusable due to the unit self-oscillating. This depends on the program and its frequency content. Any artifacts caused by excess of compression at fast timings are not a sign of a defective unit, but a sign of misuse (or intentional creativity!). The sidechain filter is another control that can have dramatic results in your music. High Pass filter at 80Hz makes bass heavy sounds such as kick drum not to dominate the compression. 160Hz does so with Kick and Snare. 800 Hz boost allows to moderate mixes with too much lo mid content on them (such is the case when snare drum is too loud in the mix or a honky vocal is dominating). 3Khz boost does so with too loud vocals or fuzzy guitars. 5Khz lo pass allow you to almost de-ess the mix when cymbals are too loud or similar. Again, the best way is experimenting!!

LIST OF CONTROLS

The list of controls, from left to right, is as follows:

GAIN REDUCTION METER: Measures gain reduction in dB. It is illuminated when Dynamics IN button is pressed.
ADJ. METER: (not a user control) Allows for calibrating the meter. DO NOT TOUCH.
DYNAMICS IN button: Turns dynamic processor ON or OFF. It´s worth noting that when it is OFF, signal is passing through all the circuitry so it benefits from the sound of the transformers and class A 73 type amplifiers even if no compression is desired.
THRESHOLD: With an extended range from +20dBu (all clockwise) to – 20dBu (all counterclockwise) on a stepped precision potentiometer.
RATIO: From a very gentle 1.5:1 to a full LIMIT function. On a 6-position rotary switch.
ATTACK: On a 6-position rotary switch. From ultra-fast 50 microseconds to very gentle 20 milliseconds and everything in between.
RELEASE: On a 6-position rotary switch. From ultra-fast 25 milliseconds to 0.4 seconds and 2 automatic release times (fast on peaks, slow on sustained program).
SIDECHAIN FILTER: OFF, 80 and 160 Hz high pass, 800 Hz and 3Khz bell type boost and 5Khz low pass. These allow for unprecedented flexible tweaking of your compression. Implemented on a 6-position rotary switch.
GAIN MAKEUP: Allows for restoring the gain loss in 2dB steps, on a 6-position rotary switch.
BLEND ON button: Activates the BLEND potentiometer, which means that if BLEND is OFF, the potentiometer is disengaged and signal is all WET.
BLEND % : From 100% DRY (compression bypassed all counterclockwise) to 100% WET (DRY signal bypassed all clockwise) and everything in between (50-50 at 12 o´clock). On a stepped precision potentiometer.
EXT. SIDECHAIN button: Takes the detector signal from the Sidechain return jack on the back of the unit.
POWER: Turns power ON.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Maximum input level: Over +22 dBu
Maximum output level: Over +25.5 dBu into 600 ohms.
Self Noise: Less than -75dBu
THD+N (50Hz- 20Khz): DYNAMIC IN not engaged, less than 0.07% at
20dBu.
Frequency response: +- 0.5dB, 15Hz- 30Khz.
Input impedance: 10Kohms, transformer balanced and floating.
Output impedance: Less than 75 ohms, transformer balanced and floating, Class A driven.

LIMITED 2 YEAR WARRANTY

Heritage Audio HA SUCCESSOR is warranted by Heritage Audio SL to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for the period of 2 years to the original purchaser. In the event of such defects, the product will be repaired without charge or, at our option, replaced with a new one if delivered to Heritage Audio prepaid, together with a copy of the sales slip or other proof of purchase date. The warranty excludes problems due to normal wear, abuse, shipping damage or failure to use the product in accordance with the specifications. Heritage Audio shall not be liable for damages based upon inconvenience, loss of use of the product, loss of time, interrupted operation or commercial loss or any other damages, whether incidental, consequential or otherwise. This warranty is not transferable. Heritage Audio and the Heritage Audio “H” logos are registered Trademarks owned and/or licensed by Heritage Audio.