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Re: A Second Order Elliptic Equalizer for Vinyl Mastering

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 4:00 pm
by mediatechnology
I've finally gotten back to the Second Order Elliptic Equalizer and documented the prototype.
I haven't done the layout yet.

The design will have optional on-board Mid Side encoding/decoding which can be jumper-bypassed if the signal is already MS encoded.

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A Second-Order 12 dB/Octave Elliptic Equalizer with Allpass Delay Correction in Mid.

Larger image: https://www.proaudiodesignforum.com/ima ... heet_1.png

Circuit Description

IC1 and IC2 provide balanced inputs for the MS encoder formed by IC3 and IC4.
J1 and J2 bypass the MS encoder to accept external single-ended inputs which are already MS encoded.
The external MS configuration is useful when the EE is incorporated into an existing MS PC board at insert point F: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=262#p2918
Using an existing MS board provides the advantage of having the existing MS inserts ahead of the EE and one less MS encode/decode.
The EE is bypassed "hardwire" by RY1 and RY2.

Side High Pass Filter

Op amps A, B and C provide a single-order or second order high pass filter for the Side channel.
RY3 switches the filter from 12 dB/octave to 6 dB/octave.

Op amp A is a unity-gain voltage follower to buffer the filter input.
Maintaining precise unity gain within the filter passband is important to maintaining separation.
Very small gain errors cause very large changes in crosstalk above the EE frequency.

R1 provides bias for op amp A.
R2, and similar resistors R4, R6 and R14 limit inverting input current for NPN op amps such as the NE5532 or LME49720 that have back-to-back input protection diodes.
With some op amp types these may be reduced to 0Ω and with others having them in place can also provide some distortion cancellation.
With the NE5532, NJM2114 or LME40720 they are essential to prevent latch-up.

Op amp B is the first stage high pass filter for the Side channel.
For second-order EE filtering the HP network is provided by C3 and R3 plus R10 and R11.
When the EE is switched to single-order, the parallel combination of C1||C2 in series with C3 shift the cutoff frequency.

Op amp C and associated components provide a second, cascaded first order stage.

Side Filter Tuning

The filter frequencies can be tuned with either on-board relays or an external 4 pole switch.
In most cases three EE frequencies selected by relays is sufficient.
Four pole switches can be very costly: A 24 position 4 pole Goldpoint/Elma V24C, unwired, is about $191 US. http://goldpt.com/prices.html
Twelve position switches are similarly-priced. Six positions drops the cost to about $122 US.

Rather than use simpler single op amp second-order filters that would have unequal resistor values on each switch deck, a decision was made to use simpler cascaded single-order filters with all four poles of the switch having identical resistor values.

Two simple 6 dB/octave filters are cascaded to form a 12 dB/octave filter.

The EE frequency of the second-order filter is 1.56 times the cutoff of each single-order section.
Each stage of the 75 Hz filter will have an Fc that is 48 Hz. The 150 Hz Fc is 96 Hz; 300 Hz Fc is 192 Hz.

R3 and R5 limit the maximum frequency.
RY4 and RY5 switch the filter frequency by adding R10-R13 to step the frequency from 75 Hz to 150 and 300 Hz.

When stepped switches are used R10-13and RY4-7 are not installed.
Headers S1A-S1D provide a switch tie point.
DC bias current must be maintained through the off-board resistor string.
The switch common should ground the unused resistors to change tuning.

When the Side filter is set to 6 dB/octave the parallel combination of C1 and C2 are switched in by RY3.
When C1 and C2 in parallel are in series with C3, the effective capacitance is 0.14 uF.
The shifts the cutoff frequency to the actual 75, 150 or 300 Hz.

Mid Allpass Correction Filter

An allpass filter is used to match the phase response of the Side filter to achieve true second-order response of the crosstalk curve and eliminate uncorrected response peaking. (See earlier posts for various response curves.)

Op amp E is a unity gain voltage follower similar to op amp A that is used to buffer the allpass filter input.

Op amps F and G are allpass filter sections tuned identically to the second-order Side filter.
To match the phase response of the Side filter C8+C9 (or C10+C11) must be twice the value of C3 and C4.

RY6 and RY7 switch the allpass filter frequency using an identical resistive and relay network to the Side HP filter.

MS Decoder

The filtered outputs, which are in MS format, are decoded by IC8 and IC9.
MS decoded produces 2L and 2R outputs.
Op amps D and H attenuate the MS decoder to provide unity gain operation.

THAT1646 line drivers buffer the decoded L and R outputs.
Note that the 1646 output polarities are redefined to correct the inversion of op amps D and H.

When the MS decoder is not needed, J3 and J4 can be jumpered to bypass it.
When J3/J4 are used to link the filter outputs to an external MS decoder the THAT1646s must not be installed.

Bypass

RY1 bypasses the Side filter.
RY2 bypasses the Mid allpass filter.
RY3 switches the Side filter output from the second-order output to the first filter stage.

Relay Coil Wiring

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A Second-Order 12 dB/Octave Elliptic Equalizer with Allpass Delay Correction in Mid. Sheet 2. Relay Coil Wiring.

Larger image: https://www.proaudiodesignforum.com/ima ... heet_2.png

I've tried to design a lot of flexibility into the EE's relay switching to permit a lot of front panel options and the ability to optionally switch it to 6 dB/octave.

If the Elliptic EQ is only going to be used at 12 dB/octave RY3 does not need to be installed and can be jumpered in the normally-closed position.
C1 and C2 can also be eliminated.

J5 provides a bypass option when the frequency relays are used.

When in the "A" position, connecting any Frequency control line to relay common will automatically engage the EE filter.
This configuration permits a single pole 3 or 4 position switch to act as both frequency select and bypass.
When a three position switch is used a bypass switch for A/B comparison can be in series with the common.
A four position switch could also be used to provide Off-75-150-300 Hz positions.

When J5 is in the "B" position a separate bypass pushbutton can be used to activate the EE.
If an external rotary switch is used to set the EE frequency J5 should be in the "B" position.

The second block of switch connections, labeled "Sum" and "Difference" are optional SPDT switch connections to alter filter slopes to 6 dB/octave.
If these are not used J6 and J7 are installed.

If a stepped frequency switch is used RY4-RY7 are not installed.

Relay Power and Indicators

The EE will have LED outputs to show actuation of RY1, RY2 and RY3.
Resistors R30-R33 provide current limiting.

When the EE is configured to operate at only 12 dB/octave only the "EE In" LED is used.

If switches are installed to permit 6 dB/octave operation the Difference and Sum LED outputs may be useful.

Relay power for the EE is galvanically-isolated on the board from audio ground.
External coil power may be unregulated or regulated.
The on-board 24V regulator has a separate input connection.
Jumper J8 connects the 7824 regulator to the Relay Supply connection.
When the on-board regulator is used the relay supply connections become 24V outputs.

Re: A Second Order Elliptic Equalizer for Vinyl Mastering

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 8:46 pm
by mediatechnology
I updated the previous post to add the power distribution and relay coil wiring.

A conventional EE has identical crossover slopes in both directions.
The second-order Elliptic EQ has optional switchable filter slopes of either 6 or 12 dB/octave.

I labeled the switching to show the switchable filter slopes as "Sum" and "Difference."

Here's why:

"Sum" is the slope of the filter as frequency decreases and the signal folds down from stereo to mono.
Sum is the "bass to mono" "vertical crossover" slope.

"Difference" is the slope of the filter as frequency increases and the signal expands from mono to stereo.
Difference is the "midrange to stereo" or crosstalk slope.

As shown in the drawing, the slope of "Sum" can be made switchable from 12 dB/octave to 6 dB/octave.
If the slope of "Sum" is 12 dB/octave, the Difference slope can be switched from 12 dB/octave to 6 dB/octave.

J6 and J7 bypass the slope switches for people wanting only 12 dB/octave response.

Whats not intuitive is that when the allpass filter is inserted into Mid, it's the "difference" or stereo crosstalk slope that changes.
Conversely, when a switchable 6 or 12 dB/octave highpass filter is inserted into Side, the result is that the " sum" or mono slope changes.

That's why Sum switches control Side via RY1 and RY3 and Difference controls Mid with RY2.
Confusing? I thought so.

Re: A Second Order Elliptic Equalizer for Vinyl Mastering

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 11:59 am
by mediatechnology
I just ordered the first pre-production run of Second-Order Elliptic EQ boards.

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Second Order Elliptic Equalizer Layout

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Second Order Elliptic Equalizer Layout

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A Second-Order 12 dB/Octave Elliptic Equalizer with Allpass Delay Correction in Mid.

Larger image: https://www.proaudiodesignforum.com/ima ... heet_1.png

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A Second-Order 12 dB/Octave Elliptic Equalizer with Allpass Delay Correction in Mid. Sheet 2. Relay Coil Wiring.

Larger image: https://www.proaudiodesignforum.com/ima ... heet_2.png

Re: A Second Order Elliptic Equalizer for Vinyl Mastering

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 11:16 am
by mediatechnology
Got 4 boards in a day early.
Provided they pass test three are already sold.

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Second-Order Elliptic EQ PC Board

Re: A Second Order Elliptic Equalizer for Vinyl Mastering

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 9:28 pm
by mediatechnology
The EEQ boards pass test...

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Second-order Elliptic Equalizer First Build

Crosstalk Curves for 75, 150, 300 Hz

Left-only input.
Top trace is left out.
Bottom traces are the right channel output with the EEQ switched from 75 to 150 and 300 Hz.

Image
Second-order Elliptic Equalizer Crosstalk Curves for 75, 150, 300 Hz


Comparison of 6 dB vs. 12 dB Per Octave Lateral Versus Vertical Response

Left-only input. EEQ set at 300 Hz.
Top trace is lateral (mono) response.
Bottom traces are the vertical output with the EEQ plotted at 6 and 12 dB per octave.

Image
Second-order Elliptic Equalizer Lateral vs Vertical at 300 Hz with 6 or 12 dB per octave slope


Comparison of 6 dB vs. 12 dB Per Octave Crosstalk Response

Left-only input. EE set at 300 Hz.
Top trace is left out.
Bottom traces are the right channel crosstalk with the EEQ plotted at 6 dB and 12 dB per octave

Image
Second-order Elliptic Equalizer Crosstalk Comparison at 300 Hz with 6 or 12 dB per octave slope

I'll be posting some sound files soon.

Conclusions

1) The steeper highpass slope of the EEQ's second-order vertical response permits, for the same amount of filtering, a lower EEQ frequency to be used.

2) The steeper low pass response of the second-order crosstalk curve improves midrange separation and imaging.

3) Factors 1 and 2 in conjunction lower the crosstalk significantly to maintain midrange stereo imaging.

4) The summed output is mono compatible.

Applications

The applications for the EEQ include vinyl cutting, "bass focus" to improve low-end on headphones, earbuds and small speakers, subwoofer steering and vinyl playback warp reduction.

Re: A Second Order Elliptic Equalizer for Vinyl Mastering

Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 12:59 pm
by mediatechnology
I updated the Elliptical Equalizer comparison table I had posted in an MS thread. (viewtopic.php?f=6&t=622&p=7414#p7414)

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Elliptical Equalizer Comparison. Neumann EE-70/EE-77, VAB-84, LR±S Width, MS Mid Side, MS Mid Side with Correction Allpass.

Re: A Second Order Elliptic Equalizer for Vinyl Mastering

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 5:46 pm
by mediatechnology
For those interested in a PC board for the Elliptic EQ send me a PM.

I don't currently have inventory of bare boards but have pre-orders for a couple and need commitments for a few more before I submit an order for more.

EEQ-12 Elliptic Equalizer: https://www.ka-electronics.com/kaelectr ... tic_EQ.htm

Re: A Second Order Elliptic Equalizer for Vinyl Mastering

Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 2:42 pm
by AnalogJoe
Wayne, that looks like a nice EQ.

AFAIK, there is no such thing as a first order elliptic filter, meaning that the polynomials in the transfer function are never below 2nd degree in order to be an elliptic filter, however I think you are refering to the final roll off which can be 6dB per octave which corresponds to a first order roll-off.

As for the Douglas Self book, I disagree with him with what he calls Elliptic filters, he uses elliptic filters with 0dB passband ripple, that is not an elliptic filter, that is a Chebyshev Type II filter, in order to be an elliptic filter there must be ripple both in the pass and stop bands, large or small but there must be ripple. Actually, the elliptic filter can be considered the father of all filters, if you reduce the stop band ripple to zero you get Chebyshev Type I, if the pass band ripple is zero you get Chebyshev Type II, and if both the stop band and pass band ripple is zero you get Butterworth.

Re: A Second Order Elliptic Equalizer for Vinyl Mastering

Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 3:00 pm
by KMN
Wayne,

I've been playing with your circuits in LTspice. I believe I have come up with a good way to listen to the information removed. This may be useful for deciding whether the chosen filter roll off point is too low or too high based on musical contents presence within the stripped material or if no music is present maybe you could try a higher corner frequency.

It requires another filter of the time alignment type.....whatever you call that thing.

The idea is pass the encoded side channel information through both the high pass filter and the time alignment filter.... then...
- Subtract the high pass filtered side from the time aligned side for left ear noise component.
- Subtract the time aligned side from the high passed side to get the right ear noise component.

Stereo low frequency noise. The thing is, who can even hear warp frequencies? I think the biggest benefit will be listening to ensure there is little to no music present.

I think the above is correct but not 100% sure and wanted to run it past the forum.

Kevin

Re: A Second Order Elliptic Equalizer for Vinyl Mastering

Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 4:56 pm
by mediatechnology
What I do to listen to what is being mono'd by the EEQ is to feed the left input, dead patch the right channel input, mute the left channel output and monitor the right output.
Doing this allows me to hear the deliberately introduced LF crosstalk from L into R.

For warp removal I think there is a simple way to quantify what is being removed.
Sample the difference signal (vertical) pre-filter and the difference post-filter then null the two.

The difference signal pre and post-filter is available on the EEQ board.
Nulling the two requires an additional outboard THAT1240.

I have an EEQ on the bench right now awaiting final test - it would be easy to try it.