XQP 545 Optical Disrupter

500 Series VPR Module

The XQP 545 Optical Disrupter provides compression that creates an

asymmetrical waveform. The result is smooth, even-order harmonic
The XQP 545 is a not so
distortion with no harsh clipping of the waveform.
distant cousin of the XQP
531 Optical De-esser.
The 531 is built with high-quality Analog Devices opamps in the signal
path. Both utilize dual VACTROL®
optoisolators for gain
reduction.

X4
XQP X4 switch
Increases sidechain sensitivity by 4
IN Green LED indicates X4
IN switch
Silently activates disruption
Yellow LED indicates IN
DISRUPTION
16 20 24
12 28
8 32 DISRUPTION potentiometer
Adjusts the amount of disruption
4 36
Red LED lights with disrupting action
0 40

MAKEUP
16 20 24
12 28
8 32 MAKEUP potentiometer
Allows restoration of gain lost to
4 36
compression
0 40
OPTICAL SPECIFICATIONS
545 DISRUPTER
Input impedance: 43KΩ balanced
Output impdedance: 50Ω balanced
Frequency response: 4Hz - 55KHz (-3dB)
Max. output level: 22dBu
THD in bypass: <0.002% @ 1KHz
Noise: -80dBm, unweighted
Attack time: 10msec.
Release time: 18msec.
Max gain reduction: <20dB
XQP Current requirement: 170mA @ ±16VDC

610 N. 14th Street 580-231-1941

Enid, OK 73701 www.xqpaudio.com
 XQP
IC1: SSM2141 IC5: LF351
IC2: OP37 CR1: 1N4004
545 Optical Disrupter
Version 1.9 9/4/10
XQP
IC3: SSM2142 AOI1: VTL5C1
IC4: LF351 AOI2: VTL5C1 © 2010 XQP
C15
330pF

R6
1KΩ

2 C18 R7
10µF 4.75KΩ
6
IC4 In
3 4
S2
7 C16 2
0.12µF Disruption
6
NC P1 IC5
C17 10KΩB 3 4
0.12µF 7 C19
0.12µF
In
LED2 C20
0.12µF
NC

R8 R12
1KΩ 75Ω

X4
LED1

R9
1KΩ

R5
750Ω

X4
S1

NC

C7
68pF
R13 R14 R10 R11
475Ω 475Ω 348Ω 10KΩ
R4
33.2KΩ
C3 C12
Reduction 10µF NP
3.3µF LED3
2 1 R1
- In 8 2
5 10KΩ C14
6
C4
3.3µF
IC1 6
3.3µF
4
7
8
3 4 IC2 2 + Out
+ In 10 7 C5 AOI1 AOI2 3 4
0.12µF 7 C8 IC3
Makeup 0.12µF 3 1
R2 4 - Out
C6 P2 C13
10KΩA 10Ω R3 6 5 2
0.12µF 4.75KΩ C9 C10 10µF NP
0.12µF 0.12µF

C11
0.12µF
CR1
+V 12

-V 14
CR2 C1 C2
10µF 10µF

Common 13 5 Common

Chassis 1
 XQP 545 Owner’s Guide

INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing the XQP 545 Optical Disrupter. The 545 is compressor
X4 that creates an asymmetrical waveform in the low frequencies. There is no clipping,
XQP because an amplifier stage is not being overdriven. Instead, the LEDs in the dual
VACTROL® optoisolators are driven by an AC signal which modulates the audio
during gain reduction in a manner that producs even-order harmonic distortion.
IN

The 545 is a VPR module (hopefully you are already aware of this) designed to fit into
the common 500 series racks orginated by API. It follows the standard API pinout.
DISRUPTION
16 20 24 VPR Alliance approval pending as of 7/30/10.
12 28
OPERATION
8 32 1. Chassis
The 545 is simple to use. The amount of gain reduction is
4 36 2. + Output adjusted with the DISRUPTION control in conjunction with
0 40 3. the X4 switch. The X4 switch multiplies the sensitivity of the
4. - Output sidechain by a factor of four, allowing the 545 to be used
MAKEUP
5. Audio Common effectively on low level signals. Low frequencies are affected
6. most significantly, with the effect becoming increasingly less
16 20 24
12 28
7. active as frequency rises. Because the resulting distortion is
8. - Input the desired effect, a traditional gain reduction meter is not
8 32
9. included. Your ears should be the judge to determine the
4 36 10. + Input amount of effect to apply. Compression can be viewed as a
0 40 byproduct of distortion as in traditional cases. The red LED
11.
OPTICAL lights up when gain reduction is taking place in the same
545 DISRUPTER 12. + 16 VDC
13. Power Ground manner as the LEDs in the optoisolators, providing an
indicator that gain reduction is taking place.
14. - 16 VDC
15.
The MAKEUP control is an output level control to allow the
user to restore level lost in gain reduction. As with the
SPECIFICATIONS DISRUPTION control, the numbers 0 - 40 do not refer to dB
or anything like that. They are simply a divisible set of
numbers which make recall of settings easy.
Input impedance: 43KΩ balanced
Output impedance: 50Ω balanced
Frequency response: 4Hz - 30KHz (-3dB) Finally, the IN switch activates the sidechain. Disengaging
Max. output level: 22dBu this switch silently bypasses the unit, although the audio path
THD in bypass: <0.002% @ 1KHz remains active.
Noise: -80dBm, unweighted
Attack time: 10msec.
Release time: 18msec. WARRANTY
Max gain reduction: <20dB The XQP 545 Optical Disrupter is warranted for ten years
Current requirement: 170mA @ ±16VDC from the date of purchase. You do not have to fill out the
enclosed warranty card, but we would appreciate the info.
We think you will find the 545 a very You may also register your 545 online at www.xqpaudio.com.
unique tool for adding creative distortion
to a sound source. Subtle amounts can be
used to create a slight thickening, ala tape XQP
saturation. But quite noticable distortion 610 N. 14th Street
can be achieved on most sources Enid, OK 73701
containing information in the low 580-231-1941
frequency region. www.xqpaudio.com XQP 1.4