Neutrik Minilyzer ML1 Review
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There are also built-in filters so that the measurement window can be "weighted" (bandwidth restricted) to include what is relevant to the test. For example, the popular A-weighted filter (as per IEC 651) is often used because it reflects the ear’s sensitivity to noise. The other filter options are C-Message (IEC 468-4), HP22 (high pass @ 22Hz), HP60 (high Pass @ 60Hz), HP400 (High Pass @ 400Hz) and a Voice-band filter. These filters are available in the Level, THD+N and 3rd Octave modes.

NOTE: Searching the IEC on the web for specifications yielded nothing, their search and destroy mechanism is about as useful as Microsoft Help and they want money for documentation I couldn’t find. If you want an IEC clue, go to heading #6: Sweep.

Test	Notes	THD+N dBu / % @ "x" level	Signal-to-Noise	EIN = noise floor + gain
Minirator MR1: 1kHz	1	-78 / .013 @ +5.9 dBu -71.5 / .026 @ -16.1 dBu
GTC Tone Plug @ 98Hz		–26 / 4.663
GTC Tone Plug @ 1kHz		–32 / 2.389
Minilyzer ML1 dB			119	-98.5 dBu (noise floor)
GR @ 24dB gain (1kHz) GR @ 65dB gain (1kHz)	2	-78 / .013 @ +20 dBu -72 /.024 @ +20 dBu	107.5 dB 109.1 dB	91.3 + 24.2 = 115.5 dB 60.2 + 65.5 = 125.7 dB
Altec @ 24 dB gain (1kHz) Altec @ 65 dB gain (1kHz) Front-end overdrive (1kHz)	3	( a ) -60 / .09 @ 0 dBu ( b ) -51 / .28 @ 0 dBu ( c ) -30.6 / 2.96 @ 0dBu		79 + 24.2 = 103.2 dB 53.5 + 63.4 = 116.9 dB 2kHz@-31dB, 3.15kHz@-51dB
Panasonic SV-3700 DAT		-67 / .04	89 dB
Table-1: Measurements of preamps, oscillators and a DAT machine made with the Neutrik Minilyzer ML1. The oscillators — Neutrik’s Minirator MR1 as well as the GTC Tone Plug — were respectively reviewed in the xx and the yy issues of Mix. Notes: Using the Minirator’s built-in level control, two tests were purposely made at different levels NOT to reveal distortion but to show how output amp noise contributes to the "+N" of THD+N. Using an external attenuator can minimize oscillator amplifier noise. Maximum input to the Minilyzer is +20dBu. Maximum output of the Great River preamp is +24 dBu. Signal to noise measurements were assisted" by the Fluke 8060A The Altec 1566A preamp is "clean" up until 0dBu. Preamp overload (test "c’) yielded the most "pure" 2nd harmonic distortion.

TESTING MY WORLD
I used the ML1 to measure the THD of two oscillators — the GTC Tone Plug and the Neutrik MR1 — and two mic preamps — a Great River transformer-less prototype and an Altec 1566 vacuum tube preamp. The Tone Plug is a handy "generator in an XLR plug" to be commended for its size, not cleanliness. Check out Table-1 for the results. While the Minirator is respectable for it’s price range, to truly measure the Great River’s performance, a better oscillator would be required. As you can see, there is almost no difference in the performance of the MR-1 alone compared to its use with the Great River preamp.

3. VU+PPM
The ML1 emulates three metering standards: mechanical VU meters (referenced to +4dBu), Type-I and "Nordic" Peak Program Meters (PPM, +6 dBu ref) and Type IIA PPM (+8dBu). The user can reconfigure all references. Both VU and PPM are simultaneously displayed. Each includes a numeric Peak Hold indicator, plus there are two Integration Time options: Normal (Type-I and Nordic: 5ms. Type-IIa: 10ms). In FAST mode, the integration time is 1 ms for all standards.

While observing the output of a Panasonic SV-3700 DAT, I immediately realized that the ML1 could use one additional metering standard capable of being calibrated to digital audio’s 0dBfs maximum. For example, the SV-3700 has a –18dBfs nominal reference, the range should should accommodate a "low" of –20 dBfs and a high of -10dBfs. Neutrik could probably turn VU+PPM into a stand-alone stereo product with both analog and digital inputs (and a larger LCD screen). It would be a helpful mastering tool to see accurate peak information while maintaining some consciousness of "Volume" as per the VU meter. The VU meter should not be solidly in the red while the PPM would be kissing 0dBfs.

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