Mackie SR408 / SR568 Owner's Manual - Page 11

MONITORING, SOLO, & METERING Usually an engineer listens to the left/right mix (with the center mix blended in), just as the audience is hearing it. Signals available for monitoring by the engineer are available via either of the high-powered headphone outputs, with level control, or a line-level monitor (control room) output, also with level control. There is a stereo insert dedicated to the phones mix, to allow a delay device to synchronize the distance delay present in large halls. To audition individual signals or groups of signals, there are solo switches on every channel, main aux return, aux send master, matrix A-D, tape return, and sub 1-8, as well as the left/right/center faders. The engineer behind an SR40•8 can listen to any signal, individually or in groups, without disturbing the content of any of the console's primary outputs. Input signals (channels, main aux returns, "B" aux returns, tape A, and tape B) can be globally switched PFL (pre-fader-listen) or AFL (after-fader-listen, stereo-in-place). Output signals (main/left/ right, subs 1-8, aux send masters, and matrix A-D) have a similar switch. There are 59 twelve-segment LED-ladder meter displays on the SR40•8, one for each channel and sub, two for each stereo main aux return, and one each for the left/right/center main mixes. Input and output meters can each be globally switched PFL or AFL. During solo, described earlier, the left/right/center meters automatically display the solo levels: AFL on the left/right meters and PFL on the center. TALKBACK & INTERCOM The SR40•8's extensive talkback section allows the engineer to speak into several outputs via a master talkback switch, with assignment switches for aux 1-4, aux 5-8, L/R mix, an external talkback output, and one switch for each matrix (A-D). Talkback microphones are patched into either of the two phantom powered XLR inputs and regulated by a level control. Additionally, the talkback signal may be replaced by a 400Hz sine wave for checking levels, or pink noise for quickly checking frequency response. The Clear-Com® Intercom System is already standard equipment in most large facilities. It allows all crew members to share a "party line," so they may communicate at will, without having to toggle between send and receive. The Mackie SR40•8 takes that a step farther by allowing the engineer to join in at his/her discretion using the talkback microphone and phones outputs: No separate intercom headset is required for the engineer. ULTRA MUTE™ Almost every signal path in the SR40•8 has an electronically-controlled mute switch, including the channels, main aux return, subgroups, aux sends, and matrices. These mutes may be activated in four ways: By pressing the local mute switch included for each path, by assigning paths to a mute group, by assigning paths to a mute snapshot, or by external MIDI and RS232 commands. Using just the local switches and mute groups, an engineer can quickly mute or un-mute large groups of signal paths. Using an external sequencer to generate MIDI muting commands, complicated muting moves can be made automatically, with no user intervention. When a channel or main aux return is muted, the entire channel is muted, including the assign outputs, pre- and post-fader aux sends, and direct out. The insert send remains active, as do the channel's PFL meters and PFL solo outputs. SWITCH POSITIONS You may have noticed the white lines printed just above most of the push-button switches on your SR40•8. We've put them there to make it easier for you to see if the switch is engaged (down). Here's how they work: Assuming you are sitting in front of the console, when a switch is disengaged (up), its button hides the white line from your field of vision. When you engage the switch, the line suddenly appears. Although it may not seem obvious at first, you'll soon find that the indicator line really helps you determine switch positions at a glance. Clever, ain't it? 11