Carvin FX3244 Instruction Manual - Page 12

FX44 Mixer Detailed Control Descriptions Seetion 3 Front Panel Controls on the Input Channels Each channel of your console has 13 knobs, 4 switches and a linear fader. In this section we will describe the (unction of each input channel control and the ways to use it to produce the highest quality audio mix. You may wish to refer to the glossary at the end of the manual for any terms that you would like to have defined. By understanding the operation of each of the controls on your console, you will be better able to provide the most natural sounding mix of the various instruments or voices that are your program sources. Although simply understanding what each knob does will not ensure perfect mixes, it will provide the basis upon which you can expand your audio creativity. So, here we go. 1) Channel Equalizer The Channel Equalizer ("EQ" to its friends) is a very precise set of tone controls. The HI or "Treble" control is at the top of the Channel Equalizer controls. The HI MID and MID controls are in the center. And, the LOW or bass control is at the bottom of this array. Use these knobs to modify the tone of the signal feeding this particular channel. It is most important is that you know that the flat (or neutral) setting for each EQ control is "0" or mid rotation. If you have any doubt about how to set the them then always set the channel EQ controls flat (i.e. "0"). How a tone control works is basically similar to a volume control. The difference being that a tone control literally controls the volume of a specified frequency range. For instance, the HI, or treble control, when turned up will increase the volume of the high frequencies (at a 10kHz frequency center). Likewise, the LOW, or bass, control adjusts the volume at a 100Hz frequency center and therefore can be used to either emphasize or quiet the low range of an input signal. The HI MID (2kHz frequency center) and MID (500 Hz center) controls allow you to adjust the mid-range frequencies. Using the EQ control set, you can dial in the amount of boost or cut you desire. This is especially useful as the mid-range is usually the most critical "problem range". By using the HI-MID and MID EQ to selectively boost or cut various mid-range frequencies, you can effectively control this problem area. The EQ controls allow you to adjust the volume ±12dB at their center frequencies. Experimentation is in order. It is worth noting that extreme adjustments of the tone controls should rarely have to be made. Usually these controls are used as a means of compensating for the imperfect response of various microphones in order to achieve the most natural sounding response of the sources you are mixing. If you find yourself making excessive adjustments with these controls you may want to try using either a different microphone or a different mic location. Making an instrument sound as natural as possible through the use of your Channel Equalizer is part of the overall art of professional mixing and recording. 2) Monitor and Effects Buss Sends The input channel's monitor and effects send controls are simply volume controls for setting up six "side mixes" which are independent of the main mix. They are used to set up mixes for stage monitors and various effects units. Each channel has two monitor send controls (MON 1 & MON 2). These control the volume of that channel's signal in the MON 1 & MON 2 monitor mixes. The monitor level control on each channel adjusts the relative volume of that channel in the overall monitor mix. So, it is possible that you could set up a monitor mix that is entirely different from the main mix. For instance. you might have a vocal "out front", or louder, in the MON 1 mix to allow a singer to concentrate on their vocals while feeding a relatively low level of that same vocal to the main mix. Since stage monitors are typically right next to the microphones, they are usually the mix most susceptible to feedback during a performance. Because of this we recommended that you use caution when adjusting monitor levels during a live performance, It takes a certain amount of "feel" to set up a good monitor mix without getting ringing or outright feedback. However, with experimentation and practice you will soon be able to get consistently good monitor mixes. The M0N 1 & MON 2 signals are taken "pre fader" so that the channel fader has no effect on the signal level sent to the monitor mixes. The EFF 3 thru EFF 6 controls send the channel signal to four more "side mixes" for use in feeding effects devices such as reverb or delay units. The "Effects Send" signals are taken "post fader". This means that when the channel fader is reduced, so is the effects signal. The EFF 6 control also feeds the internal reverb system. Raising this control you will send the channel's signal to the internal reverb unit. However, the reverb effect will not be heard until the reverb return control (effects return M O NO 3-2