Mackie 406M Owner's Manual - Page 14

OO OO OO U 1 MON +15 U EFX +10 U -15 +15 U HI 12kHz -12 +12 U MID 2.5kHz -15 +15 LOW 80Hz PAN L R NORMAL INPUT LEVEL SET LOW HI U +20dB 1 VOLUME CH. INSERT LINE MIC 1 Stereo Version Channel Strip FEATURES AND CONTROLS Channel Strip Description 3-Band EQ INPUT LEVEL SET If you haven't done so already, please read the "Level-Setting" procedure on page 6. The INPUT LEVEL SET control adjusts the input sensitivity of the mic and line inputs (on channels 7 & 8 it affects only the mic input). This allows signals from the outside world to be adjusted to optimal internal operating levels. To correctly adjust the INPUT LEVEL SET control, apply a signal to the channel and turn up the INPUT LEVEL SET control until the LED next to it just begins to blink. This provides the best signal-to-noise ratio for the channel. VOLUME The rotary VOLUME knob controls the channel's level...from off to unity gain at the center detent, on up to +20 dB of additional gain when turned all the way up. The VOLUME control is equivalent to a channel fader. These are mono controls except on channels 7 and 8 of the 408S and 808S models, which use stereo controls. Unity gain means there is no change in signal level. In other words, the signal entering the control is the same volume (or in this case, the same voltage level) as the signal leaving the control. Once you have adjusted the INPUT LEVEL SET controls on all the channels, you can set the remaining controls to their unity (U) positions and your signals will travel through the mixer at optimal levels. What's more, all the labels on our level controls are in decibels (dB), so you'll know what you're doing level-wise if you choose to change a control's settings. PAN This control appears on the stereo models (408S and 808S). PAN adjusts the amount of channel signal sent to the left versus the right outputs. On the mono channels 1-6 these controls act as true pan pots. On the stereo channels 7 and 8, the PAN knob acts like the balance control on your home stereo. The PPM Series has 3-band equalization at carefully selected points - LOW shelving at 80Hz, MID peaking at 2.5kHz, and HI shelving at 12kHz. "Shelving" means that the circuitry boosts or cuts all frequencies past the specified frequency. For example, rotating the LOW EQ knob 15 dB to the right boosts bass starting at 80Hz and continuing down to the lowest note you ever heard. "Peaking" means that only a selected band of frequencies surrounding a center frequency is affected by the EQ control - the frequencies around 2.5kHz in this case. LOW EQ This control gives you up to 15 dB boost or cut at 80Hz and below. The circuit is flat (no boost or cut) at the center detent position. This frequency represents the punch in bass drums, bass guitar, fat synth patches, and some really serious male singers. MID EQ Short for "midrange," this knob provides 12 dB of boost or cut, centered at 2.5kHz, also flat at the center detent. Midrange EQ is often thought of as the most dynamic, because the frequencies that define any particular sound are almost always found in this range. You can create many interesting and useful EQ changes by turning this knob down as well as up. HI EQ This control gives you up to 15 dB of boost or cut at 12kHz and above, and it is also flat at the detent. Use it to add sizzle to cymbals, and an overall sense of transparency or edge to keyboards, vocals, guitar, and bacon frying. Turn it down a little to reduce sibilance, or to hide tape hiss. Moderation during EQ With EQ, you can also screw things up royally. We've designed a lot of boost and cut into each equalizer circuit because we know everyone will occasionally need that. But if you max the EQs on every channel, you'll get mix mush. Equalize subtly and use the left sides of the knobs (cut), as well as the right (boost). 14