Mackie ProFX8v2 Owners Manual - Page 14

ProFX8v2 • ProFX12v2 • ProFX16v2 • ProFX22v2 • ProFX30v2 OUTPUT SIGNAL STRENGTH dBu If you are creating new tracks or bouncing existing ones, you will also use the 1-2 and 3-4 switches, but not 26 the main mix switch. Here you do not want the groups sent back into the main mix bus, but sent out, via the sub out jacks, to your multitrack inputs. 27 23 25 23 23 24 26. Compressor [ProFX16v2, ProFX22v2, ProFX30v2] Each of the last four mono channels of the ProFXv2 mixer has an in-line compressor circuit with a variable threshold. This is very useful for compression of vocals, and snare drums, for example, so you might consider connecting your vocal and drum mics to these channels, rather than one of the other channels. When the incoming signal exceeds the threshold level set by this knob, the signal level is automatically compressed. This reduces the dynamic range and reduces the chance of distortion due to overloading the input signals. 24. PFL Solo Switch [ProFX16v2, ProFX22v2, ProFX30v2] When a channel's solo switch is engaged, any existing selection is replaced by the solo signal, appearing at the control room outputs, phones and at the left meter. The audible solo levels are then controlled by the CR/phones knob. The solo levels appearing on the meters are not controlled by the CR/phones knob - you would not want that, anyway. What you do want to see is the actual channel level on the meters regardless of how loud the control room and phones output levels might be. Dynamic range is the difference in level between the quietest and loudest parts of a song. A compressor "squeezes" the dynamic range, resulting in an overall steadier, more constant volume level for the signal. It helps sources, such as vocals, "sit" properly in the mix; it is very useful for live sound. The compression ratio is fixed at around 6:1, with a soft knee response. The threshold can be adjusted clockwise from off (no compression) to 0 dBu (max). +20 COMP OFF MAX PFL means Pre-Fader Listen (post-EQ). With the PFL +15 Solo switch engaged, solo will not be affected by a channel's mute switch position. +10 COMP OFF MAX Remember, PFL taps the channel signal before the fader. If you have a channel's fader set way below "U" (unity gain), solo will not know that and will send a unity gain signal to the CR outs, phones output and meter display, which may raise some eyebrows. 25. Channel Fader This is the last control in a channel's signal path, and it adjusts the level of each channel onto the main mix. The "U" mark ­indicates unity gain, meaning no increase or decrease of signal level. All the way up provides an additional 10 dB, should you need to boost a section of a song. If you find that the overall level is too quiet or too loud with the level near unity, check that the gain control is set correctly. +5 COMP SLOPE 6:1 OFF MAX +0 SOFT KNEE -5 -10 -10 SLOPE 1:1 -5 +0 +5 +10 INPUT SIGNAL STRENGTH dBu +15 +20 As an example, suppose the threshold is set to maximum. An incoming signal reaches the threshold of 0 dBu. As it increases beyond the threshold, it becomes compressed at a ratio of 6:1. This means that even if the input further increases by 6 dB, the actual output only increases by 1 dB. This compresses the output signal, so 14 ProFX8v2 • ProFX12v2 • ProFX16v2 • ProFX22v2 • ProFX30v2