Akai DPS12, Operator'S Manual, Page: 23 / 156

11
Chapter 1: Outline of the DPS12
TRACK MIX channels and THRU MIX channels
The DPS12’s mixer section offers eight channels (called “THRU MIX channels”) that enable you to control input
signals that come directly from the INPUT jacks, as well as twelve channels (called “TRACK MIX channels”) that
you can control for panning and level from the top panel.
Normally, you can record and mix down audio data using only the TRACK MIX channels. However, the THRU
MIX channels are useful when you wish to overdub external sound sources while playing back twelve tracks in the
recorder section.
The following diagram shows a basic signal flow. When the DPS12 is in default status, use the TRACK MIX
channels to record and mix down data.
Analog signal
Digital signal
INPUT
(ANALOG)
1
2
3
4
5
6
OPTICAL IN
(DIGITAL)
OPTICAL OUT
(DIGITAL)
GAIN
GAIN
GAIN
GAIN
GAIN
GAIN
L R
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
PAN
PAN
PAN
PAN
PAN
PAN
PAN
PAN
PAN
PAN
PAN
PAN
TRACK MIX channel
LEVEL
LEVEL
LEVEL
LEVEL
LEVEL
LEVEL
LEVEL
LEVEL
LEVEL
LEVEL
LEVEL
LEVEL
Tr1
Tr2
Tr3
Tr4
Tr5
Tr6
Tr7
Tr8
Tr9
Tr10
Tr11
Tr12
MASTER OUT
(ANALOG)
L
R
Mixer section
MASTER LEVEL
Input
Assign
Recorder
section
A typical signal flow when only TRACK MIX channels are used
• Signals input from the INPUT jacks (analog/digital) are adjusted for the gain via the GAIN controls, then
routed to the Input Assign section and assigned to each physical track. (Track assignment is performed in
Assign mode. See page 52 for more information.)
• Physical tracks 1–12 of the recorder section are directly routed to TRACK MIX channels 1–12 of the mixer
section. Usually, input signals routed from the INPUT jacks are sent from recording-ready tracks to the mixer
section, and the recorder playback signals are sent from other tracks to the mixer section.
• You can set the level and pan of the signals sent to the TRACK MIX channels, using the faders and the PAN
controls on the top panel before mixing down to a stereo signal. You can also adjust the mix-related param-
eters, such as channel on/off, EQ, and AUX send A/B. (These settings are available in Mixer mode. Refer to
page 58 for more information.)
• The master level of the stereo mix signal is adjusted by the master fader on the top panel. This signal is output
from the MASTER OUT jacks (analog) and the OPTICAL OUT jacks (digital).
You can also send the input signals at the INPUT jacks directly to the mixer section, instead of sending them to
the recorder section. In this case, you can use the THRU MIX channels. The following diagram shows a typical
signal flow when the THRU MIX channels are used.