Dan Dugan Sound Design E, User Manual

Page: 12 / 48

Dugan Model E User Guide Quickstart
12
Figure 2-4 Setting console preamp gain
If there is insufficient gain to keep the level LEDs lit green when no one is talking, set
the rear panel LEVEL switch to -10 . Sufficient ambient sound level at the input is about
-50 dBu in +4 mode and -62 dBu in -10 mode.
The Model E does not limit, compress, or control levels . It performs just one critical
function: cuing multiple mics. The Dugan Speech System cross-fades mics while main-
taining a natural low level of ambience with minimal feedback. It is essential to distin-
guish this behavior from the annoying fluctuation of levels and uneven ambience
produced by a conventional gating system.
When one person talks into the Dugan Speech System, it rapidly fades that mic’s gain
up and the others down. When the talker pauses, all mics crossfade to a medium gain
that equals the sound of one mic at full gain. When several people speak simultaneous-
ly, the gain is shared. Thus, all mics sound normal when used, multiple open mics do
not cause noise build-up or feedback, and the mixer can leave the faders up.
The LED gain meters show the channel gains resulting from the process. They are not
level meters! Adjust your board’s preamp gains so all LED meters float at about the
same gain when no one is talking. This procedure will assure smooth automatic mixing.
With the optimum balance set such that the gain meters hover around the same level
with no one talking, the faders may not end up in a line. The fader for a softer speaker
will be higher than a louder one. Automixing does not require cueing the faders in and
out, so fader position is not important.
Instead of pulling the faders down, leave them up and use the Model E’s mute buttons
to mute mics. This is necessary because on most mixers the analog insert points are pre-
fader. If a fader is pulled down to mute a mic, that mic’s signal remains in the process
and
punches holes in the ambience. If your mixer can patch inserts post-fader, you need
not be concerned with this.