BLACK
BOX
RECORDER
- User Manual v2.2
Page | 9
external effects (such as you might want to insert into a channel on the
console) into the signal chain. As the BBR has used up the insert points on
the console, these allow you to still insert effects such as compressors into
some channels. The Loop through inserts are only available on the
unbalanced analogue outputs of the BBR1 and are disabled on the balanced
i/o BBR1B and when using digital i/o.
The BBR1B (Balanced i/o) accepts the same levels as the BBR1U but uses
electronically balanced signals. The lower row of three 25-way D-type
connectors are the balanced inputs and the upper row are the balanced
outputs. The same type of i/o cables can be used, but in this case the tip is
the hot (+ve) signal and the ring is the cold (-ve) signal with the sleeve acting
as ground. There are some desks that provide balanced insert break points
but in many cases you will want to connect a Balanced BBR1B to group
outputs on the console. i/o cable looms are not supplied with the balanced
or digital versions as there are too many variants to cater for every
eventuality. However, your dealer will be happy to supply suitable cable
looms for your application.
It is not possible to use the balanced i/o unit plugged into unbalanced inserts
as if it were an unbalanced unit, but it is possible to feed the inputs from an
unbalanced feed providing you ground the cold (-ve) input signal. This will
need special cables to be made.
Both the unbalanced and the balanced versions of the BBR1 have analogue
relays on the i/o connectors to ensure that even in the event of a power
failure, the input signal will be looped through to the output so that there is
no risk of losing audio through the console.
If you have either of the digital i/o variants of the BlackBox Recorder, the
digital signals are accessed on the upper row of i/o connectors. The AES/EBU
appears on 25-way D-type connectors (default = Yamaha digital pin out) and
the Lightpipe connectors are the normal TOSLINK type. Just wire these to the
console in the normal way, but pay special attention to the clocking signals
to ensure that the BBR1 is being clocked correctly. There is more on this
subject later, in the clocking section (page 23).
