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Operation Guide

Oper

ation Guide

1

•  If there is no sound in the PHONES

or 

STUDIO

outputs:  

 Make sure the PHONES/STUDIO OUTS 

SOURCE

button on the front panel is up 

(INPUT SOURCES selected).  

Make sure the PHONES

or STUDIO

Level control is turned up. 

 Make sure the STUDIO OUTS ON/OFF button 

is ON.

•  If there is no sound in the MONITOR OUTPUTS

 Make sure the correct MONITOR SELECT 

button is pushed in and the trim control for the 

MONITOR OUTPUT is set correctly.  

 Make sure the cable connecting the MONITOR 

OUTPUT to the active speaker or power ampli-

fier isn’t defective and the amplifier/speaker 

combination is working correctly.

Bad Sound

•  Is the input connector plugged completely into 

the jack?

•  Is it loud and distorted? Make sure the trim 

control and level switch for the selected input 

is set correctly. Reduce the signal level on the 

input source if possible.

•  If possible, listen to the signal with headphones 

plugged into the input source device. If it sounds 

bad there, it’s not Big Knob causing the problem.

•  Make sure the trim control for the MONITOR 

OUTPUT is set correctly and not overdriving the 

input stage of the active speaker or amplifier to 

which it is connected.

Noise/Hum

•  If a turntable is connected to the PHONO

inputs on Big Knob, make sure the ground wire 

from the turntable is connected to the GND

terminal on Big Knob.

•  If a turntable is 

not

 connected to the PHONO 

inputs, make sure the PHONO INPUT SOURCE 

SELECT button is not pushed in. Also make 

sure the RCA shorting plugs are connected to 

the PHONO inputs when not being used.

•  Check the signal cables between the input 

sources and Big Knob. Disconnect them one by 

one. When the noise goes away, you’ll know 

which input source is causing the problem.

•  Sometimes it helps to plug all the audio equip-

ment into the same AC circuit so they share a 

common ground.

Warranty Service

If you think your Mackie product has a problem, 

please check out the following troubleshooting tips 

and do your best to confirm the problem. Visit the 

Support section of our website (www.mackie.com/

support) where you will find lots of useful informa-

tion such as FAQs and other documentation. You 

may find the answer to the problem without having 

to send your Mackie product away.

Troubleshooting

No Power

•  Our favorite question: Is it plugged in?

•  Make sure the power cord is securely seated in 

the IEC socket

and plugged all the way into 

the AC outlet.

•  Make sure the AC outlet is live (check with a 

tester or lamp).

•  Is the POWER

switch on? Make sure the 

POWER switch on the rear panel is in the ON 

position (up).

•  Is the POWER LED

on the front panel illumi-

nated? If not, make sure the AC outlet is live. If 

so, refer to “No Sound” below.

•  Are all the lights out in your building? If so, 

contact your local power company to get power 

restored.

•  If the POWER LED is not illuminated, and you 

are certain that the AC outlet is live, it will be 

necessary to have Big Knob serviced. 

There are no 

user serviceable parts inside.

 Refer to “Repair” at 

the end of this section to find out how to proceed.

No Sound

•  Is the POWER LED

on the front panel illumi-

nated? If not, refer to “No Power” above.

•  Is the correct INPUT SOURCE SELECT button 

selected? Make sure the LED above the INPUT 

SOURCE SELECT button is lit.

•  Is the signal source turned up? Make sure the 

signal level from the selected input source is 

high enough to light up some of the INPUT 

meter LEDs on Big Knob’s front panel.

•  Make sure the trim control and level switch for 

the selected input are set correctly.

Appendix A: Service Information

Summary of Contents for Big Knob Command

Page 1: ...POWER POWER MUTE DIM MONO TO PHONES STUDIO TO 2 TRACKS LEVEL LEVEL 1 O O MAX O O MAX 2 O O MAX O O MAX TALKBACK STUDIO OUTS INPUT SOURCE SELECT PHONES STUDIO OUTS SOURCE DAW MIX 2 TRACK A 2 TRACK B PH...

Page 2: ...ipment capable of producing high sound pres sure levels use hearing protectors while the equipment is in operation Ear plugs or protectors in the ear canals or over the ears must be worn when operatin...

Page 3: ...ting 13 Repair 14 AppendixB Connections 15 XLRConnectors 15 1 4 TRSPhonePlugsandJacks 15 1 4 TSPhonePlugsandJacks 15 RCAPlugsandJacks 15 FootswitchPlugandJack 15 AppendixC TechnicalInfo 16 BigKnobSpec...

Page 4: ...e inputs and outputs on Big Knob have either a trim control or a level switch labeled 10 dB and 4 dB This actually comes from two standard operating levels that have evolved in the audio industry 10 d...

Page 5: ...s POWER switch first 2 Turn on all other external power amplifiers active speakers and headphone amplifiers 3 Start playback on your DAW and play some thing you ve already recorded or a demo track You...

Page 6: ...s turn the control up to the 4 dB position and then turn up the LEVEL control Now it should get louder faster 12 If you have a headphone distribution amplifier connected to the PHONES AMP outputs you...

Page 7: ...RACK B Turns on the signals connected to the 2 TRACK B stereo inputs PHONO Turns on the signals connected to the PHONO ste reo inputs INPUT METERS These six segment meters show the signal level of the...

Page 8: ...PHONES STUDIO OUT SOURCE switch described below PHONES 1 and 2 Level Control These rotary knobs control the volume of the stereo signal at the PHONES 1 and 2 headphone connec tors The same signal app...

Page 9: ...lkback MIC and sends its signal to the 2 TRACK A output connectors 2 TRACK B output connectors DAW output connectors TO PHONES STUDIO Pressing this momentary button illuminates the red LED above the b...

Page 10: ...ing DAW MIX signal by 10 dB unity at center detent This allows you to precisely fine tune the incoming level of the DAW MIX input so it matches the signal level of other incoming 2 track sources PHONO...

Page 11: ...necessary to precisely match the levels among the MONITOR A B and C outputs MONITOR B OUTPUTS Works as described above for the Monitor A path MONITOR B Trim Control Works as described above for the Mo...

Page 12: ...e studio per formance space This allows the performers to hear playback without having to use headphones and allows the control room engineer to communicate to the performers through the talkback syst...

Page 13: ...oes away you ll know which input source is causing the problem Sometimes it helps to plug all the audio equip ment into the same AC circuit so they share a common ground WarrantyService If you think y...

Page 14: ...the United States can be obtained through local dealers or distributors If you do not have access to our website you can call our Tech Support department at 1 800 898 3211 Monday Friday normal busine...

Page 15: ...d Tip Hot FootswitchPlugandJack The TALKBACK FOOTSWITCH jack accepts a 1 4 TS plug Shorting the tip and sleeve together activates the talkback circuit This is equivalent to pressing the TO 2 TRACKS an...

Page 16: ...Muted Level Off 90 dB 1 kHz Trim Control Range Input Trim Controls Center Detented 10 dB Output Trim Controls 14 dB to 0 dB Dim Switch 0 dB 20 dB Rated Input Voltage Line Inputs 4 dB Level Setting 4 d...

Page 17: ...are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and are hereby acknowledged 2004 2009 LOUD Technologies Inc All Rights Reserved INPUT SOURCE S PHONES MIX INPUT OFF ON POWER POWER M...

Page 18: ...NPUT L R L MONO RIAA RIAA TRIM TRIM VDC VDC OFF ON TRIM VDC OFF ON TRIM VOLUME VDC DIM 0 dB 20 dB VDC OFF ON OFF ON R L MONO R L MONO R 4 10 dBV 4 10 dBV 4 10 dBV 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 VDC VDC VDC O...

Page 19: ...ice representative will at its option either repair or replace any such nonconforming product provided that Customer gives notice of the noncompliance within the Warranty Period to the Company at www...

Page 20: ...Red Road NE Woodinville WA 98072 USA US and Canada 800 898 3211 Europe Asia Central and South America 425 487 4333 Middle East and Africa 31 20 654 4000 Fax 425 487 4337 www mackie com E mail sales m...

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