background image

BIG KNOB

BIG KNOB

4

Introduction

Thank you for choosing the Mackie Big Knob, 

your signal routing and monitoring solution for your 

DAW-based studio. Big Knob provides a control 

room matrix and the basic features of an expensive 

mixer, but tailored for the requirements of your 

DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) environment. 

These features include selecting up to four separate 

stereo input sources, monitoring through three dif-

ferent speakers for A/B/C comparisons, providing a 

separate headphone mix and a studio output for the 

talent, and a built-in talkback mic for slate-to-tape 

and headphone cueing. In other words, it gives you 

everything you need from a mixer, without the stuff 

you don’t need!

Another important feature you’ve come to expect 

from Mackie is pristine sound quality, and Big Knob 

is no exception. This is studio-quality gear, and we 

made sure the audio signal suffers no degradation 

by passing through Big Knob. You can connect this 

baby between your expensive DAW and your 

really

 

expensive studio monitors with no reservations. 

Big Knob will pass the test!

Big Knob is part of the growing family of Mackie 

computer recording products. Visit our website 

(www.mackie.com) to learn more about these prod-

ucts and the solutions to your audio and recording 

needs that Mackie has to offer, or pick up a catalog 

at your nearest Mackie dealer.

Getting Started

The following steps will help you set up your Big 

Knob and get the levels adjusted correctly. Once you 

have made the connections and adjustments, refer to 

the Features section for more in-depth information 

about each input, output, switch, and control knob.

Most of the 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 dBV consumer level and +4 dBu pro-

fessional level. Most consumer equipment with RCA 

connectors operate at the –10 dBV level, while most 

professional equipment with 1/4-inch phone jacks 

or XLR connectors operate at the +4 dBu level. 

As you might expect, the +4 dBu level is higher 

(louder) than the –10 dBV level, so it is important to 

match the input and output levels of Big Knob to the 

equipment you have connected to it. For a Big Knob 

input, the –10 dB setting accepts a smaller signal 

and provides more gain than the +4 dB setting. For 

a Big Knob output, the –10 dB setting produces a 

smaller signal than the +4 dB setting.

Zero the Controls

1.  Turn off the POWER switch

on the rear panel.

2.  On the front panel, turn the Big VOLUME Knob

and all the LEVEL controls all the way down 

(counterclockwise).

3.  Set all the switches to the up position (front 

and rear panels).

4.  On the rear panel, turn all the trim controls all 

the way down (counterclockwise).

Connections

1.  Connect the supplied detachable power cord to 

the AC socket

on the rear panel of Big Knob. 

Set the AC SELECT switch

 to the correct 

position that corresponds to the AC voltage you 

are using (100-120V or 220-240V).

For Monitoring:

2.  Connect the audio outputs (stereo mix) from 

your DAW’s audio interface to the two DAW MIX

input jacks on the rear panel of Big Knob.

INPUT SOURCE(S)

PHONES MIX INPUT

OFF

ON

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

PHONO

MONITOR SELECT

A

B

C

OL

8
0
4
8

24

INPUT

PHONES

0 = 

+

4dBu

VOLUME

MAX

O

O

MIC

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...

Reviews: