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Operation Guide

Oper

ation Guide

5

3.  Connect the MONITOR A output jacks

on the 

rear panel of Big Knob to a pair of active studio 

monitors (or the inputs of an amplifier that is 

powering a pair of passive studio monitors). 

These will be located at your mixing position. 

If you know whether the inputs to the active 

studio monitors (or amplifier) accept a –10 dBV 

(consumer) or +4 dBu input level, set the trim 

control

above the MONITOR A output jacks 

to the appropriate position. Otherwise, leave it 

at the –10 dBV position for now. You can con-

nect additional speakers to the MONITOR B

and MONITOR C

output jacks so you can hear 

your mix through different types of speakers.

4.  If you have a separate studio for recording, 

connect the STUDIO OUTS

to a pair of active 

studio monitors (or the inputs of an amplifier that 

is powering a pair of passive studio monitors). 

These will be located in studio for the talent. 

Set the trim control

above the STUDIO OUTS 

output jacks to the appropriate position, or leave 

it at the –10 dBV position if you’re not sure.

5.  If you have a headphone distribution amplifier 

for monitoring while recording, connect the 

PHONES AMP

output jacks to the inputs 

of the headphone amp. Set the +4/–10 level 

switch

above the PHONES AMP output 

jacks to the appropriate position, or leave it at 

the –10 position (pushed in) if you’re not sure.

For Recording

6.  Connect the 2-TRACK A

outputs to the line-

level inputs of any recording device, like a DAT 

or cassette recorder. This allows you to record 

from your DAW to the recorder. Set the +4/–10 

level switch

above the 2-TRACK A output 

jacks to the appropriate position, or leave it at 

the –10 position (pushed in) if you’re not sure.

7.  Connect the line-level outputs from the DAT or 

cassette recorder to the 2-TRACK A

inputs.

8.  Connect the DAW

output jacks on the rear 

panel of Big Knob to the stereo inputs of your 

DAW’s audio interface. This allows you to 

record from the 2-TRACK recorder back to your 

DAW. Set the +4/–10 level switch

above the 

DAW output jacks to the appropriate position, 

or leave it at the –10 position (pushed in) if 

you’re not sure.

Set the Levels

1.  With everything off, turn on Big Knob’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 want to be able to listen to it over the moni-

tor speakers connected to Big Knob.

4.  Press the DAW MIX

button in the INPUT 

SOURCE SELECT section on the front panel. 

The LED above the DAW MIX button should 

light.

5.  Press the MONITOR A

button in the MONITOR 

SELECT section on the front panel. The LED 

above the MONITOR A button should light.

6.  If you know whether your DAW’s audio inter-

face output is at a –10 dBV level (consumer) or a 

+4 dBu level (pro), set the +4/–10 level switch

for the DAW MIX

inputs to the appropri-

ate position. If you don’t know, leave it out (in 

the +4 dBu position). We can change it later if 

we need to.

7.  Slowly turn up the trim control

for the DAW 

MIX input until you see the meters

on the 

front panel lighting and dancing happily. Adjust 

the control until the meters are lighting the “0” 

LED regularly. You want the “+8” LED to light 

only occasionally, and the “OL” LED to not light 

at all.

8.  If you can’t adjust the trim control far enough 

to get the signal level up to the 0 and +5 LEDs 

on the meter, turn the trim control all the way 

down, push in the +4/–10 level switch for the 

DAW MIX input, and slowly turn up the trim 

control again. Now the signal should be strong 

enough to get the 0 and +5 LEDs to light.

9.  Slowly turn up the Big Knob VOLUME

control. You should begin to hear playback from 

your DAW through your studio monitor speak-

ers. Adjust the VOLUME control to a comfort-

able listening level. If it seems like you have to 

turn up the VOLUME control all the way to hear 

the monitor speakers, turn down the VOLUME 

control and check to see if the trim control

POWER

ON

AC SELECT

220-240V

100-120V

BAL/UNBAL

MONITOR

A

2-TRACK

A

2-TRACK

B

OUTPUTS

DAW

OUTPUT

PHONES

AMP

STUDIO

BAL/UNBAL

+

4

dB

-10

dB 

+

4

dB

-10

dB 

+

4

dB

-10

dB 

+

4

dB

-10

dB 

+

4

dB

-10

dB 

BAL/UNBAL

L

R

DAW 

PHONES

MIX INPUT

-10dB

+4dB

MONITOR

B

BAL/UNBAL

L

R

-10dB

+4dB

MONITOR

C

BAL/UNBAL

L

R

L

R

L

R

L

R

L

R

L

R

L

R

-10dB

+

4dB

BAL/UNBAL

BAL/UNBAL

BAL/UNBAL

BAL/UNBAL

-10dB

+

4dB

BAL/

UNBAL

BAL/

UNBAL

(MONO)

RIAA

SOURCES

2-TRACK

B

(MONO)

-10dB

+

4dB 

-10dB

+

4dB 

-10dB

+

4dB 

DAW

MIX

PHONO

GROUND

TALK BACK

FOOT

SWITCH

L

R

BAL/

UNBAL

(MONO)

L

R

L

R

L

R

-10dB

+

10dB

-10dB

+

10dB

-10dB

+

10dB

-10dB

+

10dB

2-TRACK

A

U

U

U

U

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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