14
ONYX 1200F
ONYX 1200F
Onyx 1200F Features
Front Panel
There are twelve mic/line inputs on the Onyx 1200F.
They all share the same features with the exception that
Inputs 1 and 2 have balanced send and return jacks for
inserting an external signal processor into the signal
path, and inputs 11 and 12 have an unbalanced 1/4"
input jack on the front panel for connecting unbalanced
high-impedance electric instruments directly to the
preamp without a direct box.
1. Signal Level Indicators
These LEDs indicate the channel’s signal level after
the GAIN control and the INSERT jack.
If you’ve followed the “Set the Levels” procedure on
page 6, the –20 and –10 LEDs should light frequently,
and the OL (Overload) LED should not light at all. If
the OL LED is blinking frequently, the signal is probably
distorted from overdriving the input. Either turn down
the GAIN control or turn down the signal at its source.
2. 48V Phantom Power Switch
Most professional condenser microphones require
phantom power, which is a low-current DC voltage
delivered to the microphone on pins 2 and 3 of the XLR
microphone connector. Push in the 48V button if your
microphone needs phantom power. An LED lights next
to the button to indicate that phantom power is active.
Dynamic microphones, like Shure’s SM57 and SM58,
do not require phantom power. However, phantom
power will not harm most dynamic microphones should
you accidentally plug one in while the phantom power is
turned on. Be careful with ribbon microphones. Check
the manual for your microphone to find out for sure
whether or not phantom power can damage it.
3. LINE Switch
Use this switch to select the proper gain for the Onyx
mic/line preamp. Normally, leave the LINE switch out,
since the gain control provides a wide range of control
over the input level.
However, if you have a particularly hot mic or line-
level signal, push in this switch to reduce the overall
gain by 20 dB.
4. Channel GAIN
The GAIN controls adjust the input sensitivity of the
mic and line inputs on channels 1-12. This allows the
signal from the outside world to be adjusted to optimal
internal operating levels.
With the LINE switch out, there is 0 dB of gain (unity
gain) with the knob turned all the way down, ramping
up to 60 dB of gain fully up.
With the LINE switch in, there is 20 dB of attenuation
all the way down, and 40 dB of gain fully up, with a “U”
(unity gain) mark at about 10:00.
5. Instrument Input
Channels 11 and 12 each have a 1/4" TS connector that
accepts an unbalanced instrument-level input signal
from a high-impedance instrument like a guitar.
-20dB
GAIN
11
12
UNBAL
UNBAL
ON
+
40dB
U
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
+
40dB
U
-
20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
+
40dB
U
-
20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
+
40dB
U
-
20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
+
40dB
U
-
20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
+
40dB
U
-
20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
+
40dB
U
-
20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
+
40dB
U
-
20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
+
40dB
U
-
20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
+
40dB
U
-
20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
+
40dB
U
-
20dB
U
20
30
40
60
GAIN
+
40dB
U
-
20dB
U
20
30
40
60
O
O
MAX
O
O
MAX
O
O
MAX
O
O
MAX
LINE
48V
LINE
48V
LINE
48V
LINE
48V
LINE
48V
LINE
48V
LINE
48V
LINE
48V
LINE
48V
LINE
48V
LINE
48V
LINE
2
1
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
OL
-10
-40
-20
OL
-10
-40
-20
OL
-10
-40
-20
OL
-10
-40
-20
OL
-10
-40
-20
OL
-10
-40
-20
OL
-10
-40
-20
OL
-10
-40
-20
OL
-10
-40
-20
OL
-10
-40
-20
OL
-10
-40
-20
OL
-10
-40
-20
ONYX
MIC PRE
ONYX
MIC PRE
ONYX
MIC PRE
ONYX
MIC PRE
ONYX
MIC PRE
ONYX
MIC PRE
ONYX
MIC PRE
ONYX
MIC PRE
ONYX
MIC PRE
ONYX
MIC PRE
ONYX
MIC PRE
ONYX
MIC PRE
1
PHONES
2
3
4
O
O
MAX
O
MAX
O
O
MAX
CONTROL ROOM
OUTPUTS 1-8
A
B
SAMPLE RATE
176.4kHz
44.1kHz
96kHz
48kHz
88.2kHz
192kHz
MIDI
IN
MIDI
OUT
CLOCK SOURCE
ADAT-2
FW
ADAT-1
INT
WORD
AES
S/PDIF
IN-A
OUT-D
OUT-A
METERING
MONITOR
A/B
BYPASS
TALK TO
PHONES
ON
STUDIO RECORDING PREAMP WITH 192kHz FIREWIRE I/O
48V
