10
ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
A. SLATE
MICROPHONE
The M4mkII Mixer is equipped with a slate microphone. This microphone is
activated when the front panel “slate” momentary push button switch is pressed.
The slate microphone allows the operator to put voice slates (notes) on tape for
later reference. These are normally notes for editing tape. A level adjustment
trim pot is located on the bottom panel of the M4mkII Mixer. Turning the
adjustment clockwise will increase the slate microphone level. Turning the
adjustment counter-clockwise will lower the level.
B. REFERENCE
OSCILLATOR
The M4mkII Mixer is equipped with a reference oscillator used for setting of
levels between the mixer and recorder. This known reference level is also used
when transferring tape during editing. The M4mkII’s oscillator operates at 440Hz
at “0” on the meters. When setting up typical Betacams with LCD bar graph
meters you simply adjust the Betacams inputs until “0” is reached. From that
point on, you can monitor levels from the mixer only. We have chosen 440Hz
simply because it is much more pleasant in your headphones than the typical
1Khz used by other manufactures. We have used 440 Hz on our mixers for
many years. The reference oscillator is equipped with a level adjustment trim pot
located on the bottom panel of the M4mkII Mixer. This adjustment is factory
calibrated and should not be adjusted without proper measurement equipment.
C. BATTERY
TEST
In addition to the low battery indicator on the LCD meter, the M4mkII Mixer is
equipped with a push button activated battery test function: When pressed the
remaining battery life is displayed on the top (left meter). A full battery will
indicate “0” on the meter. A dead battery will not indicate on the meter. You can
read the meter as a “fuel gauge”. Full bar = full battery, half bar = half battery,
etc. This battery level meter automatically adjusts for the differences in battery
types, NP-1 or alkaline. This battery test function can be adjusted to specific NP-
1 type batteries via a bottom panel mounted trim pot. The mixer is factory
shipped with the adjustment set for 12.6V NP-1 batteries. A fully charged 12.6V
NP-1 battery will register “0” on the meter. If you use 13.8V NP-1 batteries, you
can re-adjust the meter to “zero” on a fully charged battery. Because the M4mkII
Mixer uses only a small amount of current, the mixer will operate for many hours
on even a “dead” NP-1 battery. Because the mixer will operate down to 6.5Vdc,
it will continue to operate long after the low battery indication comes on when
using NP-1 batteries. This can be useful in the field as even a battery considered
“dead” by the camera operator might work with your M4mkII. Note that over
discharging of re-chargeable batteries on a regular basis is not a recommended
practice for everyday use!