OPERATING / SERVICE MANUAL
CM 86
QUICK START
Think of this like a fortune cookie: you have to read the saying before you eat it. But unlike a fortune cookie we don’t
want you to break your CM 86 before getting the message. So here’s your fortune:
Rane adheres to the AES/ANSI/IEC standards of pin 2 positive, pin 3 negative and pin 1 ground. Choose between
either
the 3-pin (XLR-type) or the terminal strip
MIC IN.
Use only ONE; they are in parallel and do NOT sum. The
LINE IN
(unbalanced 1/4") is grounded when not used. This allows the
MIC/LINE
switch to act as an input
MUTE
switch when-
ever the
LINE IN
jack is not used. Likewise, if it is used then the
MIC/LINE
switch acts like a true source selector. Set
the rear-mounted
MIC GAIN
control as necessary for your mic. Use the OL indicator as an adjustment aid: increase gain
until this LED
occasionally
lights. Optimum noise performance results from taking as much gain as possible. (The OL indi-
cator on the front panel
parallels
the one on the rear.) Select
PHANTOM POWER
as needed for each channel indepen-
dently. When setting channel equalization, use the
IN/OUT
switch to compare equalized with unequalized material.
When using the
AUX A/B
level controls, remember to set the desired take-off location using the
PRE/POST
switches.
PRE
takes this signal
before
the Channel
LEVEL
controls, allowing independent operation of both.
POST
takes this signal
after
the Channel
LEVEL
controls, allowing the
LEVEL
controls to turn the Aux levels up/down simultaneously. Set the
OUTPUT SELECT
to assign each input channel to the desired output. Choose between
“A”
only,
“B”
only or
“AB”
both.
Note that choosing only one, say “A,” routes this input to
both
MASTER 1A
and
MASTER 2A
outputs, but nothing goes
to either B output.
When setting input
AUX A/B
and
LEVEL A/B
controls, keep an eye on the appropriate
PRE-OUTPUT OVERLOAD
in-
dicators. They monitor overloading of the critical summing stages. Use the
METER & HEADPHONE ASSIGN
switch to
select the desired output for metering and monitoring. The
HEADPHONE
connects to the same point as the
OUTPUT ME-
TERS
— what you see is what you hear.
Read the Rane FLEX USERS GUIDE for details about the Flex DIN connectors. Expansion and augmentation of the CM
86 is easily done using this handy bus.
TAPE OUT
is taken
after
the
MASTER INSERT LOOPS
and before the
MASTER
1 & 2 OUT LEVEL
controls. The
MASTER INSERT LOOPS
do
not
affect the
AUX A & B
outputs. All four
MASTER
OUTS
are driven by high-current cross-coupled line drivers which will drive lines 1000 feet (305 meters) using Belden
8451 or equal wire.
Miscellaneous: The CM 86 does NOT invert signals. Use the LIFT (ground lift) switch to help eliminate stubborn hum
problems. NEVER CONNECT ANYTHING EXCEPT AN APPROVED RANE RS 2 (the big one) POWER SUPPLY
TO THE RED JACK ON THE REAR OF THE UNIT.
Good fortune and great wealth are coming your way.
SYSTEM CONNECTION
When first connecting the CM 86, LEAVE THE POWER SUPPLY FOR LAST. This gives you a chance to make mis-
takes and correct them without damaging your fragile speakers, ears and nerves.
INPUTS. Each input channel has two MIC IN connectors. The 3-pin (XLR-type)
connector
and the terminal strip are wired
in parallel and either one works equally well; however, they do NOT sum. USE ONLY ONE. Choose strictly from a re-
quired hardware point-of-view, there is no performance trade-off. Wiring convention conforms to the AES/ANSI/IEC stan-
dard of pin 2 positive, pin 3 negative and pin 1 ground, with
the
shell
being
tied
to
chassis.
Microphones requiring Phantom
Powering must tie pin
1 to the
shield,
otherwise the Phantom Power circuit is not completed. The LINE IN is an unbalanced
1/4" jack, and may be used in conjunction with the MIC IN. The MIC/LINE switch then operates as a selector switch. When
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