Manual-6
ACTIVE CROSSFADE
Channels 1 and 2, and channels 3 and 4 are internally
combined after the channel faders into A and B mixes
respectively. The output of these mixes are under control of
the Active Crossfader. When the crossfader is in its left-most
position, only A mix (channels 1 and 2) appears at the output.
In the center, both mixes are present in equal levels, and only
B mix (channels 3 and 4) is heard once the crossfader reaches
its far right position. The sound level will not change as this
transition progresses. This is a constant power crossfader
which means that if the two inputs are equal, a steady volume
level will be maintained no matter where the crossfader is
positioned.
Active Crossfader technology dramatically increases the
service life of the crossfader. In the unlikely event of cross-
fader failure, there is no loss of signal—both mixes are
present in equal levels, as if the crossfader was in its center
position. Use the input faders to set the audio levels while the
crossfader is out of service. If a crossfader should become
rough or noisy, it is possible to remove and replace (“hot
swap”) the control during a performance with no interruption
of the audio signal.
MAIN OUTPUT
The active crossfader output signal is routed to the
Program Loop jack. The signal can be fed to external effects
units and returned to the MM 8x. The Program Loop return
signal is combined with the Microphone and Auxiliary input
signals and presented to the Master Level fader, Aux Out
Level control, headphone amplifier, and peak meter. The
Master Level fader should be set at the lowest position while
still achieving overall desired sound output level. The least
amount of gain in the output stage will avoid amplifying
unavoidable noise and provide the cleanest output. For unity
gain in the output stage, set the Master Level fader at the “0
dB” marking.
MICROPHONE OPERATION
Connect the microphone to the appropriate connector. The
Main Mic input on the front panel allows the use of a goose-
neck mounted microphone. The connector is rotated such that
a right angle connector may be used when connecting via mic
cable. Use only one of the front or rear Main Mic inputs, both
are not operable simultaneously. Leave the Master Level
fader in roughly the same position as it was for music. Press
in the Mic On switch, lighting the adjacent LED, and adjust
the Main Mic (or Aux Mic) Level. The tonal balance of the
Main and Aux Mic inputs may be adjusted via the Mic EQ
controls. Modifying the sound of the mic in this way won’t
affect the EQ of the music thru the mixer. When the mic is
not in use, release the Mic On switch to its
out
position to
disconnect the mic signal and extinguish the LED. Should the
mic preamp become overloaded, the Overload indicator will
light. By reducing the appropriate Mic Level control and
increasing the Master Level fader, the desired microphone
level may be restored without overload distortion.
The TAPE OUTPUT does not contain any signal from the
microphone section. If you need to record the mics, use the
Aux Out for your recording signal; this output is a composite
of the Program, Microphone, and Aux input.
AUXILIARY IN/OUT
The auxiliary input is an insertion point in the mix for
added signals. This input combines with the program mix and
microphone signal to provide a final mixer output signal.
Leave the Master Level fader in roughly the same position as
it was for program music. Adjust the Aux In Level control for
the desired sound output. The Aux Out provides a final mixer
output signal, unaffected by the Master Level fader, for
external devices such as tape recorders and video cameras, or
for additional zone feeds. The Aux Out Level control varies
the output signal level.
METERING
The MM 8x’s meter displays signal level in peak dBu.
Two display modes are provided, Stereo Master and Mono
Cue/Mono Program. The mode is selected with the meter
mode switch. With the switch in the
out
position (LEFT/
RIGHT), the meter indicates the level of the left and right
Main Outputs as measured at the output jacks (what you see is
what you hear). The Master signal is the sum of Program,
Microphone, and Aux Input signals.
With the switch in the
in
position, the left meter indicates
the
sum
of
selected
Mono Cue levels and the right meter
indicates Mono Program level. Mono Cue levels are measured
at the output of the source input fader (just before the cross-
fader). The source input fader of a cued channel will need to
be advanced to see level indication on the meter. Mono
Program level is measured at the output of the crossfader (Pre
Master summing and Master Level fader). This arrangement
allows matching of A mix and B mix source levels and beat
prior to crossfading. Note that if two sources are to be in an A
or B mix, both need to be cued for the meter to reflect the
combined levels.
