Symetrix airTools 6200 User Manual Download Page 4

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User’s Guide

6200 Digital

Voice Processor

To download the latest version of 6200 Designer, a Windows GUI

application interface for the 6200, go to: www.airtoolsaudio.com

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Basic Setup

POWER:

Connect the IEC connector side of the supplied AC cord to the receptacle on the rear of the

6200. Connect the other side of the AC cable to an AC power source that is of the correct voltage and

frequency (100-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz). Use only the power cord and connector specified for the product and

your operating locale.

ANALOG IN:

Using a standard microphone cable terminated

with one male XLR connector and one female XLR connector,

connect the male end into the CHAN 1 - ANALOG IN of the

6200 and the female end into your microphone.

Caution 1:

When Phantom Power is engaged, do not use unbalanced microphones or mic cables.

Caution 2:

When Phantom Power is engaged, do not use switched mics which short pin 2 and/or pin 3 to ground.

Caution 3:

When Phantom Power is engaged, always turn down monitors/headphones before connecting or

disconnecting microphones.

ANALOG OUT:

Using a standard mic/line cable terminated

with one male XLR connector and one female XLR connector,

connect the female end into the CHAN 1 - ANALOG OUT of

the 6200 and the male end into your destination device. These

outputs are +4 dBu balanced line level outputs. If you need an

unbalanced output, see the analog audio wiring diagrams in

Appendix C.
NOTE: Wiring the outputs to an unbalanced cable will typically result in an output level that is 6 dB lower than the output level

achieved using a balanced cable.

PHANTOM POWER (if required - skip this section if using a dynamic mic which does not require phantom power):

All

condenser microphones require some kind of electrical power. This power may be supplied by internal batteries, an external

power supply that is connected to the microphone by a special multiwire cable, or through a standard microphone cable by

“phantom” or “T system” powering.
Phantom powering and T system powering are incompatible systems. Phantom power derives its name from its invisibility

to audio signals, even though the microphone cable carries both phantom power (as direct current) and audio signals (as

alternating current). Specifically, the term phantom power means a positive DC voltage sent to the microphone on both audio

leads, through current-limiting resistors which also serve to isolate the audio leads from one another. Enabling phantom power

applies phantom power via pins 2 and 3 of the mic input XLR connectors.
The phantom power technique uses the two signal conductors in a standard balanced mic cable to deliver the power required by

the microphone, eliminating the need for internal batteries or an external power supply. Because the voltage is applied equally

to both sides of a floating balanced circuit, no current flows through the microphone’s transformer, or through the microphone

element itself.
It is often said that the sound of some dynamic microphones is affected by phantom power and that ribbon mics cannot be

plugged into an input that is phantom powered. For the most part, these are myths that grew out of difficulties created by other

problems in the mic circuit:

1. When XLR connectors are mated there is no guarantee that both pins 2 and 3 will make contact at exactly the same time. It

is possible that a damaging current could flow through the mic for a brief moment under these conditions. However, this is a

connector problem, not a problem with the mic itself or phantom power in general.

2. In the past, it was a common practice to ground the center tap of the mic’s output transformer. However, this practice should

be avoided in phantom powered systems. The solution: Locate the center tap and cut the connection between it and pin 1 of

the XLR connector.

3. If the mic’s output transformer has developed leakage, the microphone may become noisy when phantom power is turned