25
AUX RETURNS
These two controls set the overall level of
effects received from
STEREO AUX RETURN
in-
puts
1
and
2
. These controls are designed to
handle a wide range of signal levels, from
off,
to
unity gain at the detent, with 20dB gain fully
clockwise, to compensate for low-level effects.
Typically, these knobs can just live at the
center detent, and the effects device’s output
control should be set at whatever they call
unity gain (check their manual). If that turns
out to be too loud or too quiet, adjust the ef-
fects device’s outputs, not the mixer. That way,
the mixer’s knobs are easy to relocate at the
center detent.
Signals passing through the
AUX RETURN
level
controls will proceed directly to
MAIN
MIX
, with one exception (see next para-
graph). The
AUX RETURN
s
do not have
MUTE/ALT 3-4
switches, so if you want these
signals to get to the
ALT 3-4
mix, you’ll have to
patch the effects device’s outputs into one of
the stereo channels , and
MUTE/ALT
those
channels.
EFX TO MONITOR
The idea behind the
EFX TO MONITOR
switch is simple. If you want to add reverb or
delay to the stage monitor mixes, this is the
switch for you. The implementation leading up
to the switch is the tricky part:
With the switch up,
AUX RETURN 1
and
2
behave normally — they deliver their signals
into the
MAIN MIX
. With the switch down,
AUX RETURN 1
still behaves normally, but
AUX RETURN 2
will feed
AUX SEND 1
instead of the
MAIN MIX
.
Still with us? Good. So far, with the switch
down, we have
AUX RETURN 1
feeding the
MAIN MIX
and
AUX RETURN 2
feeding
AUX
SEND 1
. Now, suppose you only have one ef-
fects device, and you want it to feed both the
MAIN MIX
and
AUX SEND 1
. That’s where
“jack normalling” comes in.
JACK NORMALLING
Jack normalling (not to be confused with
Jack Normalling, Chicago Cubs utility infielder,
1952-61, .267 LBA) is a feature found on al-
most every mixer, keyboard and effects device.
These jacks have special spring-loaded pins
that connect to the signal pins, but when
something is plugged into the jack, that
connection is broken.
These normalling pins can be used in all
sorts of ways. The ubiquitous phrase “
LEFT
(
MONO
)” means that if you plug a signal into
the
LEFT
side and have
nothing
in the
RIGHT
side, that signal is also fed to the right input,
courtesy of jack normalling. As soon as you
plug something in the
RIGHT
side, that
normalled connection is broken.
How does all this relate to the
EFX TO
MONITOR
switch?
AUX RETURN 1
’s inputs
are normalled to
AUX RETURN 2
. If you have
one effects device, plug it into
AUX RETURN 1
.
Plug nothing into
AUX RETURN 2
. Now the
signals feeding the
AUX RETURN 1
inputs will
also be sent to the
AUX RETURN 2
inputs.
Engage the
EFX TO MONITOR
switch, and
now the
AUX RETURN 2
knob will become an
additional
AUX SEND 1
knob for the signal at
AUX RETURN 1
. Say that ten times! Once
again,
AUX RETURN 1
will behave normally,
as always.
Congratulations!
You’ve just read about all
the features of your MS1202-VLZ. You’re prob-
ably ready for a cold one. Go ahead. The rest of
the manual can wait.
