The SoundField SPS422B
Issue 1.7
User Guide
Page 6
QUICK START
CONNECTING THE SPS422B TO YOUR SYSTEM
Before applying mains power to the SPS422B connect the microphone to the control unit with the
provided 12-pin cable. The LEFT/RIGHT XLR outputs of the SPS422B control unit should be
connected to two line level inputs of the mixing console (or recorder) and panned hard left and
right accordingly. The four B-Format XLR outputs should be connected to four tracks of the multi-
track recorder or the B-Format inputs of the SP451 Surround Processor. In the absence of line
level inputs the SPS422B has sufficient gain range to feed mic. level inputs.
If connecting to mic.
level inputs, ensure that the gain on the control unit is turned fully down (-30 dB) initially.
Please note the XLR balanced line level outputs are wired as follows:
PIN 1 = screen (earth), PIN 2 = + (positive), PIN 3 =
-
(negative).
If the SPS422B is to be connected to unbalanced inputs it will be necessary to bridge PIN 1
to PIN 3.
The live side of the microphone is indicated by the SoundField logo.
WIDE IMAGE STEREO RECORDING
For wide image stereo recording such as acoustic guitars, pianos, drum kits, ensembles, vocals etc.
*
Switch on the system and allow to warm up for at least five minutes.
*
Set the
Pattern
control midway (cardioid).
*
Set the
Width
control to its mid position.
*
M/S
button out.
*
End
Fire button out (if the microphone is to be used in its normal side
entry mode).
*
Use the
Gain
and
Fine Gain
controls to set a nominal 0VU on peak signal levels.
The
Inv
switch should be used if the microphone is suspended in the inverted position, otherwise
the left and right outputs will be reversed.
Whilst monitoring a rehearsal, experiment with the
Pattern
control to capture the optimum
balance between direct and reflected sound, then adjust
Width
to produce the desired stereo
‘spread’. A cardioid pattern will exclude much of the room reflections whereas a figure of eight
pattern will pick up the vocal and the room ambience with equal efficiency.
SURROUND RECORDING
For 5.1 surround recording or other multi-speaker playback formats.
*
Switch on the system and allow to warm up for at least five minutes.
*
The
Pattern
and
Width
controls have no effect on the B-Format output material.
*
End
Fire button out (if the microphone is to be used in its normal side
entry mode).
*
Use the
Gain
and
Fine Gain
controls to set a nominal 0VU on peak signal levels.
*
Connect the four B-Format outputs of the SPS422B control unit to the multi-track
recorder. An internationally accepted standard is Track 1=W, Track 2=X, Track 3=Y and
Track 4=Z.
It is important to note that all controls to the right of the LED bargraphs on the SPS422B control
unit (i.e. HP filter, M/S, Pattern & Width) only effect the left/right stereo outputs. Controls to the
left of the LED displays (i.e. Gain, Fine Gain, End-Fire and Invert) will effect the B-Format output
material. When positioning the microphone bear in mind that sound sources occurring to, for
example, the rear left and rear right of the microphone will be reproduced most predominantly by
the rear left and rear right speakers in a surround monitoring playback situation.
