16
Connecting Audio to the EMX
Connect a stereo analog audio signal (like a +4 dBu test tone playing on
a CD player) to the ANALOG 2 IN jack on the PR&E Mix Engine using
wiring that follows the RJ45 wiring pin out shown on in Figure 2-4 on page
12. That jack’s default signal name is BL001S02, which should already be
shown in the Channel 1 display as the current source for that fader
channel. Figure 2-8 identifies this jack on the back of the Mix Engine.
To verify you have audio, press the channel 1 Cue button (it lights) to
connect that channel’s audio input to the stereo cue speakers in the meter
bridge. Adjust the CUE encoder on the Monitor Control panel to adjust the
cue speaker level. Press the cue button again (the LED turns off) to
unassign channel 1 from the cue bus.
Assign channel 1 to PGM 1, PGM 2, PGM 3, and PGM 4 (light up all
four assignment buttons). Set the channel 1 fader to the Fader Marks by
aligning the middle line on the fader knob to the two arrows that indicate
the -12 dB setting, which is unity gain through the console.
Turn Channel 1 on by pressing and releasing the On button (directly
below the channel display). This button turns red when pressed, indicating
the audio source is now being applied to the selected Program buses.
Figure 2-8 Mix Engine, rear panel partial, showing Audio and Logic Jacks
If the input is a +4 dBu test tone, then all of the green meter segments
will light along with the first yellow segment, which indicates the level is at
-20 dbFS (dBFS = decibels below Full Scale). This is equivalent to 0 VU on
an analog VU meter. The three dedicated Program meters (Program 1,
Program 2, and Program 3) should show this level. The Switched Meter
will show Program 4 when the PGM 4 button is lit in the Meter column of
the Monitor Control panel (press the button to light it).
If desired, connect a test set to the four PGM ANALOG outputs to
confirm that each is putting out +4 dBu. Connect a digital test set to the
four PGM DIGITAL outputs (since they have the same signals as the analog
jacks) to confirm they are each putting out -20 dbFS. The default sources
for these PGM outputs are the PGM 1 to PGM 4 buses, but PR&E Navigator
can be used to connect alternate sources to any of these four stereo
outputs.
To check the four analog monitor outputs (the OUT jacks) connect a test
set (or a powered monitor speaker with a balanced input) to the CR jack.
In the left column of the Monitor Control panel, select PGM MONITOR 1
as the source for the Control Room. The CR fader adjusts the level of the
CR output. Orange/blue bar graphs in the left and middle monitor displays
show the relative levels of the CR, HDPN, CUE, and STU outputs (Figure
2-9).
The CR monitor output has a speaker icon (upper bar graph in the
left display).
Move the test output to the HDPN connector. Its output level is
adjusted by the HDPN fader. Its level has a headphone icon (bottom bar
graph in the left display). This level also affects the output from the EMX
Surface’s headphone jack.
Move the test output to the STU output. In the middle column of the
Monitor Control panel, select PGM MONITOR 1 as the monitor source for
the Studio. Adjust the STUDIO encoder to adjust the STU output as
required. Its level is shown in the bottom bar graph in the middle display.
Move the test output cable to the CUE output. Press the Cue button on
channel 1 so that it lights. Adjust the CUE encoder. Its level controls both
the built-in cue speakers in the meter bridge as well as any powered
speaker connected to the Cue output on the Mix Engine. The upper bar
graph in the middle display shows the cue level.
Figure 2-9 Monitor panel displays showing the monitor output Levels
The remaining two bar graphs in the right-hand display show the levels
for the Talkback to Control Room level control (TBR) and the Talkback to
Studio (TBX) level control on the Monitor Control panel. The TB TO CR
encoder adjusts the level of talkback coming into the control room from a
studio microphone. The TB TO STU encoder adjusts the level of the
Control Room Mic talking into the Studio output.
By following the preceding steps, you should now have a basic under-
standing of EMX console operations and the Mix Engine signal connections.
If you have a list of audio devices, and which inputs and outputs they’ll
plug into, you can use PR&E Navigator and the EMX Surface Setup apps to
name the input signals and configure the console for your application.
Board operators typically find it a lot easier to use a console when the
source names are HOST MIC, CD, VOXPRO, PLAY 1, PLAY 2, etc., rather
than the default names of BL001S04, BL001S08, etc.
The next chapter covers how to use the PR&E apps (EMX Surface Setup,
PR&E Navigator, and the PR&E System Configuration Tool) to configure the
Mix Engine, the EMX Surface, and the Razor I/O Interfaces for your
specific application. Chapter 4 covers EMX Surface operations from a board
operator perspective. The remainder of this chapter presents additional
details about the audio and logic connections on the Mix Engine and Razor.
