Difference between revisions of "Trim Controls Volume Controls Master Volume"

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== Background ==
 
== Background ==
Mixers accept inputs from various sources.  Here are some examples:
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ToneMatch mixers accept inputs from various sources from very low output devices (like microphones or bare piezo pickups found in some guitars) up to line-level devices (like other mixers).
<table>
+
   
<tr>
 
<th>Input Source
 
</th>
 
<th>Signal Strength
 
</th>
 
<th>Output Voltage
 
</th>
 
</tr>
 
  
<tr>
 
<td>Instrument<br>Piezo pickup (no preamp)
 
</td>
 
<td>Very Low
 
</td>
 
<td>50–100 mV
 
</td>
 
</tr>
 
 
 
<tr>
 
<td>Microphone
 
</td>
 
<td>
 
</td>
 
<td>-30 dBu<br>1.5 to 70 mv
 
</td>
 
</tr>
 
 
<tr>
 
<td>Instrument
 
<br>Acoustic Guitar with pickup
 
<br>Electric Guitar
 
</td>
 
<td>
 
</td>
 
<td>100 mV rms to over 1 V rms<ref>[http://tomsguitarprojects.blogspot.com/2014/12/electric-guitar-output-voltage-levels.html Electric Guitar Output Voltage Levels]</ref>
 
</td>
 
</tr>
 
 
<tr>
 
<td>Instrument Level
 
<br>Electronic Keyboard
 
</td>
 
<td>-20dBu
 
</td>
 
<td>
 
</td>
 
</tr>
 
 
<tr>
 
<td>Line Level<br>Consumer
 
</td>
 
<td>-10dBu
 
</td>
 
<td>
 
</td>
 
</tr>
 
 
<tr>
 
<td>Line Level<br>output from preamps<br>Tip-Ring-Sleeve
 
</td>
 
<td> 0dBu 0.78 V
 
</td>
 
<td>
 
</td>
 
</tr>
 
 
<tr>
 
<td>Line Level<br>Professional<br>Tip-Ring-Sleeve
 
</td>
 
<td>+4dBu 1.25 V
 
</td>
 
<td>
 
</td>
 
</tr>
 
</table>
 
  
 
== Gain Staging  ==
 
== Gain Staging  ==
 +
Setting the levels starts with gain staging - setting the input trim for each input to the ToneMatch mixer. The purpose of this step is, so all the inputs have the same signal strength when you start mixing with the channel volume controls.
  
Your first adjustment for any input to your ToneMatch mixer is the Trim setting. The exact position of the Trim will vary depending on signal strength of your input source. The correct setting for any particular source may be different from your other sources.  
+
The exact position of the Trim will vary depending on signal strength of your input source. The correct setting for any particular source may be different from your other sources.  
  
 
[[Image:T1TrimPots.png|T1® Trim Pots]]  
 
[[Image:T1TrimPots.png|T1® Trim Pots]]  
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=== Set Input Trim ===
 
=== Set Input Trim ===
Turn the Trim setting up until the Trim Light is solid green with occasional flickers of yellow. Use the Trim lights as your guide. (The exact position of the Trim knob is not important).
+
Turn the Trim setting up until the Trim Light is solid green with occasional flickers of red. Use the Trim lights as your guide. (The exact position of the Trim knob is not important).
  
 
[[Image:TrimlightsOK.gif]]
 
[[Image:TrimlightsOK.gif]]
  
If you see flickers of red (below), turn the Trim down. You are definitely nearing or in compression. Turn the Trim down until there are no red flickers.  
+
If you see solid red (below), turn the Trim down. You are definitely nearing or in compression. Turn the Trim down until there are only occasional red flickers.  
  
 
[[Image:TrimlightsNo.gif]]
 
[[Image:TrimlightsNo.gif]]
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 +
==Channel Volume==
 +
 +
The channel volume controls are where you set the relative volume for each source.
 +
 +
If you want the microphone to be as loud as the guitar, then you'll probably set both of them to 12:00 o'clock. There's nothing particularly significant about that setting, except you would set the volume controls the same. 12:00 o'clock is convenient to remember as a starting point. It gives you lots of room to make adjustments up or down.
 +
 +
From there, you can turn things up or down to fine tune the balance. If you need the vocals louder, turn up the volume on that channel (or turn down the volume on the guitar channel).
 +
 +
When you get the balance of all the inputs right, then you can control the overall volume with the Master volume.
 +
 +
==Master Volume==
 +
 +
Control the volume of all the inputs simultaneously with the Master Volume Control.  It's unlikely you'll have to turn it much above 12:00 o'clock.
 +
 +
On the [[T8S]] use the meters. The average output level should be near 0dBU. If you hit OL (overload will appear RED) turn down the master volume.
 +
  
 
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Latest revision as of 06:27, 22 December 2018

T8S This information is applicable to the T8S ToneMatch® mixer
T4S This information is applicable to the T4S ToneMatch® mixer
T1 This information is applicable to the T1 ToneMatch® audio engine

Introduction

On the ToneMatch mixers (and many others) there are three controls that affect the volume

  • Trim
  • Channel Volume
  • Master Volume

Questions:

  • What do these controls do?
  • When do you use the different controls?
  • Should they all be the same?

Background

ToneMatch mixers accept inputs from various sources from very low output devices (like microphones or bare piezo pickups found in some guitars) up to line-level devices (like other mixers).


Gain Staging

Setting the levels starts with gain staging - setting the input trim for each input to the ToneMatch mixer. The purpose of this step is, so all the inputs have the same signal strength when you start mixing with the channel volume controls.

The exact position of the Trim will vary depending on signal strength of your input source. The correct setting for any particular source may be different from your other sources.

T1® Trim Pots

Set Up Your Source

Set your source at the maximum that it will be when performing.

  • Microphone
Sing directly into the microphone using close microphone technique (lips just brushing the windscreen). Sing as loudly as you will sing during your performance. You want to set the Trim to work at your maximum volume.
  • Instrument
Turn your input as high as it is likely to go during performance.

Set Input Trim

Turn the Trim setting up until the Trim Light is solid green with occasional flickers of red. Use the Trim lights as your guide. (The exact position of the Trim knob is not important).

TrimlightsOK.gif

If you see solid red (below), turn the Trim down. You are definitely nearing or in compression. Turn the Trim down until there are only occasional red flickers.

TrimlightsNo.gif

Channel Volume

The channel volume controls are where you set the relative volume for each source.

If you want the microphone to be as loud as the guitar, then you'll probably set both of them to 12:00 o'clock. There's nothing particularly significant about that setting, except you would set the volume controls the same. 12:00 o'clock is convenient to remember as a starting point. It gives you lots of room to make adjustments up or down.

From there, you can turn things up or down to fine tune the balance. If you need the vocals louder, turn up the volume on that channel (or turn down the volume on the guitar channel).

When you get the balance of all the inputs right, then you can control the overall volume with the Master volume.

Master Volume

Control the volume of all the inputs simultaneously with the Master Volume Control. It's unlikely you'll have to turn it much above 12:00 o'clock.

On the T8S use the meters. The average output level should be near 0dBU. If you hit OL (overload will appear RED) turn down the master volume.



References