Behringer MX2442A manual Main Section, Aux Masters

EURODESK MX2442A

+EURODESK insert points are, of course, simultaneously inputs and outputs. For goodness sake, get them onto a patchbay, where they can appear as independent sockets, and do away with all these fiddly Y-connectors that always seem to be the first to get knotted in the flightcase. Now it is possible to do the incredibly useful patch shown in fig. 5.3 without having to make up what would amount to a ring-to-tip, tip-to-ring stereo patch lead.

+Insert points may also be used as pre-EQ direct outputs without interrupting the signal flow. See fig. 7.1 “Direct out connection”.

6. MAIN SECTION

6.1 Aux Masters

Aux sends

Much of the main section (situated left and below the bargraph meters) is taken up by master aux sends and returns.

Stacked in a vertical column are six master AUX SEND LEVEL pots , one for each bus. Each has a gain structure of -ooto +15 dB. The extra 15 dB of gain comes in once a knob passes a center detent (representing the “normal” unity gain position), enabling insensitive outboard FX to be properly driven. Each aux send has a SOLO button , and, as with other areas of the mixer, a local SOLO LED , which starts flashing when any of the aux master sends are solo-ed.

(This is to help you see exactly what has been solo-ed. Any experienced engineer will have had occasion to painstakingly search through every SOLO button on his / her console trying to find out why one of the main SOLO LEDs was flashing, while the control room monitors remained silent!)

Aux returns

On the right hand side are the stereo aux returns, which can also be seen as two additional mono or stereo line inputs. On these inputs there is up to 20 dB of gain available. Alternatively, a mono (center-panned) signal may be returned by plugging into the left aux return jack only.

+This feature is disabled if all line-level l/Os from the EURODESK are wired permanently to a patchbay.

Aux returns 1 & 2

Aux returns 1 and 2 have full group routing matrices to enable returning FX to be sent to tape, plus main mix bus assignment. The functions for aux return 1 (mirrored by aux return 2) are: routing-switches , , ,

LEVEL , BALANCE and SOLO . Level controls the amount of signal being blended into the mix or a group, while balance controls the relative amounts of left and right processed signal. Be sure to have BALANCE control in center-position, if you’re not actually working with it.

+As always, there are exceptions to the rule above. Some short stereo delay effects (say 30 ms to left, 50 ms to right) cause a psycho acoustic effect where the earlier delay seems louder. A similar effect is noticeable when harmonizing in stereo: A slight pitch shift upwards will seem louder than one that goes down. In both cases use BALANCE to compensate. (An analogy comes from greece: the columns of the Parthenon in Athens are slightly bowed so as to appear straight.)

+When carrying out the setup mentioned above or any other stereo imaging exercise, don’t just rely on the control room monitors. Get a pair of headphones and listen in stereo and in reverse stereo, to allow for any hearing discrepancy between your ears.

SOLO

Below the aux returns lies a local SOLO LED . This flashes whenever a SOLO button in the column above is pressed.

6. MAIN SECTION 13