The AUX3 POST button is engaged (LED is lit): the signal at the AUX3 rotary control is POST
FADER – the signal gets split after it passed the channel faders and therefore is affected by their
settings. Setting all AUX3 controls to their center position, the main mix is also present on the
monitor bus, giving you the opportunity to control the volume settings individually from the stage.
The overall volume of the monitor mix is set with the AUX3 fader in the master section. If you are
using this option you have to keep in mind that all volume changes made with the channel faders
also appear in the monitor mix, leaving you with a higher risk of acoustical feedback.
To reduce the risk of feedback you still have the option to adjust the individual send levels via the
channels’ AUX3 rotary controls. There is even the possibility to cancel some loud instruments –
like the kick drum or the snare drum, which are in fact already loud enough on-stage – totally from
the monitor mix by turning the corresponding controls all the way to the left.
10. PAN
This control determines the position of the connected sound source within the stereo image. When
this control is set at its center position, the audio signal is fed with equal levels to the left and the
right master busses. Through the extensive PAN section circuitry the essential sound pressure
level always stays the same, no matter to what position within the stereo image the PAN control
is set.
11. PFL
Engaging the PFL button (Pre Fader Listening) routes the audio signal of the corresponding
channel to the headphone bus. In this way you can route as many signals as you want to the bus
at the same time. The volume levels of the individual signals are not affected by the channel fader
settings – PRE FADER LISTENING. This gives you the opportunity to set the level or the EQ of
a channel without the need to include it in the main mix. The overall signal of the headphone bus
is present at the headphone output.
12. SIGNAL (present) / PEAK indicator
This indicator plays a key role during the level adjustment of the input channels, offering optical
information of the actual signal level. It provides the possibility to detect the risk of occurring
overdrive before you would actually hear the distortion. Unlike the mixers of many other
manufacturers that either only provide a PEAK indicator or no channel indicator at all.
As described before, the signal “present” LED should blink in the rhythm of the incoming signal.
If this is not the case, you have to increase the gain. If the PEAK LED, on the other hand, blinks
frequently or lights up constantly, the corresponding channel is likely to enter clipping and you
have to turn the gain control a bit to the left. The signal “present” LED lights at levels –30dB below
clipping while the peak LED lights at a level of –6dB below the occurrence of overdrive.
It is also a good idea to watch the indicator during a performance. There is rumor that during a
performance some musicians get carried away by the music and the atmosphere. They tend to
play their instruments more dynamic than during the rehearsal. This, of course, can easily lead to
channel clipping, resulting in the degradation of the overall sound.
13. VOLUME
The channel faders are used to set the volume of the corresponding channels and to establish an
accurately proportioned mix. The channel faders should be positioned within the range of –5dB
to 0dB, leaving you with a degree of control that allows the precise matching of relative big
differences in the channels’ level settings. The overall volume is set through the use of the master
faders.
Even though the channel faders offer an additional gain of +10dB, we would like to advise you not
to exceed the +5dB mark. If the PowerMate’s main bus gets “overloaded” with too many “high
level” input channels, despite its special negative gain structure, the summing amplifier could be
driven into clipping. Once you register, that some channel faders are set above the 0dB marking,
we would recommend you lower the setting of each channel fader by about –5dB and increase
the overall output level by elevating the master faders. The proportion of the mix and the overall
volume stay the same while the risk of clipping is prohibited.
INPUT/MONO
36