Mackie Big Knob Studio Command System Introduction, Getting Started, Connections, Zero the Controls

BIG KNOB

Introduction

Thank you for choosing the Mackie Big Knob, your signal routing and monitoring solution for your DAW-based studio. Big Knob provides a control room matrix and the basic features of an expensive mixer, but tailored for the requirements of your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) environment. These features include selecting up to four separate stereo input sources, monitoring through three different speakers for A/B/C comparisons, providing a separate headphone mix and a studio output for the talent, and a built-in talkback mic for slate-to-tape and headphone cueing. In other words, it gives you everything you need from a mixer, without the stuff you don’t need!

Another important feature you’ve come to expect from Mackie is pristine sound quality, and Big Knob is no exception. This is studio-quality gear, and we made sure the audio signal suffers no degradation by passing through Big Knob. You can connect this baby between your expensive DAW and your really expensive studio monitors with no reservations. Big Knob will pass the test!

Big Knob is part of the growing family of Mackie computer recording products. Visit our website (www.mackie.com) to learn more about these products and the solutions to your audio and recording needs that Mackie has to offer, or pick up a catalog at your nearest Mackie dealer.

INPUT

OL

8

0

4

8

24

0 = +4dBu

PHONES

1

OO

2

OO

	INPUT SOURCE SELECT			MIC		POWER		MONITOR SELECT
DAW	2-TRACK	2-TRACK	PHONO				A		B	C
MIX	A	B
		STUDIO OUTS							TALKBACK
				OO	VOLUME	MAX
	PHONES/
	STUDIO OUTS
	SOURCE
MAX				MONO		DIM
	INPUT SOURCE(S)	OFF	OO	MAX	MUTE	OO	MAX		TO	TO
	PHONES MIX INPUT	ON	LEVEL			LEVEL			2-TRACKS	PHONES/

STUDIO

MAX

Getting Started Zero the Controls

The following steps will help you set up your Big Knob and get the levels adjusted correctly. Once you have made the connections and adjustments, refer to the Features section for more in-depth information about each input, output, switch, and control knob.

Most of the inputs and outputs on Big Knob have either a trim control or a level switch labeled –10 dB and +4 dB. This actually comes from two standard operating levels that have evolved in the audio industry:

–10 dBV consumer level and +4 dBu pro-

	fessional level. Most consumer equipment with RCA
	connectors operate at the –10 dBV level, while most
	professional equipment with 1/4-inch phone jacks
	or XLR connectors operate at the +4 dBu level.
	As you might expect, the +4 dBu level is higher
	(louder) than the –10 dBV level, so it is important to
	match the input and output levels of Big Knob to the
	equipment you have connected to it. For a Big Knob
	input, the –10 dB setting accepts a smaller signal
	and provides more gain than the +4 dB setting. For
	a Big Knob output, the –10 dB setting produces a
	smaller signal than the +4 dB setting.
4	BIG KNOB

1.Turn off the POWER switch on the rear panel.

2.On the front panel, turn the Big VOLUME Knob

and all the LEVEL controls all the way down (counterclockwise).

3.Set all the switches to the up position (front and rear panels).

4.On the rear panel, turn all the trim controls all the way down (counterclockwise).

Connections

1.Connect the supplied detachable power cord to

the AC socket on the rear panel of Big Knob. Set the AC SELECT switch to the correct position that corresponds to the AC voltage you are using (100-120V or 220-240V).

For Monitoring:

2.Connect the audio outputs (stereo mix) from your DAW’s audio interface to the two DAW MIX input jacks on the rear panel of Big Knob.