EFFECTS: SERIAL OR PARALLEL?

Effects devices are used

either in serial or in parallel:

“Serial” means that the

entire signal is routed

through the effects device. Examples: preamps, compressor/limiters, graphic equalizers.

“Parallel” means that a portion of the signal is tapped off to the device (usually via a mixer’s aux send), processed and returned (usually via a mixer’s aux return), to be mixed with the original “dry” signals. Multiple signals (via multiple mixer channels) can all make use of the same parallel effects device. Examples: reverb, digital delay, chorus. See diagrams below.

Serial Device

 

Insert

Insert

 

Send

Return

 

Signal Processor

 

Dry Signal

(e.g., Compressor)

Processed

 

 

Signal

Parallel Device

Aux

Aux

Output

 

Send

Return

Section

 

Signal Processor

 

 

 

(e.g., Reverb)

 

Wet Signal

 

 

 

Mix

Processed

Channel Path

 

Stage

Signal

 

 

 

Dry Signal(s)

 

Dry Signal(s)

 

STEREO LINE IN

These balanced inputs are designed for stereo or mono, balanced or unbalanced signals, from –20 dB to +20 dB. These TRS inputs can be used with just about any professional or semipro instrument, effect or tape player.

When connecting a mono device (just one cord), always use the LEFT (MONO) input and plug nothing into the RIGHT input. A trick called “jack normalling” will cause the signal to appear on both sides.

MAIN OUT

Coming in two flavors, XLR and TRS, the main output represents the end of the mixer chain, where your fully mixed and enhanced stereo signal enters the real world.

The XLR balanced outputs will add 6 dB when connected to balanced inputs, thereby elevating signal from the noise floor by that amount.

The TRS balanced outputs offer the advantage of having no 6 dB level change to deal with, while still providing extraneous noise rejection.

SUBWOOFER OUT

The CFX Mixer has an integrated mono- summing 75Hz 3rd-order low-pass filter. It taps the left and right MAIN OUT signals, mixes them into a mono signal, then removes all but the deepest bass information. Patch this balanced XLR output to a high-powered mono-summed amp and subwoofer (or an active subwoofer), and the music police will be right over.

MAIN INSERT

With nothing plugged into these jacks, the mix signal goes from the mix amp straight through to the MAIN MIX Faders . But when you plug a serial device into these jacks, the mix leaves the mixer, goes through the device and back into the mixer’s main mix faders.

If you want to send your main mix through a compressor/limiter or similar device, these are the jacks for you. Since the insert is before the mix faders, moving the fader will not alter the signal strength sent to the compressor, thereby preserving its compression characteristics.

These unbalanced jacks are configured the same as the channel strip insert jacks. See page 8 for wiring and usage information.

 

STEREO EFX

EFX SEND

TAPE

TAPE

MAIN INSERT MAIN OUT

MAIN OUT

LAMP

L

RETURN

R

INPUT

OUTPUT

L

L

 

12V 0.5A

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

L

L

 

 

L

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

R

R

 

 

 

2

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EFX

 

(MONO)

(MONO)

 

1

1

3

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

11

L

 

 

 

 

FOOT

 

LEFT

LEFT

 

 

 

 

 

SWITCH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RIGHT

RIGHT

 

2

2

4

S

 

 

10

12

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

UTILITY OUT

AUX SEND

SUB OUT

 

75Hz

PHONES

 

 

 

SUB OUT

9