The Feedback Loop

Caution: When Bank to Outputs is selected from the TAPE IN bank—or anytime you assign to a tape track from a tape return channel, then monitor the correlating fader—there is potential for a nasty feedback loop. To create the feedback loop:

•Select the TAPE IN bank.

•Place the multitrack in record-ready.

•Assign a channel to its correlating multitrack input (Channel 25 to Tape Output 1, Channel 26 to Tape Output 2, etc.)

•Slowly raise the Level to Tape V-Pot—or if you’re in Faders to Tape mode, raise the level of the TAPE bank channel fader—correlating to the tape track (Channel 25, 26, etc.)

•Watch the nasty feedback loop on the meter bridge. You might not even be able to hear the loop, but it’s there.

•Finally, try to never do that again!

Note: This phenomenon is not specific to the D8B OS; it’s just the way interconnecting gear works. To eliminate the possibility of a feedback loop is to rob creative flexibility from the system. We all learn to avoid creating feedback loops in our working environment. But it helps to be alerted to the possibility from time to time.

•Any channel can be sent to any number of tape outputs by simply selecting multiple tape outputs: however, only the last selected output is displayed in the OUT window.

•No two channels can be assigned to the same tape output. To sum channels to an output, assign them to a bus, then route the bus to a tape out.

BUS and L/R Output Assignments

•Highlight any BUS out 1–8 to route the channel to the selected bus.

•Highlight the L/R button to route the channel to the Main L/R mix output.

•Click and hold on any BUS or L/R button, then sweep across adjacent channels to assign the selected bus output to multiple channels.

•To assign multiple channels to a mono or stereo set of tape outs, assign them to buses, or a pair of buses, then route the buses to the tape output(s).

•Stereo pairing is selected by assigning a channel to any odd/ even bus pair (1/2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, L/R, etc.) In this case, the PAN control positions the channel between the bus pairs.

The Master Strip

Master Fader

•Controls the Master L/R Mix level.

•Ideally set at unity gain. Control- click anywhere in the fader throw to automatically set the fader to unity.

•Click anywhere in the fader throw to instantly snap to that level.

MASTERS, EFFECTS, TAPE, AND LINE buttons

These are the on-screen fader bank selectors.

•LINE is Fader Bank 1

•TAPE is Fader Bank 2

•EFFECTS is Fader Bank 3

•MASTERS is Fader Bank 4

•HUI is Fader Bank 5 (only available when HUI mode is active)

D8B Manual • Chapter 3 • page 47