3. INSERT

EFFECTS: SERIAL OR PARALLEL?

With nothing plugged into this jack, the channel’s signal goes straight through the mic/ line preamp to the channel strip. With an external effects device plugged into this jack, the channel’s signal leaves the mixer, goes through the effects device and back into the channel strip.

Use these jacks to send the channel signal through a compressor, graphic equalizer or similar device. Since the insert is before the CHANNEL FADER (42), moving that fader will not alter the level sent to a compressor, thereby preserving the original signal’s charac- teristics.

These unbalanced jacks are wired thusly: Tip = Send (to effects device input)

Ring = Return (from effects device output) Sleeve = Common ground (connect shield to all three sleeves)

 

ring

 

SEND to processor

tip

(TRS plug)

“tip”

sleeve

 

This plug connects to one of the

“ring”

mixer’s Channel Insert jacks.

RETURN from processor

Specialty “Y” cables, developed just for these jacks, are widely available.

Besides being used for inserting effects de- vices, these jacks can also be used as channel direct outputs; post-TRIM, pre-LOW CUT and pre EQ.

Here are three ways to use the INSERT jacks:

MONO PLUG

Channel Insert jack

Direct out with no signal interruption to master.

Insert only to first “click”

MONO PLUG

Channel Insert jack

Direct out with signal interruption to master.

Insert all the way in to the second “click”

STEREO

PLUG

Channel Insert jack

For use as an effects loop.

(TIP= SEND to effect, RING = RETURN from effects)

Effects devices are used either in serial or in parallel:

Serial means that the en-

tire signal is routed through

the effects device. Examples include: preamps, compres-

sor/limiters, graphic equalizers. Connections are typically made via the channel insert jacks.

Parallel means that a portion of the signal is tapped off to the effects device processed and returned, 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 include: reverb, delay, chorus. Connections are typically made via aux sends & aux returns.

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)

 

4. STEREO LINE IN

These balanced inputs are designed for TRS balanced or TS unbalanced signals, from -20dB to +20dB. They can accept any line-level in- strument, effects device or tape player.

When connecting a stereo device (two cords), use the LEFT (MONO) input and the RIGHT input.

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.

These inputs accept 1/4” TRS balanced and 1/4” TS unbalanced plugs, see the previous page for wiring details.

15