Samson PL2404 manual Using the Balance Control

Using the Balance Control

L R BALANCE

The final Main output of the PL 2404 is stereo—that is, there are two discrete Main output jacks (and two discrete Control Room output jacks), labeled “left” and “right,” which will normally be routed to two discrete speakers.* Because of this, you will usually be working with a stereo field that ranges from hard left to hard right. The PL 2404 provides twenty-four stereo channels, each with two inputs—an odd-numbered (left) input and an even-numbered (right) input. When only the odd-numbered (left) input is connected, the Balance control in that stereo channel acts like a panning control, allowing you to place each individual sound at any point within this left-right field, while keeping the overall level con- stant.

You can use stereo panning creatively in a variety of ways: For example, you might want to have guitars coming from one speaker and keyboards from another, or you might use panning to “spread” the signal from a piano miked with two microphones—one over the bass notes (panned left) and the other over the treble notes (panned right). In live performance, you may want to resist the temptation to pan anything completely hard left or right, since some members of the audience not seated in the center of the venue may miss some signal alto- gether. In these circumstances, you’re best to use modest panning, with signals routed no further than the 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock positions.

In channels where both the odd-numbered (left) and even-numbered (right) inputs are connected, the odd-numbered (left) input signal is automatically panned hard left and the even-numbered (right) input signal is automatically panned hard right. The Balance knob in these channels then controls the relative levels of the two input signals. When the knob is placed at its center (detented) position, both the odd-numbered (left) and even-numbered (right) input signals are at equal strength. When moved left of center, the signal of the odd-numbered (left) input remains the same but the signal of the even-numbered (right) input is attenuated; when the knob is moved right of center, the the signal of the even-numbered (right) input remains the same but the signal of the odd- numbered (left) input is attenuated. When placed fully counterclockwise, only the odd-numbered (left) input is heard; when placed fully clockwise, only the even-numbered (right) input is heard.

*You can, of course, also use the PL 2404 monophonically—simply route the same signal to both the left and right outputs.

18