Controls And Connectors Descriptions - M-Audio ProjectMix I/O User Manual

Controls and Connectors Descriptions

1. Instrument Input Selector Switch (INST): The INST switch enables the front-panel instrument input (50) and allows you to connect an
instrument-level input (guitar, bass, etc.) to this jack. The front-panel instrument jack shares its input with the rear-panel Channel 1 Line
Input (52) which means that the ProjectMix I/O can receive a signal from only one of these input jacks at a time. To enable the front-
panel jack, press the INST switch to the down position. To disable the front-panel jack and enable the rear-panel Channel 1 Line Input,
press the INST switch to the up position. The Gain 1 (2) control is used to adjust the record level.
NOTE: The MIC/LINE switch on input 1 must be in the LINE (down) position for the front-panel instrument input to work. If the MIC/LINE switch
is in the up position, input 1 will receive signal from the XLR input on the back of the ProjectMix I/O, regardless of the setting of the INST
switch.
2. Input Gain Control Knobs (GAIN): The GAIN control knobs are analog level controls for the input level of the mic (XLR) and line inputs
1 – 8. It's important to note that the best signal-to-noise ratios are achieved by maximizing the level of analog inputs at the A/D
converters. For best results, levels should be adjusted while paying close attention to not only to your audio software's meters, but also
to the input channels' SIGNAL and CLIP LEDs (4,5).
3. Mic/Line Selector Switches (MIC/LINE): Each of the eight analog inputs has its own dedicated MIC/LINE switch which selects between
the XLR (mic level) input (42) or the line-level input (53). When the MIC/LINE switch is in the out position, the XLR input (42) is enabled
and in the down position, the line-level input (53) is enabled.
4. Clip LEDs (CLIP): When a channel's input signal exceeds its headroom, the CLIP LED will light red. When this happens, lower the input
level using the GAIN knob until it stays off.
5. Signal LEDs (SIGNAL): The green SIGNAL LEDs light to indicate the presence of an audio signal on the input.
NOTE: For best results, turn up the input level with the GAIN knob as high as you can without making the CLIP LED light up. If the CLIP LED
lights up, lower the gain until it stays off.
6. Phantom Power Switch (PHANTOM POWER): When the PHANTOM POWER switch is in the down position, its red LED lights up
indicating that phantom power is now being applied to all of the XLR inputs. This allows you to power condenser microphones
connected to the ProjectMix I/O XLR inputs. Press the switch to the up position to turn phantom power off.
7. LCD Display: The two-line backlit LCD display shows the parameter values as you adjust them and also provides feedback about
channel selections, operating modes, and more.
8. Channel Rotary Encoder Knobs (ASSIGNABLE ENCODERS): The eight rotary encoder knobs (35 through 44) affect the selected
parameter in the DAW software. Typically, they will be used to adjust pan position, aux send levels, and EQ, though they can also
be used to adjust specific parameters within plug-ins and virtual instruments. Any parameter adjustments made with these encoder
knobs will be displayed directly above them in the LCD display.
9. Record Enable Buttons (REC): The REC buttons toggle the recording state of the associated channel. The switch will light red when the
channel is armed.
10. Select Buttons (SEL): The SEL buttons activate the associated channels in the DAW software in order to perform a specific operation.
(For example, when adjusting EQ with the ASSIGNABLE ENCODERS, the SEL switch will be used to choose the channel you want to
adjust.) When a channel is selected, the associated SEL switch's yellow LED will light.
11. Solo Buttons (SOLO): SOLO buttons toggle each channel's solo status on and off. When a channel's SOLO button is selected, its green
LED lights and all of the other channels in the DAW application are muted. While the specific behavior of the SOLO buttons is determined
by the DAW software you are using, you can typically solo multiple channels by pressing SOLO buttons on additional channels.
12. Mute Buttons (MUTE): The MUTE buttons toggle each channel's mute status on and off. The selected MUTE button's red LED will light.
13. Channel Faders: The eight 100mm touch-sensitive motorized faders are typically used for controlling the volumes of tracks within your
DAW software. They can also be used to adjust other settings by using the FLIP switch (35). Because these faders are motorized, they
will automatically move to reflect the current level of the selected channels in your DAW application (corresponding to the channels
represented by the position of the BANK switches (31 and 32)). Any automation recorded in a project will be reflected by the fader
positions. Furthermore, touch-sensitivity allows you to override automation the moment you touch a fader.
14. Master Fader: This controls your DAW software's master channel fader and operates identical to the channel faders (13).
15. Window Button (WINDOW): This button is typically mapped to open and close specific windows in the DAW application. Refer to the
Application Notes section describing your audio software for details.
16. Arrow Buttons (ARROW t, p, u, q): The ARROW buttons are typically used to navigate through the Graphical User Interface (GUI)
of the DAW application. Refer to the Application Notes section describing your audio software for details.
17. Zoom Button (ZOOM): The ZOOM button is typically used in conjunction with the ARROW buttons (16) to zoom in and out within
windows in the DAW application. Refer to the Application Notes section describing your audio software for details.
6 Controls and Connectors Overview