Connecting Recording Devices; To Tape Connections (Channels 1-24 Tape Outs); From Tape Connections (Channels 25-48 Tape Returns); Bus Out 1-8 Connections (Surround Outputs) - Mackie Digital 8 Bus Owner's Manual

recording device to the Digital 8•Bus, whether
it be DAT, MDM, HDR, or something else. The
type of connections you make are determined
by which Tape I/O cards you have installed.
I/O to and from the recording devices, with the
Analog I/O cards installed. Direct digital
connections for tracking and mixdown are
possible using one of the optional Digital I/O
cards (Apogee Digital I/O or ALT I/O). See
Appendix F for information on installing and
connecting the optional Digital I/O cards.
(Channels 1–24 Tape Outs)
TAPE IN/OUTS slots, there are three 25-pin
D-Sub connectors (TO TAPE) for connecting up
to 24 tracks directly to your recorder(s). Tape
Outs 1–8 appear on the first card (TAPE 1–8),
Tape Outs 9–16 on the second (TAPE 9–16),
and Tape Outs 17–24 on the third (TAPE 17–
24). Any of the 48 channels, effects returns
(internal FX and ALT returns, channels 49–
72), and BUS 1–8 can be assigned to the Direct
Tape Outputs. These are balanced analog
connections, and the signal at this point is
post-EQ and pre-fader (for channels 1–48). See
Figure 4-5 for the wiring configuration of these
-
connectors.
TAPE 1 8
ANALOG I/O
(Channels 25–48 Tape Returns)
TAPE IN/OUTS slots, there are three 25-pin
D-Sub connectors (FROM TAPE) for connecting
up to 24 tracks directly from your recorder to
the Digital 8•Bus. The inputs to channels 25–
32 appear on the first card (Tape 1–8),
channels 33–40 appear on the second (Tape 9–
16), and 41–48 appear on the third (Tape
17–24). Fader Bank 2 (TAPE IN) is dedicated
entirely to the Tape Inputs. These are balanced
analog connections and the signal for each
track goes directly to its own dedicated A/D
converter, followed by a DIGITAL TRIM
control, DSP for all the same processing
functions as channels 1–24, fader, mute, and
pan. See Figure 4-5 for the wiring configuration
of these connectors.
are compatible with the analog 25-pin
connectors used on Tascam digital multitrack
recorders. Several audio-grade cable
manufacturers make high-quality cables for
this application. Some also make breakout
cables with a 25-pin D-Sub connector on one
end and connectors used by other popular
MDMs and HDRs on the other end.
4-2
Connections

Connecting Recording Devices

This section discusses how to connect your
Our discussion here centers on analog Tape
TO TAPE Connections
With three Analog I/O cards installed in the
FROM TAPE Connections
With three Analog I/O cards installed in the
The TO TAPE and FROM TAPE connectors
BUS OUT 1–8 Connections
(Surround Outputs)
This is a single 25-pin
D-Sub connector on the
rear panel for connecting
eight submaster outputs
directly to an 8-track
recorder, to separate
monitor feeds, or to any
device that requires a
custom audio feed.
These are balanced
analog line-level
connections that can
feed directly into an
analog balanced line-
level input. See Figure 4-5
for the wiring
configuration of this
connector.
As with the Tape IN/
OUT connectors, this
connector is compatible
with the analog 25-pin
connectors used on
Tascam digital
multitrack recorders.

Connecting External Effects Devices

The Digital 8•Bus comes equipped with two
internal stereo effects processors that can be
programmed via the Fat Channel. These
internal effects are driven by Aux 1 and Aux 2,
and returned to the signal path using the FX 1–
4 faders in Fader Bank 3.
GROUP 1 GROUP 2 GROUP 3
FX 1 FX 2
1 2
25 26
dB dB dB
10 10 10
5 5 5
U U U
Up to three more effects cards can be installed
in the card cage for a total of up to eight internal
effects operating at one time. Refer to "Using
Internal Effects" in Chapter 6 for more information.
BUS OUT 1-8
&
SURROUND OUT
L
R
MASTER OUT
GROUP 4
FX 3 FX 4
3 4
27 28
dB
10
5
U