Top Panel Description; Mic/Line/Inst Gain Knobs; Trim Knobs; Phantom Power Switch [Ch.1 And 2 Only] - Mackie big knob studio Owner's Manual

SELECT
2-TRACK

Top Panel Description

INPUTS 1/2
+18VDC
POWER
1.5A
On to the top panel...and this is where the magic
happens! Once all of the connections on the rear and
front panels have been made, there are several knobs,
switches, buttons and volume control that you may use,
manipulate and set to heart's content. There are also
some LEDs, but those can't be manipulated, only
illuminated! Please read on...
1 (L) 2 (R)
18
MAX
MIC/LINE/INST GAIN

18. Mic/Line/Inst Gain Knobs

The gain knobs adjust the input sensitivity of the mic
and line inputs. This allows signals from the outside
world to be adjusted to run through each input at
SOURCE(S)
AUX USB
optimal internal operating levels.
MIX 3/4
CUE

19. Trim Knobs

SOURCE
The trim knobs adjust the input sensitivity of the
incoming 2-track source signal by ±12 dB (unity at
center detent). This allows for precise level matching
CUE
INPUTS
DIRECT
between the various incoming 2-track sources, which
MONITORING
often do not have output level controls of their own.
In addition to the aforementioned Onyx
mic preamp gain knobs [1(L), 2(R)], the
Big Knob Studio has one trim knob [3/4]
while the Big Knob Studio + possesses an
additional trim knob [3/4, 5/6].
STEREO IN
5/6
20. +48V Phantom Power Switch [Ch. 1 and 2 Only]
Most modern professional condenser mics require
48V phantom power, which lets the interface send low-
current DC voltage to the mic's electronics through the
same wires that carry audio. (Semi-pro condenser mics
often have batteries to accomplish the same thing.)
"Phantom" owes its name to an ability to be "unseen"
by dynamic mics (Shure SM57/SM58, for instance),
which don't need external power and aren't affected by
it anyway.
Press this switch in if your microphone requires
phantom power. (Always check the position of this
switch before connecting microphones.) An LED located
near the bottom right of the Big 'volume' Knob and left
of the Big Knob logo will illuminate green to indicate
that phantom power is active. This switch only affects
channels 1-2.
14
Big Knob Studio & Studio + Monitor Controller | Interface
L L
R R
BAL / UNBAL BAL / UNBAL BAL / UNBAL
OUTPUTS
19
MAX
1 2
L L L
Never plug single-ended (unbalanced)
micro phones, or ribbon mics into the mic
input jacks if phantom power is on. Do not
plug instrument outputs into the mic XLR
R R R
BAL / UNBAL BAL / UNBAL
input jacks with phantom power on, unless you know for
certain it is safe to do so. Be sure the channel's gain
control is turned down when connecting microphones
to the mic inputs when phantom power is turned on,
to prevent pops from getting through to the speakers.
20 21
21. Stereo Pan Switch [Ch. 1–2]
With this switch pressed in, channel 1 will play only
in the left side of the main mix, and channel 2 will play
in the right side. Conversely, with this switch out, each
mono channel feeds both the left and right sides of the
main mix equally. For example:
• Playing a mono source: If you talk into a
microphone connected to input 1, your sweet tones
will be heard in both the left and right monitors.
• Overdubbing a mono source: if you are monitoring
directly through the headphones, you can hear the
overdub signal in both ears while you are playing.
Record output, however, is not affected by the position
of the switch. Channel 1 will always feed the recording
USB / analog left output and channel 2 will always feed
the recording USB / analog right output.
The stereo pan switch does not affect the other
channels or USB.

22. Input / 2-Track Source Select Buttons

These buttons turn the input signals connected to Big
Knob on and off. Engaged buttons route the associated
inputs to the engaged monitor outputs. Any combination
of inputs may be turned on simultaneously. Engaged
buttons will illuminate green.
Engaged source select buttons route the associated
inputs to the engaged monitor stereo outputs, the
2-track stereo output, to the studio stereo output (if
the studio outs button is engaged) or phones amp stereo
output (if the studio outs button is disengaged) and to
the phones 1 and 2 outputs located on the front panel.
The Big Knob Studio has three source
select buttons [1/2, 3/4, USB] while the Big
Knob Studio + possesses an additional
source select button [1/2, 3/4, 5/6, USB].
INT
EXT
L
MIC
(MONO)
R
FOOTSWITCH BAL / UNBAL
TALKBACK CUE IN
22
L
(MONO)
R
BAL / UNBAL BAL /
SOURCES