Introduction To I/O - SoundCraft Notepad 5 User Manual

NOTEPAD
INPUTS & OUTPUTS > INTRODUCTION TO I/O
The Notepad console offers a choice of industry standard audio inputs and outputs. All Jack and XLR
inputs are balanced. RCA inputs are not balanced. Below are some terms used in this manual and on
the console labelling that may be of use to you.
AUX (Auxiliary) Output
An output bus made up of the summed auxil-
iary contributions from input channels. In other
words, the AUX output will be a mix of all input
channel signals, with levels controlled by the
AUX controls on the individual input channels.
An auxiliary mix is used for many purposes -
alternative mixes for monitoring, processing by
external FX units and more.
Balanced
A 'Balanced' signal (Balanced Line) is one where
the signal is carried on two conductors with the
same impedance / impedance to ground. At a
differential input, the differences between the two
conductors are summed, so any noise picked up
on the wire between output and input is rejected.
This is called common-mode rejection.
Hi-Z
High Impedance. Guitar pick-ups generally have
'high impedance' outputs and therefore require
a significantly higher than usual input imped-
ance when plugging them directly into a console
(straight from the guitar plug - not via an amp or
a microphone). Hi-Z Inputs provide this. On the
Notepad console selected inputs have Hi-Z input
switches to accommodate Hi-Z sources.
Jack
This is the long, quarter-inch connection most
commonly used on the Notepad console for line
level inputs and outputs such as keyboards,
external FX processors, playback and record-
ing devices, and so on. All Notepad series Jack
sockets are 'Tip-Ring-Sleeve' 3-pole types. Jack
outputs are impedance balanced. It is possible to
connect 'Tip-Sleeve' 2-pole unbalanced jacks to
these inputs too. In this instance, the ring con-
nection is grounded by the plug which correctly
unbalances the input.
5, 8FX, 12FX User Manual
3.1: INTRO TO I/O
Line
For inputs and outputs this refers to a line level
signal. This is a higher voltage signal than 'mic
level'.
Mic
Microphone. For inputs and outputs this refers to
a mic level input. This is a lower voltage signal
than 'line level'.
Master
Master Stereo Output: The main stereo group
output made up of the summed contributions
from any inputs.
RCA
The small line-level connector commonly found
on consumer playback equipment. RCA inputs
provide a single stereo input channel pair on
each Notepad console (Playback Channels).
USB - Universal Serial Bus
Standard serial data connection used by the
Notepad console for sending and receiving
digital audio streams to and from a computer or
tablet.
XLR
The round, three-pin connections with a female
version for inputs and a male version for outputs.
On the Notepad console they are used for micro-
phone inputs and the main stereo outputs.

3.1: INTRODUCTION TO I/O