Crown SMX-6 Product Reference page 4

* System
@crown
®
sors are disabled. Functions other than
VCA gain control (Bus relays, DSPI, and
aux output controls) are only controlled
manually.
AUTOMATIC MIXING
Feature Set:
To make use of the automatic mixing
power of the SMX-6 the unit must be
configured with IQ software. Once the
unit is placed in automatic mode and its
intelligence is fully configured, the unit
will mix without further outside commu-
nication being necessary. Intelligence is
programmable independently for each
VCA. Features making up the total mix-
ing algorithm are comprised of user de-
fined variables set in software. These
features, also called algos, include:
• Max Gain
• Input Noise Gate
• Duck Priority
• Input Compressor
• Auto Level
• Output Compressor
• Gate Count
• Max Number of Open Mics
• Crown Local Net
Max Gain
The purpose of Max is to prevent feed-
back and provide a safety limit. Max
Gain is defined as the maximum gain of
the VCA regardless of interaction with
other algos any time an input is gated
on, or if the gate function is not used.
Max Gain may be set –100 to +25 dB
Gain for each VCA. Two global settings
are used to tie Max Gain to the manual
gain controls. These are Max Gain
Tracks Control Block and Control Block
Override. These are two switches which
are used, usually together, to allow for
smooth operational control of Max Gain
for semi-automatic operation. The need
for this mode of operation may arise
when using third party control system
products or some types of IQ controls.
Input Noise Gate
The purpose of a noise gate is to attenu-
ate an input when little or no input sig-
nal is present. With the SMX-6 you con-
figure various parameters which define
the precise operation of the gating fea-
ture at each input. Several other auto-
matic features also depend on proper
operation of the gating function. Param-
eters involved are:
®
Product Reference
SMX-6 Automatic Mixer (Page 4 of 5)
• Gate is an ON/OFF switch to en-
able or disable this feature for each
VCA.
• Threshold is a parameter that sets
the input level required to gate on
for each VCA. The range is –100 to
+25 dB sensed.
• Low Set is a parameter that sets
the gain of the VCA when the input
is gated off. The range is –100 to
+25 dB gain.
• Delay Time is the time delay in
seconds after the input level drops
below Threshold until the VCA ac-
tually gates off. The range is 0.2 to
30 seconds.
Duck Priority
The duck priority feature allows the mixer
to have a priority structure of up to six
levels. Each output channel may have
a different priority structure. Parameters
involved are:
• Duck priority is an ON/OFF switch
tells each VCA whether or not they
participate in the priority structure.
• Priority level is a setting from 1 to
6 where 1 = highest and 6 = lowest
priority. Each VCA is set indepen-
dently.
Input Compressor
The SMX-6 mixer is equipped with both
input compressor and an output com-
pressor features. The input compressor
differs from a conventional compressor
due to its feed forward structure. This
feed forward technology prevents
"breathing" and virtually eliminates
"pumping." The parameters for the in-
put compressor are:
• Compressor is the ON/OFF switch
for each VCA.
• Threshold is the sensed input level
above which the compressor be-
gins to actuate. The range is –100
to +25 dB and is set at each VCA.
• Ratio may be set to 1:1, 2:1, 4:1,
8:1, 16:1, 32:1 or ∞:1 for each VCA.
• Release Time is the time in sec-
onds to release compression at a
slope of seconds per 10 dB. The
range is 0.2 to 30 seconds for each
VCA.
• Attack Time is a global setting for
all VCAs and may be set to fast or
slow depending on your preference.
Auto Level
The auto level feature of this unit is de-
signed to handle long term input level
variations to maintain a consistent out-
put level. This is basically done by se-
lecting a desired average output level
then setting up the other parameters to
define the response. Parameters in-
clude:
• Auto Level is an ON/OFF switch
that enables or disables the auto
level function for each VCA.
• DAOL (Desired Average Output
Level) is the target output level you
set. Once the auto level function is
working the VCA raises or lowers
gain as necessary to achieve the
DAOL given the sensed input level.
The DAOL setting range is –100 to
+25 dB.
• Reaction Time is the time in sec-
onds to change gain 10 dB toward
the necessary gain structure to ob-
tain the DAOL. The range is 0.2 to
30 seconds.
• Idle Gain is the gain that the VCA
goes to when the input initially gates
on. In other words it is the starting
point. Used in conjunction with other
features this parameter can afford
the mixer a variety of complex ef-
fects such as ramping in of back-
ground music.
• Auto Level Gate Function is a glo-
bal setting that may be set to Open
To Idle Gain or Open To Last Posi-
tion. When set to Open To Idle Gain
an input will initially gate on to the
Idle Gain setting and the auto level
feature will take over from there. The
advantage to this setting is that it
allows for ramping and input gain
is the same every time a gate first
comes on. When set to Open To Last
Position the auto level feature re-
members the gain of the VCA at the
time the input last gated off so that
gain goes back to that level the next
time that the gate opens again.
Output Compressor
The SMX output compressor is different
that a conventional output compressor
because you can actually choose which
inputs participate in output compres-
sion. This can be a valuable tool if you
have microphones on some inputs and
a playback source on other inputs. You
might reasonably expect that the play-
back source such as a CD or tape player