Martin Audio MLA User Manual page 272

MLA System
USER GUIDE
There is a further function for each enclosure activated using the "play" arrow by each enclosure;-
This mutes all cells except the low frequency and then cycles through all six cells in sequence, unmuting the next cell at the same
time as muting the previous. The idea behind this is that you can mute the entire array, apply a test signal such as pink noise to
the input and then use the Mute Cycle function to un-mute each cell to listen for the test signal to make sure that you have
output from every cell offering an audible test that all amplifiers and drivers are operating. It is good practice if you intend to use
this test, to recall the default snapshot 'A' first. Without doing this all cells will have the last parameters used still loaded so the
sound from each cell when heard individually will vary enormously making it difficult to judge if they are operating correctly.
When you have checked all six cells in the first cabinet, click on the "play" arrow a second time to stop the mute cycle. You can
then move on to the next cabinet and so on until you have checked the entire array. This is a very quick and easy test for the
system; it can be completed in the shop or on an array that has just been rigged prior to flying the system into place. The big
advantage is that there is no need to wait until front of house has been set up or any other part of the system, each array can be
tested individually the only additional equipment that is required is a simple signal generator which can even be an app on a
smart phone.
When the system has been tested and the signal source disconnected or switched off the system can be un-muted by a further
click on the MUTE ARRAY button.
In addition to muting cells, you can also completely disable a cabinet by switching off the amplifier. This is designed for emergency
situations if for example an amplifier module has a fault and is generating unwanted noise. If you have tried the mute function
and the noise persists it is being generated by the amplifier not anything upstream in the audio path such as the DSP. In that
instance the only option is to switch off the amplifier. The mains distribution system has a breaker on each pair of cabinets so if
that were to be used to isolate a cabinet you would also unnecessarily switch off its neighbour so the mute output stage function
allows independent isolation of a single cabinet without disrupting any other functions. The big advantage of this compared to
physically powering off the entire cabinet is that the input and network sections are still powered as normal so no other functions
are disturbed, the U-Net array and network will still appear functioning as normal just with the indication that the cabinet
amplifiers are off. To use the function first click in the Mute Output Stage box in the top left of the window;-
MLA System User Guide V2.1
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