Fostex FM-4 Owner's Manual
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Fostex FM-4 Owner's Manual

Portable mixer
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Thank you very much for purchasing the Fostex FM-4 portable mixer.
To ensure the best performance, read this manual thoroughly before using the unit. Keep this
manual handy for future reference.
Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Precautions before using . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Precautions on installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Main features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Basic operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Preparation of power supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Prepararion of input channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Preparation of output channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Preparation of metering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Preparation of monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Master fader reference setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Master fader reference setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Audio setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Block diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Names and functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Front panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Left side panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Right side panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Owner's Manual
FM-4
PORTABLE MIXER

Table of contents

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
External dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Adjusting the display brightness . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Selecting the meter mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Selecting the status display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Input status display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Output status display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Status information details . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Limiter parameter setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Meter status display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Parameter setting procedure . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Parameter details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Peak meter on/off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
VU meter reference level . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Internal battery selection . . . . . . . . . . . 23
System status display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Initializing the flash memory . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
8289670000
(505068)

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  • Page 1: Table Of Contents

    (505068) Owner’s Manual FM-4 PORTABLE MIXER Thank you very much for purchasing the Fostex FM-4 portable mixer. To ensure the best performance, read this manual thoroughly before using the unit. Keep this manual handy for future reference. Table of contents Safety Instructions .

  • Page 2: Safety Instructions

    CAUTION: CAUTION TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, MATCH WIDE BLADE OF RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK PLUG TO WIDE SLOT, FULLY INSERT . DO NOT OPEN ATTENTION: POUR EVITER LES CHOCS ELECTRIQUES, INTRODUIRE CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, LA LAME LA PLUS LARGE DE LA FICHE DANS LA BORNE DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK) . CORRESPONDANTE DE LA PRISE ET POUSSER JUSQU' NO USER - SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE . AU FOND . REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL . The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an "WARNING" equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product's "TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE . " risk of electric shock to persons . SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature 1 . Read Instructions - All the safety and operating instruc- accompanying the appliance . tions should be read before the appliance is operated .

  • Page 3: Important Safety Instructions

    Important Safety Instructions 11) Only use attachments/accessories specified 1) Read these instructions . by the manufacturer . 2) Keep these instructions . 12) Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer, or 3) Heed all warnings . sold with the apparatus . When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart / 4) Follow all instructions . apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over . 5) Do not use this apparatus near water . 6) Clean only with dry cloth . 7) Do not block any ventilation openings . Install in accordance with the manufacturer's 13) Unplug this apparatus during lightning...

  • Page 4: Precautions

    . els, etc . In such a case, turn off the power and leave the unit for a while until it warms up and evaporates • Do not let water or other liquid, or metal objects such any moisture . as pins, accidentally enter the inside of the unit . Should water enter the inside of the unit, turn off the power, unplug the AC adaptor and remove batteries,and consult your dealer or the nearest FOSTEX service station . • Do not drop the unit or give it a strong shock . T he in- ternal circuits, display or panels may be damaged . • To prevent possible electric shock and damage to the unit, do not remove the cover or reach the inside of the unit . <Important!> Equipment name, electrical ratings, serial num- ber and other information for the FM-4, are writ- ten on bottom side . FM-4...

  • Page 5: Main Features

    . (Pre Fader Listen)] switch allows you to directly moni- tor each of [INPUT] 1 through 4 signals . Other features • The output level of the [MAIN OUT] (L/1, R/2) and [SUB OUT] (L/3, R/4) connectors can be independently se- lected from +4 dBu, 0 dBu, -10 dBu and -60 dBu . • For lightweight and rigidity, aluminum is used for pan- els, etc . • Compact size design, a great advantage for outside use . Display and control features • The shoulder belt and soft protection case are avail- • The 128 x 64 dot-matrix display using organic LED able in option . Ask your local Fostex dealer or service devices shows the VU (needle) and peak (bar-graph) station for details about optional products . meters simultaneously . • You can select the meter display mode from stereo, mono left and mono right .

  • Page 6: Basic Operations

    Basic operations After fully inserting the battery Preparation of power supply box, slide up the [EJECT/LOCK] lever to the LOCK position . To operate the unit on internal battery power, set AA A tab appears as shown on the alkaline or nickel hydride batteries to the supplied right figure and the battery box battery box and fit the box to the battery compart- is locked . ment on the right side panel . Battery box compartment <Memo>: To remove the battery box, slide down the [EJECT/LOCK] lever to unlock the battery box .

  • Page 7: Prepararion Of Input Channels

    You can turn on the unit by setting the [POWER] Preparation of output channels switch on the front panel to “INT” (upper position) or “EXT” (lower position) . When you operate the unit on • To send the stereo output signals to an external internal battery power, set the switch to “INT” . audio device When you operate the unit on external power, set it to “EXT”...

  • Page 8: Preparation Of Metering

    Preparation of metering Preparation of monitoring Select stereo or mono metering . C o n n e c t h e a d p h o n e s t o t h e 1 / 4 - i n c h When the unit is shipped, the display is set to ste- [PHONES] jack on the front panel or the mini- reo VU and peak metering .

  • Page 9: Master Fader Reference Setting

    Master fader reference setting Audio setting Turn down the rotary faders on input chan- Set the [MASTER] faders to the reference po- nels 1 through 4 . sition . Set the [SLATE] switch on the front panel to Receive input signals and adjust the trim “1k”...

  • Page 10: Block Diagram

    Block diagram PFL_ON PFL_BUS PFL_BUS MIX_BUS_R MIX_BUS_R MIX_BUS_L MIX_BUS_L...

  • Page 11: Names And Functions

    Names and functions Front panel EQ switches (1-3, 2-4) [PFL] (Pre Fader Listen) keys (1 through 4) The unit features a couple of EQ channels . Each EQ While pressing down the key, the pre-fader signal switch selects the input channel to which the cor- (before the input channel fader) is output from responding EQ is to be applied .
  • Page 12 [SLATE] switch (1k / OFF / MIC) 12 . [PHONES] jack When it is set to “1k”, a 1-kHz slate tone is gener- You can connect stereo headphones with the ated and sent to the stereo L and R busses . While 1/4-inch plug for monitoring . you hold it down to “MIC”, the internal slate micro- phone signal is sent to the stereo L and R busses . Connector: 1/4” stereo phone jack 13 . Headphones level control ] / [-] key This control is used to adjust the output level of Holding down this key for a second or more enters both the 1/4-inch and mini [PHONES] jacks .
  • Page 13 . Pushing it again the [SLATE] switch to the “MIC” position, the makes it locked on the same level as the panel . slate microphone is active and the signal from the microphone is sent to the stereo buss . 18 . EQ controls These cotrols adjust EQ setting . The FM-4 provides two EQ channels featuring the HI and sweepable MID bands . Band Type Frequency Gain range Shelving 10 kHz -12 dB to +12 dB...

  • Page 14: Left Side Panel

    Left side panel [INPUT] connector (1 through 4) Microphone power supply switches (T12 / DM /P48) Each connector is used to connect an external au- dio device or microphone . Each switch sets whether or not supplying the mi- Connector: XLR-3-31 type crophone power . T12 or AB power supply mode . A 12 V power is supplied to the hot terminal of the [INPUT] con- nector . COLD <Memo>: If you do not need T12 power supply, you can disable the power supply via the input status display (see page 19 for details) .

  • Page 15: Right Side Panel

    Right side panel [MAIN OUT (L/1, R/2)] connectors Battery compartment These connectors output the stereo buss (L, R) sig- You can set the battery box that houses eight AA nals or input channel 1 and 2 signals . You can se- alkaline or nickel hydride batteries (see page 6) . lect the output signals by using the SOURCE SEL When you use internal battery power, set the switch . You can select the reference output level [POWER] using the MIAIN OUT level select switches .
  • Page 16 [SOURCE SEL] switch Selects the source signal of the [MAIN OUT] and [SUB OUT] connectors . You can select the mas- ter stereo signal or the post-fader signals of input channels 1 through 4 . Switch MAIN OUT SUB OUT Notes position (L/1, R/2) (L/3, R/4) Stereo buss Stereo buss The stereo buss (L, R)

  • Page 17: Display

    Display The display on the front panel of the unit normally Press the [-] key to lower the brightness or press the [+] key to increase the brightness . shows the VU and peak meters . You can select You can select from OFF and 1 through 5 . stereo or mono metering . The display also can show the status of inputs, outputs, etc ., which you Brightness can edit . You can also adjust the display bright-...

  • Page 18: Selecting The Meter Mode

    Selecting the meter mode Selecting the status display You can select the meter mode from stereo, mono In the status display mode, not only you can check the status for the input, output, meter and system, L and mono R . By default, it is set to the stereo but also you can edit setting .

  • Page 19: Input Status Display

    T12 disabled/enabled setting Input status display Some condenser microphones used for video field recording, such as the Sennheiser 416T, require On the input status display, not only you can see the T12 (AB-12V) power . The FM-4 can supply the T12 current status of the following switches, but also you power . can disable or enable the T12 power supply function . The following shows the default setting when the unit is shipped . Unlike the phantom power (P48), connecting a dynamic microphone to the input channel where Left side panel...

  • Page 20: Output Status Display

    Output status display <Memo>: If you switch the microphone power supply switch of INPUT 1 to “T12”, the input status display changes as below . On the output status display, you can see the current status of the switches related to the outputs as well as the output sources . Depending on the [SOURCE SEL] switch setting, the display looks as below . When the [SOURCE SEL] switch is set to “MIX” The display shows the status of the switches shown below, as well as the output sources . The following shows the default setting when the unit is shipped .

  • Page 21: Status Information Details

    Status information details Limiter parameter setting The following icons are shown according to the switch set- By setting the [LIMITER] switch to “ON” (or “LINK”), ting . the limiter function is enabled and you can apply the limiter to the stereo L/R buss . • [LIMITER] switch status When the [LIMITER] switch is set to “OFF”, the pa- The threshold level and ratio (compression ratio) of rameter boxes for the threshold and ratio show “ ” . the limiter are set to “+12” and “5 .1” respectively by default . When the [LIMITER] switch is set to “ON” or “LINK”, the parameter boxes for the threshold and ratio show the current parameter values .

  • Page 22: Meter Status Display

    While the THRE value (“ ”) or the RATIO Meter status display (“ ”) is flashing, use the [+] or [-] key to select the desired value . You can set the THRE value to “ ”, “ ” or On the meter status display, not only you can see the “...

  • Page 23: Parameter Details

    Lighting level of peak over indicator While the desired parameter to be edited is flashing, you can select a desired value using the [+] or [-] key . The default is “+18 dB” . You can select between “0 dB” and “+18 dB” in 1 dB steps . In the following display example, both the left a right peak meters are set to “...

  • Page 24: System Status Display

    System status display Initializing the flash memory You can initialize the flash memory to the condition when the unit is shipped from the factory . To initialize the flash On the system status display, not only you can see memory, press and hold down the [EDIT] key for 10 sec- the following information, but also you can reset the onds or more while the system status display is shown . time display and initialize the flash memory . When the memory initialization is completed, the system status display is dismissed and the display shows the stereo VU meter display . Power voltage (EXT DC or INT DC) This item shows the voltage of the current power source .

  • Page 25: Specifications

    Specifications [PHONES] Inputs/Outputs • Connectors: 1/4” stereo phone jack and 3 .5 mm stereo * 0dBu = 0 . 7 75Vrms mini-phone jack • Applicable load impedance: 8 Ω or more <Analog Inputs> • Maximum output power: 50 mW (at 32 Ω load, THD: 0 .1 % or less) [INPUT] 1 through [INPUT] 4 • Connector: XLR-3-31 type (transformer balanced) <Others> <LINE input> [DC IN] • Input impedance: 10 kΩ or more • Connector: XLR-4-32 type (male) • Nominal input level: -20 dBu to +4 dBu • Input voltage: DC 10 V to DC 24 V • Maximum input level: +29 dBu <MIC input> [DC OUT] • Input impedance: 2 kΩ or more • Connector: Hirose 4 pin (female) • Nominal input level: -70 dBu to -30 dBu * Applicable plug: Hirose HR10A-7P-4P • Maximum input level: -5 dBu • Output voltage: DC 7 .2 V - 24 V (Max . 0 .5 A)

  • Page 26: Phantom Power

    Operation time with batteries (for reference) Others Measurement condition: 20º C temperature, 60% humidity Phantom power: Microphone power supply P48 (phantom 48 V) and T12 (A-B 12 V) power supply Battery type circuit for each input channel . OFF (DM) ON (P48 x 3) * T12 power supply can be disabled or enabled using Alkakine (LR6) Approx . 5 . 5 hours Approx . 4 . 5 hours the status mode .

  • Page 27: External Dimensions

    External dimensions...
  • Page 28 Memo...
  • Page 29 The Affect of Immunity on This Equipment The affect of the European Specification EN61000-6-1 (coexistence of electromagnetic waves - common immunity specification) on this equipment are as shown below . In the electrical fast transient/burst requirements, surge, conducted disturbances by radio-frequency fields, power frequency magnetic field, radiate electromagnetic field requirements and static electricity discharging environment, this could be affected by generation of noise in some cases . FOSTEX DISTRIBUTORS LIST IN EUROPE * Including non-EU countries (as of June 00) <ITALY> <AUSTRIA> NAME: Proel S. p. A. NAME: ATEC Audio-u. Videogeraete VertriebsgesmbH. ADD: Zona Via Alla Ruenia, /4 40 - Sant’Omero...
  • Page 30 (10) days. Fostex America will repair and / or replace parts during the term of this warranty. Labor costs are also covered by Fostex America for one (1) year from the date of original purchase. Except as specified below, this warranty covers all defects in material and workmanship in this product.
  • Page 31 NOTE: Fostex America will not assume responsibility for damages or losses occurred in transit, but will reasonably assist the sender in processing any claims whenever possible (such as submitting statements to the carriers when applicable).
  • Page 32 FOSTEX CO . 3-2-35, Musashino, Akishima-shi, T okyo Japan, 196-0021 505068 © PRINTED IN JAPAN JULY 2009 8289670000...

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