Peak And Limit Leds; Polarity Reverse - Channel 2; Outputs; Xlr Outputs - Sound Devices 302 User Manual

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Peak and Limit LEDs

Each channel has an indication of peak signal activity.
When a channel approaches 3 dB below its clipping
level, the red Peak LED illuminates. If the red Peak LED
for a channel comes on often, it is recommended to
turn down the Gain.
The channel limiter LED will illuminate when the input
limiter is active.

Polarity Reverse - Channel 2

Engaging the polarity reverse switch inverts the polarity
of channel 2. Polarity reversal is often used to quickly
reverse the stereo fi eld in MS recording. The normal
position is OFF, with polarity reversal occurring when
the switch is in the "Ø" position.
NOTE: Be advised that an audible pop occurs when the
polarity switch changes states.
Stereo Linking of Channels 1 and 2
Stereo linking allows input channels 1 and 2 to be
controlled as a single, stereo input. This is useful when
stereo microphones or stereo line level signals are used
with the 302 and the operator wants a single knob for
controlling the overall signal.
There are two modes of operation for stereo linking,
X/Y link and MS stereo. In both cases, input channels 1
and 2 are used for the inputs. Stereo linking is selected
in the User Setup menu.
X/Y Stereo Link - Input channels 1 and 2 can be linked
as a stereo pair to simplify control with stereo micro-
phones. X/Y stereo linking is set in the User Menu.
When in X/Y stereo link operation, channel 1 and 2 pan
controls still control signal routing. Channel fader 2 con-
O
UTPUTS
The 302 is a two-bus mixer. Since each input can be
"hard panned" between the left and right output bus
the 302 is easily used in either stereo or dual-mono
operation. Because dialog is often recorded in mono,
each output connector can be used to feed a separate
camera or recorder. XLR Outputs and Tape Outputs are
both sent from the master output bus and share the
same program content.
The 302 has no master level control. The master bus is
factory-set to unity gain, or "0" dB.

XLR Outputs

The master XLR outputs are active-balanced connec-
tions, each capable of driving long lines. The master
trols the overall level of both inputs. The channel gain
and high-pass controls still function on each channel.
In X/Y Stereo linking, the input limiters for channels 1
and 2 are linked to operate identically on each signal.
MS Stereo - When MS stereo linking is set in the User
Menu, input channels 1 and 2 are linked as an MS (mid-
side) stereo pair. MS is a popular stereo confi guration
because of its good spatial placement, mono-compat-
ibility, and surround compatibility.
The 302's MS matrix uses the channel 1 input as the Mid
signal and channel 2 as the side signal. The channel 2
fader controls overall gain. Channel 1 fader and channel
2 pans are disabled. The Gain Trims and high-pass fi lters
still act individually. The Gain Trim controls for inputs
1 and 2 can be used to vary the Mid and Side levels re-
spectively. Using the channel 2 gain trim is an effective
way to control stereo spread.
Inputs 4 & 5
When additional input channels are needed, such as
when multiple wireless receivers are used, the Return
connector can be set as the channel 4 and 5 input con-
nector. This functionality is set in the User Menu (see
User Menu).
Several options are available for channels 4 and 5.
Either or both inputs 4 and 5 can be sent to the left,
right, or left and right output bus. The input sensitivity
of channels 4 and 5 are controlled by the trim control
adjacent to the connector. Note, this unbalanced input
is suitable for aux or line level devices only. There are no
microphone preamps on channels 4 and 5.
To indicate that the Return connector is now input
channels 4/5, the 4/5 Input LED on the output panel
illuminates.
output level from the factory is set at unity gain, where
+4 on the meter (peak-viewing) corresponds to +4 dBu
signal level at the master XLR output.
The 302 features a unique master output level adjust-
ment. This can be thought of as a master level control
which is placed after the output meters. With this, it is
possible to make the 302's meter correspond directly to
the recorders meters. By adjusting the attenuation level
in the setup menu (see Setup Menu for adjustment)
the output level of the 302 can be adjusted to anything
from line level to microphone level. Output levels are
set depending on the device (camera, recorder, trans-
mitter, etc.) that the outputs are connected. This control
is ideal since the gain structure can be precisely set for a
given piece of equipment.
302 Compact Production Mixer
User Guide and Technical Information