Set The Levels - Mackie Big Knob Studio Command System Operation Manual

3. Connect the MONITOR A output jacks
rear panel of Big Knob to a pair of active studio
monitors (or the inputs of an amplifier that is
powering a pair of passive studio monitors).
These will be located at your mixing position.
If you know whether the inputs to the active
studio monitors (or amplifier) accept a –10 dBV
(consumer) or +4 dBu input level, set the trim
control above the MONITOR A output jacks
to the appropriate position. Otherwise, leave it
at the –10 dBV position for now. You can con-
nect additional speakers to the MONITOR B
and MONITOR C
your mix through different types of speakers.
4. If you have a separate studio for recording,
connect the STUDIO OUTS
studio monitors (or the inputs of an amplifier that
is powering a pair of passive studio monitors).
These will be located in studio for the talent.
Set the trim control
output jacks to the appropriate position, or leave
it at the –10 dBV position if you're not sure.
5. If you have a headphone distribution amplifier
for monitoring while recording, connect the
PHONES AMP output jacks to the inputs
of the headphone amp. Set the +4/–10 level
switch above the PHONES AMP output
jacks to the appropriate position, or leave it at
the –10 position (pushed in) if you're not sure.
For Recording
6. Connect the 2-TRACK A
level inputs of any recording device, like a DAT
or cassette recorder. This allows you to record
from your DAW to the recorder. Set the +4/–10
level switch above the 2-TRACK A output
jacks to the appropriate position, or leave it at
the –10 position (pushed in) if you're not sure.
7. Connect the line-level outputs from the DAT or
cassette recorder to the 2-TRACK A
8. Connect the DAW
panel of Big Knob to the stereo inputs of your
DAW's audio interface. This allows you to
record from the 2-TRACK recorder back to your
DAW. Set the +4/–10 level switch
DAW output jacks to the appropriate position,
or leave it at the –10 position (pushed in) if
you're not sure.
POWER
A
MONITOR MONITOR
ON
-10dB +4dB -10dB
L L
AC SELECT
100 - 120V 220 - 240V
R R
BAL/UNBAL
on the
output jacks so you can hear
to a pair of active
above the STUDIO OUTS
outputs to the line-
inputs.
output jacks on the rear
above the
OUTPUTS
B C
MONITOR
2-TRACK 2-TRACK DAW
A B OUTPUT
4 4
+ dB + dB
+4dB -10dB 4dB
+
-10 -10
dB dB
L L L L
R R R R
BAL/UNBAL BAL/UNBAL BAL/UNBAL BAL/UNBAL BAL/UNBAL
Set the Levels
1. With everything off, turn on Big Knob's POWER
switch first.
2. Turn on all other external power amplifiers, active
speakers, and headphone amplifiers.
3. Start playback on your DAW and play some-
thing you've already recorded (or a demo track).
You want to be able to listen to it over the moni-
tor speakers connected to Big Knob.
4. Press the DAW MIX
SOURCE SELECT section on the front panel.
The LED above the DAW MIX button should
light.
5. Press the MONITOR A
SELECT section on the front panel. The LED
above the MONITOR A button should light.
6. If you know whether your DAW's audio inter-
face output is at a –10 dBV level (consumer) or a
+4 dBu level (pro), set the +4/–10 level switch
for the DAW MIX
ate position. If you don't know, leave it out (in
the +4 dBu position). We can change it later if
we need to.
7. Slowly turn up the trim control
MIX input until you see the meters
front panel lighting and dancing happily. Adjust
the control until the meters are lighting the "0"
LED regularly. You want the "+8" LED to light
only occasionally, and the "OL" LED to not light
at all.
8. If you can't adjust the trim control far enough
to get the signal level up to the 0 and +5 LEDs
on the meter, turn the trim control all the way
down, push in the +4/–10 level switch for the
DAW MIX input, and slowly turn up the trim
control again. Now the signal should be strong
enough to get the 0 and +5 LEDs to light.
9. Slowly turn up the Big Knob VOLUME
control. You should begin to hear playback from
your DAW through your studio monitor speak-
ers. Adjust the VOLUME control to a comfort-
able listening level. If it seems like you have to
turn up the VOLUME control all the way to hear
the monitor speakers, turn down the VOLUME
control and check to see if the trim control
DAW
STUDIO
PHONES PHONES
2 - TRACK
AMP MIX INPUT
A
U
4 4
+ dB + dB + 4
dB
-10dB 4dB
+
-10 -10
dB dB -10
dB
L L L
-10dB 10dB
+
DAW
MIX
R R R
U
-10dB 10dB
+
BAL/UNBAL
BAL/UNBAL BAL/UNBAL
button in the INPUT
button in the MONITOR
inputs to the appropri-
for the DAW
SOURCES
+ 4dB 2 - TRACK
- 10dB
B
(MONO) (MONO)
L R L
U
BAL/
-10dB 10dB
+
UNBAL
GROUND
+ 4dB
PHONO
- 10dB
(MONO)
L R
L R
U
RIAA
BAL/ -10dB 10dB
+
UNBAL
Operation Guide
on the
+ 4dB
- 10dB
R
BAL/
UNBAL
TALK BACK
FOOT
SWITCH
5