TL AUDIO M4 TUBE CONSOLE USER MANUAL TL AUDIO M4 TUBE CONSOLE 1 M4 INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................... 3 M4 MIXER TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION. ............................................................................................... 4 Mic Input: ........................................................................................................................................................ 4 Line Input:........................................................................................................................................................ 4 Phase Rev: ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 High Pass Filter: ............................................................................................................................................. 4 Frequency Response: ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Distortion:........................................................................................................................................................ 4 Noise: ............................................................................................................................................................... 4 EQ: ................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Insert Point: ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 Track Output:................................................................................................................................................... 4 Fader: .............................................................................................................................................................. 5 L+R Outputs:................................................................................................................................................... 5 Aux Sends:........................................................................................................................................................ 5 Talkback: ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Stereo Returns: ................................................................................................................................................ 5 Monitoring:...................................................................................................................................................... 5 Power Supply:.................................................................................................................................................. 5 Digital I/O: ...................................................................................................................................................... 6 Dimensions: ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 M4 MIXER OPERATION.................................................................................................................................. 7 Phase Reverse.................................................................................................................................................. 8 Insertion Points................................................................................................................................................ 9 Aux Sends......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Track Level Control......................................................................................................................................... 9 Pan Control ................................................................................................................................................... 10 Mute Switch ................................................................................................................................................... 10 Aux Masters ................................................................................................................................................... 11 Monitor and Headphone Level ..................................................................................................................... 11 PFL Balance Level ........................................................................................................................................ 11 2 M4 Introduction The M4 is the perfect solution for the modern day studio. Anyone who has used or heard our outboard equipment, will be familiar with its ability to create a warm, smooth, and clean sound that can inject wonderful `feel' into your recordings. Our acclaimed VTC console has also now been accepted as a great sounding must have in the professional recording environment, with many high profile users. The M4 offers you the quality of our outboard, in a desk that is more compact and affordable than the VTC ­ but still offers you the same great sound. It has been designed to maximise today's recording techniques, with the addition of an optional ADAT output for easy digital connection to your recording device and software. It makes the perfect front end to any digital recording set up, taking away that `clinical, sterile' sound whilst adding warmth and depth to your recordings ­ giving you the sound that you have been longing for. Everything about the M4 has been designed to give you maximum pleasure, from the unbelievably great sounding 4 band sweepable EQ section, to the numerous valve stages and digital output options. You can be sure that the desk is not only a fantastic piece of engineering, it is also great eye candy! Available in 16, 24 and 32 channel options the M4 combines that classic valve sound with modern functionality. 3 M4 User Manual M4 MIXER TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION. Mic Input: Balanced XLR socket with switchable 48V phantom power, Gain range +16dB to +60dB with 30dB pad, Frequency response +0, -2dB, 20Hz to 40KHz (at 40dB gain), Input noise (EIN) -127dBu (150 ohm source, 22Hz to 22KHz), Switchable +48V Phantom Power. Balanced TRS jack socket, Input impedance 22Kohm, Gain range -20dB to +20dB, Maximum input level +26dBu. Applies to Mic and Line inputs. Line Input: Phase Rev: High Pass Filter: -3dB @ 90Hz, second order. Applies to Mic and Line inputs. Frequency Response: (Line Input to Track Output) +0, -0.5dB, 10Hz to 40KHz. Distortion: Noise: 0dB). 0.4% typical (see note). -85dBu, 22Hz to 22KHz, (Line Input to Track Output, Input gain and Track level @ EQ: 4 Band, with shelving LF/HF and peaking LM/HM, EQ "On" switch and LED, HF +/-15dB @ 10KHz, HM +/-15dB @ 500Hz to 18KHz, LM +/-15dB @ 50Hz to 2KHz, LF +/-15dB @ 100Hz. Balanced send and return on TRS jacks, Nominal level switchable to +4dBu or -10dBu, Insert "On" switch and LED. Insert "Pre" (EQ) switch. Channel direct out, independent of mute switch and Track "Pre EQ" switch, Insert Point: Track Output: fader, 4 Level trim +/-15dB, Nominal level switchable to +4dBu or -10dBu, Noise -85dBu / -97dBu (+4dBu / -10dBu nominal), Maximum level +22dBu / +12dBu (+4dBu / -10dBu nominal), Balanced output on TRS jack. Fader: +12dBu 100mm "K" Series, Mute and PFL switches and LED's, Routing to L+R busses via Pan control, "Drive" LED with illumination increasing from +4dBu to indicating valve signal level, "Peak" LED illuminating @ +19dBu, monitoring channel input amplifier and post fader signal. Balanced mix busses, Balanced insertion points with +4dBu / -10dBu switch, Separate L and R master faders, Output via balanced XLR connectors, Noise -72dBu, Maximum level +26dBu. Aux 1 and 2 switchable "Pre" fader, Aux 3 and 4 post fader, Channel send level controls plus master level with PFL switch, Balanced outputs with +4dBu / -10dBu switches. XLR socket for mic with level control, Switches with LED's to route to Aux 1 and Aux 2. L+R Outputs: Aux Sends: Talkback: Stereo Returns: Two, balanced stereo returns with +4dBu / -10dBu switches, Level and balance controls and PFL switches with LED's. Monitoring: Balanced outputs on TRS jacks, High quality level control with 29mm knob, PFL relative level trim control with +/-20dB range, Switch with LED to select balanced 2 Track return, LS mute switch with LED, Headphone output with independent level control, Twin illuminated 45mm VU meters with "Peak" LED's, Front panel accessable 0VU trims. External 2U rack mounting supply, 2 metre cable attached to desk with plug and socket on PSU, PSU switchable for 110-220V 60Hz or 220-240V 50Hz use, Typical power consumption 200VA (16 channel), 250VA (24 channel), 300VA (32 channel). Power Supply: 5 Digital I/O: module Optional digital ouput module for L+R outputs, and I/O for each group of 8 channels. Outputs follow "Track" outputs, inputs normalled to analogue "Line" inputs. Please see separate sheets for digital specifications. All consoles are 815mm (32") deep, plus at least at rear of console for PSU and audio connections, All consoles are 222mm (8.75") high. Length of 16 channel console 694mm (27.3"), Length of 24 channel console 950mm (37.4"), Length of 32 channel console 1206mm (47.5"). (Dimensions include wood trim). Dimensions: 100mm (4") Note: 0dB Distortion measured Line Input to Track Output at +4dBu input and gain over a bandwidth of 20Hz to 20KHz. The distortion is predominately tube generated second harmonic. Increasing the "Drive " level by applying more input gain progressively increases the distortion. The above figures are representative of typical production consoles, but are not guaranteed limits for any particular console. These specifications are subject to change without notice. 6 M4 MIXER OPERATION Input Selection You must ensure that the correct input connector, mic or line, is being used from the required source. You can select the type of input by pressing the 'LINE' switch at the top right of each channel strip in or out. In the "up' position the mic input is selected; depressing the 'LINE' switch selects the line input as the source. Note that you can have mic and line inputs connected at the same time but will only be able to select a single input at a time. Input Gain Control The gain control should be set to obtain the best signal to noise ratio, whilst preserving adequate headroom. Any changes in gain level should be gradual to avoid sudden overload or severe distortion. Extra care should be taken with higher level inputs, and high gain settings should be used sparingly to avoid an increase in the noise floor and the introduction of distortion. Line Input A typical line input will require less gain than a microphone signal as it is a 'hotter' source. You should have the gain set to a minimum when connecting a line input, then gradually increase it to achieve the required level. Microphone Input When connecting a microphone to the M4, start with the gain set to a minimum value and gradually increase until the sound source is just tickling 0dB on the meters when the source sound is at average output level. You can than choose how much you would like to drive the valves to produce the required sound. If Phantom power is needed, activate it before setting the gain by depressing the button marked '48V' at the back of the channel strip. Although the M4 provides 48V of phantom power, microphones requiring less than 48V can still be connected without any difficulties. CAUTION: Operation of the phantom power switch, or plugging a microphone in with the phantom power applied, may cause an audible click or thump in your loudspeakers. To avoid this happening, ensure that the channel fader and stereo master faders are set to a minimum before operating the switch or plugging in a microphone. Switching between mic and line with high input gain settings may also cause an audible thump if the level control is not turned down. 7 Phase Reverse The phase reverse switch, located to the bottom left of the gain control and labeled 'PHASE', is used to invert the phase of the input signal. It is active on both mic and line inputs. This function could be required when processing a signal that is out of phase with other signals in a mix, in which case the resultant phase error typically appears as a loss of low frequency content, due to cancellation of out of phase components. P ...