346 Proficiency Guide

Policies

Please read this article (link) about lab policies before working in the lab.

Startup Procedure

1. Log into the Log Book and note any problems other students have had in the studio.
   • Is the mixer and the rest of the room normalized? If not, note it in the Log Book.
2. There are two rack mount power strips that power on most of the equipment in the lab. One is in the effects rack directly to the left of the Soundcraft 600 mixing console; the other is in one of the instrument racks to the left of the Buchla. Power both of these on.
3. Power up computer.

Soundcraft 600

1. Patch one of the Buchla's oscillator outputs to one of the first eight connections on the "Main Instrument Panel." These points are normalized to the first eight line inputs of the Soundcraft 600. Question: What does it mean that these connections are half-normalized? Demonstrate connecting this signal from the Instrument Panel via both the normalized connection and patching at the ADC patch bays.
2. Describe the signal flow of a Line Input on the Soundcraft 600. Identify the locations of the aux sends, bus assignment switches, and channel direct output, and describe their functions.
3. Route the signal from the Buchla through a Line Input all the way to the Main Output.
4. Demonstrate understanding of the relationship between the Main Output and the Monitor Output. Question: what is the recommended position of the Monitor Output control on the Soundcraft?

Monitor Controller

1. Starting out, make sure the "Volume" knob on the monitor controller is turned all the way down.
2. There are three different input sources on this monitor controller. The L/R Monitor Outputs of the Soundcraft 600 are directly connected to the "Stereo" Input of the controller. The "Quad" Inputs are normalized to the first four Group Outputs of the Soundcraft 600 (a mult, as the Group Outputs are also normalized to the Otari MX-5050 inputs). . A stereo mini cable plugged into the controller is available when "Aux" Input is selected.
3. The controller feeds two different sets of studio monitors (speakers) which are selected by the "Monitor" switch. It is a 3 way switch that toggles between two different sets of speakers with "Mute" as the middle position. Selecting "Farfield" sends the signal to the (passive) farfield JBL 4412A monitors via Hafler power amplifiers to the right of the mixer. A stereo source will only go to the front farfields; a quad source will feed both the front and rear pairs. A subwoofer is crossed over with front pair. There is no need to change the volume of the amplifiers. Selecting "Nearfield" on the controller feeds the active JBL Series 3 monitors. The subwoofer is only used with the Farfields.
4. Once you have your input source and speakers selected, bring up the "Monitor Output" level knob up to a good listening level.

Apollo X8 Audio Interface

1. There are several ways to get the signal that was patched into the mixer out of the mixer and into the Apollo X8 audio interface for digital recording. In this case, patch Soundcraft "Main Out L/R" into "Apollo Input 1/2."
2. Press the "METER" button on the front panel of the Apollo. This button toggles between displaying either input or output metering on the front panel; to be able to see input levels, use the button to select "IN."
3. The first four input channels of the Apollo can toggle between individual microphone and line level inputs. On the front panel controls of the Apollo, the knob labeled "PREAMP" is also a button. Pressing this button toggles between selecting inputs 1-4. Press this knob until Input 1 is illuminated (selected) on the front panel. This will make the other front panel controls affect Input 1. Press the "INPUT" button (just to the right of the "PREAMP" knob/button) to toggle between "MIC" (inputs available from the XLR input panel just about the interface in the rack) and "LINE" (inputs from the patchbay); we want "LINE" selected for channels 1 and 2 in this case. (Note that inputs 5-8 are only LINE inputs). For more information, check out the Apollo X8 Wiki Page.
4. Use "PREAMP" knob as needed to adjust the input to a healthy level. Check that the level is the same between channels 1 and 2.
5. Open Ableton Live. The default project template is configured for use with the Apollo, and the first Audio channel in the project will already have its input set to "1 MIC/LINE/HI-Z." Change it to a stereo input from channels 1 and 2. From here, the track can be armed to record by clicking the button with the dot on it below the S (solo) button on the channel. Note that the "Monitor" control on the channel is set to "Off" (which is what we want, since we are already monitoring the input signal off the mixer).
6. On the transport controls at the top of the Ableton project, press "Record;" the dot should turn red and the play symbol should turn green and recording will start. Record a little bit of signal and then press stop. Pressing TAB on the computer keyboard will toggle between Arrangement View and Session View.
7. Finally, listen back to what was recorded. Patch the output of the Apollo back into the mixer. By default, the Ableton project's main output will go to Apollo Line Out 1-2. Locate this pair of outputs on the patchbay and patch them into an available pair of line inputs on the mixer. Question: is patching necessary to bring Apollo outputs into the Soundcraft?
8. Route this signal through the board all the way to the Monitor Output.

Shutdown Procedure

1. Turn the monitor controller volume all the way down.
2. Normalize the mixer (all buttons out, all faders down, all AUX Send knobs down, all EQ knobs centered, all Gain knobs down, Monitor knob down, etc.).
3. Remove patch cables from synths and patchbays, and NEATLY put them back on the hangers.
4. Shut down the computer.
5. Switch off all racks.
6. Log out of the log book and note any problems you have had; they will be looked at weekly on Tuesday mornings.
7. Switch off the lights and make sure the door latches behind you.