NewTek TriCaster TC1 (2 RU) - Manual (Page 180)

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16.8.2 EFFECTS (TRANSITIONS)
This control group governs the sound embedded in Animation Store Transitions . The remaining control
groups in the Audio Mixer are dedicated to vario us audio outputs. We’ll come back to them in Section 16.9,
but before we do so, let’s drill further down into more advanced audio options and tools.
SECTION 16.9
OUTPUT AND PRIMARY BUS CONTROLS
As has been discussed, the Mixer on most models support four
primary audio busses – MASTER and AUX 1-3 . Each of these is
represented by its own control group in the Audio Mixer output
section, and regulates sound sent to physical connectors or to
‘logical outputs’.
Hint: Shift + double click Volume knobs to restore their default
values (0dB).
Settings in all of the control groups in this section take effect
downstream from all audio sources, further modulating and
processing audio sent to outputs as the
AUX and MASTER mixes,
for recording, and for Internet streaming.
16.9.1
HEADROOM NOTES
In digital audio systems, signal levels that
exceed maximum values are uniformly
assigned the maximum value, a condition
known as “clipping”. Clipping inevitably results
in annoying audible issues.
Worse, over-modulation that may not be
apparent while listening during live production
may nonetheless appear in recorded files. This is often true even when levels
appear to be
below the ceiling level (0dBFS, the maximum allowable digital level).
Hint: When clipping has occurred, the label for the problem channel turns red briefly, as seen in Figure 201.
Due to this problem, digital audio system designs customarily allow substantial ‘headroom’ above the
benchmark ‘alignment level’, making over -modulation much less likely. Often this allowance seems high to
those familiar with analog audio systems; headroom levels between 18 and 24dB are not uncommon in
professional digital audio realms.
Important Note: Front panel inputs on TC Mini (only) have lower headroom, and will clip at -12 dB FS.
You can apply level control to suit your own preference in this regard, using the separate Record (and Stream )
level controls discussed shortly. For example, levels set at -20dBFS in the Record Configuration panel
approximate typical professional practice. This has no impact on levels at the system’s audio outputs, and
all but ensures clipping in recorded files will be avoided.
FIGURE 201
Secondary audio busses:
Actually, beyond the primary busses
mentioned here, the system
maintains
a large number of secondary internal
busses.
For example, the Solo switch for each
input (a nd output) is actually a ‘send’
that adds sound to a ‘Solo bus’.
Likewise, the IsoCorder™ module (on
supporting models) permits discrete
recording from the unmodified audio
input associated with any single video
source; this constitutes up to eight
additional audio busses.