Antex electronic DMX-4 - Manual (Page 14)

DMX-4 USB Mixer User Manual
25
Adjusting the Recording Level
Having the proper recording level is essential to making
good, intelligible recordings. If the level is too low, the
recording will contain a lot of hiss when it is played back
loud enough to hear. If the level is set too high, loud
sounds or speech will “clip” and the sound will be
distorted. Clipping occurs when the level of the signal
being digitized exceeds the maximum level of the analog
to digital converter. In cases of severe overload, the
recording of the second channel in a stereo pair may be
affected. Channels 1 and 2, and channels 3 and 4 are
paired.
The VU meters in the Antex Mixer Program are used to
adjust the recording level. Note that the meters are
only active when a recording program is
monitoring or recording. As a rule of thumb, speak
at a normal level into the microphone. Adjust the Input
Slider on the Antex Mixer Program until the VU meter
peaks are in the –15 to –20dB range. This should give
adequate “headroom” for loud sounds.
Recording Mix Matrix
The recording mix matrix can be used to route any
combination of inputs to any of the 4 record channels.
This is done by clicking on the record channel number
buttons associated with each input, using the Antex
Mixer Program. Each input has 4 buttons for record
channels 1 through 4. Click on the button with the
mouse to toggle it on or off; blue means on, gray means
off.
DMX-4 USB Mixer User Manual
26
Monitor Mix Matrix
Any input may be routed to either or both of the monitor
outputs. This is done by clicking on the monitor number
buttons associated with each input, using the Antex
Mixer Program. Each input has a button for monitor 1
and monitor 2. Click on the button with the mouse to
toggle it on or off; blue means on, gray means off.
Phantom Power
Phantom power is required for condenser microphones.
It is not required for dynamic microphones and should
be turned off when using dynamic microphones,
although it will usually not harm them. Phantom power
must be turned off when using line level devices and can
cause damage. For this reason, the Antex Mixer
Program will automatically switch off Phantom Power
when “Line” is selected. Click on the “Phantom Power”
button with the mouse to toggle it on or off; blue means
on, gray means off.
Line and Microphone
The “Line” and “Microphone” buttons select the type of
input you are connecting to the DMX-4. The difference
is the signal level and the amount of gain required.
Microphones have a low signal level and require higher
gain. When “Microphone” is selected, the gain can be
adjusted from +10dB to +85dB with the slider control.
(See the section “Adjusting the Recording Level”.) The
slider control will affect the level of the audio in the
recording and in the monitor output, if the particular
input is routed to that monitor. Note however, that the
monitor output level will stop increasing once the slider
is up past +65dB. This is because the gain above 65dB