Manley MicMAID 4x4 Matrix-Switcher 10/2010 - present - Manual (Page 7)

THE ROUTING MATRIX
On the MicMAID, any of the 4 microphones can be connected to any of the 4 micpreamps. When the
MicMaid is powered up for the first time, there are no routes between any mics and preamps.
To get started, select a microphone by pressing the assigned A, B, C or D button at the top of the rout-
ing matrix. For this example, let’s say Microphone A. Now, select one of the 4 micpreamps on the right vertical
side of the matrix - let’s use PRE 1. Now, MIC A is hardwired to the input of PRE 1, and the output of PRE 1 is
hardwired to the DIRECT 1 output on the back of the MicMAID - you can treat that output as the output of the
micpreamp, as it simply mirrors it.
You can move on and select PRE 2, 3, and 4 in succession, and you’ll be able to hear MIC A through
all four preamps. Likewise, selecting each mic in turn will let you hear each mic through any and all preamps.
Simple, right?
Now, let’s say you find a match you really like (“MIC B sounds particularly lovely running through PRE
4!”). The LOCK button displays and controls the lock status of the currently selected microphone and preamp.
Press this LOCK button, and you can toggle the lock status of the currently selected microphone and preamp.
The LOCK button flashes if an attempt is made to change a locked route (e.g. trying to use a mic with a preamp
that has already been locked to another microphone). To learn how to save your locked routings as “snapshots”,
see The Monitor Section below.
Phantom power to any of the four mic inputs can be supplied by the MicMAID. Hold the phantom button
below the corresponding Microphone button (which will start flashing), and press that Microphone button to turn
phantom on. Repeat to turn it off. Phantom power should never be turned on in a connected preamp. If the
MicMAID detects phantom power from a connected preamp, the display will flash ‘bP’ (bad phantom) and the
offending PRE button will blink until the external phantom power is removed. If a mic was routed to the offend-
ing pre, it will be muted and the route will be disconnected. The pre button for that channel will be disabled. The
display will continue to flash ‘bP’ for a few seconds after the offending phantom power is removed while the
circuit is stabilizing.
THE MONITOR SECTION
The monitor section uses the output of the currently selected preamp as its input. The GAIN TRIM knob
can be used to trim the monitor section’s gain by ±19.5 dB in 0.5 dB steps for each of the 16 microphone/micpre-
amp combinations.
In addition to these trims, you can also save up to ten “snapshot” memories of routing schemes you’ve
set up via the instructions above. Snapshots remember the state of all gain trims and button controlled settings
(most importantly, the routing matrix) except the phantom power settings. (These are not saved because improper
application of phantom power could potentially damage some microphones). The first snapshot, number 0, is
read-only: loading snapshot 0 returns the MicMAID to ‘factory default’ - no routes, no gain trims, no locks.
Pressing the rotary encoder knob activates the snapshot menu. While in the snapshot menu, think of
pressing the rotary encoder knob as pressing “Enter” on a computer. When the menu first appears, all button and
matrix leds turn off and the display shows
≡≡
. During menus the upper and lower half of the plus sign alternate.
If no action is taken the menu will time out without any effect. Whenever stacked dashes
≡
are displayed, press-
ing Enter will exit the menu immediately without effect and without having to wait for the timeout.
(continued on next page)
7