Behringer Xenyx - Manual (Page 9)

9
XENYX 1204/1204FX
+48 V
The red “+48 V” LED lights up when the phantom power supply
is switched on. The phantom power supply is necessary for
condenser microphones and is activated using the switch on
the rear of the device.
+
Please do not connect microphones to the mixer
(or the stagebox/wallbox) while the phantom
power supply is switched on. Connect micro-
phones before you switch on the power supply.
In addition, the monitor/PA loudspeakers should
be muted before you activate the phantom power
supply. After switching on, wait approx. one minute
to allow for system stabilization.
LEVEL METER
The high-precision level meter accurately displays the
appropriate signal level.
LEVEL SETTING:
When recording to a digital device, the recorder’s peak meter
should not exceed 0 dB. This is because, unlike analog recordings,
slightly excessive levels can create unpleasant digital distortion.
When recording to an analog device, the VU meters of the
recording machine should reach approx. +3 dB with low-
frequency signals (e.g. kick drum). Due to their inertia VU meters
tend to display too low a signal level at frequencies above 1 kHz.
This is why, for example, a Hi-Hat should only be driven as far
as -10 dB. Snare drums should be driven to approx. 0 dB.
+
The peak meters of your XENYX display the level
virtually independent of frequency. A recording level
of 0 dB is recommended for all signal types.
MODE (1204FX only)
The MODE switch determines whether the channels’ SOLO
switch operates as PFL (Pre Fader Listen) or as solo (Solo In
Place).
PFL
To activate the PFL function, depress the MODE switch. The
PFL function should, as a rule, be used for gain setting purposes.
The signal is sourced pre-fader and assigned to the mono PFL
bus. In the “PFL” setting, only the left side of the peak meter
operates. Drive the individual channels to the 0 dB mark of the
VU meter.
Solo
When the MODE switch is not depressed, the stereo solo bus
is active. Solo is short for “Solo In Place”. This is the customary
method for listening to an individual signal or to a group of signals.
As soon as a solo switch is pressed, all channels in the control
room (and headphones) that have not been selected are muted
thereby retaining stereo panning. The solo bus can carry the
output signals of the channel pan controls, the aux sends and
the stereo line inputs. The solo bus is, as a rule, switched post-
fader.
+
The PAN control in the channel strip offers a
constant power characteristic. This means that the
signal is always at a constant level, irrespective of
its position in the stereo panorama. If the PAN
control is moved fully left or right from center, the
level increases by 4 dB in that channel. This
ensures that, when set in the center, the audio
signal is not louder. For this reason, with the solo
function activated (Solo in Place), audio signals
from the channels with PAN controls that have not
been moved fully to the left or right are displayed
at a lower volume than in the PFL function.
As a rule, solo signals are monitored via the control room
outputs and headphones connector and are displayed by the
level meters. If a solo switch is pressed, the signals from the
tape input, Alt 3-4 and main mix are blocked from the control
room outputs, the headphone connector and the level meter.
MAIN SOLO (1204FX only)
The MAIN SOLO LED lights up as soon as a channel or aux
send solo switch is pressed. The MODE switch also has to be
set at “Solo”.
PFL (1204FX only)
The PFL LED indicates that the peak meter is set to PFL mode.
Fig. 2.12: PHONES connector
PHONES
You can connect headphones to this 1/4" TRS connector. The
signal on the PHONES connection is sourced from the control
room output.
2.3.7 Alt 3-4 and main mix fader
Fig. 2.13: Alt 3-4 and main mix fader
Use the high-precision quality faders to control the output level
of the Alt 3-4 subgroup and main mix.
2.4 Rear view of 1204FX/
1204
2.4.1 Main mix outputs, Alt 3-4 outputs and
control room outputs
Fig. 2.14: Main mix outputs, Alt 3-4 outputs and
control room outputs
MAIN OUTPUTS
The MAIN outputs carry the MAIN MIX signal and are on
balanced XLR connectors with a nominal level of +4 dBu.
ALT 3-4 OUTPUTS
The ALT 3-4 outputs are unbalanced and carry the signals of
the channels that you have assigned to this group using the
MUTE switch. This can be used to route a subgroup to a further
mixing console for example, or or it could be used as a recording
output working in tandem with the main output. This means you
could record to four tracks simultaneously. The icing on the
cake, so to speak, is that you could connect Y-cables to these
four outputs and then connect your 8-track recorder in such a
way that you have 2 x 4 tracks (e.g. channel 1 feeds track 1 and
track 2, etc.). In the first recording pass, you record on tracks 1,
2. CONTROL ELEMENTS AND CONNECTORS