Allen&Heath 21 Series - Manual (Page 12)

9
OPERATION
Objective: To preserve the quality of the original sound.
Assisted by:
Level controls, gain controls, mixer meters, peak indicators, tape
meters and tape.
Level control - Operator control changing the signal level between
sections of a console system, often a passive
device (fader, pot).
Gain control - Operator control changing the shift in signal
level between the input and output of an
amplifier in one section of a console system.
It is said that a monkey with a typewriter would generate the works
of Shakespeare given enough paper and new machines in 6 million
hours. How long would it take him to mix "I am not in love'?
Those of you with time to spare may like to consider whether an
automation system would increase or decrease the time taken. Get
to know your equipment and its capabilities and limitations.
Particularly important in console systems are gain and level
controls used in conjunction with level indicators. There is
no way known to beat the physical constraints of thermionic
noise and maximum output level within audio amplifier systems
but intelligent use of gain and level controls gets acceptable,
even excellent results from modest equipment. Allen and Heath
consoles have more than the minimum number of controls essential
between microphone and tape since this allows presentation of
the original sound quality for a wider variety of sound sources
having different signal amplitutudes.
Signal dynamic range: The difference in signal level between
the loudest and the quietest sections of a
programme.
System dynamic range: The difference in signal level between the
loudest and quietest signals that can be
faithfully reproduced or transmitted by an
audio amplifier system.
The worst that can happen:
Start with a piece of programme to be mixed and recorded and
two things may happen to reduce the quality of original sound: