Sound Devices 552 - Manual (Page 39)

552 User Guide and Technical Information
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Program audio is muted while the slate mic is active. The signal is sent to all outputs and the Inte-
grated Digital Audio Recorder. In the Setup Menu a one second, 400 Hz tone can be set to precede
the slate microphone. Additionally, the slate mic can be disabled to prevent unintended activation.
The slate mic is used as a communication system between the Sound Mixer and a Boom Operator
when using the Talk Back mode, selected in the Setup Menu. See Talk Back Mode for more details.
Tone Oscillator
Tone is used to set gain structure between the 552 and the next device in the signal path. The tone
oscillator uses the right position of the slide switch. Slide right to activate, hold for two seconds to
latch on. The LED adjacent to the Mic/Tone switch will illuminate yellow when either the Slate Mic
or the Tone Oscillator is latched on.
From the factory, the tone oscillator is set to output a 1 kHz sine wave at 0 dBu to the outputs (when
the outputs are set to Line Level). Tone is also sent at the same level to each of the Direct Outputs.
Tone level and frequency settings are configured in the Setup Menu. The 552 headphone outputs are
attenuated when tone is activated.
With Tone activated, press the Battery Check button to cycle the left output by -20 dB. This is used
to verify left and right output signals. Turn off the tone oscillator or press the Battery Check button
again to stop the output cycling.
Talk Back Mode
Talk Back Mode allows a Sound Mixer to have a private conversation with a Boom Operator using
the 552 slate mic. When in Talk Back mode, the Slate microphone is not routed to the 552 master
outputs, direct outputs, or to the recorder . The slate mic is sent only to the right channel of the 1/4-
inch and 3.5 mm headphones.
In Talk Back mode, the two 552 headphone outputs contain two different audio sources. The 1/4-
inch headphone output is used for the Sound Mixer’s headphones. Audio sent to the 1/4-inch
headphones is normal program. The 3.5 mm headphone output is used for the Boom Operator’s
headphones. Its audio source is menu-selected.
The audio signals sent to the 3.5 mm headphone output is set in the Setup Menu. Source is set as
slate-only, slate + left program, or slate + channel 1 post-fade. The slate mic signal is sent to the right
headphone output and is mixed with the program selected in the Talk Back Setup Menu Function.
Talk Back Option 3 .5 mm Headphone Audio Source
Off - Normal Program Standard headphone program, identical to 1/4-inch.
Slate Only Active Slate Mic signal only, sent to the right headphone monitor.
Slate + Left Program 552 Left Program sent to both monitors and active Slate Mic Signal sent to the right
headphone monitor.
Slate + Channel 1 Post-Fade Channel 1 Post-Fader sent to both monitors and active Slate Mic Signal sent to the
right headphone monitor.