Dan Dugan Sound Design Dugan-VN16 - Manual (Page 10)

Dugan-VN16 User Guide
10
Theory of Operation
The Dugan-VN16 Automatic Mixing Controller uses a patented automatic mixing
function that distributes the gain of one open microphone over the entire system,
maintaining a natural one-mic ambience. It is essential to distinguish this behavior from
the annoying fluctuation of levels and uneven ambience in a conventional gating
system.
The system automatically manages any number of live mics in unpredictable dia-
logue situations. When one person speaks, that mic’s gain fades up instantly, and the
others down. When the speaker pauses, all mics fade to medium gains that sum to
equal one mic at full gain. The result sounds like passing one mic around among the
speakers. When several people talk at once, the gain is shared.
Figure 1-1 Four snapshots of a three-mic system
Figure 1-1 shows automatic mixing with a three-mic system.
• The first frame shows no one speaking; the sound levels at all mics are low. The
system fades all channels to medium gains that sum to the equivalent of one mic
at full gain.
• The second frame shows one person speaking. The system automatically fades his/
her gain to full, while the other two inputs are turned down.
• The third frame shows a different person speaking. The system automatically
fades his/her gain to full, while the other two inputs are turned down.
• The fourth frame shows two people speaking simultaneously. The system auto-
matically shares the gain between them, while the other input is turned down.