Studio Technologies 76DA V.4.00 - Manual (Page 40)

Issue 3, July 2012 Model 76DA/77 User Guide
Page 40 Studio Technologies, Inc.
for Surround
(– – – –). The mute all button is always set
to “latch” the function on and off. The LED
associated with the mute all button will
light whenever mute all is active. Note that
if mute all is enabled via the remote mute
all function, the mute all LED will flash.
Dim
The dim function is provided for user
convenience, allowing the post-fader sur-
round and stereo digital and analog moni-
tor output levels to be reduced by a fixed
amount. The Model 77’s configuration
mode allows the dim level to be selected
from among four choices: –10.0, –15.0,
–20.0, or –25.0 dB. Pressing the dim but-
ton will enable the function. The dim button
is always set to “latch” the function on and
off. The 4-digit display, when selected for
output level mode, will indicate the revised
post-fader monitor output level. If the re-
quested “dimmed” output level is equal to
or less than –96.0 dB, the monitor outputs
will go into full mute and the display will
show four dashes (
– – – –). When dim is
active the post-fader monitor output level
reduction will apply no matter whether the
level is being set by the rotary level control
or by the reference level button. The LED
associated with the dim button will light
whenever dim is active. If dim mode is
enabled via the remote dim function the
dim LED will flash.
It’s worth using a few sentences to discuss
the auto dim off function. Whenever dim
is enabled due to the dim button being
pressed, and the rotary level control is
active (reference level mode is not active),
changing the setting of the rotary level
control will automatically turn off dim. The
auto dim off function is a unique attempt
at protecting the aural health of users. No
longer will there be a heart-stopping blast
of audio when the dim button is pressed,
supposedly to enable dim, but actually
turning dim off because it was already
enabled. It’s hard to explain unless you’ve
experienced this in person—trust us, this
situation can and does happen!
Note that the auto dim off function is not
active whenever dim is enabled due to
the remote dim function being active. This
allows remote control equipment, such
as a talkback system, to reliably dim the
monitor outputs.
Rotary Level Control
The rotary level control is used to manually
adjust the post-fader surround and stereo
monitor output levels. The level control
provides the ability to adjust the post-fader
surround and stereo digital and analog
monitor output levels over a 70-dB range.
Technically the rotary level control is a 24-
step-per-revolution mechanical encoder.
The amount of level change in dB per
step (“click”) will depend on how quickly
the control is turned. When rotated slowly,
each step represents a 0.5-dB change in
level. In this case, to traverse the entire
level range would require rotating the con-
trol more than five full turns. But the Model
77’s software detects when the control is
rotated more quickly and increases the
amount of level change in dB per step. A
little experimentation will allow the user to
acquire a good “feel” for how best to use
the control.
The reference level LED will flash when
the rotary level control sets the post-fader
monitor output level to be the same as the
stored reference level. Whenever the rotary
level control attempts to set the output
level for less than –70.0 dB, the post-fader
surround and stereo monitor output chan-
nels will automatically mute. As previously