Studio Technologies 76DA V.4.02 - Manual (Page 41)

Model 76DA/77 User Guide Issue 4, March 2013
Studio Technologies, Inc. Page 41
for Surround
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 reduc-
tion will apply no matter whether the level
is being set by the rotary level control or by
the reference level button. The LED associ-
ated 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 dis-
cuss the auto dim off function. Whenever
dim is enabled due to the dim button be-
ing 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, sup-
posedly 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 al-
lows 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 control 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 experimenta-
tion 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 ro-
tary 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
discussed, the 4-digit display indicates the
mute condition by showing four dashes
(– – – –).