Phantom power, Led colors – Studio Technologies 212 2006 User Manual
Page 28

Issue 3, July 2006
Model 212 User Guide
Page 28
Studio Technologies, Inc.
carry digital audio to the Model 44, pins 3
and 6 bring digital audio from the Model
44 to the Model 212, and pins 7 and 8
bring 24 volt DC power from the Model 44
to the Model 212. The power is polarity
sensitive with positive on pin 7 and nega-
tive on pin 8.
Phantom Power
The Model 212 provides a 48 volt nominal
source of “phantom power” to support
condenser-type microphones. It’s de-
signed to meet the P48 requirements
as specified in the IEC 61938 standard.
The required circuitry is very simple: two
6.81 k ohm resistors provide a path from a
48 volt source to pins 2 and 3 of the micro-
phone input connector. The resistors and
the power source work together to provide
48 ±4 volts, up to a maximum current of
10 milliamperes.
LED Colors
As previously described, two LED indica-
tors are associated with the main output
and are located directly above the main
output pushbutton switch. The red LED,
located on the left, is lit whenever the
main output channel is muted. The green
LED, located on the right, is lit whenever
the main output channel is active. The
thought behind the color choices was
that red would relate to the main output
channel being muted (“stop”) while green
would relate to the main output channel
being active (“go”). It’s possible that these
color choices may not meet the needs of
all users and applications. For example,
it’s reported that one European broad-
caster typically uses these two colors in
the opposite fashion. Their choice is to
have the red LED lit whenever the main
output channel is active, warning the tal-
ent that they are “on-air.” The green LED
is lit whenever the main output channel
is muted, indicating to the talent that it’s
“safe” to say whatever they wish, about
whomever they wish to say it about!
For consistency, the LED associated with
the talkback button was selected to be
green. This lights whenever the talkback
channel is active. It’s possible that some
applications may benefit from revising
this LED color too. While red is certainly
one possible choice, other colors are also
a possibility including amber, orange, or
blue—these days there are lots of choices
available. The only limitation is the amount
of current available to light each LED.
Using series resistors of no less than
560 ohms will ensure correct Model 212
operation.
A qualified technician can easily revise the
LED colors to meet an application’s exact
needs. The process would begin by disas-
sembling the Model 212’s enclosure and
detaching the pushbutton/LED printed
circuit board assembly. The LEDs would
then be unsoldered, removed, and rein-
stalled (or replaced) in the desired loca-
tions. To control the LED current and set
the brightness, a resistor is electrically in
series with each LED. From the factory,
an 820 ohm, ¼-watt resistor is associated
with the red LED while a 560 ohm, ¼-watt
resistor is associated with each green
LED. These resistors would also have to
be unsoldered, removed, and reinstalled.
Then the unit would be reassembled and
tested to confirm that the changes func-
tion as desired.
For additional information about chang-
ing the LED colors, please contact Studio
Technologies’ technical support.