Studio Technologies 214 - Manual (Page 24)

Issue 1, July 2014 Model 214 User Guide
Page 24 Studio Technologies, Inc.
Talkback Button Modes
Depending on the selected configuration,
there are two ways the talkback pushbut-
ton can function:
• Push to Talk: If this mode is selected the
audio signal associated with the talk-
back output channel is normally muted.
The audio signal will become active
whenever the talkback pushbutton is
pressed and held.
• Hybrid: This mode is a combination of
push to talk and alternate action. If the
pushbutton is pressed and held, the
audio signal associated with the talk-
back output channel will become active
until the talkback pushbutton is re-
leased. If the talkback pushbutton is
momentarily “tapped” the audio sig-
nal will change state. Upon Model 214
power up the audio signal will always
be in its muted state.
Headphone Output Level
Controls
Three rotary controls (“pots”) are located
on the Model 214’s front panel and are as-
sociated with the headphone output. The
way the controls function depends on the
selected configuration. One configuration
parameter sets what audio input signals
are assigned to the controls. There are
four modes available. Another parameter
selects whether the headphone output
channels will maintain a minimum output
level or can be fully muted.
To understand exactly how the level con-
trols on a specific Model 214 will function
requires knowledge of how that unit has
been configured. Please refer to the Con-
figuration section of this guide for details.
It may require a bit of study to fully under-
stand how the controls will function. The
author would like to be able to provide a
simple explanation. But there are really
four simple explanations, one for each
configuration choice!
Each level control has a mechanical step
(detent) that is located at the halfway
(50%) position of its rotation range. This is
intended to serve as an aid to Model 214
users. In an ideal installation, setting the
controls to their detent position will result
in a comfortable headphone output level.
The user, in response to a changing op-
erating environment, can then move the
level controls to get more or less level as
desired. The detent position will always
remain as a useful reference point. To
achieve this condition the audio level on
the appropriate audio inputs will have to
be calibrated as required. This is some-
what counter intuitive to the usual mental-
ity of just providing the user with whatever
level comes up by default. Spending a few
extra minutes “trimming” the input audio
channel levels can result in much happier,
and more productive, users.
One of the headphone modes uses the
control in the center of the unit as a bal-
ance function. In this case the detent
position will send approximately equal
levels to both the left and right headphone
output channels. This is as one would
expect from a “stereo” balance control
such as provided in consumer electronic
equipment.
When the headphone minimum level con-
figuration is set to –40 dB, turning a level
control to its fully counterclockwise posi-
tion will cause the level of its associated
headphone output channel(s) to 40 dB
below maximum. This ensures that users
will never be fully “isolated” from poten-
tially important cue signals. In addition,