Studio Technologies 230 2014 - Manual (Page 46)

Issue 9, November 2014 Model 230 User Guide
Page 46 Studio Technologies, Inc.
for other applications there is certainly no
reason why the direct microphone output
can’t be configured to follow the status of
one of the talkback buttons. Special situ-
ations may benefit from having a micro-
phone signal that is active only during
“talkback.”
Using the direct microphone output is
essentially the same as connecting di-
rectly to a microphone. An interface cable
should be wired so that signal high (+ or
hot) is connected to pin 2, signal low (– or
cold) is connected to pin 3, and shield is
connected to pin 1. When connecting a
condenser microphone it’s recommended
that the Model 230 provide the source of
phantom power. In this way the micro-
phone will stay active whenever the Model
230 is operating, even if the connection
made to the direct microphone output is
broken. By ensuring that the microphone
remains active, the talkback functions will
continue to operate correctly.
Two slight differences between connecting
to a stand-alone microphone and connect-
ing to the Model 230’s direct microphone
output should be noted. The first is that
pin 1 on the direct microphone output’s
3-pin male XLR connector is electrically
isolated from pin 1 on the Model 230’s
3-pin female XLR microphone input con-
nector, as well as the Model 230’s signal
common/chassis connection. This is in-
tended to minimize the chance of “ground
loops” being created. Contact the factory
should assistance in this area be required.
The second difference is that while the
circuitry between the microphone input
and direct microphone output is entirely
passive, it will still impact the microphone
signal. The impact is benign but is still
worthy of description. The circuitry asso-
ciated with the Model 230’s microphone
hardware. Installing the kit is very simple.
The card’s 3-pin male XLR connector is
mounted into one of the three spare con-
nector locations on the Model 230’s back
panel. Specifically, the connector location
that is closest to the microphone input con-
nector should be used. The two screws,
with associated locking nuts, are used
to secure the connector and associated
printed circuit board to the enclosure. The
interconnecting cables are then used to link
the card with the Model 230’s main printed
circuit board assembly. One end of the
first interconnecting cable is plugged into
the card’s 3-position header that is labeled
MIC. The other end of this cable is plugged
into the 3-position header associated with
the microphone input connector, labeled
P5, located on the main printed circuit
board assembly. One end of the second
interconnecting cable is plugged into the
card’s header that is labeled RELAY. The
other end of this cable is plugged into the
header associated with the auxiliary relay,
labeled P16, located on the main printed
circuit board.
After the direct microphone output card has
been installed, one configuration step must
also be performed. Using the configura-
tion switches, located on the bottom of the
Model 230’s enclosure, the auxiliary relay
control mode must be set to the “follows
main output status” position. This provides
the on/off (muting) control of the direct
microphone output signal. Should the
auxiliary relay’s configuration be left in
the “relay disabled” position, the direct
microphone output will always be in the
off (muted) state. It’s interesting to note
that the recommended auxiliary relay
configuration assumes that the direct
microphone output will be used in place
of the Model 230’s main output. However,