Studio Technologies 230 2008 - Manual (Page 42)

Issue 7, October 2008 Model 230 User Guide
Page 42 Studio Technologies, Inc.
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 is muted. The green LED,
located on the right, is lit whenever the
main output is active. The thought pro-
cess behind the color choices was that
red would relate to the main output being
muted (“stop”) while green would relate
to the main output being active (“go”). It’s
possible that these color choices may not
meet the needs of all users and applica-
tions. For example, it’s reported that one
European broadcaster typically uses these
two colors in the opposite fashion. Their
choice is to have the red LED lit whenever
the main output is active, warning the tal-
ent that they are “on-air.” The green LED
is lit whenever the main output 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
each talkback button was selected to be
green. They light whenever their associ-
ated talkback output is active. It’s possible
that some applications may benefit from
revising these LED colors 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 230 operation.
A qualified technician can easily revise
the LED colors to meet an application’s
exact needs. The process would begin
by disassembling the Model 230’s enclo-
sure and detaching the pushbutton/LED
printed circuit board assembly. The LEDs
would then be unsoldered, removed, and
reinstalled (or replaced) in the desired
locations. To control the LED current and
set the brightness, a resistor is electri-
cally in series with each LED. 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 unsolder-
ed, removed, and reinstalled. Then the
unit would be reassembled and tested
to confirm that the changes function as
desired. For additional information about
changing the LED colors, please contact
Studio Technologies’ technical support.
Travel Case
For portable applications it may be desir-
able to store and transport each Model
230 in a protective case. After much travel
with prototype announcer console units,
Studio Technologies personnel learned
to appreciate the Pelican Model 1450
case. Purchased with the foam interior
option, it does an excellent job of holding
one Model 230, its associated 24 volt DC
power supply, and documentation. Some
applications may benefit from selecting a
larger case that would also hold a related
headset, cables, etc. A larger case could
also be selected that would hold multiple
Model 230 units. Pelican sells their prod-
ucts through a dealer network, many of
which can be located via a web search.
Connecting Line-Level Audio
to the IFB Input
In “emergency” situations it’s possible to
connect line-level audio signals directly
to the Model 230’s IFB input connector.