Studio Technologies 742A - Manual (Page 23)

Model 742A User Guide Issue 1, July 2012
Studio Technologies, Inc. Page 23
Audio Mixer
use output bus 2 as their audio source.
Two rotary controls set the output levels of
the headphone channels and, depending
on the Model 742A’s configuration, may
also control the level of the monitor loud-
speakers. Understanding and becoming
comfortable with using the monitor section
is important in obtaining optimal Model
742A performance. (Refer to Figure 17
for a detailed view.)
Level Controls
The rotary controls are always used to
adjust the output level of the headphone
output channels. Like the master output
controls, they are concentric—the inner
knob controlling channel 1 and the outer
knob channel 2. Depending on how the
monitor output mode is configured, the
rotary controls may also adjust the levels
of the connected loudspeakers. There are
three ways that the monitor output can be
configured:
• From the factory the monitor output is
configured to follow the position of the
front-panel level controls (“post” level
controls). In this mode the front-panel
controls are used to adjust the levels
of the monitor outputs, and thus the
monitor loudspeakers.
Figure 17. Detail of front panel showing monitor
output level controls
• A second configuration mode takes
the Model 742A’s front-panel level
controls out of the picture vis-à-vis the
monitor outputs. It does this by setting
the nominal level of the monitor outputs
at a fixed value of –10 dBu. In this mode
the level controls on the connected am-
plifier channels, or amplified loudspeak-
ers, are used to adjust the loudspeaker
levels.
• A third configuration mode also takes
the Model 742A’s front-panel level con-
trols out of the picture. In this case the
nominal level of the monitor outputs is
fixed at +4 dBu. Again in this mode the
level controls on the connected ampli-
fier channels, or amplified loudspeak-
ers, are used to adjust the loudspeaker
levels.
Headphone Output
The headphone output is designed to
work well with virtually any of the contem-
porary medium- and high-impedance ste-
reo headphones. Sony headphones were
used during the design of the Model 742A;
their high sensitivity made them go “way
loud”! (While a bit “bright” in the high-end
for our taste, their comfort and fine design
make them a good choice for use with
the Model 742A.) Using the headphone
output to monitor the Model 742A is a bit
different than monitoring a typical “stereo”
audio source. This is because the audio
source for the left channel of the head-
phone output is always output bus 1 while
the audio source for the right channel is
output bus 2. This means that the monitor
level controls will be used not only to set
the overall headphone output levels, but
also to select which output bus or buses
are going to be monitored.