Studio Technologies 50 2005 - Manual (Page 32)

Issue 7, August 2005 Model 50/51 User Guide
Page 32 Studio Technologies, Inc.
broken. No clicks, pops, or other noises
will occur when the Model 51 is again
connected. The Model 51 will go through
its standard power-up sequence, send a
message to reset power-up defaults, then
send the operating parameters as stored
in its memory. You may notice a brief inter-
val of silence while the Model 50 responds
to the reset defaults message.
Control Room Mono Function
Many arguments where had while design-
ing the control room monaural function.
Was the function supposed to be a true
mono function, sending the sum of left
and right to a separate mono control
room output? Was mono to be the sum
of left and right sent to both left and right
channels? What about level build up with
phase coherent signals that are in both
the left and right channels? After much
head scratching it was realized that the
mono function that most people are ac-
customed to is really a means of observ-
ing the character of a stereo mix, and not
a “true” mono function. To observe the
stereo image of a mix you need to sum
the left and right signals, drop the level of
the sum, and send the result out the left
and right outputs. In our implementation,
we drop the level by 6 dB. This is what
many recording consoles implement, and
is what the StudioComm does too! We
understand that specialized applications
such as mastering and film mixing may re-
quire a more exotic mono function. Sorry,
our hardware simply can’t support it!
Talent Amplifier Mono Function
The Model 35 Talent Amplifier contains a
monaural switch. The mono function sums
the left and right input signals, drops the
level of the sum by 6 dB, and sends the
sum to both the left and right outputs.
Input Level and the Talent Amplifiers
Optimal performance of the Model 35 Tal-
ent Amplifier depends on the headphone
source signal levels being at approximate-
ly the nominal input level, either –10 dBV
or +4 dBu, depending on the configura-
tion. The headphone volume is adjusted
only by the level controls on the talent am-
plifiers. If the selected headphone source
signal level is significantly less than nomi-
nal, the talent amplifier will simply not be
able to create the maximum volume in the
headphones. While there is some gain in
the talent amplifiers, optimal performance
still requires an input close to nominal.
Communication Switch Noise
During field trials of the StudioComm
components one item came up for
discussion concerning “thumps” in the
communications functions. A brief dis-
cussion may be useful. Electrically the
Model 50 and Model 51 electronics that
support the communications functions
are quite quiet, not adding appreciable
“clicks, pops, or thumps.” Software time
delays are even added to minimize noise
when the buttons are pushed. Mechanical
noise being picked up by the Model 51’s
microphone can be an issue. If the talk
to studio, talk to phones, or slate buttons
are pushed using a relatively light touch
no objectionable noise will be generated;
pressing the switches with “gusto” will
cause mechanical noise to be transferred
into the microphone. While the Model
51’s microphone is of good quality, shock
mounting it was not possible using a cost-
effective method. The fact that the Model
51 is physically small and the buttons
must be relatively close to the microphone
adds to the difficulty. (Note that most all
recording consoles, both small and large,
share this condition.)