Studio Technologies 58 2000 - Manual (Page 25)

Issue 4, December 2000 Model 58/59 User Guide
Page 26 Studio Technologies, Inc.
for Surround
the back panel, making it harder to acci-
dentally activate. We don’t want normal
operation to cease because someone
pushes the Model 59 into a “rats nest”
of track sheets!
When to Use the Configuration Mode
There is no problem frequently “tweaking”
the Model 59’s operating parameters to
achieve the desired performance. The
non-volatile memory chip used to store
the configuration is rated for thousands of
read and write cycles, and has a retention
time rated in years.
Input Channels Active
This configuration is a bit tricky to under-
stand, but is really quite simple—that is
if we’re clear on our explanation! The
number of channels associated with each
of the four inputs is dependent on the
number of monitor output channels. As an
example, a system that consists of one
Model 59 Console and three Model 58
Central Controllers supports six monitor
output channels, and four 6-channel input
sources. The configuration parameter for
the number of input channels active is
provided for those special cases where a
source has less channels than the number
of monitor output channels.
Let’s look further at our mythical example,
the 6-channel system. Inputs 1 and 2 are
connected to 6-channel sources, so every-
thing is fine there. But the source for input
3 has only four channels. While the source
for input 4 is stereo. This makes it not so
“cool” for the operator to select input 3 or
4 for monitoring, as the unused input
channels will get routed to the meter and
monitor outputs. Will the unused input
channels pick up lots of noise and hum?
Unlikely, but why take the chance of hav-
ing a problem. Simply use the input chan-
nels active configuration to disable the
unused channels associated with inputs
3 and 4. Now when inputs 3 or 4 are
selected, only the valid channels are
monitored.
Note that when a channel associated
with an input is disabled, the input routing
circuitry, under software control, no longer
selects it; the corresponding output chan-
nel does not mute. With our 6-channel
example, when selecting input 4, the
stereo source, all six monitor output chan-
nels remain active, but the input routing
circuitry does not select the four unused
inputs. While to some this might seem
confusing, and a design fault, it was imple-
mented in this fashion because multiple
inputs can be selected for simultaneous
monitoring. A 6-channel source might
be selected at the same time as a stereo
source. Having the output mute/solo mode
LEDs going on and off in response to
the selected input sources would be
very annoying!
A special mode has been included to
allow an input to be disabled from being
accessed by the operator. This might be
useful, for example, when input 4 is not
connected to a source, and has no valid
reason to be selected. This might also be
useful when connecting a special source
to input 4, such as a house “tie line” or
router output that shouldn’t normally be
accessible. To disable an input is simple,
just disable all eight channels associated
with it. During configuration mode, all eight
LEDs will flash to show that this function
is active. Once the Model 59 is returned
to the normal operating mode the disabled
input simply cannot be selected.