Studio Technologies 68 V.1 - Manual (Page 17)

Model 68/69 User Guide Issue 2, June 1999
Studio Technologies, Inc. Page 17
for Surround
• Reference level
• Monitor output muting
• Dim level
• Remote controls
The Model 69 Configuration Charts, lo-
cated at the end of this section, give de-
tails on how each parameter is set. An
overview of each configurable parameter
is provided in the following paragraphs.
Entering and Exiting the Configuration
Mode
A small button is located on the back of
the Model 69 Control Console, adjacent
to the 9-pin D-sub connector. Pressing
and holding this button for two seconds
places the Model 69 into the configuration
mode. In the configuration mode the
Model 69’s array of buttons and LEDs
no longer perform their normal functions,
but instead allow you to observe and
change many of the operating parameters.
The mute/solo mode LEDs light alternately
to indicate that the configuration mode is
active.
To return the Model 69 to normal opera-
tion, once again press and hold the config-
ure button for two seconds. Note that
configuration changes are stored only after
the configuration mode has been exited by
pressing and holding the configure button.
Our apologies to those of you who find the
configure button a pain to use, but it’s
supposed to be that way! Seriously, the
top of the button is slightly recessed from
the back panel, making it harder to acci-
dentally activate. We didn’t want normal
operation to cease because someone
pushed the Model 69 into a “rats nest”
of music scores or track sheets!
When to Use the Configuration Mode
There is no problem frequently “tweaking”
the Model 69’s operating parameters to
achieve the desired performance. The
configuration data is stored in a non-
volatile memory chip, which is rated for
thousands of read and write cycles, and
a retention time in tens of years.
Input Channels Active
This configuration is a bit tricky to under-
stand, but is really quite simple—if we’re
clear on our explanation that is! The con-
figuration parameter for the number of
channels active for each input is provided
for those special cases where a source
has less channels than its usual, e.g., less
than six for surround input A or B.
Let’s look at an example, which is essen-
tially a 6-channel monitor system. Input 1
(Surround A) is connected to a 6-channel
source, so its default configuration is fine.
But the source for input 2 (Surround B) is
special, having only three channels: Left,
center, and right. This makes it not so
“cool” for the operator to select input 2 for
monitoring, as the unconnected left sur-
round, right surround, and subwoofer input
channels will get routed to their respective
monitor outputs. Will the unused input
channels pick up significant noise or hum?
Unlikely, but why take a chance at having
a problem. Simply use the input channels
active configuration to disable the three
unused channels. Now when input 2 is
selected, only the relevant channels are
selected for monitoring.
Note that when a channel associated
with an input is disabled, the input routing
circuitry, under software control, no longer
selects it, but the corresponding monitor
output channel does not mute. With our