Operation Manual

ML5000 User Guide  27 
 D3  SAFE / EDIT. This green LED has a different 
function according to console operating mode: 
Normal The LED lights when the channel has 
been made safe from the snapshot and MIDI 
automation. 
Solo-in-Place The LED lights when the channel 
has been made safe from solo-in-place. 
Edit Safes Indicates that the channel is safe from 
the automation when entered from normal mode, or 
safe from solo-in-place when entered from SIP. 
Edit Groups The LED lights to indicate that the 
channel is assigned to the group. 
Preview Snapshots The LED lights to indicate 
that the channel is muted in the snapshot memory 
being previewed. 
 D4  PAFL. Press this switch to listen to the 
channel signal in the headphones or engineers 
monitor without affecting the main outputs. 
Either PFL or stereo in-place AFL. Either PFL 
(pre-fade listen) or AFL (after-fade listen) is 
selected according to the master section INPUT 
PAFL switch  P2 . AFL is ‘in-place’ as it provides a 
stereo mix of L and R with C mixed into both. This 
lets you listen to the image of the signal in the 3 
output main mix using the console stereo 
headphones and monitor. 
Latching or momentary action. The switch 
provides latching or momentary action depending 
on how long it is held down. Press and hold for 
longer than 1 second for momentary action. 
PAFL override monitor. Pressing any input PAFL 
automatically overrides any currently selected 
output AFL or monitor source. Releasing PAFL 
restores that selection. 
Auto cancel or Add mode. The master section 
ADD MODE switch  P1  determines if pressing a 
channel PAFL cancels or adds to any previous 
selection. 
Clear all. Pressing the master section CLEAR ALL 
switch  P3  turns off any PAFL / AFL switches 
selected and restores the monitor source. 
 D5    INPUT METER. The 5 LED bar meter 
displays the pre-fade signal level.  SIG lights to 
display signal presence at –26dB, -6, 0 and +6 
display normal signal level, and PK (peak) lights 
when the signal is within 5dB of clipping. PK 
senses the signal at 4 critical stages in the signal 
path, pre-insert, pre-EQ, pre-fader and post-fader, 
to warn of potential overload. PK can flash, for 
example, if the preamp is clipping while signal reads 
low due to attenuation through an inserted 
processor. 
D6  VCA GROUP Indicators. These LEDs light 
to show which VCA groups the channel is assigned 
to. The channel can be assigned to more than one 
group. The channel is assigned or removed from a 
group using the EDIT GROUPS function in the VCA 
master section  K . The LEDs function according to 
console operating mode: 
Normal The LEDs display the current VCA group 
assignments. 
Preview Snapshots The LEDs display the VCA 
group assignments in the snapshot memory being 
previewed. 
 D7   FADER. A 100mm smooth travel K-fader is 
fitted providing +10dB gain above the nominal 0dB 
operating position. Audio is not passed through the 
fader. Instead, its position is read by the console 
computer which produces a DC voltage to control 
the level of the channel VCA (voltage controlled 
amplifier). 
Removing the Fader 
The vertical, offset shaft design of the fader reduces 
the risk of damage through dust and liquid spillage.  
The fader should provide long life subject to the 
usual wear and tear and not normally require 
servicing or replacement. If necessary, access to 
the faders is by removal of the fader module from 
the top of the console. First unclip and lift away the 
plastic ident strip. Undo the fader panel crosshead 
screws and lift the module up being careful not to 
damage the circuit assemblies and cables. The 
fader can be unscrewed, its harness unplugged, 
and then removed by sliding it out of the assembly. 
Checking the Channel Signal Level 
When plugging in a new source start with the 
channel muted or fader and sends turned down.    
Adjust the GAIN control  A2  for an average 
channel meter reading of ‘0’ with loud moments 
lighting ‘+6’. Select PAD  A3  if the signal is still too 
high with gain turned down. Reduce the gain if the 
red PK LED  D5  lights. It may be necessary to re-
adjust the gain if changes are made to the equaliser 
or inserted signal processing. If the PK LED lights 
with channel meter reading low then check the 
channel for correct gain structure, in particular the 
equaliser and inserted equipment settings. 
Set the master INPUT PAFL switch  P2  for PFL 
and select the channel PAFL  D4  to check the 
signal quality in the headphones. The signal is also 
displayed on the main VU and LED bar meters 
providing finer resolution and dynamic display. 










