Operation Manual

ML5000 User Guide 37
J7 SAFE / EDIT. This green LED has a different
function according to console mode:
Normal The LED lights when the matrix has been
made safe from the snapshot and MIDI automation.
Solo-in-Place The LED lights when the matrix has
been made safe from solo-in-place.
Edit Safes Indicates that the matrix is safe from
the automation when entered from normal mode, or
safe from solo-in-place when entered from SIP
mode.
Edit Groups The LED lights to indicate that the
matrix is assigned to the mute group.
Preview Snapshots The LED lights to indicate
that the matrix is muted in the snapshot memory
being previewed.
J8 AFL. Press this switch to listen to the matrix
signal in the headphones or engineers monitor
without affecting the main outputs. The signal is
monitored post-level, pre-mute so that it can be
checked while the output is muted.
The ML5000 intelligent P/AFL system provides the
following operating capabilities:
Mono or stereo AFL. Press a single AFL switch
to listen to that matrix as a mono signal fed to both
left and right channels of the headphones and local
monitor. Press two related AFL switches together
to listen to a related pair in stereo, ideal when
checking stereo sends. The odd number master is
fed to the left channel, even to right.
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.
AFL override monitor. Pressing any master AFL
automatically overrides the currently selected
monitor source. Releasing AFL restores that
selection.
PAFL override AFL. Pressing any channel PAFL
overrides the current AFL selection. Releasing
PAFL restores AFL.
AFL cancel PAFL. Pressing an AFL while one or
more PAFL is selected cancels that PAFL selection
and selects the AFL.
Auto cancel or Add mode. The master section
ADD MODE switch P1 determines if pressing an
AFL 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.
Using the Matrix
The matrix provides 8 additional console outputs. It
is a ‘mixer within a mixer’ taking its source from the
groups and main mix. It can be used to provide
duplicate main outputs or to create new mixes from
the main outputs. The possibilities are endless. A
few applications are discussed below:
Distributed Speaker Systems. The traditional
application for the matrix is to feed a multi-speaker
system such as that found in theatre sound
reinforcement. Use the console L,R and C outputs
to feed the main front speakers typically hung
around the proscenium arch. Use the matrix to
provide independent mixes to the under-balcony,
centre, side and rear fill speakers.
The fill speakers should be delayed to acoustically
align the signal with the stage so keeping the
listener focussed on the source of the sound. They
would also be equalised to aid intelligibility without
distracting the listener from the source. Do this by
patching the delay processors and equalisers into
the matrix inserts. The effect of these processors
can be checked using AFL. You may wish to send
only certain groups of sound to the fill speakers.
Use the grp/aux 1-8 controls J1 to create the
required balance, for example just the vocal groups
to improve speech intelligibility. You could add in a
small amount of the main mix with the LRC controls
J2 using equal amounts of L and R to create a
mono mix.
Recording and Broadcast Feeds. Use the matrix
to create feeds in mono, stereo or both. It may not
be good enough to simply tap off the main console
mix, especially in smaller venues where the
acoustic output from the band back line or orchestra
contributes to the front-of-house sound. Here, the
acoustically strong sounds such as drums, bass
and guitar may be low in the front-of-house mix.
You can compensate for this in the recording using
the matrix. Start with the main LRC mix then add
the groups to boost selected sounds. You can also
add in an external source as may be required for
the recording only using EXT IN J3 .
Stereo from LCR. The matrix also lets you create
stereo feeds from a 3 output LCR mix by adding C
into both channels. Use one matrix with L+C
routed, the other with R+C to feed the left and right
recording channels.
Managing the Matrix. Check the matrix mix using
AFL. Press the related pair together to listen in
stereo if you are using two matrix outputs as a
stereo feed. You can program a mute group to
mute all related matrix outputs with a single button,
for example several feeding a multi-speaker
system. Use TB to route talkback or the tone/noise
generator to the matrix to test speakers and feeds.