Specifications

Earthing

The most reliable earthing system is to have only one point to which all

equipment is earthed. It is essential for safety that all mains powered equipment

in the system has a mains (safety) earth connected. This is especially important

on computers with an internal power supply. Connecting a non earthed

computer to the console can cause serious damage.

Clean Earth

The console has an external M4 stud, for a clean or ‘technical’ earth to be

connected. This stud is located on the rear panel of the console. The incoming

technical earth should be connected to this star point; the incoming cable should

be terminated in an M4 eyelet. In the best installations, a clean earth is provided

from a specially constructed earth rod system. Use of the console’s earth

terminal is preferred whenever possible, but if there is no clean technical earth,

an adequate earth can sometimes be provided by the console’s power supplies.

These have a limited earth via a resistor/capacitor network. The lack of a clean

earth is especially likely to cause noise problems.

Earth loops

Earth loops occur whenever a piece of equipment has two connections to earth.

This can happen if there is an earth through the mains lead and a second one

through a cable screen to another piece of earthed equipment. This may cause

hum and other problems. Always avoid earth loops in the system wiring.

If you have earth loops in your installation, they must never be ‘solved’ by

removing safety earth connections.

Microphone Cables

All microphone and line level connections in the control room and studio should

be wired using a high quality twin screened cable. The screens of the cables

should be connected to one ground only. With microphone inputs this is not

difficult as microphones do not normally have any ground connection other than

the one through the cable. It is therefore correct and essential that the

microphone cables have the screen connected at both ends.

Wiring Conventions

Amek uses the standard XLR wiring convention on all consoles. Not all

equipment uses this convention so check your wiring to prevent any phase

reversals. See Table below for wiring convention.

Pins

Pin 2 HIGH (HOT) +

Pin 3 LOW (COLD) -

Pin 1 SCREEN (GROUND)

Pins ¼ Inch Jack Plug

Tip HIGH (HOT) +

Ring LOW (COLD) -

Screen SCREEN (GROUND)