User Manual

MONO MIXER DETAIL
AUDIO INPUTS
The Mono Mix bus features 4 main mono inputs, each with a level/saturation control via the mini-pots.
Nominal volume level is set between 12-2 O'clock (assuming 10Vpp input) and saturation-compression level can
be increased beyond this point.
Inputs 1 & 4 feature manual and voltage control over stereo panorama (PAN).
Inputs 2 & 3 feature manual and voltage controlled cross-fading (X-FADE).
The PAN and X-FADE functions feature unique linear pan/fade laws. Linear laws nominally produce a
-6dB dip when the relative control is set to center position. If you are unfamiliar with the decibel scale, this is
equal to a gain reduction of 0.5x.
Vortices offers a linear law with only a -1.3dB center dip, equal to a gain reduction of approximately
0.86x, an improvement over what even constant power laws can provide.
That being said, it is possible to achieve saturation/distortion effects based on pan/fade position, where
hard panned or faded sources will have slightly higher drive than in center position, without compromising
signal volume substantially. Use the mini pots to adjust desired max level of volume and saturation.
There are two additional auxiliary M-AUX 1 and M-AUX 2 mono inputs to the MONO MIXER near the top
of Vortices on the left and right sides of the module. These are provided for external sources and sub-mixes as
well as possible feedback patch points. These are monophonic; meaning the signal will sum equally onto both
the Left and Right MONO MIXER OUTPUTs.
As mentioned previously, a -3dB pad is applied to assist in matching nominal levels of a mix - where it is
not expected that every channel level would be set to maximum, and therefore will not dominate over the other
inputs.
AUDIO OUTPUTS
There is a direct output for MONO channels 2 & 3 at the top middle of Vortices labeled X-FADE. Patching
out here will break these channels out of all the associated MIX outputs (MONO MIX and MASTER MIX.)
Therefore, you can either use the cross fading feature separately from the rest of the module or send these
channels out for additional processing and back into a Vortices AUX or Stereo Input or into another available
Mono input channel for panning, etc.
The MONO MIXER output is split stereo to accommodate channel panorama. The LEFT (L) and RIGHT (R)
MONO MIXER OUTPUTs are located on either side of the X-FADE breakout jack.
PAN & X-FADE CV
CV inputs for PAN and X-FADE point to the associated manual controls for each function with golden
arrows. The faded gold boxes visually connect each Mono Input to the respective CV input and manual control.
CV inputs expect a symmetrical +/-5V control voltage as standard, however any signal is permitted without
damaging these inputs.
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