Manual

Model 204 User Guide Issue 2, October 2018
Studio Technologies, Inc. Page 23
MODEL 204
ANNOUNCER’S CONSOLE
• On-Air: When the system operating
mode has been selected to on-air the
main button will be forced to be inactive
whenever the talkback function is active.
The on-air mode will be appropriate for
all on-air broadcast applications where
it’s imperative that the audio signal on
the Dante main output channel and
microphone output connector be muted
whenever on-air talent uses the talkback
function to communicate with production
personnel.
• Production: When set for the production
operating mode the status of the main
button will never be impacted by the sta-
tus of the talkback function. This mode
allows the Dante main output channel to
be used, for example, as an additional
talkback output. In this way the Dante
main and talkback output channels can
be used independently, with activation
of any of them not impacting any of the
others. This also allows both pushbut-
ton switches to be used simultaneously.
When selected for the appropriate ap-
plication, the production operating mode
can prove to be very useful. But it’s not
appropriate for on-air use!
• Production with Dim: This operating
mode functions exactly as the production
operating mode does with one addi-
tion. The level of the headphone output
is dimmed (reduced in level or attenu-
ated) by 18 dB whenever the main or
talkback functions are active. In this way
the headphone output can be connected
to amplified loudspeakers without the
risk of acoustical feedback. The selec-
tion of this operating mode will be clearly
evident as speakers (or a connected set
of headphones) will be automatically
reduced in level whenever the main or
talkback functions are active.
Headphone Output
The three rotary potentiometers (pots),
located on the Model 204’s front panel,
allow level adjustment of the Dante au-
dio input channels and, if enabled, the
sidetone (local microphone) audio signal
as they are sent to the 2-channel head-
phone output. How the potentiometers
function will depend on the selected audio
sources and routing configuration. Refer
to the Configuration section of this guide
for details. Five modes are available and
determine the overall performance. If
headphone mode 1, 2, or 3 is selected the
potentiometer on the right side, pot C, will
adjust the sidetone level. The sidetone
mode configuration determines exactly
how the sidetone function will operate. The
gain range configuration allows the overall
output level to be selected. The minimum
level configuration will determine what oc-
curs when the potentiometers are in their
fully counterclockwise position and, in one
circumstance, its fully clockwise position.
When pot C is configured for sidetone
operation it will always cause the sidetone
audio to mute if it is set to its fully counter-
clockwise position
Users should find the headphone audio
quality to be excellent, with high maximum
output level and low distortion. Analog
audio signals do not pass directly through
the potentiometers. The position of each
potentiometer is recognized by the Model
204’s processor which then adjusts the
appropriate signal level within the digital
domain. The potentiometers are “push-in/
push-out” type which allow their associated
knobs to be in their “out” position when
adjustment is desired and their “in” position
when protection from an unwanted change
is beneficial.