Multi-function Stereo Console

8
MULTIFUNCTION STEREO
AUDIO CONSOLE
INTRODUCTION
The audio console in broadcast studios is utilized for mixing of various audio sources
and also to facilitate the operator to control some of these audio sources remotely from
the console. The mixing console for transmission studios is required to handle two
microphone sources and at least 10 line sources, whereas the recording studio console
has up to 6 microphone sources and few line sources. The switching console used in
control room is not required to handle any microphone sources but must be able to
handle 6 to independent line sources with additional to 1! line sources to be
connected through source selector modules.
"t was observed that even though many required features of the recording, transmission
and switching console were similar, the existing mono audio consoles used for the above
functions differed in some details and were not inter#changeable. $eployment of three
different mixing consoles results in substantial expenditure on stoc%ing of spare modules
and other components at each station.
"t was decided to get indigenous stereo console developed with such features that the
same console could be used for stereo recording, transmission or switching with
different configuration of modules so as to reduce spares inventory due to
interchangeability of modules. Thus the concept of multi#function stereo audio console
was born.
&ource &elector module has been incorporated in all types, which will be useful for
interfacing multiple recording'playbac% machines presently being deployed due to
transition phase from analogue to digital systems.
Special features
1. (odular construction
!. Tabletop recessed mounting.
). *asy access to wiring and components in modules and to motherboard.
+. &olid state switching of audio at all locations.
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1. /onductive plastic ./2 mount potentiometers and faders.
6. 3rame size to accept 1! input modules with user indicated configuration.
4. .lacement of any type of input module in any of the input slots on
motherboard.
. &ource &elector high#level input module with audio selection through solid#
state switches located on the (ixer panel. &election switches to route the
fader contact also to the selected machine for fader start operation.
5. + types of input modules, namely6
. mono mi%e'line input module with pan pot, with and without
equalizer.
. high level input module without equalizer.
. source select module for connecting + &tereo or (ono high level
audio sources.
10. ! mute buses with possibility of assigning any of the mi%e'line modules to any
of the bus for simplified configuration of the (ixer in recording studio
environment. 7ny of the microphone channels can be assigned to announcer
or to the artistes in the studio.
11. .hantom supply ,selectable- for connecting condenser microphones.
1!. 0emote mute facility for microphone channels.
1). &tereo .re 3ade 8isten ,.38- facility.
1+. ! stereo master outputs and ! mono auxiliary outputs.
11. 7 stereo high level input for each stereo master output.
16. 9eneration of signaling and machine control signals as required for
transmission'recording'switching consoles.
14. 7cceptance of control signals as required for transmission'
recording'switching functions.
1. /orrelation (eter
15. &eparate (onitoring :utput for 0ecording'7nnouncer;s room and &tudio
8oudspea%ers with respective mute logic.
!0. Tal% bac% send and receive facility to'from locations.
!1. .38 to (onitor &election.
!!. 2uilt#in :scillator.
!). 2alanced input and outputs.
!+. "solated power supply bus so that fault in one module does not affect the
other modules.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
.rogram "nputs':utputs
"nput /hannels 6 1! ,(ax.- 2alanced on <80
:utput /hannels 6 !, 2alanced on <80
6 *ach having 8eft, 0ight and (ono
outputs
"nput "mpedance
(icrophone 6 = ! > :hm
8ine 6 = 10 > :hm
"nput 8evels
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(icrophone 6 #40'#60'#10'#+0'#)0 d2u ,&electable-
8ine 6 #10'0'?10 d2u ,&electable-
"nput head room
(icrophone 6 !0 d2
8ine 6 !0 d2
:utput 8evels
8eft, 0ight @ (ono 6 + d2u A !+ d2u
:utput "mpedance 6 B 10 :hms
3requency 0esponse 6 +0 Cz A 11 %Cz ? 0.1 d2
$istortion
(icrophone 6 B 0.)D ,#40d2u input, ?+d2u :utput-
8ine 6 B 0.1D ,0 d2u input, ?+ d2u output-
/ross tal% ,at 11 %Cz-
7dEacent channel'master to master 6 2etter than 41 d2
&tereo 6 2etter than 60 d2
/0 (onitor'7ux 2us ,/hannel to
/hannel- 6 2etter than 60 d2
Foise
*quivalent "nput Foise 6 2etter than A1!+ d2
&ignal to Foise 0atio 6 2etter than A 0 d2
(onitoring :utputs
/ontrol 0oom 6 ? +d2u ? !0 d2u ,2alanced &tereo-
&tudio 6 ? +d2u ? !+ d2u ,2alanced &tereo-
3oldbac% 6 ? +d2u ? !+ d2u ,2alanced (ono-
7uxiliary ouputs 1@! 6 ? +d2u ? !0 d2u ,2alanced (ono-
BLOCK DIAGRAM DESCRIPTION
The (ultifunction &tereo 7udio /onsole consists of up to 1! "nput modules, two :utput
modules, one (onitor module, one Tal%bac% module and a .ower supply module. The
input modules can be configured from mono mic'line inputs with or without equaliser and
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stereo line inputs with or without remote selection. The bloc% diagram of (ultifunction
&tereo 7udio /onsole has been shown in fig.1.
INPUT MODULE
a M!"! Mic#Li"e
8ine level signals from mono sources and mic level signals from 7nnouncer'&tudio (ics
are fed to the (ono (ic'8ine modules. The mic level signal is amplified with a 1#step
gain control amplifier and, after optionally switchable low frequency roll off and phase
reversal, fed to the program selector. The gain is variable from A )0 d2 to A40 d2 in the
five steps. The low frequency roll off circuit has a cut of A ) d2 at 40 Cz and may be
brought in circuit to eliminate undesirable noise such as mic thumps and stage rumble.
The phase reversal circuit provides an 10#degree phase shift and may be used to
cancel out any signal phase shift introduced at the mic input connectors.
The line amplifier circuit is provided with continuous gain control variable from A 10 d2 to
? 10 d2 and then fed to the programme selector. The oscillator signal from external bus
is also fed to the program selector. The three by one program selector routes either one
of the mic, line or oscillator signals to the next stages. The selected signal is fed through
fader and pan control to the main mix bus of (aster 1 or (aster ! on the motherboard.
The channel insert provision enables external processing on the selected signal. The
signal is also routable, pre or post fade to auxiliary buses 1 @ ! and the .38 bus. The
routing to different buses is controlled by switches on the module panel. The fader
switch is used to control the /C6 :F 8*$. 8ogic circuits are provided in the module for
:F 7"0, 0*7$G and :H*08:7$ indications and for muting the channel output when
tal% is initiated from control room. The /:I9C logic is used to mute the mic amplifier in
the event of the announcer coughing or any other undesirable disturbance. .hantom
supply for condenser mic is available in the module and can be energised through
appropriate Eumper settings.
(ono (ic'8ine modules with equalizer contains additional circuit for a three#band
equalization with centre frequencies at 100 Cz, 1 %Cz and 10 %Cz. The middle band can
be further split into five bands centered around !10 Cz, 100 Cz, 1 %Cz, ! %Cz and + %Cz
for selective equalization.
$ Stere! Hi%& Le'el
&tereo Cigh 8evel modules are of two types, one with remote source selection and the
other without remote source selection. The two are identical except for the inclusion of
logic circuits for eight by one mono selection or four by one stereo selection remote
programs in the later.
The two channels, 8@0, are separately amplified by a variable gain of A 10 d2 to ? 10
d2 and fed to a line'oscillator selector. The oscillator signal from the external bus is
balance to unbalance converted and fed to the same selector. The line or oscillator
signal is selected depending on the position of the selector switch. The mono selector
switch and associated circuits sums the stereo 8@0 signal to obtain a mono signal for
further processing if required. The selected signal is then amplified in Holtage /ontrolled
7mplifiers, the dc controls of which are varied in proportion to the settings on the fader.
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The signals are then routed to the main mix buses of (aster 1 and (aster ! after
buffering.
The signals are also routed to the auxiliary buses 1 @ ! and also to the .38 bus.
7uxiliary routing is Eumper selectable from pre post fade signals. 7ll the routings are
controlled by switches on the module panel. The module also contains logic for /C6:F,
:F 7"0, 0*7$G and :H*08:7$ indications.
OUTPUT MODULE
&ignals on the (aster 1 and (aster ! buses routed from the input modules as left and
right channels are mixed separately in the output modules. This signal is then fed to an
oscillator'signal selector along with the signal from the test oscillator. The selector
circuit, depending on the position of the :&/ :F switch, selects either the mixed signal
or the oscillator. The high level input provided within the module can also be mixed with
the main channel using the routing switch provided in this module. This input is also
provided with a gain control and .38 routing. The selected signal is next amplified in a
Holtage /ontrolled 7mplifier, the gain of which is varied according to the $/ control
voltage from the channel fader. The post#faded signals are then fed to the
/ompressor'8imiter section. $epending on the threshold settings the signal is
compressed. *ither compressed or non#compressed signal is then fed to the balance
converters depending on the selection of /ompressor "F':IT &witch. The balance
converted and send to the output <80 connectors on the module as (aster outputs, left
and right. The 8@0 signals are also summed together to obtain a mono output.
The pre#fade and post#fade signals are routed through a .0*'.:&T selector and
summed together to obtain a mono signal for routing to auxiliary 7I< 1 and 7I< !
outputs. The routing to these outputs is enabled by separate switches. The pre#fade
signals are also routed to the .38 buses when the .38 :F switch is activated.
The module also contains the logic circuits for :H*08:7$ and channel :F indication.
MONITOR MODULE
The monitor module of the console contains the hardware for selection and monitoring of
different signals on the console. .rovision is made for monitoring the signals in mono
mode in the console .38 spea%er and in stereo mode at the /ontrol 0oom and &tudio
on external amplifiers'spea%ers. The stereo .38 signals from different modules are
mixed in this module. The 8@0 signals are summed to obtain a mono signal for the
console#monitoring amplifier. This path also includes provision for mixing of T2 return
signal. The stereo .38 signal is also available on headphone soc%et. &ignal to the
monitoring amplifier gets muted when 7nnouncer mic goes on air, i.e. ("/ :78 2I& 1
logic is active.
The /ontrol 0oom (onitor uses an x1 selector for selecting signals from three external
sources. The program selection logic circuits generate the code for the eight by one
selector depending on the source selected. The selected stereo signal is routed via
level, dim, mute and balance controls to the /ontrol 0oom (onitor by activating the .38
T: (:F switch. Jhen this switch is :F any .38 switch activates. /hannel (odule will
route its .38 to /ontrol 0oom input of the x1 select position. The dim control provides
!0 d2 attenuation to the routed signal when the .38 is selected for monitoring. The
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mute control gets activated when the 7nnouncer mic goes on air, i.e. ("/ :78 2I& 1 is
active. The /ontrol 0oom monitor has a mono'stereo switch for selecting the mode of
listening.
&tudio (onitor can be selected from two inputs (aster 1'(aster ! using the (aster ! on
switching the module panel. Jhenever a tal% to the &tudio is initiated by pressing the
T78> switch the (aster signal gets muted and the tal%bac% signal from the T2 module
gets routed. Jhen the &tudio mic is on air, i.e. the ("/ :78 2I& ! logic is active, the
monitoring signal to the &tudio is muted. Cowever, a mono signal obtained by summing
the 8@0 channels is always available bypassing the mute circuit. This can be used for
&tudio fold bac%.
This module also contains circuit for sensing correlation between the stereo channels
selectable from (aster 1'(aster ! and /ontrol 0oom (onitor signals. 7n 8*$ on the
/onsole (eter .anel lights when the phase difference between 8@0 goes above 50
degrees.
TALKBACK MODULE
The Tal%bac% module of the console houses the hardware for an &tations two#way
communication facility. 7uxiliary mixers, circuits for signaling and relay operations and
the test oscillator are also housed in this module.
The oscillator generates sine wave signals at 100 Cz, 1 %Cz and 10 %Cz at 0 d2u and A
40 d2u levels. The frequency is selectable. The 0 d2u signal is fed to the oscillator bus
on mother board from where it can be tapped by input and output modules. The A40
d2u signal is terminated on the module Eac% from where it can be fed to the (ono
mic'line modules for testing the mic part using the cable provided.
The tal%bac% mic signal after amplification and level control is routed as T2 &*F$ signal
through an eight by one selector. The announcer can initiate a tal% with any one of the
eight stations, 7ux 1, 7ux ! or &tudio by pressing the T78> switch of the corresponding
section.
The 0eturn signals from the eight stations mixed and level controlled before sending to
the (onitor module for listening. The presence of these signals are indicated on the
panel by lighting of 8*$s corresponding to each station.
This module also contains circuit for summing the auxiliary signals from the input
modules routed on 7I<1 and 7I< ! buses. 7fter summing, the signals are fed to Tal%
&witch along with the tal%bac% signal. These selectors will route either the tal%bac%
signal or the auxiliary signal to the output. The selected signals are balance converted
and send as auxiliary outputs.
The module also contains logic circuits and relay drivers for driving 8*$s on the console
panel and a set of external relays according to the status of the 7nnouncer mic, the
&tudio mic and the &witching console logic inputs.
PO(ER SUPPL) MODULE
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Multi-function Stereo Console
The .ower &upply has outputs of ?+ H, ?1 H, # 1H and ? 1 H. These dc voltages are
routed through the motherboard to power the various modules of the /onsole. The + H
is used for powering the condenser mics plugged to the mono mic'line modules.
CONSOLE METER PANEL
The console panel houses the ..( driver and the .38 amplifier ./2s along with the
.ea% .rogramme meters, the spea%er and a set of 8*$s for the console status
indication. There are indications for 0*7$G, :F 7"0, 7FF0. 8"H, &TI$": 8"H*,
:&/.:F, .C7&* *00:0 and .:J*0 &I..8G. The .38 spea%er is mounted at a
convenient location for proper listening.
REMOTE SOURCE SELECTOR
This stand#alone unit is capable of routing any one of eight mono sources or four stereo
sources to the output depending on the selection logic sent from the &ource &elector
"nput (odule of the console. The interface with the console is of 0& !)! standard.
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Fi% * Multi+fu"cti!" Stere! Tra"s,issi!" C!"s!le
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