M-AUDIO DELTA 66 - Manual (Page 12)

‘–10’ setting sets up the channel(s) for -10dBV nominal signal levels, commonly
used with consumer equipment such as CD, MiniDisc, cassette tape and DAT
players. The ‘Consumer’ setting is preferred for semi-pro audio equipment and
some consumer equipment that is too ‘hot’ for the ‘-10’ setting. The ‘Consumer’
setting offers approximately 6dB more headroom than does the ‘-10’ setting. Semi-
pro and consumer devices’ signal levels vary from manufacturer-to-manufacturer
and even product-to-product, so a little experimentation between Consumer and –10
settings may be required for optimal results.
NOTE: In order to preserve its high dynamic range and
minimize distortion, the Delta 66 does not have microphone
pre-amplifiers built into it. Therefore direct connection to a
microphone is not recommended. Instead run the microphone
signal through a microphone pre-amp (such as the Midiman
"Audio Buddy™") and then connect the pre-amp output to the
input of the Delta 66.
All analog jacks on the Delta 66 break-out box are of the 1/4” TRS (Tip-Ring-
Sleeve) variety. The TRS jacks allow connection to either balanced (typically
professional) or unbalanced (typically consumer or semi-pro) equipment. +4dBu
balanced configurations provide the highest performance and should be used
whenever possible. However, the Delta 66’s analog connections support
combinations of balanced and unbalanced, +4dBu, consumer, and –10dBV level
signals.
The Digital Monitor Mixer
The Delta 66 Digital Recording System has a hardware digital audio mixer built into
its PCI controller chip. It accepts digital audio streams from all hardware inputs and
all outgoing software audio devices, mixes them with 36-bit internal precision and
then provides the mixed output to one or more locations. For the purpose of
monitoring, the output of the mixer may be routed to the first set of Delta 66 analog
outputs (H/W OUT1/OUT2 as a stereo pair) and/or the S/PDIF digital output. At the
same time the mixer may be used for stereo mix-down, with the mixer’s output
recorded into the user’s application software. The digital audio mixer is configured
and controlled by the included Delta Control Panel Software.
The Patchbay / Router
In addition to the built-in monitor mixer, the Delta 66 Digital Recording Interface
includes an output patchbay/router. The patchbay/router allows each output (analog
or digital) to be connected to a variety of input sources. The Delta 66’s outputs may
accept audio from software sources (the output devices visible in your audio
software applications) or from hardware sources such as the analog and digital
inputs or the monitor mixer. This capability makes the Delta 66 quite flexible for
WAV output, monitoring, or directly connecting inputs to outputs for “system test”
purposes.
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