Sound Devices MixPre-D - Manual (Page 8)

MixPre-D User Guide and Technical Information
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v1 .0 Features and specifications are subject to change . Visit www .sounddevices .com for the latest documentation .
To cycle between the available routings of the Tape Return signal, hold down the Input 1 Button (for
Channel 3) or the Input 2 Button (for Channel 4) and press the Headphone Controller. An LED in the
right meter will illuminate to represent the destination of the routing:
• -30: RTN L (Channel 3) or RTN R (Channel 4)
• -18: Left output bus.
• -16: Center (left and right) output bus
• -14: Right output bus
When any channel of the Tape Return input is routed to the main output bus, the RTN Monitor
Source is disabled.
The TAPE RTN (Input 3 and 4) Input is an unbalanced stereo input that is suitable for tape or line level
devices only. There are no microphone preamps on Inputs 3 and 4.
Input Linking
Stereo linking allows Inputs 1 and 2 to be controlled as a single, stereo input. This is useful when
stereo microphones or stereo line level signals are used with the MixPre-D. There are two modes of
operation for stereo linking, X/Y link and MS stereo.
The Linked status of the inputs is indicated by the Link LEDs on the front panel. When both LEDs
are off, the inputs are not linked. To cycle between linking configurations hold down both Input 1
and Input 2 Buttons and slide the Slate Switch to the Slate position.
X/Y Stereo Link
When in X/Y stereo link operation, Input 2’s Pan Switch controls the stereo image (L: Input 1 = Left,
Input 2 = Right; C: Both Inputs in both channels; R: Input 1 = Right, Input 2 = Left). Channel 2’s
Fader controls the overall level of the stereo pair. Input 1 and 2’s High-pass Filters continue to act
independently of each other. When linked, Input 1 and 2’s Limiters are also linked.
MS Stereo Linking
When MS stereo linking is selected in the Setup Menu, Inputs 1 and 2 are linked as an MS (Mid-Side)
stereo pair. Connect the mid signal (unidirectional / cardioid microphone) to Input 1 and the side
signal (bi-directional microphone) to input 2.
Input 2’s Level Control adjusts the overall gain of the MS stereo pair. Input 1’s Level Control adjusts
the “spread”, or width of the stereo image. Input 2’s Pan Switch controls the polarity of the side
signal (L: Normal, R: Inverted). Reverse polarity to flip the stereo image between right and left. The
center (“C”) position of Input 2’s Pan Switch mutes the side signal; only the mid signal is present,
resulting in a mono signal. Input 1’s Pan Switch is disabled in MS linking mode. Input 1 and 2’s
High-pass Filters continue to act independently of each other.
Outputs
The MixPre-D is a two-output-bus mixer. Each input can be “hard panned” between the left and
right output bus making it easy to use the MixPre-D in either stereo or dual-mono operations. Be-
cause dialog is often recorded in mono, each output connector can be used to send signal to separate
cameras or recorders. The MixPre-D’s XLR Outputs, Tape Outputs, Stereo Unbalanced Mic Outputs,
and AES Digital Output share the same program content and pan assignment.
There is no master level control on the MixPre-D. The master is factory-set to unity gain, or “0” dB.