Sound Devices 302 - Manual (Page 10)

302 User Guide and Technical Information
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v. 3.6 Features and specifications are subject to change. Visit www.sounddevices.com for the latest documentation.
When possible, attempt to equalize at the sound source with microphone selection, use of
windscreens, microphone placement, and on-board microphone filtering. Many microphones have
on-board high pass filters, and the high-pass filters on the 302 can be used in conjunction with the
microphone’s filters to increase the filter’s slope.
The high-pass filter is defeated when the switch is in the center position.
Pan Switches
The pan switches assign inputs to the output buses. Inputs can be sent to the left, right, or
both outputs equally. The 302 features excellent “off-attenuation” in the left and right
positions. With the use of the pan switches, separate mixes can be sent to the left and right outputs.
For example, a summed mono mix of all three inputs can be sent to the right output while an
isolated mix of only one input can be sent to the left output.
Input Limiters
The 302 Input Limiters act solely as “safety” limiters. Enabling the Output Limiters with the “LIM”
switch, located on the front panel, will also enable the Input Limiters. See Setup Menu to defeat the
Channel Limiters entirely .
In normal operation, with a properly set gain structure, the threshold of the Input Limiter will not
be reached. In the event of extremely high input signal levels, such as in high SPL environments, the
Input Limiter(s) will activate to prevent the input signal from clipping. Without the Input Limiters,
high signal conditions can overload the channel causing distortion.
Sound Devices recommends that the Input Limiters be engaged at all times. Input Limiters do not
effect audio below the set threshold (just below clipping) in any way. There is no user-selectable
adjustments to the Input Limiter’s threshold or its envelope.When Input Channels 1 and 2 are linked
as a stereo pair, the Input Limiters also are linked and perform the same gain reduction equally
across the channels.
LED
Each channel has an orange limiter LED which illuminates in proportion to the amount of
limiting. If the channel limiter LED illuminates substantially, reduce the amount of gain applied to
the channel by turning down the Gain (trim) pot.
Peak LED
Each channel has its own red Peak LED to indicate that the signal is 3 dB below the clipping level
of the respective channel. If the red Peak LED illuminates often, reduce the amount of gain applied
to the respective channel by turning down the Gain (trim) pot.
Polarity Reverse - Input 2
Engaging the Polarity Reverse Switch inverts the polarity of Channel 2. Polarity reversal is often
used to quickly reverse the stereo field in MS recording. The normal position is OFF, with polarity
reversal occurring when the switch is in the position.
Be advised that an audible pop occurs when the polarity switch changes states.