SM Pro Audio M-Patch 2: Passive Stereo Controller/Switch Box - Manual (Page 10)

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6. APPLICATION
6.1 Using the M-Patch 2
You can use M-Patch 2 anywhe-
re you want to trim the amount of
gain; ie, reduce the volume of ana-
log audio signals. For example,
you could use one to trim the out-
put of a microphone pre-amplifier.
With its high-quality potentiometer,
the M-Patch 2 passes signal more
accurately, and sounds better than
most built-in volume controls. Ano-
ther use might be to trim the levels
of a 5.1 or greater multi-channel
monitor system -- either one pair
of channels, or two, or all of them.
You can also use the M-Patch 2 to
trim the output level of a Digital to
Analog Converter like those found
in high end pre-amplifiers. It is also useful as a local volume control for distributed
audio systems. The possibilities are endless!
Handy applications...
The M-Patch 2 is great for those times when you prefer to monitor directly from the
outs on your sound card or audio interfaces main outputs directly to your monitors.
When your monitors are on they are normally extremely loud. As a result, you may
become a bit frustrated as the volume is often simply too high to be comfortable.
Your only choice is to hook up through an external mixer and attenuate the signal or
to attenuate the signal in the computer outputs, thereby degrading your bit-levels.
Neither solution is completely satisfying. Mixers add color to the signal and reducing
the digital output in the computer will compromise the fidelity of your audio.
Simple steps for your home workstation...
1. Typically you should connect the output of your soundcard or audio interface to
the input of the M-Patch 2 using RCA, TRS or XLR jacks. You could also connect
multiple connections at the same time if required. For example, connect the outputs
of your audio interface (eg. Digidesign MBox 2) to the balanced combo connectors,
and your soundcards mini-jack output to the stereo 3.5mm AUX input on the M-
Patch 2. You could also connect your CD or other line level device to the AUX RCA
inputs. This enables you to level balance two input sources by passive attenuation!
2. Connect XLR cables from the outputs of the M-Patch 2 to your active monitors or
the amplifier that powers the monitors. Remember you have two (2) output destina-
tions so if you have two different monitor pairs (near-field & far field (room speakers))
you can connect one pair to output 1 (L&R), and the other pair to output 2 (L&R).
3. Turn the volume all the way up on your monitors or amplifier, set your software &
software volume control panel to Zero dB, and use the M-Patch 2 on your desktop
to control your monitor level.
Simple, effective, transparent!
How to connect the M-Patch 2