Studio Technologies 78 2004 - Manual (Page 29)

Model 78/79 User Guide Issue 5, January 2004
Studio Technologies, Inc. Page 29
for Surround
if mute all is enabled via the remote mute
all function, the mute all LED will flash.
Unless changed from that selected for the
default configuration, the mute all function
will be active whenever the system begins
operation after mains power has been
applied. In this case, pressing the mute all
button is required to enable audio on the
monitor output channels.
Dim
The dim function is quite self-explanatory.
Press the dim button to enable the dim
mode, which reduces the monitor output
level by a preset amount. As expected,
the 4-digit display will indicate the now-
dimmed monitor output level. The dim
button is always set to “latch” the function
on and off. Dim activity applies no matter
whether the monitor output level is being
set by the rotary control or the reference
button. The dim level can be configured for
10, 15, 20, or 25 dB, so one of those val-
ues will apply when dim is active. The LED
associated with the dim button will light
whenever dim is active. Note that if dim is
enabled via the remote dim function, the
dim LED will flash.
What’s not so self-explanatory is the auto-
dim-off function. Whenever dim is enabled
due to the dim button being pressed, and
reference mode is not active, changing
the rotary level control will automatically
turn off dim. The auto dim off function is
a unique attempt at protecting the aural
health of audio engineers. No longer will
there be a heart-stopping blast of audio
whenever the dim button is pressed, sup-
posedly to enable dim, but actually turning
dim off because it was already enabled.
It’s hard to explain unless you’ve used
an audio console and experienced this
in person—trust us, this situation does
happen! Auto dim off is a wonderful “real-
world” feature.
Note that the auto dim off function is not
active whenever dim is enabled due to
the remote dim function being active. This
allows remote control equipment, such
as a talkback system, to reliably dim the
monitor outputs.
Rotary Level Control
The rotary level control is used to manually
adjust the monitor output level. It is active
any time the reference level function is not
active. When the rotary level control is set
to give the same output level as the pre-
set reference level, the reference LED will
flash. The 4-digit display will always indi-
cate the current level of the monitor output
channels.
By default, when the rotary level control is
set to its fully counterclockwise position,
the monitor output channels automatically
mute. This feature is provided for those
users accustomed to having a completely
quiet output when the level control is
set to its minimum position. A Model 79
configuration parameter allows the level
control’s automatic mute all function to be
disabled. When disabled, the rotary level
control simply adjusts the monitor output
level over its entire 70 dB range. When
the control is in its fully counterclockwise
position, low level audio signals will be
present on the monitor outputs. This level
control operating mode may be preferable
for those users who do not like the abrupt
level change when the automatic mute all
function activates. When the automatic
mute all function is disabled, the mute all
button can be used to achieve a full moni-
tor output mute.