Chapter 4 More Mixers

Question 1

Auxiliary Return

Answer 1

A set of inputs which usually have only a gain control. It is not unusual to find one knob controlling two inputs, each permanently panned hard left and hard right, respectively. (Aux returns are usually a stereo connection).

Question 2

Auxiliary Send

Answer 2

The aux send take a copy of the channel’s input and passes it to the aux send jack. The amount of signal being sent to this jack is determined by an aux send knob on each channel. It is not unusual to find upwards of six discreet aux sends per channel, although most smaller mixers have 2-4.

Question 3

Insert

Answer 3

A 1/4 connector which accepts TRS stereo 1/4” plugs. When a cable is plugged into this jack, the channel’s normal signal flow is interrupted and the signal flows out of the insert jack for processing in external equipment. The insert jack also allows the signal to be returned to the channel so that it may flow through the rest of the mixer and emerge from the mixer’s output.

Question 4

Insert Cable

Answer 4

An insert cable has a 3-conductor (TRS) 1/4” plug at one end, and two 2-conductor (TS) 1/4” plugs at the other. When connected to a mixer’s input jack, signals from the channel flow out the insert cable via one conductor to external equipment, and are returned to the channel via the other conductor.

Question 5

Mute

Answer 5

A latching button switch which allows a channel to be removed from a mixer’s output bus. This control is usually found near the channel’s gain control.

Question 6

Phantom Power

Answer 6

+48 VDC sent down a microphone cable from a mixer to provide power to a condenser microphone. Dynamic and ribbon microphones do not need phantom power to operate. In fact, phantom power can destroy a ribbon microphone.

Question 7

Solo

Answer 7

A latching button switch which allows all channels but the one on which the solo button is pressed to be removed from the mix. The level at which this channel is heard when soloed is determined by the solo level control. Several channels may be soloed at once.

Question 8

Trim

Answer 8

A knob used to control the gain of a mic preamp built into a mixer.