|
Professional Equipped Input Channels
Soundcraft equalisation (EQ) is a legend amongst professional
sound engineers and renowned the world over for its precision
and musicality. At the top of all 8 GigRac input channels you'll
find a classic Soundcraft 2-band EQ section comprising of treble
and bass rotary controls, allowing sophisticated tone shaping
of the microphone or instrument connected.
Next comes a line of 8 FX controls, used to set the signal
level sent from each channel to the GigRac's digital effects
processor (see Studio Quality Effects). The higher the FX send
level, the more of the effect is added to the sound of that channel.
For example, you may want a lot of reverb on the vocal mics plugged
into channels 1 and 2, less on the vocal mics plugged into 3
and 4, and less still on the instruments plugged into the remaining
channels. With GigRac, you're in control.
Beneath the FX controls are the blue and red Monitor and Main
channel level controls. These control the individual volume levels
of all eight channels in 2 separate overall mixes: Monitor being
what you and the band hear on stage via your monitor speakers
and Main being what the audience hears via the main speakers.
It's important to have independent Monitor and Main mixes as
performers often need to hear certain elements of the mix louder
(for example a piano or main instrument for reference), whereas
the audience would require a balanced mix. The overall volume
level of the Monitor and Main mixes is controlled via the master
volume controls to the right of the channel strips.
All 8 GigRac input channel have combined balanced jack/XLR
input sockets to accommodate the widest possible range of microphones
and instruments, and to minimise distortion and noise.
The Pad switch at the bottom channels 1 to 4A is used to cut
the level of particularly high output microphones which can cause
distortion by overloading the input.
Channels 5 and 6 of the GigRac feature alternative stereo
phono inputs beneath the combined XLR/jack connector, making
it easy to plug in a CD player, record deck, MP3 player of MIDI
file player. Perfect for playing pre-recorded music before and
after your performance, this facility also makes GigRac ideal
for use in a wide variety of other applications including fitness
clubs, outdoor events, etc.
Channels 7 and 8 have an additional single jack input designed
to be used in conjunction with the combined XLR/jack connector.
This allows direct connection of stereo keyboards, samplers and
other audio devices.
Precision LED Metering
10-segment precision LED metering gives a clear indication of
how hard the amplifier(s) is working and helps you keep an eye
on your levels. As the main and monitor master volume levels
are increased, more signal is sent to the amplifier(s). For the
best results, the master volume should be set so that all the
white LEDs are illuminated most of the time, and one or both
of the red LEDs are illuminated very occasionally.
The signal level sent to the amplifier is a product of the
individual channel levels and the master volume settings. There
are different ways of achieving the same results on the LED metering.
The master volume controls could be boosted to compensate for
low individual channel levels and vice versa. The way in which
these controls are balanced against each other will affect the
'signal-to-noise ratio' of the output. Signal-to-noise ratio
is the amount of direct, performance sound that you can hear
compared to the amount of unwanted background hiss. The following
guidelines will help you configure GigRac to get the best signal-to-noise
ratio (i.e. the least unwanted background hiss).
Before building up a mix, position the master volume control(s)
half-way between 0 and 10. Now create a mix so that the white
LEDs on the metering are illuminated most of the time during
performance. You now have the flexibility on the master volume
control(s) to increase the level if required without overloading
the amplifier. The master volume(s) can also be turned down if
the performance sound is too loud, without adversely affecting
the signal-to-noise ratio of the mix.
In the event of dangerously high signal levels, GigRac has
failsafe protection circuitry, so you'll never have to worry
about distortion in your performance. If the signal level(s)
is too high, the clip/protect LED(s) will illuminate until the
signal has returned to an acceptable level. While the clip/protect
LED(s) is illuminated, protection circuitry prevents the audio
signal from distorting.
Record, headphone and mix outputs
GigRac is packed with a comprehensive and flexible range of monitoring
options. You can plug in a pair of headphones for precision-listening
during soundchecks and there are independent outputs for both
the main and monitor mixes for the connection of additional ‘powered’
speaker cabinets.
A pair of RCA/phono outputs are perfect for recording the
main mix onto an external DAT or CD recorder, or for recording
your performance on computer using an appropriately-equipped
soundcard.
Phantom Power
Just like a professional mixing console, GigRac provides the
+48V phantom power required by high quality condenser microphones.
Phantom power is a system of providing 48 volts of power from
the mixer to the microphone. It's refered to as 'phantom' because,
although it's sent along the same wiring as the audio signal,
there are no audible effects to the audio. So it's effectively
invisible.
Phantom power is supplied to the first four channels of GigRac.
Don't worry if you're using both condenser microphones and other
microphones which don't need this power. Phantom power is only
'seen' by microphones which need it. It can be supplied to other
microphones without any damage or audible side effects.
And so you're never left in doubt, a red LED illuminates on
GigRac's front panel to make it clear that phantom power is turned
on.
Master volume controls
GigRac lets you adjust the overall volume of the main and monitor
mixes independently, for total flexbility in live performance
situations. If the venue is small and the audience are close
to the band, it may be wise to keep the monitor mix volume as
low as possible. With the audience further away in a larger venue,
you have the option to turn up the monitor mix for the band to
listen to.
Application
Perfect for small bands who
need some versatility in small to medium sized venues giving
you 600w of out put power or two lots 300w to the monitors and
front of house
Noise:
EIN 150 ohms 20 -22khz (CH1 - CH4) -123
dBu
EIN 150 ohms 20-22khz (CH5 - CH6) -123 dBu
Main out (Level control mid) -78 dBu
Mon out (Level control mid) -80 dBu
Amp out -57 dBu
Crosstalk Main cutoff -80 dB
Mon cutoff -80 dB
Frequency Response 20 - 22Khz rel 1Khz Line in to Main out +0.2/-2.6
X dB
THD+N Mic i/p -20dB Pad 0dBu I/P at Main out (22Hz-22KHz) 0.15%
Mic i/p to Amp Out @ full power (22-22KHz) 0.15%
Inputs Ch1 - Ch4 Mic Input Impedance 5.5 Kohm
Line Input Impedance 30 K ohm
Max Input Mic ( 20dB pad ) -3.5 dBu
Max Input Line( 20dB pad ) 10 dBu
Max Mic gain to main out 60 dBu
Inputs Ch5 - Ch8 Mic Input Impedance 2.4 K ohm
Line Input Impedance 40 K ohm
Max Input Mic -18 dBu
Max Input Line 3 dBu
Max Mic gain to main out 50 dBu
Outputs Max out main / mon 18 dBu
Power Output Gigrac 600 2 X 300W ref 4 ohm
Connectors Mic
Balanced XLR combi connectors
All Jacks are 3 - pole ¼"
Line
Jack / combi connectors / RCA phono
FX bus Jack
Submix in Jack
Main out Jack
Mon out Jack
Record out RCA phono
Phones Jack
Speakers Speakon
Dimension Width x Height x Depth (mm) 394.4 x 177 x 262.8
Weight GigRac 600 (kg) 12.7
|