OceanAudio The Ark 500 Series Owner's Manual - page 25
Ark 500 range - Owner’s Manual - Revision 2.2 - page 25
Master module operational description (Ark 504 and 516 only)
The master module of the Ark 504 and 516 contains all of the controls that affect the overall functionality of the
console.
Associated with the master module are an accurately matched 100mm stereo fader which controls the level of
the master stereo balanced outputs together with a pair of very accurate 16 segment bargraph and two
moving coil VU meters which indicate the signal being sent from the master left/right stereo outputs. The VU
meters read in parallel with the bargraph meters making it possible to compare the signal measured on the
two different types of meters.
By their nature, bargraph meters such as the ones fitted to the Ark console, respond very quickly to signal
peaks and are useful when used on instruments with complex dynamic waveforms such as pianos etc. This
type of meter greatly assists the engineer when it comes to avoiding distortion during recording. However,
when used on less complex waveforms generated by for example, an electric guitar, it is possible to under
record the instrument using a bargraph display as they will sometimes react too much to the peak amplitudes
of the signal and not the average amplitude. They will however, generally result in a better use of the
available dynamic range of the recording medium. An analogue meter such as the conventional VU meter
fitted to the Ark 516 console, responds mostly to the average level of the programme, so can therefore be
considered more useful when recording instruments such as an electric guitar. The combination of electronic
bargraph and analogue metering provides the user with the best of both worlds.
At the top of the master module is the master meter switch. This selects the 16 VU
meters situated above the input modules to read either the channel direct outputs or
channel monitor line inputs as selected individually on the input modules. In the
depressed (illuminated) mode, the 16 VU meters read the signal from the submaster
section of the console and will read either the 8 subgroup outputs on meters 1-8 or the
replay of 8 line level sources on any of the meters associated with submasters1-8
according to whether ‘replay is selected. On submasters 9-16 the meters will read the
line level signal associated with that particular submaster.
Below the master meter switch are the controls associated with the audio playback
system. Studio playback is an essential function when the artists are recording in a
separate room from the recording engineer and it is either necessary to communicate to
them without the need for headphones or to play back what is being heard in the control
room or alternately a signal (such as a 2 track source i.e. a backing track) that is not
being heard in the control room. It is also a useful feature if a vocalist prefers to hear
the signal they are recording to on speakers rather than headphones.
A stereo master level control is provided together with an on/off switch. Three switches
select the source to the studio playback system. When no switch is depressed, the
default signal is the same as that in the control room.
When ‘Aux 1’ is depressed, whatever signal is being fed to auxiliary 1 will be heard
through the studio playback speakers. When ‘Aux 5-6’ is depressed, whatever signal is
being fed to auxiliaries 5-6 will be heard through the studio playback speakers.
If the ‘2 Track 1’ switch is depressed, whatever signal is connected to the 2 track 1 left
and right D-Sub connector on the back of the console will be heard on the studio
playback speakers.
Below the studio playback controls is the master level control for the AFL / PFL system.
This stereo level control adjusts the signal level in the control room speakers of
whatever signal is selected to be monitored. As the AFL / PFL system is a separate
mixing buss, it is possible to solo any number of signals according to requirements.
Associated with the AFL / PFL system is a large flashing LED situated between the two
master VU meters so no Solo button will stay engaged unnoticed.