Rane FPM 42 Operating And Service Manual

OPERATING / SERVICE MANUAL

FPM42

Set the 

GAIN 

switches on the front of the module so the desired level is obtainable without il-

luminating the red 

OL 

(overload) LEDs on the channels. Set the 

A 

and 

B LEVEL 

controls on

each input for the desired level. Set the 

AUX 

level control as needed.

The MASTER A/B output level controls affect only the signal level at the direct outputs of the

unit. They have no affect on the main output added to the 

BUS OUT.

NEVER CONNECT ANYTHING EXCEPT AN APPROVED RANE POWER SUPPLY TO

THE RED THING THAT LOOKS LIKE A TELEPHONE JACK ON THE REAR OF THE

UNIT. This is an AC input and requires special attention if you do not have a power supply EX-

ACTLY like the one originally packed with your unit. See the full explanation of the power supply

requirements elsewhere in this manual.

QUICK START

This section is for those ready to just do it. It familiarizes you enough with the FPM 42 to allow

operation without wading through the rest of the text. Please read at least this section to ensure

reasonable operation of the unit.

Begin with the inputs. They are connected to the 3-pin (XLR) jacks on the rear. Follow the

standard convention of pin 2 hot, pin 3 not and do it.

Set the internal PRE/POST Aux assign switches as necessary. The 

A 

and 

B MASTER OUT-

PUTS 

may be used balanced or unbalanced. If AUX outputs are needed change the internal

jumper blocks as necessary, or take them from the BUS OUT connector.

Connect the Flex bus cables to the appropriate source for the 

FLEX BUS IN 

and the next unit

for 

FLEX BUS OUT.

SYSTEM CONNECTION

When connecting the FPM 42 to other components in your system for the first time, LEAVE

THE POWER SUPPLY FOR LAST. This gives you a chance to make mistakes and correct

them without damage to your fragile speakers, ears and nerves.

INPUTS. The four channel inputs on the FPM 42 are active balanced. Use only shielded cable

for inputs and outputs. This wire should always be two-conductor plus shield, even for un-

balanced operation. As with all Rane products, pin 2 is used for “hot” or “+” signal polarity, pin

3 is “return” or “–” and pin 1 is signal ground. For unbalanced inputs, drive pin 2 hot and pin 1

signal ground. It is not necessary to short pin 3 to ground. (It will not hurt anything either.) If the

input is coming from another piece of equipment in the signal path, connect the shield only at the

receiving end to help prevent ground induced hum. If a microphone is being connected to the

unit, the shield may be connected to the case of the mic as well as to the ground terminal on the

unit. (Phantom power applications require this.)

OUTPUTS. The FPM 42’s Master A and B outputs are balanced as shipped and connected to

the two l/4" TRS jacks. The Aux A/B outputs appear only on the BUS OUT jacks. You may

reprogram this arrangement by changing internal jumpers. The new configuration puts an un-

balanced Master A/B signal on one of the l/4" outputs, and an unbalanced Aux A/B signal on the

other.

FLEX BUS IN. The 7-pin DIN bus connectors are used primarily with other Flex modules.

These are not MIDI connectors. Use only the supplied DIN cable. If for some reason there is not

a cable in the FPM 42 box, please contact Rane for a replacement. If you are in a bind, a 5-pin

DIN may be used instead of a 7-pin. The two outside pins (6 & 7) are spares on the FPM 42 and

have been included for possible future compatibility reasons. This input is to be used when com-

bining the FPM 42 with the bus outputs of other modules such as another FPM 42, an FMI 14,

etc. Bringing in bus signals allows the FPM 42’s mix to add to the bus and be routed on to the

next unit, and so on.

FLEX BUS OUT. The FLEX BUS OUT of the FPM 42 connects to other Flex mixer modules to

complete a system. The receiving device may be any Flex module with a FLEX BUS IN. See the

Flex Users Guide for additional details.