Tapco Mix 260FX User Manual - Auxiliary Section

13

SET to show where the level should be when 

adjusting a channel’s gain in the solo mode, as 

described in “Set the Levels” on page 5.

If nothing is selected in the CONTROL ROOM 

SOURCE SELECT and no channels are in SOLO, the 

meters won’t do anything. To display a signal level, 

a source must be selected in the CONTROL ROOM 

SOURCE SELECT, which feeds the CONTROL 

ROOM [55] and PHONES [50] outputs. The meters 

refl ect the program level of the selected source prior 

to the CTRL ROOM/PHONES [23] level knob.

The reason for this is because you want the meters 

to refl ect what the engineer is listening to, and the 

engineer is listening either to the CONTROL ROOM 

outputs or the PHONES outputs. The only diff erence 

is that while the listening levels are controlled by the 

CTRL ROOM/PHONES knob, the meters indicate the 

SOURCE mix before those knobs, giving you the real 

facts at all times, even if you’re not listening at all.

When a channel is soloed, the meters change to 

refl ect the level of that channel’s signal level, pre- or 

post-fader, depending on the SOLO MODE [25] 

setting.

You may already be an expert at the 

world of “+4” (+4 dBu=1.23 V) and 

“–10” (–10 dBV=0.32 V) operating 

levels. What makes a mixer one or 

the other is the relative 0 dB VU (or 

0 VU) chosen for the meters. A “+4” 

mixer, with +4 dBu pouring out the back will actually 

read 0 VU on its meters. A “–10” mixer, with a –10 

dBV signal trickling out will read, you guessed it, 0 

VU on its meters. So when is 0 VU actually 0 dBu? 

Right now!

TAPCO mixers show things as they really are. 

When 0 dBu (0.775 V) is at the outputs, it shows as 

0 dB VU on the meters. What could be easier? By 

the way, the most wonderful thing about standards is 

that there are so many to choose from.

Thanks to the MIX FX Series’ wide dynamic range, 

you can get a good mix with peaks fl ashing anywhere 

between –20 and +10 dB on the meters. Most 

amplifi ers clip at about +10 dBu, and some recorders 

aren’t so forgiving either. For best real-world results, 

try to keep your peaks between “0” and “+7” (“+5” on 

the 220.FX).

Remember, audio meters are just tools to help 

assure you that your levels are “in the ballpark.” You 

don’t have to stare at them (unless you want to).

AUXILIARY SECTION

28. MASTER AUX SEND Knobs

The Master AUX SEND knobs provide overall 

control for the aux send levels, just before the signal 

is delivered to the Aux Send outputs.

It ranges from off  when fully counter-clockwise, to 

unity gain at the center detent position, to +15 dB 

gain when fully up.

29. MASTER AUX SEND SOLO Switches

These allow you to monitor the aux send signals in 

the CONTROL ROOM and PHONES outputs. This 

is especially handy for listening to an aux send being 

used to feed on-stage monitors.

30. Master AUX RETURN Level Control 

This adjusts the amount of the Aux Return signal 

that is added to the Left and Right Main Mix buses 

just before the MAIN MIX [42] faders.

 (Note: For additional routing options for the AUX 

RETURN signal, see “Assign Switch” next).

31. MAIN/ALT 3-4 Assign Switch (Mix.220FX)

     MAIN/SUB 1-2 Assign Switch (Mix.260FX)  

When this switch is up, the Aux Return signal is 

routed to the Left and Right Main Mix bus. When 

the switch is down, the signal is routed to the Alt 3-4 

(Mix.220FX) or  Sub 1-2 (Mix.260FX) buses instead 

of the Main Mix bus.

32. Master FX RETURN Level Control

This adjusts the amount of the FX Return signal 

that is added to the Left and Right Main Mix buses 

just before the MAIN MIX [42] faders.

If there is nothing plugged into the FX RETURN 

Inputs, the FX Return signal comes from the Internal 

Eff ects module.

If the output from an external eff ects processor 

is plugged into the FX RETURN Inputs, the Internal 

Eff ects is disconnected and only the external eff ects 

signal is routed through the FX RETURN level 

control.

33. RTRN TO AUX 1 Level Control

This routes the FX RETURN signal to the AUX 1 

SEND. This is not aff ected by the FX RETURN level 

control, so you can use this control to add the FX 

RETURN to the monitor mix independently.

The stereo eff ects return signal is summed to 

mono and routed to the AUX SEND 1 (MON) bus 

via this control where it is combined with the other 

signals at the AUX SEND 1 (MON) bus, prior to the 

MASTER AUX SEND 1 control [28].

LOOK

CLOSER