Allen & Heath Model 1 Operation guide

Limited One Year Manufacturer’s Warranty

Allen & Heath warrants the Play Di erently branded hardware product and accessories contained in the original packaging against defects in materials and workmanship when used in accordance with Play Di erently user manual, technical speciﬁca ons and other Play Di erently product published guidelines for a period of ONE (1) YEAR from the date of original purchase by the end-user purchaser ("Warranty Period").

This warranty does not apply to any non- Play Di erently branded hardware products or any so'ware, even if packaged or sold with Play Di erently branded hardware except for the power supply supplied with the product or as an approved spare.

Repair or replacement under the terms of the warranty does not provide right to extension or renewal of the warranty period. Repair or direct replacement of the product under the terms of this warranty may be fulﬁlled with func onally equivalent service exchange units.

This warranty is not transferable. This warranty will be the purchaser’s sole and exclusive remedy and neither Allen & Heath nor its approved service centres shall be liable for any incidental or consequen al damages or breach of any express or implied warranty of this product.

Condi ons of Warranty

The equipment has not been subject to misuse either intended or accidental, neglect, or altera on other than as described in the User Guide or Service Manual, or approved by Allen & Heath. The warranty does not cover fader wear and tear. Any necessary adjustment, altera on or repair has been carried out by an authorised Play Di erently distributor or agent.

The defec ve unit is to be returned carriage prepaid to the place of purchase, an authorised Play Di erently distributor or agent with proof of purchase. Please discuss this with the distributor or the agent before shipping. Units returned should be packed in the original carton to avoid transit damage.

Check with your Play Di erently distributor or agent for any addi onal warranty informa on which may apply. If further assistance is required please contact Allen & Heath Ltd.

Any changes or modiﬁca ons to the equipment not approved by Allen & Heath could void the compliance of the product and therefore the user’s authority to operate it.

www.allen-heath.com

Play Di erently MODEL 1 complies with the European Electromagne c Compa bility direc ves 2004/108/EC and the European Low Voltage direc ves 2006/95/EC.

Any changes or modiﬁca ons to the equipment not approved by Play Di erently could void the compliance of the product and therefore the users authority to operate it.

MODEL 1 User Guide Issue 1

Allen & Heath Limited

Kernick Industrial Estate, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9LU, UK

www.allen-heath.com www.playdi erently.org/

Introduction	1

The MODEL 1 is a 6 channel professional mixer designed for use in the club environment by professional DJs and producers , but is equally at home in a small studio or as a compact outside broadcast desk that does not require microphone inputs.

Model 1 is unique in o ering six fully featured input channels plus two stereo returns in an industry standard “10” format. It has many features not currently available on any comparable device, such as Input pre-ampliﬁer drive control, Hybrid Filter/swept Bell EQ, Dual Cue system, Mixer and Cue linking system, and a fully balanced “Tascam format DB25” connector system for easy interfacing to external soundcards .

Model 1 is a purely analogue mixer and features technology normally found on the ﬁnest classic studio desks, such as a fully balanced mix buss, zero crossing detec on for seamless Filter rou ng and high voltage di eren al power rails. Model 1 is also internally fully modular.

INDEX
Introduc on ...................................................................................	1
Front Panel Overview .....................................................................	2
Return Sec on ................................................................................	3
Master Filter ..................................................................................	4
Main Channel Strip .........................................................................	5
Contour and Sculpt EQ ....................................................................	6
Master Sec on ...............................................................................	7
Headphone Cue System ..................................................................	8
Drive Control ..................................................................................	9
Rear Panel Overview.....................................................................	10
Rear Panel connec ons - Outputs .................................................	11
Rear Panel connec ons - Inputs ...................................................	12
Mixer linking.................................................................................	13
Power Supply................................................................................	15
Block Diagram...............................................................................	16
Speciﬁca ons ...............................................................................	17

2	Front Panel Overview

Return Section	3

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The Return sec on is located on the upper le'-hand side of the front panel and consists of two basic stereo channels for use as return inputs from external e ects processors. Connec on to the Return channels is via 4 x 1/4” TRS Jack sockets mounted on the rear panel, however the Return channels can also be fed from the DB25 connector DSUB IN 2 - see page 12 for details.

TRIM - Adjusts the level of the return signal. Each Return input pre-ampliﬁer is equipped with a Hard-Limiter circuit and an excess of gain, (+28dB), allowing the return signal to be driven into distor on (as an e ect). Turning the Trim control clockwise beyond the “0” and into the regain marked “DRIVE” will progressively distort the signal un l it reaches maximum clipping. See Page 9 for more informa on on Drive.

CUE - Routes the pre-Level signal to both the Cue A and Cue B monitor systems.

Return Meters - Provides a visual indica on of each Return signal level. The Peak (PK) LED will illuminate at signal levels above +8dBu. This is set lower than on the main channels due to the ﬁxed Drive circuit - note that signal levels above PK will ac vate the distor on circuits.

LEVEL - A rotary fader to adjust the amount of the Return signal fed into the main Mix.

RETURN 1-2 LOW CUT - Ac vates a ﬁlter that aKenuates the low frequency response on both Return 1 and Return 2. The ﬁlter has a slope of 6dB per octave and is set at 320Hz (-3dB).

RETURN 1-2 TO MASTER FILTER - This routes both Return 1 and Return 2 to the Master Filter sec on. This switch is controlled by the zero-crossing detec on system so can be used as a performance e ect.

Frequency response of Returns with Low Cut switch ac ve

4	Master Filter
4

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The Master Filter sec on consists of a High-Pass Filter (HPF), a Low-Pass Filter (LPF), and a resonance control (RES) to adjust the sharpness of the High-Pass ﬁlter. Unlike a Voltage-Control Filter system, (VCF) the ﬁlter elements are passive in order to minimise distor on and eliminate DC voltage breakthrough, and because the ﬁlter is passive there is also zero thermal frequency dri'. The Master Filter can be used as a swept frequency performance e ect, or as pre-set frequency mix tool to instantly cut the Low or High frequencies of any channel routed to the Filter.

HPF RES - Adjusts the sharpness (Q) of the High-Pass Filter. Set to minimum the HPF will have a smooth roll o with a low Q. Turning the control clockwise will progressively increase the Q of the HPF and the gain at the cut-o point - see graph below for illustra on. Because high Q levels at low frequency can damage the PA system, high Q seMngs are automa cally reduced as the HPF control is turned counter clockwise.

LPF - Progressively aKenuates the high frequency content as it is rotated counter clockwise. A virtually ﬂat frequency response up to about 20kHz is achieved with the control fully clockwise. With the control set fully counter clockwise all frequencies above 500Hz will be progressively aKenuated. The Q of this ﬁlter is ﬁxed and is not a ected by the resonance control.

HPF - Progressively aKenuates the low frequency content as it is rotated clockwise. A ﬂat frequency response down to 30Hz is achieved with the control fully counter clockwise. With the control set fully clockwise all frequencies below 1kHz will be aKenuated. The Q of this ﬁlter is adjusted by the Resonance control.

MASTER FILTER ON - Turns the Master Filter ON. This switch is controlled by the zerocrossing detec on system so can be used as a performance e ect. The zero crossing system minimises audible clicks and switching ar facts when rou ng channels to the Master Filter or switching the ﬁlter ON.

This graph illustrates how the resonance of the High-Pass Filter is automa cally reduced as the frequency is lowered

Main Channel strip	5

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MODEL1 has six iden cal main channel strips, each equipped with 2 auxiliary sends, Input drive control, a unique hybrid EQ ﬁlter system, Dual Cues, and a high quality 60mm, twin rail fader. The input to each channel is via an RCA connector on the rear panel, or via the fully balanced DB25 system (see page 12). Channels 3, 4, and 5, are also equipped with an RIAA pre-ampliﬁer for use with turntables.

AUX Sends - The two AUX controls send the channel signal to the Aux mix output jack sockets (and the DB25 Out) for use with external e ects processors or, in some applica ons, local monitors. The PRE FADE switch selects whether AUX 1 sources its signal Pre or Post the channel fader; default is post fader, (switch up posi on). AUX 2 is always post fader though there is an internal op on to allow Aux 2 to be switched Pre or Post fader along with AUX 1.

LINE/PHONO/DSUB - This switch selects which input connector the channel signal is sourced from. The default (switch up posi on) sources the signal from its associated RCA connector on the rear panel. Pressing the switch routes the signal from the DSUB (DB25) connector system - see page 12. Channels 3, 4, and 5 can be conﬁgured for use with turntables (Phono) by selec ng the small red buKon on the rear panel, situated below its associated earth binding post. If this buKon is pressed the LINE/ PHONO/DSUB switch cap will glow red (only in the up posi on) to indicate that this channel has been conﬁgure as a turntable input.

DRIVE - This unique control varies the maximum signal level the channel input preampliﬁer can pass (headroom) before it is driven into clipping (distor on). With the control fully counter clock-wise the channel headroom is una ected, and signal levels of > +20dBu will remain clean. As the drive control is rotated clockwise input headroom is progressively reduced, un l at maximum rota on the pre-ampliﬁer will start to clip at signal levels above –4dBu. The sha' of the drive control is illuminated and will light red to give a visual indica on of the clip func on. See page 9 for more informa on on the drive control.

CONTOUR/SCULPT - Unique Hybrid EQ. See page 6 for details.

FILTER - This switch routes the channel signal through to the Master Filter sec on, see page 4 for more informa on on the Master Filter. This switch is controlled by the zero -crossing detec on system so can be used as a performance e ect.

CUE A, CUE B - MODEL 1 is equipped with two independent Cue systems, CUE A and CUE B. CUE A sends the channel pre-fader, post-EQ, signal to the right headphone monitor sec on, and CUE B to the le' headphone monitor. Both Cue systems have an auto-cancel feature, where selec ng one Cue will automa cally cancel the previous selec on.

VCA FADER - The 60mm fader controls the DC level for the channel VCA (voltage control ampliﬁer). These twin rails faders have been carefully chosen to ensure long life and smooth opera on, and feature a heavy feel for greater precision.

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