DLM-821stereoduckinglinelevelmixer. Features include
eight balanced stereo inputs for line level sources, the first
four inputs with switchable 30dB gain for low impedance
microphones. +18V phantom power and stereo/mono switching is
provided for inputs 1 through 4. A concentric level
and pan control for each input adjusts channel volume and
stereo position.
A ducking circuit allows a signal on either channel
1 or 2 to duck (attenuate) the signal on channels 3 through
8. Internally the DLM-821 can be configured for ch.1 priority whereby a signal on ch. 1 has priority over the signal
on ch. 2 and fully attenuates channels 2 through 8. Furthermore, the ducking level can be configured for -20dB or
-90dB, ch. 2 ducking may be disabled, and the left and right
signal ducking may be disabled independently. Ultra low
noise summing amplifiers combine the channel signals for
the main outputs. A pair of 6-segment LED meter arrays
monitor the main output levels. Separate level controls are
provided for stereo, mono, and headphone outputs.
2. UNPACKING
Asapartof
Ashlyproductiscarefullyinspected before leaving the
factory to ensure flawless appearance. After unpacking,
please inspect for any physical damage. Save the shipping carton and all packing materials , as they were carefully designed to reduce to minimum
transportation damage should the unit again require packing and shipping. In the e vent that damage has occurred,
immediately notify your dealer so that a written claim to
cover the damages can be initiated.
The right to any claim against a public carrier
can be forfeited if the carrier is not notified promptly and
if the shipping carton and packing materials are not available for inspection by the carrier. Save all packing materials until the claim has been settled.
3. AC POWER REQUIREMENTS
The DLM-821 will perform normally from 98 to
125 volts AC. Use only properly grounded AC receptacles. To reduce the risk of ground loop hum, use a central point for system AC power distribution. The AC line
fuse is internal, and should only be changed by a qualified service technician.
our system of quality control, every
the possibility of
4. SECURITY COVERS
For installations where it is desirable to protect
the front panel controls from tampering or accidental
misadjustment, use the Ashly security cover, which is
available in both single and double rack space sizes. Installation is simple and does not require removal of the
equipment from your rack. See your Ashly dealer for
details.
Pressing this switch enables a signal present on
inputs 1 or 2 to duck (attenuate) the signals on inputs 3
through 8. See sections 5.14 through 5.17 for internally
selecting different ducking configurations.
5.2 Channel Level and Pan
The inner knob is the individual channel volume
control which feeds a channel to the main mix. The "5"
position corresponds to unity gain. The outer knob is the
Pan control and adjusts the position of the channel in the
stereo mix.
5.3 Mute Switch
This switch on each channel will turn the channel completely off allowing the channel level to remain
at its desired setting when the input is not needed.
5.4 Mic/Line Switch
5.5 Output Meters
A pair of peak detecting 6-segment LED meters
are used to indicate output level. Green LED's are used
below 0 VU, yellow above 0 VU, and red LED's indicate
clipping. This meter pair monitors the main stereo output (0 VU = +4dBu). The red clipping LED's also monitor all input channels, making it possible for these
indicators to illuminate even with the stereo output level
turned off.
5.6 Stereo Output Level and Pan
This is the main master gain which sets the operating level for the entire mixer. The "5" position corresponds to unity gain. This control does not effect the
mono output level.
5.7 Stereo Output Mute
This switch entirely mutes the main stereo output. The headphone and mono output are not affected.
This is particularly useful when the DLM-821 is used as
a sub-mixer.
This recessed switch on the first four inputs increases the channel input sensitivity by 30 dB to allow
the use of low impedance microphones. The adjacent
yellow LED on indicates the switch is depressed and 30dB
of gain is added for that channel's mic input.
4
5.8 Mono and Headphone Level
The inner knob is the master gain control for the
mono output, which is the combined signal of the left
and right outputs. It has no effect on the stereo output.
Note: The mono output level can be selected between
mic or line level. (see sec. 5.10) The outer knob is the
level control for the front panel headphone jack.
The DLM-821powerswitchisonthe back panel.
Whenitispressedinthefrontpanelpower LED will be-comelit.
5.10 Mono Output Mic/Line Switch
This switch selects between a 0dBu (out position) line level or -40dBu (in position) mic level signal
feeding the Mono output connector.
5.11 Stereo/Mono Input Switches
Thesefour pushbuttonswitchesallow selection
betweenastereoormonosignalconnection to input chan-
nels 1 through 4 respectively. In the Out position, stereo
left and right cables should be connected. In the in position, a mono cable should be connected to the R(Mono)
connector which then internally feeds the signal to both
left and right sides.
5.12 Phantom Power Switches
There is a phantom power switch for channels 1
and 2 and a phantom power switch for channels 3 and 4.
Pushing the switch in applies +18VDC to the (+) and (-)
input terminals of the two associated channels to power
condenser mics. The input channels should be muted
using the On/Mute switches when switching phantom
power on or off to avoid any pop noises.
Internal PCB Jumper Options:
5.13 Ch. 2 Detect Enable *
Internal jumper J1 allows enabling or disabling
the ducker detector for ch. 2. (factory default is enabled)
5.14 Ducking Level *
Internal jumper J16 allows selection between
-20dB ducking level and -90 dB ducking level. (factory
default is -20dB)
5.15 Ch. 1 Priority *
Internal jumper J6 allows enabling ch. 1 to have
priority over ch. 2 and fully attenuate channels 2-8. This
feature is useful for applying an emergency page or alarm
on channel 1 and applying a normal host page input on
ch. 2. (factory default is ch.1 priority disabled)
5.16 Left and Right Ducking Enable *
Internal jumpers J14 and J15 allow the left and
right signal ducking to be enabled or disabled independently. (factory default is left and right ducking enabled)
* For internal jumper adjustments, remove AC
cord from rear of unit and refer to a qualified service
technician. (see PCB jumper locations in fig. 5.2)
The DLM-821stereoinputsusetwo20k ohm balanced (10k ohmunbalanced)
Euroblock connectorsperchannel. Wire the (+) signal to the (+) terminal, the (-) signal
to the (-) terminal, and the shield to G. If an unbalanced (two conductor) input signal is
used, connect the shield to both (-) and G.
To drive a mono source into the stereo mix, simply plug the signal into the
right channel input and press the Mono s witch in. Additionally, channels 1 through 4
are switchable to mic level (see sec. 5.4) to add 30dB gain for microphone inputs.
6.2 Main and Mono Outputs
Outputs are 200 ohm "pseudo-balanced" Euroblock connectors, which have balanced impedance with a single-ended signal source and can be wired balanced or unbalanced. Nominal operating level is +4 dBu and maximum level is +23dBu. The
Mono output is switchable to a nominal -40dBu microphone level. If wiring an output
as unbalanced, use the (+) and G connections.
If low level and high level lines (e.g., microphones and mixer line outputs), or
if either of these lines and speaker cables are run parallel for long distances, crosstalk
may be significant. In fact, the crosstalk (signal leakage between cables) can cause an
electronic feedback loop, oscillation, and possibly damage to the equipment. To minimize crosstalk, physically separate low level (microphone) cables from speaker cables
by the greatest feasible distance. At any point where cables meet, run low level cables
perpendicular to high level or speaker cables. If low and high level or speaker cables
must be run parallel and in close proximity to one another, they should be bundled
separately. Shielded cable should always be used for mic and line cables.
In the setup shown here, the DLM-821 is used to mix typical sound sources that might be found in a small
club, school theater or similar environment. INPUT channels 1 & 2 are used for microphones for live vocal or instrumental pickup. INPUT channels 3-8 are used for the output of electronic music devices such as keyboards, MIDI
sound modules, drum machines, etc. The power amplifier (or any additional graphic equalizers or electronic crossovers which may be used) is fed from the MAIN OUTPUT connectors.
Left and Right
Speakers
Stereo
Power Amplifier
Cassette Tape
DVD/CD Player
Midi Sound Module
Stereo Keyboard Input
On Ch. 3
Microphone
Inputs
On Ch. 1 and 2
(Mono Switch In)
Stereo Drum Machine
Inputs On Ch. 4
7.2 Church, School Or Meeting Room Sound System:
Here the DLM-821 is used to mix sources typically found in a church, classroom, or meeting room. The
channel 2-4 inputs are used for microphones for live vocal or instrumental pickup. Channel 1 is fed by an alarm signal
which will have priority and fully attenuate all other inputs if it is receiving an input signal. Channels 1 through 4 will
have their Stereo/Mono switch pushed in. The remaining INPUT channels are used for audio outputs from video/DVD
players, cassette deck, CD player, computer sound card, etc. One input channel is reserved as a spare. The power
amplifier (or any additional equalizer or electronic crossover which may be used) is fed from the MAIN OUTPUT
connectors. The Mono output is connected into the wall mic jack to feed the mix into the building's main PA system.
In this application, a variety of line level audio signals (tape, CD, satellite background music and TV) are fed
into line inputs five through eight. Talent mics are fed into inputs three and four. A host paging mic is fed into input
2 which will duck (attenuate) three through eight. An emergency paging mic is fed into input one and channel one
priority is internally selected. An emergency page signal will then fully attenuate all other inputs. Inputs one through
four should all have their Stereo/Mono switches pushed in. The Mono output is fed into an existing mic mixer/PA
amplifier. The Mono output Mic/Line switch should be pushed in to give a mic-level output to this existing mic mixer.
StereoSpeakers
Emergency
Page
(Priority
Ducking)
Stereo
Power Amplif ier
Outdoor
Loudspeaker
Output
Satellite TV Audio
Talent Mics
On Ch. 2 - 4
(Mono Switch In)
Satellite Background Music
Host Mic
(Ducking)
Tape
DVD/CD Player
8. TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS
8.1 No Sound
Check the AC power. Is the power switch on and illuminated? Check the level meters. If they are operating,
the problem between the mixer and the later components in the system. If not, check to see you really have an input
signal and that it is on the desired channel. Check that you have the master gain controls at the desired operating level.
8.2 Distorted Sound
Something is being overdriven in the signal path. If the clip indicators are active, reduce the channel level controls. If the clip indicators are still active, reduce the input signal level. If the level meters are constantly in the red, reduce
the Master gain and increase the gain of components following the mixer. There are many gain adjustments in the mixer
itself and probably several others in other system components which makes it possible to overdrive an input section and
then incorrectly try to reduce the gain of the output section. The best way to approach setting gains is to establish the
operating level of input stages first by setting their gain as high as possible but leaving about 20dB of headroom for loud
peaks, then move on to set the master gain to produce a good meter reading. Proceed to set the gain of equalizers, limiters,
crossovers, and amplifiers following the mixer in the same manner, always working toward the later stages of the system.
8.3 Excessive Noise
If the noise is in the form of hiss, the problem is usually due to an input stage set up for low gain and then
compensating by increasing the master gain. Turn up the channel level controls and reduce the master gain.
8.4 Excessive hum
This is usually caused by "ground loops" in the system wiring. A complex sound system with many sources
separated by significant distance and using several power outlets has many opportunities for this problem to occur. If
possible, feed everything in the system from one power source with a common ground.
If you need help, get in touch with your Ashly dealer or call an Ashly technical service representative at
1-800-828-6308.