Phonic Mixing Console, HELIX BOARD 12 FIREWIRE MKII User Manual
HELIX BOARD 12 FIREWIRE MKII
FireWire-enabled Mixing Console
1. Re ad the se ins tr uc ti on s be fore o pe ra ti ng t hi s
apparatus.
2. Keep these instructions for future reference.
3. Heed all warnings to ensure safe operation.
4. Follow all instructions provided in this document.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water or in locations
where condensation may occur.
6. Clean only with dry cloth. Do not use aerosol or liquid
cleaners. Unplug this apparatus before cleaning.
7. Do not block any of the ventilation openings. Install
in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators,
heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including
.
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or
grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades
with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug
has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide
blade or the third prong is provided for your safety. If
the provided plug does not into your outlet, consult
an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or
pinched particularly at plug, convenience receptacles,
and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
11. Only use attachments/accessories by the
manufacturer.
12. Use only with a cart, stand , tripod, bracket, or
table by the manufacturer, or sold with
the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution
wh en mov in g the cart/apparatus
combination to avoid injury from tipover.
13. Unplug this apparatus during lighting
st or ms or when unused for lon g
periods of time.
14. Refer all servicing to service personnel.
Servicing is required when the apparatus has been
damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or
plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects
have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has
been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate
normally, or has been dropped.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK)
NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an
equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the
presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the
product
’
magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is in-
tended to alert the user to the presence of important operat-
ing and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature
accompanying the appliance.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of or electric shock, do
not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.
CAUTION: Use of controls or adjustments or performance
of procedures other than those may result in
hazardous radiation exposure.
The apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing and that no objects with liquids, such as vases,
shall be placed on the apparatus. The MAINS plug is used as the disconnect device, the disconnect device shall
remain readily operable.
Warning: the user shall not place this apparatus in the area during the operation so that the mains switch
can be easily accessible.
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
HELIX BOARD 12 FIREWIRE MKII
Phonic preserves the right to improve or alter any information within this document without prior notice.
V1.1 JUL 24th,2008
FireWire-enabled Mixing Console
Section
4
HELIX BOARD 12 FIREWIRE MKII
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing the Helix Board 12
FireWire MKII, one of Phonic’s newest mixers
that sounds great and works hard both in and
out of the studio. The mixer features a FireWire
interface that can stream up to 10 independent
channels of audio to the computer and return
two tracks for monitoring, all at screaming fast
transfer rates of up to 24-bit/96 kHz. An onboard
40-bit digital multi-effect processor provides 100
popular programs plus tap delay, test-tones and
foot switch jacks.
There are 4 extremely low noise Mic preamps,
each with phantom power, spread across four
mono channels and two stereo channels, each
featuring a 3-band EQ. Additional features
include two AUX sends, two stereo AUX returns,
an extra ALT 3-4 stereo mixing bus, Steinberg
Cubase LE 4 digital audio workstation software
and an optional rack mounting kit.
We know how eager you are to get started –
wanting to get the mixer out and hook it up to your
computer is probably your number one priority
right now – but before you do, we strongly urge
you to take a look through this manual. Inside,
you will nd important instructions and warnings
on the set up, use and applications of your
brand new mixer. If you do happen to be one of
the many people who atly refuse to read user
manuals, then we just urge you to at least glance
at the Instant Setup section. After glancing at or
reading through the manual (we applaud you if
you do read the manual in its entirety), please
store it in a place that is easy for you to nd,
because chances are there’s something you
missed the rst time around.
FEATURES
● 12-input small-format analog mixer with
extremely low noise circuitry
● 40-bit digital multi-effect processor with 100
programs plus tap delay and foot switch
jacks
● 96 kHz FireWire interface for streaming 10
independent channels of audio to computer
with near-zero latency
● Pre/post switch for swapping streaming input
channels to computer from pre low cut, EQ to
post EQ, post channel fader.
● Two channels of monitoring from computer
via FireWire interface
● Four mono Mic/Line channels
● Two stereo channels, two stereo AUX
Returns, two AUX Sends
● 3-band EQ on each channel
● 75 Hz low-cut lter on mono channel
● Inserts on channel 1 & 2
● +48V phantom power on Mic channels
● Stereo AUX Send 1 cue for monitoring
individual channel
● Master AUX section with EFX to Monitor
● Extra ALT 3-4 stereo bus
● Control room/Phones source matrix
● Balanced master output with 60 mm fader
control
● High-volume headphone output
● Compatible with Mac OS X and Windows XP
● Steinberg Cubase LE 4 digital audio
workstation software included
PACKAGE INCLUDES
1 x Helix Board 12 FireWire MKII mixer
1 x FireWire cable
1 x DVD with drivers & Cubase LE 4
1 x Power supply and cable
Optional: ER-12MUX rack mounting kit
If any items are missing from your package,
please contact your nearest Phonic dealer.
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HELIX BOARD 12 FIREWIRE MKII
GETTING STARTED
1. Ensure all power is turned off on your mixer. To
totally ensure this, the power adapter should
not be connected to the unit.
2. All faders and level controls should be set at
the lowest level and all channels muted to
ensure no sound is inadvertently sent through
the outputs when the device is switched on.
All levels can be altered to acceptable degrees
after the device is turned on using the channel
setup instructions.
3. Plug any necessary equipment into the device’s various inputs and outputs. This could
include ampliers and speakers, monitors,
signal processors, recording devices, guitars,
keyboards, microphones, and so on.
4.
Plug the supplied power adapter into the power
inlet on the back of the device and then into a
power outlet of a suitable voltage.
5. Turn the power switch on and follow the channel
setup instructions to get the most out of your
equipment.
CHANNEL SETUP
1.
To ensure the correct audio level
of the input
channel is selected, each of the level input
controls of the Mixer should be turned counterclockwise or down as far as they will go and the
mute buttons should all be engaged.
2. No input other than the one being set should
have any device plugged in. This will ensure the
purest signal is used when setting channels.
3. Adjust the LEVEL and AUX 1 volume controls
of the channel you are setting to around the 2
o’clock mark. Also set the Main L-R fader to the
0 dB mark.
4. Press the AUX 1 button on the Control Room
Source section down (making sure all others
are released), allowing the level meter to
display the level of the channel being set.
5. Ensure the channel has a signal sent to it similar
to the signal that will be sent when in common
use. For example, if the channel is using a
microphone, then you should speak or sing at
the same level the performer normally would
during a performance; if a guitar is plugged
into the channel, then the guitar should also be
strummed as it normally would be (and so on).
This ensures levels are completely accurate
and avoids having to reset them later.
6. Set the channel’s gain so that the Level Meter
indicates the audio level is around 0 dB,
ensuring the level never reaches +5 dB.
7. This channel is now ready to be used; you can
stop making the audio signal.
8. You can now select another channel and repeat
the same process.
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HELIX BOARD 12 FIREWIRE MKII
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Inputs and Outputs
1. XLR Microphone Jacks
These jacks accept typical 3pin XLR inputs for balanced
and unbalanced signals.
They can be used in conjunction with microphones
– such as professional condenser, dynamic or ribbon
microphones - with standard
XLR male connectors, and
feature low noise preampliers, serving for crystal clear sound replication. The Helix Board 12
FireWire MKII mixers feature a total of four standard XLR microphone inputs.
NB. When these inputs are used with condenser
microphones, the Phantom Power should be activated.
However, when Phantom Power button is engaged, single
ended (unbalanced) microphones and instruments should
not be used on the Mic inputs.
2. Line Inputs
This input accepts typical 1/4” TRS or TS inputs,
for balanced or unbalanced signals. They can
be used in conjunction with various line level
devices, such as keyboards, drum machines,
electric guitars, and a variety of other electric
instruments.
3. Stereo Channels
The Helix Board 12 FireWire MKII
mixer features a couple of stereo
channels, thrown in for maximum
exibility. Each of these stereo
channels features two 1/4” TRS
phone jacks, for the addition of
various line level input devices,
such as electronic keyboards,
guitars and external signal
processors or mixers.
These Stereo Channels can also be used as
Mono channels, where the signal from any 1/4”
phone jack plugged into the Left stereo input
will be duplicated to the Right input due to the
miracle of jack normalizing (this does not work in
reverse, however).
4. Stereo AUX Return
These 1/4” TS inputs are for the return of audio
to the Helix Board 12 FireWire MKII mixer,
processed by an external signal processor. If
really needed, they can also be used as additional
stereo inputs, with a level control located on
the face of the mixer. The Stereo AUX Return
can also accept Mono signals, where plugging
the 1/4” phone jack of any device into the Left
input will cause the signal to be duplicated to the
Right input also (this does not work in reverse,
however). Signals processed by the built-in
digital effects processor are cut-off when any
1/4” phone jack is plugged into the AUX return 2.
5. AUX / Effects Send
These 1/4” TS outputs may be used to connect
to an external digital effect processor, or even to
an amplier and speakers (depending on your
desired settings), to the mixer. The AUX send is a
pre-fader signal, suitable for sending to monitors
to allow performers to monitor their music.
The EFX send signal is post-fader, suitable for
sending to external effect processors, and then
return back to the AUX returns.
6. Main L and R Outputs
These two ports will output the nal stereo
balanced line level signal sent from the main
mixing bus. The primary purpose of these jacks
is to send the main output to external devices,
which may include power ampliers (and in-turn,
a pair of speakers), other mixers, as well as a
wide range of other possible signal processors
(equalizers, crossovers, etcetera).
7. Control Room Outputs
These two 1/4” Phone Jack outputs feed the
signal altered by the Control Room / Submix
control on the face of the mixer. This output has
extensive use, as it can be used to feed the
signal from the mixer to an active monitor, for
the monitoring of the audio signal from within a
booth, among other possible uses.
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HELIX BOARD 12 FIREWIRE MKII
8. Phones
This stereo output port is suited for use with
headphones, allowing monitoring of the mix. The
audio level of this output is controlled using the
Control Room / Submix rotary control.
9. Record Out
These outputs will accommodate RCA cables,
able to be fed to a variety
of recording devices.
10. 2T Return
This stereo RCA input is used to connect the
mixer with external devices, such as tape and
CD players, and feeds the signal to the Main L-R
mixing bus.
Rear Panel
11. Channel Inserts
Located on the rear of the Helix Board, the primary
use for these TRS phone jacks is for the addition
of external devices, such as dynamic processors
or equalizers, to mono input channels 1 and 2.
This will require a Y cord that can send (prefader and pre-EQ) and receive signals to and
from an external processor. On this connection,
the tip pin is for sending the signal, whereas the
ring pin is for return. The sleeve pin, on the other
hand, is the ground.
12. ALT 3-4 Output
The signal sent from these 1/4” outputs is fed
from the ALT 3-4 mixing bus, and can be used
in conjunction with a large array of devices,
including signal processors, other PA systems,
recording devices, and so on.
13. Foot Switch Jacks
These ports are for the inclusion of a foot switch,
used to remotely adjust properties of the builtin Digital Effect processor, to the mixer. The left
jack is used to adjust the tap delay properties,
whereas the right jack is used for turning the
effects on and off.
14. FireWire Connection
These two FireWire ports
are for connecting the Helix
Board to any PC or Macintosh
computer. They allow all 10
audio channels to be streamed
to a computer, and the 2 audio
channels of the computer
to be streamed back to the
Helix Board for monitoring
purposes. The signal of audio channels sent to
the computer is pre- or post-fader, depending on
the pre/post setting on each input channel. The
main left and right signal (also sent through the
FireWire interface) is a pre-main fader signal.
The returned FireWire signal can be utilized in
the FireWire Return section on the face of the
mixer.
15. Power Connector
This port is for the addition of a power cable
and supply, allowing power to be supplied to the
mixer. Please use the external power supply
that is included with this mixer only as using
other adaptors could damage the mixer. For a
replacement supply, contact your nearest Phonic
dealer.
AC IN
18.8V X2
8V X1
8
HELIX BOARD 12 FIREWIRE MKII
CONTROLS AND SETTINGS
Rear Panel
16. Power Switch
This switch is used to turn the
mixer on and off. Ensure you
turn all level controls down
before activating.
17. Phantom Power Switch
When this switch is in the on
position, it activates +48V
of phantom power for all microphone inputs,
allowing condenser microphones (well, the ones
that don’t use batteries) to be used on these
channels. Activating Phantom Power will be
accompanied by an illuminated LED above the
left channel Level Meter. Before turning Phantom
Power on, turn all level controls to a minimum to
avoid the possibility of a ghastly popping sound
from the speakers.
NB. Phantom Power should be used in conjunction with
balanced microphones. When Phantom Power is engaged,
single ended (unbalanced) microphones and instruments
should not be used on the Mic inputs. Phantom Power will
not cause damage to most dynamic microphones, however if
unsure, the microphone’s user manual should be consulted.
Channel Controls
18. Low Cut Filter (75 Hz)
This button, located on
channels 1 through to 4,
will activate a low-cut / high-
pass lter that reduces all
frequencies below 75 Hz at
18 dB per Octave, helping
to remove any unwanted ground noise or stage
rumble.
19. Mic / Line Gain Control
This controls the sensitivity of the input signal
of the Microphone / Line input. The gain should
be adjusted to a level that allows the maximum
use of the audio, while still maintaining the
quality of the feed, based on the channel setup
instructions. This can be accomplished by
adjusting it to a level that will allow the peak
indicator occasionally illuminate. All 4 mono
channels feature this control.
20. High Frequency Control
This control is used to give a shelving boost or
cut of ±15 dB to high frequency (12 kHz) sounds.
This will adjust the amount of treble included in
the audio of the channel, adding strength and
crispness to sounds such as guitars, cymbals,
and synthesizers.
21. Middle Frequency Control
This control is used to provide a peaking style
of boost and cut to the level of middle frequency
(2.5 kHz) sounds at a range of ±15 dB. Changing
middle frequencies of an audio feed can be rather
difcult when used in a professional audio mix, as
it is often more desirable to cut middle frequency
sounds rather than boost them, thereby soothing
overly harsh vocal and instrument sounds in the
audio.
22. Low Frequency Control
This control is used to give a shelving boost or
cut of ±15 dB to low frequency (80 Hz) sounds.
This will adjust the amount of bass included in
the audio of the channel, and bring more warmth
and punch to drums and bass guitars.
23. FireWire Pre / Post Switch
This switch is used to change the signal of
the corresponding channel that is sent to the
Computer via the FireWire interface between
that of a pre-EQ, pre-fader, pre-low cut to that of
a post-EQ, post-fader, post-low cut. In the uppermost position, the channel will be pre, and in the
lower position post.
9
HELIX BOARD 12 FIREWIRE MKII
24. AUX 1 (Monitor) Control
This control allows the user to send the
corresponding signal to the AUX 1 output, which
can be used in conjunction with an amplier and
studio or stage monitors, or simply as an auxiliary
output for any means required. The control is
pre-fader, therefore any changes made to the
corresponding channel level control do not affect
the AUX 1 send signal.
25. AUX 2 (Effects) Control
This control alters the signal level that is sent
to the AUX 2 (or EFX) send output, which can
be used in conjunction with external signal
processors (this signal of which can be returned
to mixer via the AUX return input, or any stereo
input channel), or simply as an auxiliary output
for any means required. This control is postfader, therefore any changes made to the
corresponding channel level control are also
applied to the EFX signal. The EFX send signal
is also sent to the built-in effect processor for
providing effects to the main output and AUX 1
send, as required.
26. Pan / Balance Controls
This alternates the degree or level of audio that
the left and right side of the main mix should
receive. On mono channels, this control will
adjust the level that the left and right should
receive (pan), where as on a stereo channel,
adjusting the BAL control will attenuate the left
or right audio signals accordingly (balance).
27. Mute / ALT 3-4
This handy little button is basically a typical mute
button – effectively stopping any signal received
by the channel from being sent to the Main L/R
or AUX 2 send mixing buses – however it does
so much more. Pushing this button routes the
channel’s signal away from the Main L/R and to
its own “Alternate” stereo output (Alt 3-4), where
the signal can be used at will. If you wish to use
it to connect an amplier and speakers, or simply
patch it through to an unused input channel, you
can easily do so.
28. Peak Indicator
This LED indicator will illuminate when the device
hits high peaks, 6 dB before overload occurs. It is
best to adjust the gain of the channel so that the
PEAK indicator lights up on intervals only. This
will ensure a greater dynamic range of audio.
This LED will light up while the Mute button is
pushed in.
29. Level Control
This rotary control will alter the signal level that is
sent from the corresponding channel to the Main
or Alt. 3-4 mixing bus.
30. +4 / -10 Switch
This button, located on both
stereo input channels, is used
adjust the input sensitivity of
the corresponding channels,
which will adapt the mixer to
external devices which may
use different operating levels.
If the input source is -10 dBV (consumer audio
level), it is best to engage the switch, allowing
the signal to be heard. The +4 dBu level is
suitable for Professional Audio signals, which
are considerably higher than the consumer
level. However, if you are unsure of the source’s
operating level, we suggest leaving the switch
disengaged until you test the source’s signal.
You can then engage if necessary (if the level of
the input signal is obviously too low).
Digital Effect Section
31. Digital Effect Display
This 2-digital numeric display shows the program
number that is currently applied to your EFX
audio signal. When you rotate the Program
control, you can scroll through different program
numbers; however the display will revert back
to the original program if a new program is
not selected within a few seconds. For a list
of available effects, please observe the Digital
Effect Table.
32. Sig and Clip Indicators
Located within the Digital Effect Display are Clip
and Sig LEDs. The Sig LED will light up when
any signal is received by the effect processor,
and the Clip LED will light up shortly before
excessive signals are dynamically clipped. If the
Clip LED lights up too often, it may be advisable
to turn down the AUX 2/EFX control on one or all
input channels to ensure the signal level is not
excessive.
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