M3
Portable Audio Mixer
Operation Manual for Mixers with PCB V1.2
Copyright 2002
Professional Sound Corporation
Printed in the U.S.A.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DESCRIPTION……………………………………………………………………………4
SAFETY WARNINGS……………………………………………………………………4
APPLICATIONS…………………………………………………………………………..4
FUNCTIONS
INPUTS……………………………………………………………………………5-6
A. BALANCED INPUTS
B. INPUT LEVELS
C. MICROPHONE POWERING
D. LOW CUT FILTER
E. CHANNEL GAIN
F. CHANNEL PANS
G. BOOM POLE REMOTE CONTROL
OUTPUTS…………………………………………………………………………7-8
A. BALANCED OUTPUTS
B. MULTIPIN (BETA) CONNECTOR
C. OUTPUT LIMITERS
D. TRANSCRIPTION OUTPUTS
MONITOR………………………………………………………………………….8
A. HEADPHONE MONITOR OUTPUT
TAPE RETURNS…………………………………………………………………..8
A. TAPE RETURN GAIN
METERS…………………………………………………………………………….9
A. PEAK READING METERS
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B. NIGHT (BACKLIGHT) USE
ADDITIONAL FEATURES…………………………………………………………10
A. SLATE MICROPHONE
B. REFERENCE OSCILATOR
C. BATTERY TEST
D. M-S AND X-Y STEREO RECORDING
POWERING………………………………………………………………………….11
A. INTERNAL POWER, ALKYLINE BATTERIES
B. EXTERNAL POWER
CONSTRUCTION……………………………………………………………………12
A. CHASSIS
B. ELECTRONIC TOPOLOGY
C. ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATION
INTERFACING………………………………………………………………………13
A. TO BETACAMS
B. TO RDAT RECORDERS
C. TO WIRELESS MICROPHONES
WARRANTY AND NON-WARRANTY SERVICE…………………………………14
SPECIFICATIONS…………………………………………………………………….15
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DESCRIPTION
Thank you for purchasing the Professional Sound Corporation M3 Portable Audio
Mixer. PSC is confident that this new M3 Mixer has set new standards for
portable mixer technologies and features. Please feel free to contact us if you
have any comments or questions concerning your new mixer. Additionally, we
invite you to share your suggestions for new products you would like to see
developed.
Professional Sound Corporation extends a one-year warranty on parts and labor
to all M3 Mixer owners who return their warranty cards at the time of purchase.
This warranty gives you specific rights, which are stated on the card, and enables
us to keep you informed of product updates.
The PSC M3 Mixer provides all the functions necessary to produce studio quality
recordings in the field. It’s user friendly features, rugged design and sonic purity
make the M3 Mixer perfect for electronic news gathering (ENG) electronic field
production (EFP) and feature film production.
HEARING SAFETY WARNINGS:
Please be sure that you have read this entire manual before operating this
mixer.
While special attention has been given to your safety and hearing
protection, the operator determines proper and safe operating levels.
Please note the following:
Always turn down the headphone volume before plugging in your
headphones.
Always operate your headphones at the lowest practical level.
Be especially cautious in unknown or widely varying environments.
Remember, your ears are your livelihood. Turn it down!
APPLICATIONS
• Electronic News Gathering
• Location recording (Dialogue and Music)
• Digital Recording and Playback
• Broadcast remotes
• Desktop Mixing for Video Post Production
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INPUTS:
A. BALANCED INPUTS
The PSC M3 Audio Mixer provides three input channels utilizing female XLR
connectors. The studio grade input circuitry is transformer balanced for improved
RF rejection and in-field practicality. The XLR connectors are wired as follows:
Pin 1 shield (ground), Pin 2 Audio high (in phase), Pin 3 Audio low (out of phase).
Balanced wiring enables longer cable runs without the worry of excessive noise
due to nearby electromagnetic and radio frequency interference. These
balanced inputs may be unbalanced if desired. Either pin 2 or 3 may be tied to
ground (pin 1) to unbalance the inputs of the M3 Mixer. Note: The AES standard
for unbalancing an XLR connector is to tie pin 3 to ground (pin 1).
B. INPUT LEVELS
The PSC M3 Mixer can accommodate a wide range in input levels. Microphone
levels of all types can be handled as well as line level signals. The input range of
the M3 Mixer is –60dBu to +4dBu. Thus the M3 is compatible with all forms of
consumer and professional audio equipment. The input level switches are
located below and to the right of each input XLR connector. These input level
switches provide for three level settings: “D” Dynamic Microphone (0dB
attenuation), “C” Condenser Microphone (15dB attenuation), and “L” Line Level
(50dB attenuation) These input level attenuation settings are used to correctly
interface sources of varying levels to the M3’s preamplifiers. Correct level
matching ensures maximum headroom and lowest possible noise floor.
C. MICROPHONE POWERING
The M3 Mixer can accommodate the most popular microphones used today.
The microphone powering switches are located directly below the input XLR
connectors. They can be switched to either Dynamic (D) or 48Phantom (48) or
12T (T).
In the Dynamic position the mixer provides no microphone powering. This
position is used with Dynamic Microphones, Line Level inputs and when using
Wireless Receivers.
In the 48 Phantom Position the mixer provides 48 volts DC to power 48PH
microphones or simplex powered microphones with a range of 9 to 52 volts or 12
to 52 volts. Pin 1 is shield to ground while pins 2 and 3 carry 48 volts DC. The
term “phantom” is derived from the fact that there is no voltage potential
developed across a dynamic microphone transducer that would interfere with its
operation. However, most portable wireless receivers will not operate with 48PH
turned on. We strongly recommend setting inputs to dynamic for use with all
wireless systems.
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