Rane HC 6 User Manual

OPERATORS MAN UAL

HC 6

HEADPHONE CONSOLE

QUICK START

Okay, you’re in a hurry. Well this section’s just for you. It explains enough of the HC 6’s workings to keep you out of
trouble. It allows operation without reading the whole manual. Please read at least this section to ensure reasonable opera­tion of the unit.

The HC 6 operates from either a common stereo or mono source, or from individual stereo sources. For a common
stereo source, plug the left and right input plugs into the respective MASTER INPUTS jacks. The Inputs accept balanced
or unbalanced sources. Just plug them in. This source is now routed to each of the six input Channels to drive all Outputs.

For a single mono source feeding all headphones, connect it to one of the MASTER INPUT jacks and engage the
STEREO/MONO switch. Set the overall input level with the MASTER CONTROL, and use the CHANNEL LEVEL
controls for individual headphone levels.

Use the separate stereo IN jacks when driving a pair of headphones with different program material than what is on the
MASTER INPUTS. Connecting a plug into these jacks automatically disconnects that Channel from the Master Input
program material.

Never connect anything except a Rane power supply to the thing that looks like a telephone jack on the rear of the
unit. This is an AC input and requires special attention if you do not have a power supply exactly like the one originally

packed with your unit. See the full explanation of the power supply requirements elsewhere in this manual.

HC 6 CONNECTION

When first connecting the HC 6 to other components,
leave the power supply for last. This gives you a chance to
make mistakes and correct them without damage.

1. With the power switch in the off position, plug the power

supply line cord into the appropriate AC power source
indicated on the rear panel. Locate the power supply away
from the HC 6 and other hum sensitive equipment.

2. Plug the outputs from a mono or stereo source into the

MASTER INPUTS. For unbalanced systems use a standard
¼" mono patch cord. For balanced operation, use a stereo
¼" TRS connector with pin 2 (+) wired to the Tip; pin 3 (–)
wired to the Ring; and pin 1 (ground) wired to the Sleeve.
Please consult Rane Note 110 (enclosed) for additional
wiring arrangements.

3. When rack mounting the HC 6, you may wish to perma-

nently wire the rear headphone Outputs to remote jack
locations, such as in walls of a studio or other rooms. Use
the front panel Outputs for local or control room monitoring.

WEAR PARTS: This product contains no wear parts.

4. You might also consider wiring the six direct stereo INs
permanently to a patch bay or monitor mixer, but only if
you do not plan to use the MASTER INPUTS as well.
Whenever a plug is inserted into any individual stereo IN,
the MASTER INPUTS are bypassed for that particular
Channel. So for maximum flexibility, it is suggested that
only the MASTER INPUTs be permanently wired and that
the direct stereo INs be patched as necessary during regular
use.

5. The HC 6 may be installed into any rack which utilizes EIA
standard mounting hole spaces. The front panel of the HC
6 is heavy gauge steel, which adequately supports the unit.
For portable rack mounting, where extreme vibration and/
or shock is anticipated, it is recommended that the rear of
the HC 6, along with any other heavy product in the rack,
be stabilized to prevent possible damage to the chassis
should the rack be dropped, beamed up, or spindled.

FRONT PANEL DESCRIPTION

햲 POWER switch. Your basic, straightforward power switch. When the yellow LED is lit, the HC 6 is ready to go.

햳 Front panel PHONE Output jacks are in parallel with the rear panel stereo Output jacks. Use them to monitor any of the

six Channels for level or mix adjustments, or for easy access when the HC 6 is rack mounted. Plugging into these front jacks
does not disengage the rear Outputs.

햴 Individual LEVEL controls set the volume for each set of headphones, regardless of whether they are driven from the

MASTER INPUTS or from the direct stereo INs. When using the front and rear panel headphone jacks together, this control
varies the level of each headphone simultaneously.

햵 SIGNAL PRESENT indicators light (green) with any input signal above -20 dBu. See OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

(on page Manual-4) for additional details.

햶 STEREO/MONO switch converts the MASTER INPUTS from stereo to mono so that a single input cable drives both sides

of the headphones.

햷 MASTER CONTROL sets the volume simultaneously to all headphones driven from the MASTER INPUTS. This does not

alter the volume on any headphones driven from the direct stereo INs.

Manual-2

REAR PANEL DESCRIPTION

햲 MASTER INPUTS are automatic balanced/unbalanced Inputs, which accept either a stereo ¼" plug for balanced operation,

or a mono ¼" plug for mono operation. You do nothing different when hooking up balanced or unbalanced lines. The HC 6
is one smart dude. He knows what you are doing so you better watch out.

햳 Direct stereo INPUTS allow each stage to be driven separately, from any source. Whenever a plug is inserted into one of

these Inputs, the MASTER INPUTS are disconnected from that stage (and only that stage). I told you the dude be smart!

These are ¼" TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) Input jacks, each accepting both left and right channels. If you plug a regular mono
TS (tip-sleeve) into this jack, you will only connect the left channel. If you want to feed this input with an unbalanced mono
signal, use a TRS plug and wire the tip and ring together. When using balanced mono sources please consult the factory for
the required modification. Hint: this can be accomplished by moving theinternal jumpers by the input jacks as shown on the
assembly diagram.

To build a cable that will transfer separate left and right cables to a single ¼" TRS, follow the diagram below, connect­ing all shields. RCA connectors can be substituted for the ¼" connectors.

햴 Stereo headphone OUTPUTS allow any headphone with an impedance from 32 to 600 ohms. Then kick back and enjoy.

(Lower and higher impedance headphones may be used; they just won’t be very loud. Refer to RaneNote 100, “Understand­ing Headphone Power Requirements” for headphone loudness listings.)

햵 Remote POWER supply input. The unit is supplied from the factory with a Model RS 1 remote power supply suitable for

connection to this input jack. The power requirements of the unit call for an 18 volt AC center-tapped transformer only. This

is not a telephone jack. Never use a power supply with your unit other than the one supplied or a replacement approved by
Rane Corporation. Using any other type of supply may damage the unit and void the warranty.

햶 Chassis ground point. A #6-32 screw used for chassis grounding purposes. See the CHASSIS GROUNDING note below.

IMPORTANT NOTE

CHASSIS GROUNDING

Units with outboard power supplies do not ground the
chassis through the line cord. Make sure that these units
are grounded either to another chassis which is earth
grounded, or directly to the grounding screw on an AC
outlet cover by means of a wire connected to the chassis
grounding screw.

Figure 1. Dual Mono to Stereo TRS Wye Cable.

See 햳 Above, Direct Stereo INPUTS.

Manual-3

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

PLUG IN

Once connected as described in the SYSTEM CONNEC­TION section on page Manual-2, the HC 6 is ready to drive
any impedance headphones from 32 to 600 ohms. Plug your
headphones into any of the six Outputs on the front or rear.

MASTER STEREO INPUTS

Apply a source program to the MASTER INPUTS and
turn up the MASTER CONTROL until the green signal­present LEDs light up. Further adjustment of this control
raises or lowers the volume level in all headphones simulta­neously, i.e., all those being driven from the MASTER
INPUTS. The MASTER CONTROL does not affect Channels
driven from the direct stereo INs.

INDIVIDUAL LEVEL CONTROLS

These adjust the level in each set of headphones to the
desired loudness. When using the direct stereo IN, only this
control affects the volume in the headset—the MASTER
CONTROL is bypassed.

DIRECT STEREO INPUTS

These allow completely independent operation of up to six
different stereo programs. These Inputs are stereo only, and
wired to accept unbalanced signals, using the tip=left,
ring=right convention. Unbalanced mono sources require
using a stereo TRS plug and shorting the tip and ring together.

When using balanced mono sources, internal jumpers
must be moved. See the schematic below if you feel confident
enough to solder. Jumpers are wired across WA and WB at
the factory for stereo. Jumpers must be cut or moved to WC
and WD locations for balanced mono operation. Each jack is
jumpered separate, so any combination of input types is
possible within a single HC 6.

Any Channel not directly driven is automatically driven
from the MASTER INPUTS.

DEFAULT

STEREO INPUT

RING=RIGHT

PHONES

TIP=LEFT

SIGNAL-PRESENT LEDS

These light up with any signal input above -20 dBu.
They are located in the signal path after the MASTER
INPUTS and before the individual LEVEL controls. This
means that adjusting the MASTER CONTROL affects the
SIG LEDs, while adjusting the individual LEVEL controls
does not. When using a direct stereo IN, the LED responds
to that Input only. This means these indicators aid in quickly
identifying which stages are driven by the MASTER
INPUTS and which by the direct stereo INs: Simply turn the
MASTER CONTROL up and down and observe which
LEDs respond. These are the Channels being driven by the
MASTER INPUTS.

STEREO/MONO SWITCH

This serves the basic function of allowing both Left and
Right channels of all headphones to be driven from a mono
MASTER INPUT. In some instances a stereo program can
be confusing for live monitoring purposes, due to extreme
separation and the increased difficulty in perceiving several
different volume levels. Using the STEREO/MONO switch
converts the system to mono operation to better suit these
particular monitoring needs.

FRONT PANEL OUTPUT JACKS

These jacks parallel the rear OUTPUTs, providing easy
access patching into any Channel for cueing or additional
monitoring. When using more than six sets of headphones at
once, keep two things in mind:

A. There are still only six LEVEL controls. Additional

headsets must double up with those already in use. To
avoid intolerable volume differences to two listeners
on the same Channel of the HC 6, use headphones of
the same make and model.

B. The HC 6 has limited power output. The more

headphones you connect to it, the less power there is
available to each set, and the more strain on the HC 6.
Blasting 10 or 12 sets of low impedance headphones is
asking too much from the HC 6. To lessen the power
drain from the HC 6, use only high impedance (100
ohms or greater) headphones when paralleling. Refer
to the RaneNote “Understanding Headphone Power
Requirements” (available from your dealer or the
factory) for a listing of headphones and loudness
levels.

WB

WA

STEREO
(DEFAULT)

MONO

BALANCED

(NOT STUFFED)

WD

WC

Stereo default (solid).

Move jumpers for

Mono balanced (dashed).

©Rane Corporation 10802 47th Ave. W., Mukilteo WA 98275-5098 TEL [phone] FAX [phone] WEB http://www.rane.com

Manual-4

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