DebConf8/Videoteam/CheatSheets/Audio Mixers

At Debconf8 there are two Audio Mixers. A Debian-owned one for the Microcine and a rented one for the Salon del Mar. The documentation below refers to the photos included below.

Setup & Checks

Setting Up the Mixer

If everything is crap you really need to get hold of dererk, edrz, karora or Q to get the mixers back to a sane setting. Hopefully this won't be needed, because I, for one, hate the sight of blood!

Pre-day Checks

For the first talk of the day check that:

• check the main output is muted
• turn on phantom power
• check the power amps are on and bring up the main output
• check each of the mics work
• check the levels are sane
• check the mix is getting to the camera
• check the levels of the mix at the camera are good
• turn the ambient mix up to 0, unmute it and confirm you can hear discussion in the room
  • listen to the appropriate bus on the mixer
  • listen on the stream itself

Pre-talk Checks

• check each mic is working
• confirm the levels are OK
• confirm the mix is getting to the camera
• check the batteries are not running low
  • low battery will show a red light on the speaker mic
• run a sound check with the speaker

Post-talk Checks

• Turn down the main mix
• Mute all channels
• Check all mics are turned off (including the speaker mics)

Photos

Microcine (Behringer)

Rear View At the left are the power plug, power switch and phantom power switch. Do not switch phantom power on or off unless the microphone channels are muted and the main output is turned down.

Controls View The mix controls are highlighted at the left. The mute button is above each slider with small buttons controlling which mixer bus that channel will be included in. The sub mixer levels can be seen highlighted in blue. These will control the mix to the stream. The main mixer levels can be seen highlighted in green. These will control the mix to the room. The buttons above the sub mixer which are highlighted in red should not be pressed. These would send the sub mix into the main mix, which we don't want. Loud squealing is likely to ensue if they are pressed!