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Control Board

Getting to know the board

The Board in the station is a Wheatstone A-300. The full manual can be found here.  

The Board is split into vertical Modules. These each operate independently, and what follows is an overview of these modules.

Module Type 1: Microphone Input

This module takes a standard microphone input and includes a preamp. The fader in the center controls the final output volume of the microphone.

Screen Shot 2021-10-27 at 11.04.12 AM.pngThe gain hole is a preset value, DO NOT STICK ANYTHING IN HERE

 

The A/B switch allows you to select between two different inputs for the same channel, however only A is used for all three mics in the studio

The PGM switch should always be depressed. This sends audio from this module to the main output.

The AUD (audition) switch should also always be depressed. This sends audio to the headphone monitoring system

The TEL switch should not be depressed. This sends this module's audio to the caller on the landline module

The pan knob controls the pan of this audio source as it is sent to all selected outputs. For all reasonable applications, the should be centered.

 

The main fader controls the relative loudness of the microphone as it is sent to the main output. The markings are in decibels. Note: the microphone preamps are failing, so the faders for mics must be turned up between 0 and 5 decibels.

 

 

The ON switch turns the audio output of the module on.

The OFF switch turns the audio output of the module off.

 

 

Module Type 2: Stereo Line Input

This module takes a stereo (right and left channel) input and produces a balanced output.

Screen Shot 2021-10-27 at 11.21.32 AM.png

 

There are two gain holes. They are preset values, DO NOT STICK ANYTHING IN HERE

The A/B switch allows you to select between two different inputs for the same channel, however only A is used for all three mics in the studio

The PGM switch should always be depressed. This sends audio from this module to the main output.

The AUD (audition) switch should also always be depressed. This sends audio to the headphone monitoring system

The TEL switch should not be depressed. This sends this module's audio to the caller on the landline module

The cue button sends the channel to the cue system, which allows you to listen to the cue audio without turning the module on. Only you hear this module, and it is not on air until you turn the module on

 

The main fader controls the relative loudness of the microphone as it is sent to the main output. The markings are in decibels.

 

 

 

The ON switch turns the audio output of the module on.

The OFF switch turns the audio output of the module off.

 

 

Module Type 3: Phone Input

This module takes two POTS (plain old telephone system) lines and allows them to be routed to the outputs.

Note: These telephone lines are currently disconnected, but this documentation is included if these become functional again one day

Screen Shot 2021-10-27 at 11.28.30 AM.png

 

There are two gain holes. They are preset values, DO NOT STICK ANYTHING IN HERE

The MXM-TEL button feeds the MXM bus to the caller. This can be used as a mix-minus matrix.

The AUD button feeds the Audition feed to the caller on the line.

The PGM assign button puts the caller on with the other modules, this is called a "talk-in"

The record ready button is for a tape recorder to record the callers for playback later

The two cue buttons allow you to hear the callers through the cue bus even if the module is turned off.

 

 

 

The main faders control the relative loudness of the callers as they are sent to the main output. The markings are in decibels.

 

 

 

The ON switch turns the audio output of the module on.

The OFF switch turns the audio output of the module off.

 

 

Module Type 4: Control Room Selection

This module includes various selectors for the studio monitor system.

Screen Shot 2021-10-27 at 12.19.55 PM.png

 

The buttons select which source is fed to the studio monitors and the headphone jack under the table.

  • EXT1 is unassigned, but may be a studio delay feed
  • EXT2 is a re-feed of the cue bus for listening from the studio monitors
  • PGM is the DEFAULT and should almost always be used. This is the master feed going to the transmissions cabinet
  • AUD is the audition bus and the same feed as the headphone amplifier
  • Telephone is not currently connected, but would be the POTS line
  • MONO is a monoaural feed (no panning) but the same as PGM otherwise
  • MXM is a mixed master that is a combination of the cue and PGM feeds. It should not be used

 

The cue knob controls the volume of the cue bus to the headphone jack underneath the console.

 

The headphone knob controls the volume of the headphone jack underneath the console.

 

 

The CR knob controls the volume of the studio monitors

The CR ON button turns off or on the studio monitors

 

 

 

 

Module Type 5: Control Room Selection

This module includes various selectors for the studio monitor system.

Screen Shot 2021-10-27 at 12.31.00 PM.png

 

The VU Selectors control the switched VU meters (see the faceplate section below). Whatever bus is depressed, that will show on the switched pair of VU meters.

 

These are all screwdriver controlled rotary potentiometers, and they each are pre set. DO NOT MODIFY THESE OR STICK ANYTHING IN THERE. 

Controls the switched vu sensitivity

Controls the PGM vu sensitivity

 

Controls the final PGM output gain

Controls the final AUD output gain

Controls the TEL, MONO, and MXM bus gains

 

Auto restarts the timer when a channel is turned on (needs to be fixed)

 

Starts and stops the timer

Resets the timer

Holds the current time

 

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