54 !!Chapter 3
of the distortion. Themaster fader meterdisplays the overall output signal
from the console.
In addition to the meters,clipping lightsare located on most channel
strips. When a clipping light is lit, there is normally distortion. Most
sequences also have clipping lights.
Amplifiers, preamplifiers (preamps), and phantom power are
included in most consoles. Amplifiers boost the gain of the overall audio
signal so that the speakers can attain their maximum effectiveness. Pre-
amps boost the signal of low-level individual input signals so that they
can attain their maximum power; preamps also help avoid distortion. Con-
denser microphones have a very low level output; the power for the micro-
phone is provided directly from the console withphantom power. A button
located on each channel strip enables the channel to use the phantom
power.
All professional and many project studios havepatch bays. A patch
bay contains all inputs and outputs from the devices in the studio setup,
such as synthesizers, reverbs, digital delays, compressor/limiters, and so
on. Instead of the output of a synthesizer being routed to the input of a
reverb unit and the output of the reverb returning to the recording console,
these functions can be activated by plugging in patches within the patch
bay.
Automationpermits engineers to automate almost all functions of a
console, such as level, panning, muting, signal processing, and so on. It is
simple to update a file. Not all consoles have partial or complete automa-
tion. All computer-sequencing programs contain full automation. Auto-
mation is the most essential element in the process of mixing since the
most minute detail can be adjusted and recalled.
Conclusion
The basics of a recording console have been discussed. The manner in
which a console is implemented is not merely technical but a creative pro-
cess as well. A creative recording engineer is as essential to the success or
failure of a track as musicians and singers. It is analogous to the contribu-
tion a film editor makes to a film.
Time Code
Most composers use digitized video clips when composing for film or
video. A video is digitized (usually at a low resolution to conserve disk
space) and is loaded into a computer-sequencing program using a video
capture card. This is a nonlinear method and therefore saves much time.
For instance, if bar 4, beat 1, is the desired location, the picture and the
audio can be synchronized with a push of a button on the computer key-