User Manual-for Windows

Quick Reference: 828mk3 Front Panel
The phone jack labeled (MAIN) is a standard quarter-inch stereo headphone jack. Its output is hard-wired to mirror the XLR main outs on the rear panel. From the factory, the MASTER VOL knob above it controls the main outs and this jack, but MASTER VOL can be programmed to control any combination of outputs. See “The Monitor Group” on page 88 for details. Push the knob once to view the current volume setting in the LCD display; push it again to mute the monitor group; push a third time to return to the previous volume. Note: if the Monitor group is programmed to not include the main outs, the MASTER VOL knob will no longer control the volume of this phone jack, either.
These round LEDs indicate signal presence on the 8 rear- panel TRS analog and SPDIF outputs. Their threshold is around -42 dB. They do not indicate clipping in any way; use your host audio software level meters to calibrate output levels.
The multi-purpose backlit LCD shows system settings or CueMix FX settings, depending on which knobs you turn. The labels above and below the LCD refer to the four digital rotary encoders to the left of the LCD. These knobs let you access and program all settings in the 828mk3.
These lights indicate the global sample rate at which the 828mk3 is operating. Use the MOTU Audio Console software to set the sample rate or to choose an external clock source, from which the sample rate will be derived. When no clock signal is currently present, one of these LEDs flashes rapidly.
FireWire and USB are “plug- and-play” protocols. That means that you can turn off the 828mk3 and turn it back on without restarting your computer.
These two trim knobs provide approximately 53 dB of gain for the lo-Z XLR mic input and the hi-Z TRS guitar/instrument input. Both inputs have preamps, so you can plug just about anything into them: a microphone, a guitar, a synth — but don’t plug in a +4 signal here (due to the preamps): use a rear-panel TRS input instead. Use the trim knob and the “MIC” input level meters over in the metering section to calibrate the input signal level. The meters cover both the TRS and XLR input. These mic inputs are also equipped with the 828mk3’s V-Limit™ hardware limiter, which provides an additional +12 dB of headroom above zero with no clipping or digital distor- tion. See “Mic/guitar inputs meters with V-Limit™ compressor” on page 42 for details.
These XLR/TRS combo jacks accept either a mic cable or a quarter-inch guitar cable. Both the low-impedance XLR jack and the high-impedance TRS jack are equipped with a preamp (so don’t connect a +4 line level XLR cable!). For the Mic (XLR) input, push the TRIM encoder to toggle a 20 dB pad; push and hold to toggle 48V phantom power. The Precision Digital Trim™ knob provides 53 dB of gain. Use the rear panel sends to route these inputs to your favorite outboard gear. Use any rear-panel input as a return.
From the factory, the PHONES jack is a discrete output (at 44.1/48 kHz), but it can mirror any other output pair (digital or analog). For example, at 88.2/96 kHz, it defaults to mirroring the main outs. As the primary phone jack, it has its own dedicated volume knob.
Push the CHANNEL knob repeat- edly to cycle among the four main sections of the mixer: mix busses, inputs, outputs and the reverb module. Push the PARAM knob to enter the SETUP menu, which provides global 828mk3 settings, such as the global sample rate, etc.
This section controls the 828mk3’s built-in CueMix FX mixer and effects. There are eight stereo mix busses: each bus mixes all inputs (or any subset you wish) to a stereo output of your choice. You can apply EQ, compression, and reverb to inputs, outputs and mix busses. The four knobs to the left of the LCD correspond directly to the four labeled sections of the LCD. Use the CHANNEL knob to choose the input, output or mix you wish to edit. Push it to switch among inputs, outputs and busses, then turn it to choose the desired channel or bus. Use the PAGE, PARAM and VALUE knobs to access the mix settings for the chosen channel.
This bank of input meters is for the 8 analog TRS input jacks on the rear panel.
This section provides two ten-segment meters for the two front-panel mic/guitar inputs. The meters show input levels from -42 to -1 in the first column of LEDs, plus an additional range in a second column from zero to +12 dB (including clip). Both inputs are equipped with V-Limit™, a hardware limiter. With the limiter turned off, signals that hit zero or above will clip (a hard digital clip). However, with V-Limit turned on, signals can go as high as +12 dB above zero with no digital clipping. If the signal then goes above +12 dB, it will clip, even with V-Limit engaged.
When the 828mk3 is resolving to SMPTE time code, the LOCK/ TACH LED glows when lockup has been achieved. The ADAT and MIDI LEDs blink when there is optical audio or MIDI activity, respectively.
5-segment metering for the main outs. Use the MASTER VOL knob to control output level.
4-segment metering for SPDIF input.
!828mk3 Hyb Manual/Win Page 5 Monday, March 28, 2011 6:11 PM