User Manual
Radial Engineering Ltd.
MC3 Monitor Controller
True to the Music
®
6
The MC3 top panel is congured with a series of recessed trim controls. These set & forget
trim controls are used to ne tune the output level going to each component so that when
you switch from one set of monitors to the other, they play back at relatively similar levels.
Although most active monitors are equipped with level controls, getting to them while
listening is difcult. You have to reach around the back to make the adjustments, go back to
the engineer’s seat, listen and then ne tune again which can take forever. With the MC3, you
adjust the level while sitting in your chair! Easy and efcient!
Except for the active headphone and subwoofer outputs, the MC3 is a passive device. This
means it does not contain any active circuitry in the stereo signal path to your monitors and
therefore does not add any gain. The MON-A and B LEVEL ADJUSTMENT controls will
actually reduce the level going to your active monitors. The overall system gain can easily
be made up by increasing the output from your recording system or increasing the sensitivity
on your active monitors.
1. Start by setting the gain on your monitors to their nominal level
setting. This is usually identied as 0dB.
2. Set the recessed LEVEL ADJUSTMENT controls on the MC3 top
panel to the full-clockwise position using a screwdriver or guitar
pick.
3. Before you hit play, make sure the master volume is turned all the
way down.
4. Turn on monitor output-A using the MONITOR SELECTOR switch.
The output-A LED indicator will illuminate.
5. Hit play on your recording system. Slowly increase the MASTER
level on the MC3. You should hear sound from monitors-A.
6. Turn off monitor-A and turn on monitor-B. Try going back and forth
a few times to hear the relative volume between the two sets.
7. You can now set the trim controls to balance the level between
your two monitor pairs.