Instruction Manual

552 User Guide and Technical Information

v. 1.4 Features and specifications are subject to change. Visit www.sounddevices.com for the latest documentation.

The left meter indicates the signal level of the soloed channel. PFL monitoring only affects the head-

phone monitor, it does not affect audio sent to the outputs. The selected input’s Activity LED ﬂashes

yellow when the input’s PFL is latched on. PFL latching operation only allows for one input to be

soloed at a time. To PFL multiple inputs, use momentary operation.

RTN A and B

The Return monitor switch has two positions, A and B. When switched to the left or A position, RTN

A audio is sent to the headphones, taking precedence over the Headphone Source selection. Similar-

ly, when held to the right or B position, RTN B audio is sent to the headphones. To latch on the return

in the headphone monitor, slide the RTN switch towards the desired return, slide again to turn off.

For momentary action, Hold the RTN switch for one second or longer.

The RTN A and RTN B LEDs illuminate in various colors and intensities to indicate signal presence,

green = signal activity, red = RTN clipping. The LEDs illuminate solid yellow to indicate the respec-

tive return is latched on. To adjust the gain of a respective RTN, hold the RTN switch and turn the

headphone controller.

Return audio can be sent directly to receiving devices using the Tape or Mono Mic outputs. See

Return Loopback for additional information. The RTN B TA3 connector can also be used as a Time Code

input. RTN B TA3 audio is disabled when time code is enabled. See Time Code for additional informa-

tion.

Split Ear Return Monitoring

Split Ear Return Monitoring allows the user to monitor two sources at the same time. RTN A split

ear monitoring sends the RTN A summed mono signal to the left headphone monitor and the Right

program audio to the right headphone monitor. To activate RTN A split ear monitoring, press and

hold the Headphone Controller then slide the RTN switch left to the A position. When RTN A Split

Ear Monitoring is active the RTN A LED ﬂashes yellow in a two pulse sequence.

RTN B split ear monitoring sends the RTN B summed mono signal to the right headphone monitor

and the Left program audio to the left headphone monitor. To activate RTN B split ear monitoring,

press and hold the Headphone Controller then slide the RTN switch right to the B position. When

RTN B Split Ear Monitoring is active the RTN B LED ﬂashes yellow in a two pulse sequence.

RTN A/B split ear monitoring sends the RTN A summed mono signal to the left headphone monitor

and the RTN B summed mono signal to the right headphone monitor. To activate RTN A/B split ear

monitoring, press and hold the headphone controller then slide the RTN switch left to the A position

then right to the B position. Both RTN A and RTN B LEDs illuminate solid yellow when RTN A/B

split ear monitoring is active.

Return Loopback

During typical operation the 552’s Left and Right output buses are sent to both the Tape outputs and

the Mono Mic output. When set, Return Loopback allows Return A or Return B to be directly routed

to the Tape and Mono Mic outputs. To set Return Loopback Mode, press and hold the Battery Check

button and slide the RTN A/B switch to the Return position. The respective return becomes the

source for the Tape and Mono Mic outputs. To return to typical operation, press and hold the Battery

Check button and slide the RTN A/B switch again. The respective RTN LED will ﬂash yellow when

Return Loopback is active.

Return Loopback is useful for sending an IFB wireless feed of the RTN audio to the producer for

video playback.