User Manual

Apollo 8 Hardware Manual Front Panel 18

(21) Monitor Function Switch (FCN)

This is an assignable switch that can be conﬁgured to control one of three monitoring

functions. The function of the switch is conﬁgured with the FCN SWITCH ASSIGN menu

in the Hardware panel within the Console Settings window. See the Apollo Software

Manual for details.

The amber LED within the switch ﬂashes when the monitoring function is active. The

function is toggled with the switch is pressed again. The available functions are:

ALT 2 – Selects the Alternate 2 monitor speakers. The monitor signals are routed to

outputs 3 & 4 instead of the main monitor outputs, and the Monitor Level Indicator

(#23) is amber instead of green when ALT 2 is active.

MONO – Sums the left and right channels of the stereo monitor mix into a monophonic

signal. The Monitor Level Indicator (#23) ﬂashes when MONO is active.

DIM – Attenuates the signal level at the monitor outputs by the dB amount set in the

Control Room strip within the Console application. The Monitor Level Indicator (#23)

ﬂashes when DIM is active.

Note: When more than one Apollo interface is connected in a multi-unit conﬁgura-

tion, the FCN switch is operable on the designated monitor unit only.

(22) Monitor Level & Mute Knob

This rotary encoder serves two functions. Rotating the knob adjusts the monitor output

level, and pressing the knob mutes the monitor outputs.

Monitor Level

Rotating the knob clockwise increases the signal level at the Left & Right Monitor

Outputs on the rear panel. If ALT monitor outputs are conﬁgured and active, this knob

controls the signal level at the ALT monitor’s line outputs.

Although this is a digital control, the Left & Right Monitor Outputs volume is attenuated

in the analog domain, after D/A conversion (digitally-controlled analog volume). This

method provides the utmost monitoring ﬁdelity, in contrast to digital volume controls that

reduce levels by truncating the digital word length (aka “dropping bits”).