josephakins Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 What are the differences between the Stereo Out and Master channels in the mixer, regarding signal flow? I'm confused why bringing down the Master fader also brings down the Stereo Out meter. Which one do you bring down if your Stereo Out meter is clipping? How do explain the signal flow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atlas007 Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 Although this could be subject to debate, normally one would lower the fader where the clipping (readout is getting red) occurs. In the case you're describe it would be the Stereo Out. The Master fader usefulness becomes more evident when dealing with more than two outputs, such as in surround image situation. And when the outputs are discrete ones (i.e. when the stereo output channelstrip is presented as two mono (left & right) channelstrips outputs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ploki Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 (edited) Stereo Out is like Bus/Aux, Master fader is like VCA for all physical outputs (including stereo out) actually, it's not "like" it's exactly that VCA fader is i believe after the channel strip fader, but PRE output of that channel strip. Edited October 21, 2019 by Ploki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josephakins Posted October 21, 2019 Author Share Posted October 21, 2019 That's make some sense except I don't understand the last sentence. I'm trying to understand it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ploki Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 Yeah sorry, that's because it's s#!+ and wrong. VCA is not anywhere in the signal flow, it's an ADDITIONAL FADER controlling the output of the channel strip that it is assigned to. Think of a channel strip fader like a small amplifier circuit. Signal goes in, FADER controls the level of that signal, signal goes out. now VCA is an ADDITIONAL fader controlling the same amplifier! Channel strip fader is -6dB VCA fader assigned to that channel is -6dB as well it will bring down the level of that channel strip to -12dB, but it's not a point in signal chain, it's just an additional fader for the same """gain""" (amplifier) circuit as the main fader is, and the sum of both faders affects their level. If you have MORE outputs, master fader value is added to faders of all outputs, so you don't have to lower them all separately, but conveniently with one fader. Does that make sense? in conclusion: moving the Master OR Stereo out fader in that sense is exactly the same, and from a signal flow perspective they control the same point in signal flow. hope this clears it up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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