SD MixPre-D link question

Doug_EX

Doug_EX

Well-known member
Hi, I received my MixPre-D last week and was wondering about the ''link'' button.The switch indicates OFF (left), LIM (middle), LINK (right). What does that mean? That the limiters are linked???
 
Is there nothing in the manual?

It's the limiter control. The limiters are either off, on in dual-mono (each channel is independent), or linked stereo (what affects one affects the other).
 
Well yes, but for me it's not clear. Here what's in the manual

Limiters

[FONT=Palatino,Palatino][FONT=Palatino,Palatino]The MixPre-D Limiters act solely as "safety" limiters. Activate the Limiters using the front panel "LIM" switch. Both input and output limiters are active, with input limiters preventing overload of the input stage and output limiters preventing the MixPre-D from overloading the next device in the signal chain.

In normal operation, with a properly set gain structure, the limiter threshold is only occasionally reached. In the presence of extremely high input signal levels, such as in high SPL environments, the limiter(s) activate to prevent the input signal from clipping. The limiters have no effect on audio below the set threshold.

When Inputs 1 and 2 are linked as a stereo pair, the limiters also link; gain reduction is equal for both inputs.
[/FONT][/FONT]
It's the last sentence that confusing me. ''When Inputs 1 and 2 are linked as a stereo pair, the limiters also link; gain reduction is equal for both inputs''. But let say I don't link the inputs (normal operation), is putting the limiter button to the ''link'' position will linked the limiters? If so, why would I do that?
 
I've done some more testing. The limiters do link in normal operation (no input link) when the limiter button is swith to ''link''. I did a test also with the 2 inputs linked together. With the limiter switched to ''lim'', the limiters don't seem to be linked. In the manual it clearly says ''When Inputs 1 and 2 are linked as a stereo pair, the limiters also link; gain reduction is equal for both inputs.'' I had to swith it to link (limiter switch) also so that the limters with react equally.
 
Doug_EX said:
When Inputs 1 and 2 are linked as a stereo pair, the limiters also link; gain reduction is equal for both inputs.

It's the last sentence that confusing me. ''When Inputs 1 and 2 are linked as a stereo pair, the limiters also link; gain reduction is equal for both inputs''. But let say I don't link the inputs (normal operation), is putting the limiter button to the ''link'' position will linked the limiters? If so, why would I do that?
Click to expand...

Doug_EX said:
I've done some more testing. The limiters do link in normal operation (no input link) when the limiter button is swith to ''link''. I did a test also with the 2 inputs linked together. With the limiter switched to ''lim'', the limiters don't seem to be linked. In the manual it clearly says ''When Inputs 1 and 2 are linked as a stereo pair, the limiters also link; gain reduction is equal for both inputs.'' I had to swith it to link (limiter switch) also so that the limters with react equally.
Click to expand...

I thought I explained it, but it needs more detail.

In the "OFF" position, the limiters are inactive.

In the "LIM" position, the limiters act independently. This is what you'll normally want to use, assuming that you're using two mics on different sources.

In the "LINK" position, the limiters act in tandem. What trips the limiter on one channel activates the limiter in the same way to the other channel. This is something you'd use ONLY if you have a stereo source connected, such as a stereo mic for recording live music or ambient sound beds.

There are also stereo input linking options that you have to access in the setup menu (see page 11 of the user guide). When you use one of these modes, the limiters automatically link if they're active (i.e. not in the "OFF" position). The stereo linking options give you control over XY or MS stereo mic arrays from the mixer, to adjust stereo imaging and overall audio level. But if you have a stereo mic array (such as the Shure VP-88 MS mic) that has an internal matrix, then you do not need to use any stereo linking function and you need only to set the limiter to "LINK" instead.

If you are not familiar with MS (mid-side) or XY stereo mic technique, then you really don't need to worry about the input linking function.
 
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To add, the reason why you want the limiters linked when recording stereo is so you don't have the "center" of the stereo image move if a loud sound happens on one side. If they were not linked one side would have a reduction and the other wouldn't and it would sound a bit like you swung the mic to one side for a second. With the limiters linked both will be reduced equally and the image will stay centered.
 
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