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Model FP410 User Guide
Shure
Brothers Incorporated
222 Hartrey A
venue
Evanston IL 60202-3696 U.S.A.
27A8319
(PK)
E
1996, Shure Brothers Inc.
Printed in U.S.A.
The
Shure Model
FP410E is an automatic microphone mixer de
-
signed for use in a wide variety of
multi–microphone speech pickup
applications.
Shure IntelliMix
is the remarkable new operational
concept
behind the FP410E. It delivers flawless automatic
mixing
by
combining three unique functions:
•
Noise–Adaptive
Threshold,
•
MaxBus
, and
•
Last Mic Lock–On
.
Noise–Adaptive Threshold distinguishes between constant
background
noise (such as
air conditioning) and rapidly changing
sound
(such as speech).This function continuously adjusts the ac
-
tivation
threshold so that only speech levels louder than the back
-
ground
sound will activate an FP410E channel.
MaxBus eliminates the poor audio quality that results when a
talker is picked up by more than one microphone. It does this by
controlling the number of microphones that may activate for a
single
sound source. With MaxBus, one talker will
activate only one
FP410E channel, even if multiple microphones are “hearing” that
talker.
Last Mic Lock–On maintains a seamless audio mix by keeping
the most recently activated microphone open until a newly acti-
vated microphone takes its place. Without Last Mic Lock–On, a
long pause in conversation may allow all microphones to turn off,
and it may sound as if the audio signal has been lost. Last Mic
Lock–On
ensures that background ambience will always be pres
-
ent.
Multiple miking situations—with a number of talkers participa-
ting—have
always presented problems for the audio technician. If
too
few mics are used, the coverage of each talker may vary
,
with
one
talker (nearest the mic) being louder and clearer than the next.
Talkers
farthest
from the mics will sound “echoey” and
reverberant,
as
very little of the direct sound from their mouths reaches the mi
-
crophones. If too many mics are used, there’s more background
noise and reverberation pickup, as well as less gain before feed-
back
if a sound reinforcement (P
A) system is used.
It’s
somewhat like
having multiple video cameras all focused on
the
same subject. If these camera signals are combined, the result
is a blurred image. When multiple microphones are open for a
single talker, the result is a blurred audio signal. But it’s often not
practical
for someone to turn mics on when
they are needed and of
f
when they are not. The answer is the FP410E automatic micro-
phone
mixer
.
The FP410E automatically attenuates (turns down) any micro-
phone not being used, greatly reducing the excess reverberation
and feedback problems associated with the use of conventional
multiple microphone and mixer techniques. When a new talker
starts
to speak,
the FP410E immediately selects and silently acti
-
vates
the most appropriate microphone.
Shure IntelliMix
electronic
signal processing enables the FP410E to provide clear, natural
voice pickup. The FP410E significantly reduces the problems of
“boomy” or “muddy” sound, insufficient sound level (because of
feedback
or “howling”), and operator errors. In fact, operator errors
are
virtually eliminated because the FP410E needs no operator or
technician for continual adjustment—once set up, it is
completely
self–sufficient.
The
FP410E has numerous applications in video production
and
audio recording, broadcasting, and sound reinforcement. In any
speech pickup application where multiple microphones are re-
quired,
the FP410E dramatically improves audio quality
. Switching
from manual to automatic operation allows an individual talker’s
voice
to rise above
the background noise and reverberation to be
-
come
clearer and more intelligible.
Each
FP410E handles up to four microphones or line–level sig
-
nals. Any high quality, low–impedance, balanced microphone us-
ing a dynamic or condenser* transducer (including wireless and
shotgun
types) can be used. Additional FP410E mixers can be in
-
terconnected
using the rear–panel link jacks. Complete manual op
-
eration
is also available using a front–panel selector switch..
The
FP410E is supplied with optional bumpers (feet)
for use on
horizontal surfaces, a short cable for linking two FP410E mixers,
and a rack–mounting kit for installation in a standard 483 mm
(19–inch)
audio equipment rack..
The
FP410E is supplied for 230 V
ac operation (line fuse 0.05 A)
and
its line cord is terminated by a Schuko ac plug.
*Self–powered
or operable on 14 or 48 Vdc phantom power
.
Features
• Reliable,
quick–acting, noise–free microphone selection––auto
-
matically
adjusts to changes in background room noise
• Front–panel
channel gain
and master controls operate as in con
-
ventional mixers
• Selectable
hold time keeps microphones on during short pauses
in speech
•
Selectable Of
f–Attenuation control for seamless operation
• Automatic gain adjustment as additional microphones are acti-
vated
• Defeatable
“Last Mic Lock–On” circuit keeps at least one
micro
-
phone on at all times—maintains acoustic ambiance and pre-
vents
confusing background sound changes