DUTCH MC1.3 User manual

DuTCH.audio MC1.3 monitor-controller

DuTCH audio MC1.3 manual
(v1.1 29-06-2021)
Thank you for purchasing the DuTCH audio MC1.3 monitor controller. In this manual we will
explain how this device works and how to use it.
Important Safety Instructions:
Please follow these precautions when using this product:
Read and keep these instructions.
Heed all warnings and follow all instructions.
Dangerous voltage lives inside this achine. Opening is only allowed by qualified service
personnel.
Unplug this achine during lightning stor s or when unused for long periods of ti e.
Do not use this achine near water or outside.
Clean only with a dry, soft cloth. Do not spray any liquid cleaner onto the cabinet, as this
ay lead to dangerous shocks.
Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other
achines (including a plifiers) that produce heat. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight.
This achine typically runs slightly war when operated. Install in a nor al ventilated
area. If the product will be used in a rack, ake certain there is sufficient air ove ent
within the rack. Preferably offer so e e pty rack space above the unit and do not place it
on top of hot equip ent.
Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the achine
has been da aged in any way, such as when the powersupply plug is da aged, liquid has
been spilled or objects have fallen into the achine, the achine has been exposed to rain
or oisture, does not operate nor ally, or has been dropped.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this achine to rain
or oisture.
Basics:
The MC1.3 is a 1u 19 inch onitor-controller with durability and easy control in ind.
The MC1.3 is based around a passive 64 steps, 1dB per step, parallel relay-based attenuator.
Co pared to a standard serial attenuator or even worse, a pot eter, a parallel attenuator
keeps the sa e i pedance throughout it’s co plete range. This eans that it’s way ore
transparent because of a constant load. Another plus is that because it has way less resistors
in-line, it also reduces the Johnson noise to an absolute ini u .
The MC1.3 has 4 balanced inputs, 3 balanced outputs (2x stereo, 1x ono), a balanced
directout (for exa ple as a etering output), a class-A headphone a p and high quality dual

color LED lightened pushbuttons for it’s functions (di , ute L/R, diff, ono) and a 3 steps
switch for setting the output.
Rearpanel:
On the rearpanel you will find 5 balanced inputs, 3 balanced outputs (2x stereo, 1x ono), a
balanced buffered pre attenuator direct output and the AC input.
Input 1 and 2 are balanced Neutrik XLR’s and input 1B, 3 and 4 have 6.3 Neutrik jack
inputs. Outputs 1, 2 and 3 and the buffered direct output are balanced Neutrik XLR’s.
Below the AC input (100 to 240VAC) you will find the 800 a fuse.
Frontpanel:
On the left side of the frontpanel you will find the headphones output and level pot eter. Next
to that you will find the AB function for input 1. In the iddle you will find the LED display and
rotary encoder. On the right you will find the 6 enlightened push-buttons.
Headphone amp:
The headphone a p is a powerful but clean transistor based a p. The a p is working pre-
attenuator which eans that the selected input is going directly into the a p and the
attenuator between 01 and 64 will not affect the signal of the headphone. When the attenuator
is set to 00, the headphone a p will be uted.
Input 1 A function
Input 1 has 2 inputs on the back of the unit. An XLR which is passive and is send directly to
the attenuator and input 1B (6.3 jack) which is first sent to the active gain co pensation
circuit. When the input 1 ab’ pushbutton is set to off (green), the passive input is used. When
the button is pressed (yellow) input 1 switches to 1b and the active circuit beco es active.
With the pot eter you can now AB between two sources with level- atched gain. The gain
range of the active gain is +/-10dB.
Rotary encoder and display
Monitor level
In the centre of the panel you will find the ultifunctional rotary encoder and the LED display.
When you turn the encoder, you will change the onitor output level with a 64 steps range.
Every step is ~1dB attenuation, 64 is no attenuation and the axi u attenuation at 01 is
approxi ately ~-64dB, 00 eans silence/ uted (also the headphone a p will be uted).
Input selector
The input selection is done by pushing the encoder, the display shows the selected input (C1 to
C4). After about 3 seconds the display reverts back to showing the attenuation value.
Balance control
When you push and hold the encoder and at the sa e ti e turn it to left or right you have a
balance/pan control. The range goes fro -9 (left) to 9 (right), centre is shown as 0.
Standby and soft start
When you push and hold the encoder for 2 seconds the attenuator goes in bypass and the
display just shows a ‘deci al dot’ and all push-switches are off. When you push the encoder
again, it co es out of standby with a soft start and shows 00 and after about 3 seconds it
reverts the last known value again (just like when powering on).
IR Remote

It’s possible to use the functions of the encoder with an IR re ote control. By default it uses
the Philips RC5, RC5X, RC6 and Sony SIRC protocol in its 12-bit and 15-bit version protocols.
Other options are possible as well, please contact us for ore info.
Push-buttons
Dim
When you push the ‘Di ’ button, the output signal is instantly attenuated by 15dB. The switch
turns red for visual feedback. For ore info on changing the 15dB attenuation, see the
technical details.
Mute Left
When you push the ‘Mute left’ button, the signal cuts (Left) and the led in the switch beco es
red showing that it’s in ute.
Mute Right
When you push the ‘Mute right’ button, the signal cuts (Right) and the led in the switch
beco es red showing that it’s in ute.
Diff
When you push the ‘Diff’ button, the left side will be polarity flipped to check if things ight be
out of phase, but also when co bined with the ‘Mono’ button you can listen to just the diff/side
channel. The switch turns red for visual feedback. Note: the diff function only works with
balanced signals because of it’s passive nature.
Mono
When you push the ‘Mono’ button the left and right signals are su ed to ono. The switch
turns red for visual feedback.
Monitor out switch
Monitor 1 / 2/ 3
With the onitor switch you can select which onitor output is used. Monitor 1 and 2 are
stereo, onitor 3 is a su ed ono output.
Technical:
Specifications:
Input resistance: 10Koh
Output resistance: between 0 and 4.5Kohm (depending on attenuator setting)
Dyna ic range: >110dB(A)
Input voltage 100 to 240VAC 50/60HZ.
Power consu ption approx 5 watt
Unit size: standard 1u 19 inch, depth 25c
Weight: approx 2kg
Some notes on passive circuitry:
This device is built around passive circuits (relays and resistors), basically eaning it’s a
straight wire. In ost cases this works great and by nature 100% transparent. There could be
the odd onitor/a p that ‘doesn’t like’ this passive nature. In those rare cases it’s possible to
add an active buffer (balanced) stage at a s all extra fee.
Dim attenuation:
The Di function by default is set to an attenuation of 15dB, which could be changed by
changing the resistors ounted on the sockets on the inside (with dim adjust written next to
it). There are 8 resistors in total, but in practice only 4 needs to be changed to change the Di

attenuation. The ‘to gnd’ resistors are 3k3 and the ‘serial’ resistors are 10k (these can be
changed).
Changing the ‘serial’ resistors to 5k1, changes the attenuation to -12dB.
Changing the ‘serial’ resistors to 18k, changes the attenuation to -20dB.
You can also change to other resistor values to find your attenuation level ‘sweetspot’.
Specifications subject to change because always improving.
Ser ice and warranty:
We offer a standard 2 year li ited warranty on all of our products.
In the event that you or a third party has (partly) altered or repaired anything, the
warranty will expire, and you will be held responsible for the da ages caused by any
possible isfunctioning of the product. Warranty repairs are only ade by us or by a
workshop we agree upon.
We are not responsible for any alfunction of or da age caused by parts that are not
produced by DuTCH.audio.
If you choose to ship back a faulty unit to us you ust contact us before you do so. We
need the serial nu ber (located on the back of the unit) to handle the repair and if
warranty is still valid.
The product should be returned in it's original package or packed in such a way that it is
not da aged during the ship ent with extra support for the rack ears. We are not to be
held responsible for any da ages during the ship ent.
The custo er always pays the shipping cost to us.
The custo er is responsible for the product until it is delivered to us
If we find that the product is flawless the custo er will be charged 200 euro to cover our
costs for exa ination and handling. The return costs will also be charged.
© DuTCH.audio 2021
Hand ade in Holland on Solarpower
[e-mail]
https://dutch.audio
Phone: [phone]