Rane ML 1 User manual

Manual-1
ML 1
MIC/LINE PREAMP
OPERATORS MANUAL
Quick Start
is section intends to help with the physical connections necessary to get up and running with your snazzy new ML 1. If you don’t
read the entire Hardware Manual, at least read this section.
As a safety precaution, turn all devices (especially power amplifiers) OFF when making connections. Doing so gives you a chance
to find and correct wiring mistakes and prevent damage to your amplifiers, speakers, ears and spilling a hot drink in your lap.
Connect balanced audio sources or microphones to the Euroblock or XLR INPUT connectors. You may connect either or both
jack types (if you wish) of the OUTPUTS to your mixer, recorder or amplifier. Set the GAIN control to the half-way (12:00) posi-
tion. Set the MIC / LINE switch to “LINE” for a gain of +3 dB, or to the “MIC” position for a gain of +35 dB. If a microphone
requires phantom power, punch in the “PHANTOM POWER” switch and the corresponding red LED will light up.
If the ML 1 is being used as a dual analog preamp, connect balanced audio OUTPUTS to the Euroblock or XLR connectors. To
talk to the digital audio world, connect to your choice of AES3, SPDIF or TOSLINK digital audio outputs.
Connect the IEC320-C5 power cord. Observe that the POWER LED on the front panel illuminates.
Now you may turn on any power amps and make final adjustments with the GAIN controls.
WEAR PARTS: is product contains no wear parts.
ML 1
MIC / LINE
PREAMP
INPUT
1 2
OUTPUT POWER
1 2

Manual-2
Operation Details
ML 1
MIC / LINE
PREAMP
INPUT
1 2
OUTPUT POWER
1 2
RANE CORP. MADE IN U.S.A.
DIGITAL OUTPUTS OUTPUTS
GAIN
ACN 001 345 482
COMMERCIAL AUDIO
EQUIPMENT 24TJ
R
100-240 V
50/60 Hz 7 WATTS
ML 1
MIC LINE MIC LINE
2
AES3
COAXIAL OPTICAL OUTPUT SIG / OL INPUT 2 SIGNAL INPUT 1 SIGNAL
S/PDIF
1
2
2
1 2 1
1
- + - +
- + - +
INPUTS
2
2
1
1
- + - +
- + - +
PHANTOM POWER
THIS DEVICE COMPLIES
WITH PART 15 OF THE
FCC RULES FOR A CLASS
'B' COMPUTING DEVICE.
Analog Connections
e ML 1 has two balanced analog Inputs, two balanced
analog Outputs. XLR and euroblock connectors are both pro-
vided for your convenience. Feel free to use either Input (but not
both). Both Output types may be used simultaneously if desired.
For each Input or Output Euroblock connector:
• Connect the (positive) audio line to the ‘+’ terminal.
• Connect the (negative) audio line to the ‘–’ terminal.
• Connect the cable shield to the terminal.
e XLRs use the polarity convention per IEC/ANSI/AES
standards of pin 2 positive, pin 3 negative and pin 1 shield. e
ML 1 does not invert the signal. For optimum Electromagnetic
Interference (EMI) immunity, connect the shields at both ends
of the cable. See the RaneNote “Sound System Interconnection”
(included) for more information on system connections and
proper grounding practices.
Analog Input Stage
Each analog input uses a studio-grade microphone preamp and
a 32 dB pad for use as a line-stage input. e mic preamp has a
single analog gain stage. When the Mic / Line switch is in MIC
position the gain control adjusts between 18 to 64 dB. When
the Mic / Line switch is in LINE position then a 32 dB pad is
inserted on the input to yield a gain range from -14 dB to +32
dB. is configures the input of the ML 1 as a high-performance
line stage that happily accepts the hot +24 dBu signals from
professional audio sources.
When using non-pro -10 dBV audio sources, set the GAIN
control to +12 dB line gain by rotating it to the 2:00 position.
When you’re hooking up a consumer CD player with a single-
ended output (for example) and you really need an extra 6 dB
of gain (for a total of 18 dB of front-end gain), set the GAIN
control just past the 3:00 position.
Analog Output Stage
Analog output is real easy. Just hook it up. All gain in the ML 1
is adjusted at the Inputs just as it should be. It’s OK to use all of
the analog Outputs at the same time and to use the analog and
the digital outputs together.
Digital Outputs
e ML1 has one AES3 Digital Output, one SPDIF Digi-
tal Output and one Optical Digital Output (also called
TOSLINK).
AES3 is a popular 2-channel (stereo) digital audio interface
commonly found on professional digital audio equipment. Each
channel of the AES3 digital stream is treated independently
within the ML 1.
Use the AES3 Output to:
• Feed audio to an RPM 88/44/22/26z to create a 2-channel
digital “bus” between devices.
• Connect directly to the AES3 input of a digital mixer.
• Connect directly to the AES3 input of a DAT machine for
recording.
e SPDIF coaxial and optical digital outputs allow the
ML 1 to interface with a wide variety of commercial and semi-
pro equipment. Just verify that the device connected to the
ML 1’s SPDIF digital outputs can accept 24-bit audio at a 48
kHz rate.
All three digital outputs are always active and can be used
simultaneously.

Manual-3
RANE CORP. MADE IN U.S.A.
DIGITAL OUTPUTS OUTPUTS
GAIN
ACN 001 345 482
COMMERCIAL AUDIO
EQUIPMENT 24TJ
R
100-240 V
50/60 Hz 7 WATTS
ML 1
MIC LINE MIC LINE
2
AES3
COAXIAL OPTICAL OUTPUT SIG / OL INPUT 2 SIGNAL INPUT 1 SIGNAL
S/PDIF
1
2
2
1 2 1
1
- + - +
- + - +
INPUTS
2
2
1
1
- + - +
- + - +
PHANTOM POWER
THIS DEVICE COMPLIES
WITH PART 15 OF THE
FCC RULES FOR A CLASS
'B' COMPUTING DEVICE.
Phantom Power
When the Phantom Power button is selected, two things hap-
pen. First, a red LED illuminates so that there is little doubt that
phantom power is on. Second phantom power is turned on only
for inputs that have the mic/line switch in the “MIC” position.
Microphones can be plugged into the XLR connectors or the
euroblock connectors and both connectors have phantom power
available. Microphones receive a full 48 volts of Phantom Power
from the ML 1.
Mic/Line Switch
Phantom Power is only available on an Input when the Mic/Line
switch is in the MIC position and Phantom Power is turned on
— the input impedance for that channel is 2.6 kΩ. When the
Mic/Line switch is in the LINE position, phantom power is
disabled, the gain for the channel is reduced by 32 dB and the
input impedance for that channel is 96 kΩ.
Gain Settings
e GAIN controls set the gain through the ML 1 for each
channel. e approximate gain when the Mic/Line switch is in
the either setting is shown in the figure above.
A security cover is included to cover just the GAIN controls
for those installations needing a little protection.
Input LEDs
ere is a green input LED for each channel on both the front
and on the back of the ML 1. ese light up when an input
signal is at a high enough level to trigger the LED. For the math
inclined, the amount of signal required to light the LED is equal
to the negative of the ML 1 Gain minus 6 dBu.
e formula is: reshold dBu = – (Gain dB) – 6 dB.
So if the ML 1 Gain is set to 20 dB, the input LED thresh-
old is -26 dBu measured at the input jacks.
Another example: if the ML 1 Gain is set to -10 dB then the
input LED threshold is +4 dBu measured at the input jacks.
e bottom line is if there is an input signal present and the
gain of the ML 1 is set high enough, the green input LED of the
ML 1 should be on.
Output LEDs
ere is a bi-color green/red output LED for each channel on
both the front and back of the ML 1. ese LEDs light up green
when there is a digital output signal present. ey will be green
most of the time as the digital output should always be active.
e LEDs light up red instantaneously if the output waveform
clips. Since clipping is brief, the red together with green appears
yellow. So when a output LED starts to turn color it is time to
back down on the Gain for that channel to prevent signal distor-
tion.
Power LED
is LED lights up yellow when the IEC320-C5 power jack is
properly receiving 100 to 240 volts from any power source in
the whole wide world. at should be just about everywhere you
would want an ML 1.
MIC
MIC GAIN LINE GAIN
+35 +40+30
+43+21
+47+20
+64+18
LINE
+3 +8-2
+11-9
+15-12
+32-14

Manual-4
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