Applications; Setting Up And; Connecting The Effect Unit; Operation - IMG STAGE LINE MFX-204 Bedienungsanleitung

3 Applications

The MFX-204 is a digital stereo effect unit with
16 different effects, e. g. Delay, Reverb, Gated
Reverb, Chorus, Flanger, etc. and effect combi-
nations. Depending on the effect, up to 25 param-
eters are adjustable (table on page 3). In an
audio system, the effect unit is used to modify
the sound. It is inserted in the signal path, e. g.
between the microphone and the amplifier or in
the effect way of a mixer. The MFX-204 is both
suited for professional applications (e. g. studio,
stage, discotheque) and private applications
(e. g. home recording).
The software supplied with the unit allows
convenient control of the effect unit from a PC.
As an alternative, control via MIDI will also be
possible.
4 Setting Up and Connecting
the Effect Unit
The MFX-204 is designed for installation into a
rack (482 mm / 19"), but it can also be used as a
tabletop unit. For rack installation, 1 RS is
required (RS = rack space = 44.45 mm).
Prior to making or changing any connections,
switch off the effect unit and the units to be con-
nected.
1) Insert the effect unit in the signal path of the
audio system according to the signal source
used:
– Line mono signal source
(e. g. output of a musical instrument,
Effect Send output of a mixer)
Connect the signal output of the unit to be
connected to the XLR or 6.3 mm jack
LEFT IN (21).* Set the switch MIC LINE
(20) to the position LINE and the switch
STEREO MONO (22) to the position
MONO.
– Line stereo signal source
(e. g. master signal output of a mixer)
Connect the signal outputs of the unit to
be connected to the XLR or 6.3 mm jacks
RIGHT IN and LEFT IN (21).* Set the
switch MIC LINE (20) to the position LINE
and the switch STEREO MONO (22) to
the position STEREO.
– Microphone
Connect the microphone to the XLR or
6.3 mm jack LEFT IN (21).* Set the switch
MIC LINE (20) to the position MIC and the
switch STEREO MONO (22) to the posi-
tion MONO.
Connect the OUTPUTS (19) to the line inputs
of the subsequent unit (e. g. amplifier). When
returning the effect signal to a mixer, connect
the OUTPUTS to the return inputs or to two
input channels of the mixer.
2) To operate the functions of the buttons
FX LOAD/ PAR / TAP (8) and BYPASS / ENTER
(10) by remote control via two footswitches
(e. g. FS-70 from "img Stage Line"), connect
the footswitches to the jacks FX LOAD/ PAR /
TAP (18) and BYPASS / ENTER (17).
3) Finally connect the mains cable provided to
the mains jack (12), then connect the mains
plug to a socket (230 V~ / 50 Hz).
* 6.3 mm jacks and XLR jacks may be connected at the
same time; however, the 6.3 mm jacks will deactivate the
corresponding XLR jacks.

5 Operation

1) Switch on the effect unit with the POWER
switch (11). The POWER LED next to the
button will light up. The settings of the last
operation will be loaded while the display (6)
indicates "MFX-204 Effect Processor" and
the firmware version successively. When the
name of the last effect used is displayed, the
unit is ready for operation.
2) To make the subsequent settings audible, set
the controls INPUT LEVEL (2), DIRECT (3),
EFFECT (4) and OUTPUT LEVEL (5) to mid-
position (position 5) first. Switch on the units
connected to the MFX-204 and feed a signal
to the effect unit. If the LED above the button
BYPASS / ENTER (10) lights up, press this
button; otherwise no effect will be audible.
Note: If the effect signal is mixed to the direct signal
in the mixer, set the control DIRECT of the MFX-204
to "0".
3) To adjust the input level, turn up the control
INPUT LEVEL to such an extent that the
overload LED CLIP (1) will shortly light up
with music peaks. Then slightly turn back the
control until the LED stops lighting up.
The LED CLIP will also indicate overload
of the effect processor. Therefore, when you
select another effect, the LED may light up
despite the same input level. In this case,
also turn back the control INPUT LEVEL
accordingly.
4) Match the output level to the subsequent unit
with the control OUTPUT LEVEL (5). If the
desired output level is not reached, advance
the controls EFFECT (4) and DIRECT (3).
5) Select the desired effect with the knob FX
SELECT (9). Activate the selected effect with
the button FX LOAD/ PAR / TAP (8) so that the
name of the effect stops flashing on the dis-
play. A short description of the different
effects can be found in the following chapter.
6) Adjust the effect intensity with the control
EFFECT. For a very high intensity, turn back
the control DIRECT accordingly.
7) Depending on the effect selected, different
effect parameters are adjustable. To select a
parameter, press the button FX LOAD/ PAR /
TAP (8) repeatedly until the second line of
the display indicates the parameter to be
changed. Then make the setting with the con-
trol PAR VALUE (7).
It will be possible to store various parame-
ter settings as presets and to activate them, if
required ( chapter 7.1). The second line of
the display will show the number and the
name of the activated preset. The number will
appear additionally behind the effect name.
The factory setting is number 1 and called
"Default".
Notes
1. An overview of the adjustable parameters can be
found in the table on page 3. The parameters are
described in chapter 7.
2. After selecting or changing a parameter, the sec-
ond line of the display will indicate the name of the
preset again if the control PAR VALUE or the but-
ton FX LOAD/ PAR / TAP has not been pressed for
10 seconds.
3. If the parameters of a preset have been changed,
an asterisk * will appear in front of the preset num-
ber when the second line of the display shows the
name of the preset again. The changes will be
stored automatically.
4. For the effect TAP DELAY, the delay time will also
be defined when the button FX LOAD/ PAR / TAP is
pressed in order to synchronize the echoes to the
beat of the music ( chapter 6.3).
8) For fine adjustment of the effect, repeat steps
4, 6 and 7, if required.
9) To activate / deactivate the effect, press the
button BYPASS / ENTER (10) or use a foot -
switch connected to the jack BYPASS /
ENTER (17). With the effect deactivated, the
green LED above the button BYPASS /
ENTER will light up and on the right of the dis-
play, "OFF" will appear instead of "ON".
Note: With the control DIRECT set to "0" and the
effect deactivated, no signal will be audible at the
OUTPUTS (19).
10) After operation, switch off the unit with the
POWER switch.

6 Description of Effects

6.1 Reverb Hall, Reverb Room,
Reverb Plate
These three effects are used to create a natural
reverberation.
Reverb Hall simulates the reverberation in a
large hall. It is characterized by long early reflec-
tions and a soft, long reverberation. This effect is
often used for solo instruments and lead vocals.
Reverb Room simulates the reverberation in an
empty room of medium size. It is characterized
by short and distinct early reflections and a short
reverb decay time. This effect is ideal for per-
cussion instruments.
Reverb Plate simulates the sound of a reverb
plate. For a long time, reverb plates were used in
studios to create artificial reverberation. They
provide a reverberation with emphasis on the
high frequencies. There are no early reflections
so that there is no clear information concerning
the size of the room and the sound of the effect
is somewhat artificial. This reverberation is often
used for solo instruments and vocals.

6.2 Reverb Vocal, Gate Reverb

These reverb effects do not simulate natural
acoustics; they are used to create special
effects.
Reverb Vocal simulates the reverberation in a
large hall, however, with the addition of small
echoes to improve the characteristics of vocals.
Gate Reverb simulates a reverberation that is
cut off by a noise gate when the reverb signal
falls below an adjustable value instead of slowly
decaying. This effect is ideally suited for percus-
sion instruments of very short sound, e.g. snare
drums and kick drums.
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