Remote Gain Control for (almost) every preamp!

Digital snake systems like our ADAT Multicore Extender have many advantages. But with these systems, the mic preamps are usually located on stage, and you cannot adjust the gain locally from FOH - this can be an issue if you just wanted to "give some dB less" during the show. Remote controllable preamps are the solution, but they are hard to find and even more expensive - not the right thing when building a low-budget system.

That's why we developed a modkit which works with most preamps and allows you to add remote gain control via MIDI. Simple to do, even simpler to use.

In remote mode, gain adjustment is entirely done over the optocouplers. They are controlled by an external box (the Remote Gain Controller) which is in turn controlled via MIDI from the mix console at FOH position (the MIDI channel of the ADAT-Multicore-Extender ADX-32B and ADX-64B-PRO can be used for this purpose). When remote control is active, the original gain pots must be in leftmost (min) position. If local control is desired, the Remote Gain Controller can be switched off by either pressing the "MODE" key, by issuing a MIDI message, or by simply removing the control cable from the preamp.

The mod takes about one hour and requires no special tools (only screwdriver, cutter and soldering iron). The original gain potentiometers remain in place, but become paralleled with analog optocouplers. The whole thing is controlled over a 9pin D-SUB connection which could be mounted on the rear:

 

SOFTWARE CONTROL

There are several possibilities to control the RGC-24A-M module via MIDI:

• VST-Plugin: The most convenient way, enables seamless integration in Windows audio software like Cubase or SAC.
• Windows standalone software
• Behringer BCR2000 MIDI controller: Templates are available for Behringer's BCR2000 rotary knob controller.
• Yamaha DM 2000
• Manual setup: Gain is adjusted via standard "Control Change" messages. The default scheme is:
  MIDI Channel = Preamp, CC = Input, Value = Gain. E.g.

MIDI Channel 2 = Preamp 1, CC 24-31 = Input 1-8, Gain = Value 0-127
MIDI Channel 3 = Preamp 2, CC 24-31 = Input 1-8, Gain = Value 0-127
MIDI Channel 4 = Preamp 3, CC 24-31 = Input 1-8, Gain = Value 0-127
Above mapping can be further adjusted via SysEx commands, please refer to the manual. 

 

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