ACM STUDY GUIDE

DV PROMIX 3 PORTABLE AUDIO MIXER

SAFETY TIPS

Please be sure to read this entire study guide before operating the mixer.
Always turn down the headphone volume before plugging in your headphones.
Always operate your headphones at the lowest practical level.
Be especially cautious in unknown or widely varying environments.
Before installing batteries, the power switch (BATT/EXT) (button#15 in last diagram) is set to the
middle or ext.

KNOWING THE MIXER

An Audio Mixer is a device that allows one to input several audio signals via microphones, audio playback
sources (CD Players, Cassette players, etc.) and/or other audio mixers and control the individual volume
levels of the inputs. Then mix the signals together and output the mixed signals to a recording devise.
The following is a breakdown of what you will expect to find on your DV Pro Mix 3 Sound Mixer.

B. Left Side (INPUT)

1.

Input Level Switch: (Line Level = 0dB Gain, Dynamic Mic = 60dB Gain, Condenser Mic =
45dB Gain) *, **
Select the correct setting based on the input device connected to the individual XLR input.

2.

48PH Switch
Applies 48V Phantom Power for 48PH Microphones, otherwise set to DYN

3.

XLR Female Input Connector

* For All ACM microphones and wireless receivers, set the mixer input level switches to: D
(box#1) and DYN(box #2).
** For shotgun microphones directly connected to the mixer via a cable, set the switches to: C
(box #1) and DYN (box #2) (if phantom power is needed, then C and 48PH)

C. Right Side (OUTPUT)

4.

Output XLR Male Connector

The Left and Right XLR connectors are used to connect XLR cables to the camera or recording
device.

5.

Output Level Switch: Line Level = 0dB, Consumer Line level = -10dB,
Microphone Level = -40dB)
If using Panasonic DVX100A camera: Output level switch should be set to 0dB (line level)
If using Panasonic HXV camera: Output level switch should be set to 0db (line level)

6.

3.5mm Headphone Jack

Connect the headphones here to listen to the direct output from the mixer.

7.

3.5mm Tape Return Jack

Use the male-to-male 3.5mm cable supplied with the mixer snake to connect the cameras
headphone jack to the tape return jack to listen to the recording mix from the camera by switching
the headphone monitor to TAPE (front of mixer, box #13).

A. Front

8.

Low Cut Filter located to the left of each channels Volume control has settings of 20Hz,
80Hz, and 150Hz. (Hz stands for Hertz, a unit of frequency)
All these frequencies are on the low (bass) end of the frequency spectrum. Noises like airconditioning or other constant low rumbling sounds can be reduced by using these settings.
Frequencies below the selected frequency will roll off (gently fade to nothing). Always use the
minimum filter setting required for the job.

9.

Pan Switches, located to the right of each channels Volume control.

This pan switch is used to route the selected input signal to either the left, right or both output
channels.

10. Channel Faders (Volume Controls)

Faders control the input level that enters from the sound source for each individual source.
11. Meters (range from -20 to +3dBv with lights of Green, Amber, Red)
This gauge visually represents the sound levels that are outputted. The optimum level is from -3 to
0.

12. Headphone Volume (Min to Max)

Controls the volume level of the headphones for monitoring, it does not change the output level of
the mixer.
13. Headphone Monitor (Direct, Tape Return)
Allows the headphone monitor to monitor either the direct mixer output (DIR) or the tape return
monitor (TAPE) which is sound from the camera, if tape return line is present.
14. Oscillator Switch
Use this switch for sending a 0 tone from the mixer to the output channels.
15. Power Switch (Int. Battery, Off, Ext. Power)
Turn the mixer on by switching to BATT. *NOTE* Please turn the mixer off (middle position or
ext.) when inserting or taking out batteries.