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CENTURY SERIES
OWNER’S MANUAL
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Congratulations on your purchase of a Century Series console. All of us at Crest Audio in Paramus, New Jersey, USA, support your decision, knowing your console contains the finest combination of design and manufacture in the industry. While your new Century Series console is one of the most feature-packed available, great effort has been put into making it simple to operate. This manual explains the functions of your new console, how they operate and how they relate to each other. If properly ca
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Feature Overview 2 A brief description of the Vx design, features and functions. Mixing with VCA's 3 Adapted from “Mixing with VCA's,” by Mark Smith, in LIVE SOUND! Magazine. Wiring Conventions 5 Contains diagrams indicating how connectors for Crest consoles are wired. Rear Connections 6 Details the rear panel input and output connections to be made to the Vx console. Power Supply 8 A brief description of the rack-mountable Century Series consoles power supply. Power Connection
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VX CENTURY SERIES Feature Overview The Century Series has the audio quality, features, and func- tions demanded by the modern music professional. The Vx is the first Crest Console to use VCA's, includes all of the basic features found in other Century Series consoles and adds an extensive meter bridge and a set of advanced new features to accommodate more demanding applications. Vx features: • Full function SOLO monitoring system with dedicated level • Mixing flexibility via 8 conventional Audio
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VX CENTURY SERIES Mixing with VCA's (adapted from Live Sound! magazine) An introduction to VCA's VCA Subgroups 1 thru 5, (not 6 or 7, and you’ll see why later) A VCA (voltage controlled amplifier) uses a DC control volt- also need be assigned to VCA Subgroup 8. age to attenuate or boost an audio signal. The VCA DOES NOT What this enables is control over VCA Subgroups 1 thru 5 by have Audio signal present in the fader. The fader only controls using VCA Subgroup 8 as the Band Master. Once set, the
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VX CENTURY SERIES One of the major benefits of VCA’s is that any move made on a VCA Subgroup will cause all inputs assigned to that Subgroup to move in direct proportion with it. Inherently, all effects assigned (or turned up) on any input modules that are controlled with VCA’s will “follow” any moves made in the exact proportion also. If a subgroup is moved “3db”; then all effects will move “3db”. The wet/dry blend always remains the same. Wet / Dry Blending The word “blend”, is used to describ
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CENTURY SERIES VX Wiring Conventions Crest consoles are wired with connectors that are used throughout the professional audio industry. Wiring is as follows: INPUT XLR OUTPUT XLR PIN 1 PIN 2 PIN 3 PIN 3 PIN 2 PIN 1 PIN 1 = GROUND PIN 2 = POSITIVE PIN 3 = NEGATIVE TIP - POSITIVE TIP - LEFT RING - NEGATIVE RING - RIGHT SLEEVE - GROUND SLEEVE - COMMON Standard TRS Standard TRS (Tip - Ring - Sleeve) (Tip - Ring - Sleeve) 1/4" Plug 1/4" Plug Connections: Bal Input, Bal Output, Connector: Headphone Ou
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VX CENTURY SERIES Rear Connections Stereo Input Module The rear connections facilitate the numerous inputs and outputs Insert L / Insert R necessary for successful mixing. Since the console is of little These ‘combined send & return’ female TRS use until it is wired into a whole system, an understanding of jacks are used to insert effects or signal process- what each input and output does is necessary before it can be INSERT L ing into the Left and Right channels of the Stereo properly connecte
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CENTURY SERIES VX Master Module Connections Left/Right Bal Out This male XLR jack delivers a balanced post-fader signal containing all signals assigned to the left and right outputs. Mono Bal Out This male XLR jack delivers a balanced post-fader signal Aux 1-8 Outputs containing all signals assigned to the Mono clean bus. These eight connections provide the balanced output sig- nals from their respective auxiliary buses. Ext. Talkback Out This male XLR jack provides an external balanced signal f
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VX CENTURY SERIES Century Series Console Power Supply Century Series consoles use a separate rack-mountable power supply which provides the specific voltages used by each console. Crest Consoles’ Century Series makes use of two different power supplies. All chassis sizes (32, 44, 52, 64) of the the model Vx console should only be used with the Model XCVA06 Power Supply. Press to Reset +20V +48V ON C O N S O L E S 6A -20V +24V Power Supply CAUTION POWER OUT RISK OF ELECTRIC S
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CENTURY SERIES VX Power Connections Before setting up the console, always check to make sure the NOTE: Although both of the multi-pin connectors on the back AC voltage marked on the power supply agrees with the local of the power supply are labeled “POWER OUT”, it is neces- supply. Always connect the console to the power supply before sary (and acceptable) to link two power supplies together as switching on the power supply. shown in the diagram below. Multiple power supplies can be daisy-chaine
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VX CENTURY SERIES System Connections The console is the hub of a sound system. Because it controls most of the variables within a system, proper connection and com- ponent relationships are vital to assure accurate operation and results. The following diagrams illustrate conventional system con- nections. Balanced Line Inputs Keyboards, Samplers, Input Processing, Drum Machines via Input Module Insert Send and Return Connections External Mixer Input via Group Bus In CENTURY Balanced Mic Inputs 1
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VX CENTURY SERIES 8001 Professional Power Amplifier Clip/Limit Signal Temp/DC Active -6 -6 -10 -3 -10 -3 -15 -15 -30 -1 -30 -1 -80 0dB -80 0dB Ch A Ch B Local Monitor L Local Monitor R 7001 Professional Power Amplifier Clip/Limit Signal Temp/DC Active -6 -6 -10 -3 -10 -3 -15 -15 -1 -1 -30 -30 -80 0dB -80 0dB Ch A Ch B Center From Local Left Out Monitor Out Out Right Out 8001 Professional Power Amplifier 8001 Professional Power Amplifier Clip/Limit CENTURY Clip/Limit Signal Signal Temp/DC Temp/DC
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VX CENTURY SERIES 2 8 1 9 Vx Input Module 0 10 INPUT 5 2 46 The input module is the main method by which input signals 3 7 +48V 2 8 are brought into the console. The Vx input module takes the 1 9 0 10 new features introduced with the GTx console and adds a LINE 5 3 46 3 7 more flexible Aux send/assignment Section and extensive PAD 2 8 A 1 9 U VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplifier) functionality. 40 GAIN X 0 10 30 5 S 46 4 50 E 3 7 48V Phantom Power Switch N 2 8 D 20 70 S Applies 48 Volts DC to pins
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VX CENTURY SERIES AUX SENDS 1- 8 Individual Level Fader 100mm linear VCA level control, adjusts the level to all Controls 'POST' fader outputs, ie auxiliaries 1-8 selected post, AFL, These Push-On/Push Off pots adjust signal level sent to Group assigns 1-8, L, R & Mono output mixes. Local fader respective Aux buses. Pushing the switch down turns the send movements combine with movements of any VCA Group on or off. An associated two color LED indicates status: OFF faders the channel is assigned t
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VX CENTURY SERIES 2 8 Vx Stereo Input Module 1 9 STEREO 0 10 — 5 2 46 The Vx Stereo Input module is essentially two Vx Input mod- 3 7 +48V 2 8 ules packaged to fit into a one-module space. This module is 1 9 0 10 very useful for accepting remote feeds, effects outputs and LINE 5 3 46 3 7 other signals that require stereo handling. PAD 2 8 A 40 GAIN U 1 9 X 48V Phantom Power Switch 0 10 30 5 S 4 46 50 Applies 48 Volts DC to pins 2 & 3 of the both L and R XLR E 3 7 N 2 8 D inputs, for microphones
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VX CENTURY SERIES STEREO Switch w/LED L&R PEAK & SIG LEDs Like the AUX 1-6 controls, AUX 7&8 Individual Level Input level metering for the L and R channels. The green signal Controls normally send a summed (L+R) signal to the AUX LEDs turn on at about -30dB and brighten with increasing outputs. When the STEREO switch is depressed, AUX 7 and 8 level. They show the pre-amp output levels. become a send ‘left’ and ‘right’ send respectively. This can be Red peak LEDs turn on 3dB before overload and
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VX CENTURY SERIES 2 8 1 9 0 10 MULTI-INPUT 5 2 46 3 7 MIC +48V 2 8 1 9 MIC +48V 0 10 5 3 46 C 3 7 PAD 40 GAIN 2 8 A A 30 1 9 U PAD MIX 40 GAIN 0 X 0 10 50 TRIM 30 L 5 4 S 46 E 50 3 7 N L 20 70 R D 2 8 S -15 +6 1 9 20 70 R ON 0 10 80 150 P ON 5 5 46 U 40 S 3 7 300 H L•ONLY•R 2 8 O 1 9 20 400 L•ONLY•R N 0 10 - MONO 5 6 O 46 HPF F 3 7 MONO SIG F 2 8 Ø L PFL R SIG 1 9 0 10 INSERT L PFL R 5 7 46 3 7 5 12 2 8 2 1 9 18 0 10 5 8 46 1K 20K 3 7 –O + HF 2 8 MIC +48V 1 9 88 0 10 16 16 STEREO D 1K5 MIC
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VX CENTURY SERIES Optional Multi-Input Module The left side of this double-module provides four stereo inputs which are summed together creating a stereo sub-mix. The right side takes that mix and processes it as a stereo source into the Vx. The right side (called Multi Master) is similar to a reg- ular Vx Stereo Input module, except that the Input Gain pot and switches are replaced by a mix trim stereo level control. Panel controls (each of four identical inputs) MIC input selector for the L &
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VX CENTURY SERIES SOLO GROUP — MATRIX STR PGM MUTE L MATRIX OUT 5 46 R 5 3 LEV 7 46 3 7 2 8 2 8 1 9 1 9 0 10 0 10 MONO 5 46 EXT 3 7 LCR 2 8 1 9 PAN 0 10 5 46 G1 3 7 2 8 1 9 0 10 MUTE 5 46 G2 3 7 2 8 1 9 0 10 5 G3 46 3 7 2 8 FADER 1 9 REV 0 10 5 G4 46 3 7 MATRIX 2 8 METER 1 9 0 10 5 G5 46 3 7 2 8 1 9 0 10 LCR 5 46 G6 3 7 2 8 M 1 9 0 10 L 5 46 G7 R 3 7 2 8 1 9 0 10 5 46 G8 MATRIX 3 7 POST 2 8 1 9 PEAK 0 10 SIG TB 1 SIG/PEAK AUDIO GROUP SOLO VCA GROUP 10 MUTE MUTE 5 MATRIX OUT 5 LEV 46 0 3 7 2 8 UN
