The Master Section strip

The Master Section is where all your audio track and mix channels are mixed down to the Master Out bus. The Master strip contains a compressor and a Master Insert section which both process the master bus, as well as send/return master level sections. Any processing applied to the master bus affects all channels in the mixer.

Master Compressor section

The Master Compressor is perfect for providing the final “fairy dust” to your mix. It can add punch and cohesion, and generally make the mix sound bigger and more powerful. The compressor is very straightforward in operation and features make-up gain as well as program-adaptive Release.

The parameters are as follows:

| Parameter	| Description	| Range
On button	Activates/deactivates the Master Compressor.
Meter	The meter shows the amount of gain reduction in dB.	0dB - 20dB
Threshold	This sets the level at which onset of compression occurs. The lower the Threshold, the more compression will be applied.	-30dB to 0dB
Ratio	Ratio specifies the amount of gain reduction applied to signal levels above the set threshold. A 2:1 compression ratio effectively means that a signal level 2dB above threshold will have a signal gain of 1dB.	Fixed Ratios: 2:1 / 4:1 / 10:1
Attack	This governs how quickly the Master Compressor will react when signals rise above the set threshold.	Fixed settings (in ms): 0.1 / 0.3 / 1 / 3 / 10 / 30
Release	When the signal level drops below the set threshold, this determines how long it takes before the compressor lets the sound through unaffected. If set to “Auto”, the Release time will be program adaptive, so if longer peaks occur the Release time is automatically increased.	Fixed settings (in s): 0.1 / 0.3 / 0.6 / 1.2 /Auto
Make-Up	Make-Up gain compensates for level reduction caused by compression and helps maintain a steady output level.	-5dB to 15dB

Master Inserts section

The Master Section Inserts is identical to the Insert FX section in the channel strips, except that it affects the master bus, i.e. the whole mix. You can load Combinator effect patches, which can include anything from a single device to a complex array of multiple devices to process the master bus.

The Master Inserts slot is ideally used to apply mastering effects for finalizing the mix.

Devices that belong to the Insert effect patch are added to the Master Section device in the rack.

The Master Insert effects are placed after the Master Compressor in the signal path. This makes sense, as you usually add a Maximizer or Mastering Combi patch as a Master Insert effect, and this must be last in the signal path to avoid clipping on the output.

Loading Insert FX patches is done using the patch browser located at the bottom of the Insert FX section.

Insert effects in Combinator format can be loaded.

•	See “Insert FX” for descriptions of how to work with Insert effects.

The Inserts section in the Master Section contains the following parameters:

| Parameter	| Description
Patch browser	This is a standard patch browser for Master Insert FX where you can select/save patches in the Combinator Effect patch format.
Edit	This will bring the Master Section device into view in the rack, with its Insert FX container opened, allowing you to edit the effect devices.
Bypass	Bypasses the loaded Master Insert effect.

FX Return section

This section controls the master levels of the FX Returns. Send effect devices are connected to the Master Section via the 4 FX Send and 4 FX Return connectors on the back of the rack device. See “Send FX” for a description of Send FX.

The Send/Return connectors on the Master Section device.

The section contains the following items:

| Parameter	| Description
Name label	This automatically shows the name of the connected effect device. If you enter a new name for the label, this overrides the automatic naming. Deleting a manually entered name will bring back the automatic naming.
EDIT button	This brings the connected effect device in the rack into view for easy editing of its parameters.
Mute (M)	This mutes the return signal for the send effect.
Level	Adjusts the FX Return master level. The master return levels are normally left at default 0dB. if you wish to increase/decrease the effect balance, this is best done by increasing/decreasing the send levels for the individual channels using the effect. You can, however, use the FX Return level to change the overall balance of a send effect in the mix.
Pan	Pan adjusts the return signal stereo balance.
Meter	Shows the signal level of the return bus.

Master Fader section

The Master Fader controls the final output level of the mix to be recorded or exported to a file. It should normally be set to 0dB.

The section contains the following items:

| Parameter	| Description
Master Fader	Adjusts the level of the Master Out bus.
Meter	Shows the level of the Master Out bus.
Mode	The Mode button switches the meter between VU/Peak/PPM modes - see “The Big Meter”.
Reset	This resets the meter, deleting any registered peaks.

Master Section Header

The Header is always visible at the bottom of the Master Section. It contains the following items:

| Parameter	| Description
SEQ / RACK buttons	The Rack and SEQ buttons allow you to switch to the Master Section rack device or automation track directly from the mixer - see “Switching between channels, rack devices and tracks”.
Mute/Solo All Off	This allows you to switch off all channel Mute or Solo buttons in one go.
DIM -20dB	This simply dims the Master Out level -20dB. Use this to temporarily lower the output level when answering the phone etc.