Contents 1 Matrix UK 2 Matrix / Matrices 2.1 In Mixing Desks 2.2 In Video/Audio/Comms/Control

Matrix UK

Matrix UK are a manufacturer of High End and Entry Level UK Built Power Amplifiers. Some of the latest designs are being used by Void, an increasingly popular Loudspeaker manufacturer in the UK.

Matrix / Matrices

In Mixing Desks

A Matrix or group of Matrices can be found on a Mixing Desk. The feature is normally found on larger consoles and is useful for many applications.

What is it?

A general description of a Matrix section on a console is that of a "mixer inside a mixer" Whereby several of the desks buses can be mixed together and sent to the various outputs of the Matrix.

What does it do?

A typical matrix output will have the ability to blend or mix together each of the desks group outputs, the Left Right and where fitted Centre or Mono mix, and often has an external input too that can be mixed accordingly.

So, where would we use this?

There are several scenarios where we'd use matrix mixing.

• Additional outputs. If we are using delay speakers, infill, downfills, up fills, balcony and under balcony fills, front/lip fills or indeed any other speaker or number of speakers that require or COULD require something other than the mix at the left and right outputs we'd use a matrix. That way we can group channels together and send as much or as little as we need to the matrix outs. We may have
  • Under balcony
  • Balcony
  • Front Fill
  • The Bar

As 4 types of additional output to the left and right. We may want a generic mix sending to the bar, but the front fill may only require reinforcement of the vocals. The balcony and under balcony may require vocal and percussion reinforcement. Using a selection of subgroups on a console we are able to send what we want to where we want.

• Main outputs. Sometimes we need extra flexibility for our main outputs. Typical Matrix setup may be
  • Left
  • Centre
  • Right
  • Sub

We can send individual sub groups to the L C and R Matrices and only items that have sub content to the sub. This drastically reduces stage rumble from open microphones on the stage and keeps the vocal sound clean. This helps greatly for Lapel microphones where you have a system incorporating subs for other uses as it reduces or reduces the potential for low frequency feedback in the system.

• Cascade desks. You may have 2 desks on a show or festival. The External input on matrices enables you to mix this and the left and right without having to use up channels on the master desk.

What about on digital consoles?

Most digital consoles have a matrix section. This works in the same way although many of the higher end consoles have a more complicated and more flexible matrix section enabling you if you wish to send individual channels to a matrix rather than just a group.

What's the word on the street?

As with most features, and various food substances, some engineers love them, some hate them. There is no right and wrong way to use or avoid matrices, as long as each engineer using the system is aware of the routing options being used.

In Video/Audio/Comms/Control

A Matrix or Matrices, sometimes also known as a router, is a device with many inputs and outputs (often a power of two for larger devices), they allow you to route any source to any destination (and even one source to all destinations if you so desire), with no impact on the signal. In video they may be used to route cameras to VTRs, the vison mixer and monitors. In sound they might be used for routing sources to record in either a two track or multitrack environment. Unlike the sound desk matrices mentioned above, these will not perform any mixing/combining of signals within the matrix apart from to potentially offer the option to send a mono source to both legs of a stereo output.

• Discussion