TM403 Features in Brief

• Balanced stereo line input
• Balanced and buffered, switched stereo insert
• 6 mono auxiliaries and 1 stereo cue send
• Stereo group bus amp that can be connected to a pair of the 16 groups of the ToolMod mixing console by internal jumpers
• The group bus amp can be switched to the input section and makes possible to use the module as stereo sub group master alternatively.

The output section allows routing into the 16 groups and the main stereo master. The group routing can be driven from the pan pot output or from a separate level and pan control alternatively. Additional routing switches for the groups 1 to 6 make possible to use multi-level sub grouping. Using these controls allows using the routing system for additional mono or stereo auxiliaries as well. The INP switch in the routing section allows to feed the routing matrix from the stereo line input when the module is used as stereo group master. PFL, Solo in Place, and a 3-color peak-present level indicator are included as well as access to the two mute groups.

Input Section
The default input is the stereo line input. The inputs are electronically balanced and can handle input levels of at least + 30 dBu.

The GRP switch selects the stereo output of the internal stereo group bus amp, which makes it possible to use the module as stereo group master alternatively. In group mode, the stereo line input signal is still available at the routing matrix.

Tow independent input gain controls with +/- 20 dB range and calibrated center detent for line and group are implemented.

The L and R switches select only the left or right input channel and feed the channel in mono. Pressing both switches at a time reverses left and right. The phase reversal switch affects the right input channel.

Insert Section
The stereo insert of the TM403 stereo module is buffered and electronically balanced. Like all other inputs and outputs, the inserts can handle levels of more than + 30 dBu. The INS button switches the insert inputs to the channel.

Auxiliaries
The TM403 stereo module has 6 mono aux sends and a stereo cue send. The 6 aux sends are driven in mono from internal matrix stages and default to post fader. The PRE switches move the sends pre main fader. An internal jumper determines if the aux sends are muted by the solo in place system when switched pre fader. The REC switches make possible to assign the aux send 1 to 4 to the record fader of the routing matrix alternatively. This makes possible to use auxiliaries for the stereo line input, when the signal is used as stereo sub group.

The stereo Cue send has independent level and pan controls. In the default position, Cue is pre fader, pre solo. The POST switch puts the Cue section post fader. The CUT switch mutes the entire Cue Section. REC assigns the cue send to the record fader of the routing matrix. Cue is always driven in stereo. The Cue Pan is actually a balance control with 0 dB center attenuation.

The TO 9-16 switch assigns the group routing switches for the groups 9 to 16 to the cue send output. This feature can be used to build additional auxiliaries, while the groups 1 to 8 remain unaffected.

Fader
The external fader module can be the stereo version of the standard audio fader TM452 or the stereo vca fader with automation interface TM456. Even without automation system installed, the four vca groups can be used, if one of the vca group master modules TM461 or TM462 are installed. The CUT switch is included with the fader module.
... more on the Stereo Audio Fader Module TM452
... more on the Stereo VCA Fader Module TM456

PFL, Solo, Peak-Led, Mute-Groups
PFL and Solo in Place are independent systems that are both available with the TM403 stereo module. PFL only affects the control room section. The stereo module has two separate PFL switches for the main fader and the record fader. Solo in place mutes all input channels that are neither switched LOC(al) - which is equivalent to 'safe from Solo' - nor in Solo Mode. Solo mutes the entire channel, which makes it possible to listen to the channel(s) in solo with the original level and pan and, if required, with reverb, echo, and any other effect that is driven from an aux send. The two stereo Peak-Present level indicators read the main fader input signal and the record fader input signal. The 3-color leds light up green when the level is above - 20 dB and turn to yellow at 0 dB. With higher levels, the color changes from yellow to orange and red. With red color, the remaining headroom is 5 dB. The two mute groups CUT GR A and CUT GR B can be selected independently with two pushbuttons. The mute groups are assigned to the main fader. If the vca fader version and a vca group master module are installed, it makes more sense to assign the mute groups to the record fader. This can be done by a jumper on the module pcb. The mute group master switches are installed in the master module TM411. Cut from a mute group operates not different from a local Cut.

Metering
The metering can be installed in additional frames that can be mounted on top of the mixing frame or in a rack. The stereo channel has two meter sends that can be configured by jumper blocks on the module pcb. Either mono or stereo meters can be used. With mono meters, the meter shows a matrix output signal that has 6 dB attenuation per channel. Adjustment to 3 dB or any other value is possible with the level adjustment of the meter. The meter send can be set to the channel output, the pre fader signal, the calibrated stereo line input or the input signal post input gain control. In addition, the meter send 1 allows configuration for mono meters. High-resolution LED PPM's and VU meters are available. The meter sends are unbalanced and buffered and can drive any external meter with an appropriate level range. The meter outputs are available on a 9-pin D-sub connector per channel.
... more on the ToolMod Console Metering

Pan Pot
The Mix Pan Pot is driven from the fader output. It is implemented as stereo balance pot with 0 dB center attenuation and center detent. The output of the pan pot drives the main stereo bus if the MIX switch is pressed. In addition, the groups 1 to 6 can be switched to the pan pot output by three switches, independent of the routing matrix. Mix and the groups 1 to 6 can be driven from the main fader and the record fader in parallel.

Routing Matrix
The routing matrix has 8 switches for the 16 mono groups, arranged in stereo pairs and a second MIX switch that feeds the record chain signal to the main stereo mix bus. The input is driven from the REC level and pan controls. The input of the rec fader defaults to post main fader. PRE selects pre main fader instead. The INP switch overrides PRE and selects the stereo line input. This feature makes possible to feed the line input to a group or the mix bus, when the channel is used as stereo group master.

By default, only the odd numbered groups are driven. Pressing EVEN selects the even numbered groups instead. In both cases, the routing is fed in mono from the output of the REC fader, which has a calibrated center detent at 0 dB, thru a stereo to mono matrix. Pressing PAN switches over to stereo drive and inserts the routing pan pot, which actually is a stereo balance control with 0 dB center attenuation and center detent.

When using the record fader pre or post the main fader, the routing can be used to build additional mono or stereo auxiliaries, using unused groups. In combination with the CUE TO GR 9-16 feature, there are many powerful ways to add auxiliaries during the mix.

Stereo Channel Output
The signal at the stereo channel output depends on the position of the DIR switch. If DIR is not pressed, the output of the internal stereo group bus amp drives this output. With DIR pressed, jumpers on the module pcb make possible to select either post main fader or post record fader to feed the channel output.

Stereo Group Bus Amp
The internal stereo group bus amp of the TM403 stereo input module can be assigned to a pair of group busses by a jumper block on the module pcb. The bus amp output is available on the channel output if the DIR switch is not pressed. In addition, internal group return rails make possible to access the group bus amp outputs in other modules and the master section as well.