Console oscillator.

[3nity]

Whats good for an oscillating section in a console??
I have one in my amek but i cant understand whats that suppose to do!
Thanks.

 

[Holger]

Back in the old days it was quite useful to align tape machines or checking gain structures, send/ returns etc...

 

[pucho812]

Back in the old days it was quite useful to align tape machines or checking gain structures, send/ returns etc...

+1


you can also patch it into a channel and then gate it.

1. have the oscillator set to a low frequency like around 100HZ and patch into a channel.
2. Insert a gate in that channel.
3. Trigger/key the gate with a kick drum.
4. Adjust the parameters to desired.
5. Instant hip-hop boom.

But to answer your question it's never good for an section of a console to oscillate ;D

 

[nielsk]

1st thing to grab when you troubleshoot

 

[Rob Flinn]

Back in the old days it was quite useful to align tape machines or checking gain structures, send/ returns etc...

Nothing's changed, it still is !

 

[QUEEF BAG]

when quickly checking a console's channels, i listen to a 100 Hz tone
from the console's oscillator, any extra harmonics are easy to hear...

you should be able to assign it straight to your mix bus,
and sending tones to yer (any) 2 track and calibrating left and right inputs
and for calibrating the 2-bus compressor you may have on the inserts...

and assign it to your multi-track busses (any one under 30 know what those are?) to
align the inputs to your multi-track (tape or digi)

i like pucho's answer, just tune it to a note in the key of the song.

 

[isophase]

one of the most useful tool in a recording studio, it's not surprising some consoles where built with onboard oscillators. i mean come on

 

[pucho812]

when quickly checking a console's channels, i listen to a 100 Hz tone
from the console's oscillator, any extra harmonics are easy to hear...

you should be able to assign it straight to your mix bus,
and sending tones to yer (any) 2 track and calibrating left and right inputs
and for calibrating the 2-bus compressor you may have on the inserts...

and assign it to your multi-track busses (any one under 30 know what those are?) to
align the inputs to your multi-track (tape or digi)

i like pucho's answer, just tune it to a note in the key of the song.

Yes but who really aligns their digital systems anymore.  Most people leave pro tools at pre calibrated level -18.  Yeah it's different in film and such but most music guys I know are usually not asking what the calibrated level is and or if we could check the cal on the  pro tools.