These are four or eight-zone mono mixers with clear and simple controls, intended for commercial audio installations in leisure venues, hotels and sports-centres, where selective paging and a choice of different background sources is needed. Other applications may include background music systems in restaurants and bars. On the front panel there is a vertical strip of controls for each zone output; microphone 1 level, microphone 2 level, music source selector switch and music level. Thus a three channel mix is available for each zone.
Two stereo unbalanced line level inputs are available via RCA (phono) sockets and four stereo balanced line level inputs via 'Euroblock' connectors. Gain controls are available for each input. These 'music' input pairs are summed individually to mono. There are also three balanced microphone inputs, all three with +15V phantom power available: Two have pre-set gain and level controls on the front panel, whilst the third is a dedicated paging-microphone input with pre-set level on the front panel, with zone-routing facility and full priority. All connections use removable Phoenix-style 'Euroblock' terminal block connectors, unless specified otherwise.
There are either four (Z4 MK4) or eight (Z8 MK4) zone outputs, each with balanced connector and adjacent associated 'music' HF and LF EQ controls on the rear panel, as well as a port for remote control of music level and source using RSL-6 control panels, or music level only using RL-1, which are connected using screened single-pair cable, and fit standard, UK, single-gang back-boxes. In each case an adjacent switch allocates control of music signals to either the remote or local front-panel and a pre-set control adjusts the level of the paging microphone in the zone. In addition, a facility port connection on Cat5 RJ45, allows loop-in/loop-out configuration of up to two LM2 remote plates to each zone, offering an additional mic or line input and a secondary means to control music source input and level for that zone.
All the microphone signals have priority over the 'music' source selected. The paging microphone input has vox priority over the other two microphones. Paging microphone zone access is controlled by the grounding contacts provided, there is a connector for remote music mute, and the facility to allow the signal on line input 6 to have priority over the selected music source.
| Line inputs: |
Level; -12dBu to +8dBu, impedance; 47kohm, noise; -90dB, RMS, at 0dB gain. |
| Microphone inputs: |
Gain; 10-50dB, impedance; greater than 2kohm, noise; -120dB EIN. |
| Zone outputs: |
Level; 0dB, minimum load impedance; 600 ohms, maximum output; +20dBu. |
| Power supply: |
85V–253V AC, 47-63Hz. |
| Dimensions: |
3U rack-mounting x 160mm depth (plus connections) |
| Weight: |
Z4 MK4; 3.83kg, Z8 MK4; 4.4kg. |
Included accessories: Manual, AC power cable, mating terminal-block connectors.
Optional accessories: RSL-6, RL-1 remote controls and LM-2 active modules, see below. A suitable multi-zone paging microphone system is available, see Cloud Digital Paging Microphones.
RSL-6, RL-1 - Remote controls
These are constructed to fit in a UK standard, single-gang back-box; they provide remote control functions for several Cloud products. Connections are terminal-blocks which may be wired to suitable Cloud mixers and mixer amplifiers using screened, two-core cable over a distance of up to 100m.
The RSL-6 provides six-way source selection and level control. The RL-1 provides level control only.
LM-2 - Remote controls with remote input connectors, active
These fit in a UK standard, dual-gang back-box and are connected to suitable Cloud mixers and mixer-amplifiers over a distance of up to 100 metres. Although the modules are active, they take power from the host device. They have a microphone priority circuit which introduces a 30dB reduction of the music whenever the device detects a microphone signal.
The LM-2 has a line input, a balanced microphone input each with separate level controls. Two knobs control six-way source selection and level control respectively. A switch enables microphone priority. The module requires a screened Cat5 cable with overall screen, terminated with a screened RJ45 connector. Available in black or white.
DM-1 - Dual Microphone Input and level Remote control, active
Although not compatible with this version of these mixers, the DM-1 Dual Microphone control panel is still available for use with the older Z4MK2 and Z8MK2 mixer units, MPA-626 and 46/50 intergrated amplifier and other Cloud units that offer a facility port (9-pin d-sub) connection.