Submaster

In the case of a lighting mixer or audio mixer, a submaster is a special fader with the option of bundling several channels in a so-called subgroup. For example, a group of spotlights or audio channels can be combined and controlled together.

Lighting consoles

Often, submasters can be fully faded in on lighting consoles using the "Flash" button as long as the button is pressed. This z. B. turn on whole groups of spotlights to match the piece of music. Some lighting consoles also offer the option of assigning saved scenes or even entire sequences to the submasters. The intensity of these can then be adjusted with the fader.

Audio mixers

In the case of an audio mixer, there are several audio signals on a submaster , which can then be transmitted simultaneously with only one or two faders, e.g. B. the volume can be influenced (e.g. the drums or the choir ).

It should be noted here that with conventional technology, the effect components (e.g. reverb) in the signals controlled via the submaster can change if the effect is not also controlled via the submaster (which is usually the case, if only a limited number of effects units are available). This can be avoided by using VCA groups (usually only available in expensive mixing consoles) . With these, the signals are not routed via an additional volume control (the submaster controller) as usual, but rather the volume of the faders of the selected original channels is controlled by a control voltage . This also leads to an adjustment of the effect components, since these are usually tapped behind the channel faders (“post-fader”).

literature

• Rolf Beckmann: Manual of PA technology. Basics, components, practice. 2nd Edition. Elektor-Verlag, Aachen 1990, ISBN 3-921608-66-X .
• Michael Ebner: Lighting technology for stage and disco. A handbook for practitioners. Elektor-Verlag, Aachen 2001, ISBN 3-89576-108-7 .