As is the case so often with products from Sommer Cable, the company received a lot of inspirations from customers and users of the now highly proven devices of the Cardinal DVM series. Thus the idea for the VCA keyboard mixer came at the urging by different musicians from the musical scene. The normal situation requires as many sounds as possible at very short intervals, but the musician also needs to keep the dynamics under control. The VCA keyboard mixer solves this problem by using a master level control with a standard swell pedal; this keeps your hands free and eases your mind. That way the device covers an incredible 90 dB control range while sporting heavenly S/N figures.
The DVM-194-VCA Stereo Mixer combines the functionality of an absolutely high-fidelity stereo submixer - for the various sound sources on stage or in the studio - with the remote controllability of the master level via a standard swell pedal, thus enabling the perfect dynamics control in any situation.
There are 4 stereo channels one of which also offers a parallel front panel input for the fast hook-up of an additional source (stage keyboard or e.g. MP3 player). Each channel features a tone control.
The Master section offers individual level controls for the main and the mono outputs. The mono out and the headphones out are also switchable to PRE-VCA via pushbuttons, which allows pre-fade listening of sounds even with the master level fully down. The rear side features a line-level version of the headphone bus. Combined with the DVM-194-HPA, a comfortable and efficient personal monitor solution can thus be realised.
The VCA port is used to connect a simple swell pedal (e.g. Yamaha FC-7). The factory setting for this port covers a control range of -80 to +10 dB (at 0 dB output level). Using the optional DVM-194-DIS display unit will give you a permanent visual control of the swell pedal position.
The DVM-120-PBS is an analogue heavy-duty personal monitor solution. Using off-the-shelf microphone cables (max. 50 m with a 0.22 m² line) the central unit provides up to four beltpacks with the signal plus the required supply voltage. It offers a stereo input and also an auxiliary sub input, which can be activated individually for each beltpack output. The sub input is often used for command functions in the studio or for the conductor. The inputs are electronically balanced and switchable from +4 dBu to -10 dBV nominal level. The central unt is powered by an integrated wide-range power supply.
The beltpack contains the actual high-performance headphone amplifier. It features a level control, a mute switch, a balance control as well as a tone control. The beltpack can be switched to either stereo, mono or sub input operation mode.
Peter Rieck, distribution and key account manager with Sommer Cable, comments, "I'm always looking forward to the Prolight+Sound in Frankfurt. This event is and will remain the world's leading trade fair for Sommer Cable. Extensive talks with customers and users bring us inspiration and also the desired market feedback. It is right here that we love to present new products and show the visitors what we've been working on during the past year.
"We're heading with strong optimism into the current year; sales figures of the past weeks and months were encouraging. For us and probably for many others, too, the year 2013 will be a sequel of the good year 2012."
(Jim Evans)
