302 Compact Production Mixer
User Guide and Technical Information
T
ABLE

OF
C
ONTENTS

Quick Start Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Powering
Interconnection
Setting Output Gain Structure
Setting Input Levels
Monitoring
Front Panel Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . .4
Input Panel Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . .5
Output Panel Descriptions . . . . . . . . .5
Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Mic/Line Level Selection
Gain (Trim)
Fader
Phantom and T- Microphone Powering
High-Pass Filters
Pan Switches
Input Limiters
Peak and Limit LEDs
Polarity Reverse - Input 2
Stereo Linking of Inputs 1 and 2
Inputs 4 & 5
Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
XLR Outputs
XLR Output Level
Tape Out (Mix Output)
Output Limiters
Headphone Monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . .11
HP Monitor Selection
Headphone Level and Overload LED
Return Monitoring
Tone Oscillator/Slate Microphone . . . .12
Tone Oscillator
Slate Microphone
The Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Source
Scale
Ballistics
Illumination Intensity
Mixer Linking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Powering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Power Switch and LED
Internal Batteries
External DC Sources
Power Metering
Power Consumption
The Setup Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Entering the Setup Menu
Setup Example
User Default
Output Limiter Adjustment
Speci cations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Inputs
Outputs
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Warranty & Approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Warranty
FCC Statement
CE Conformity Statement
Gain Structure and Interconnection . .20
Full Scale Tone
Setup Menu (v 1.0.3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
T
he 302 is the essential portable mixer for production companies and camera operators wanting to take
control of their audio. The 302 is stunning in size, exibility, control and performance; it is the most com-
pact and cost-effective battery-powered professional audio mixer in its class.
With important features to accommodate nearly any over-the-shoulder production, the 302 can interface
with any professional microphone, wireless system, or camera/recorder input. Its microphone inputs share
the same superb circuitry of all Sound Devices eld production tools.
With many of the controls of Sound Devices agship 442 mixer, the 302 has a complete feature-set in a
compact, functional design. All controls are accessible on its three main surfaces. Its high-ef ciency power
circuitry runs the mixer from either three internal AA batteries or external 518 VDC.
The 302 is part of Sound Devices family of eld production audio tools, which includes mixers, preampli-
ers, computer interfaces, recorders, and their accessories. 302 Compact Production Mixer
User Guide and Technical Information
page 3
Q
UICK
S
TART
C
HECKLIST

Proper setup of sound sources and input devices is quick and easy with the 302. Follow the steps outlined
below for basic interconnection.
Powering
1. Insert three AA-batteries with + side rst into the mixer battery tube.
2. Switch on the mixer power by sliding the power switch to INT. The power LED will illuminate solid
green with good batteries.
Interconnection
1. Connect the output XLR connectors of the 302 to the destination recorder, camera, or other input.
2. Connect microphones, wireless receivers, or other signal sources to the input XLR connectors.
3. Switch phantom or T-power on, as need by microphone sources.
Setting Output Gain Structure
1. Determine the required input level of the destination. If a line level connection is required, no further out-
put level adjustment is needed on the 302. If the input level requires less than line level, such as micro-
phone or a 10 dBu level, adjust the master output level accordingly (see Output Level Control).
2. Turn on the 302s tone oscillator. Adjust the input sensitivity on the destination device so that the 302
output is at an average level with suf cient headroom to accommodate signal peaks. For many digital
cameras and recorders, this is often a range between 20 and 12 dBFS as read on the recorder or cam-
eras peak meter. With analog devices, setting input sensitivites so that tone is near 0 VU is typical.
Setting Input Levels
1. Select the overall level, mic or line, for the input channel.
2. Set the channel fader to the unity gain position.
3. Raise the gain control (push-up trim) while talk-testing inputs so that signal indicates on both the 302s
level meter and the recorder/camera level meter.
Monitoring
1. Connect headphones to the headphone connector located on the input panel.
2. Set the headphone source to ST to monitor stereo program. Raise the headphone volume level to the
required level. NOTE: The 302 headphone output is capable of producing ear-damaging levels. Turn
down levels before switching headphone sources.

3. Monitor individual sources by moving the headphone selection switch to the 1, 2, or 3 positions. page 4
302 Compact Production Mixer
User Guide and Technical Information
F
RONT
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ANEL
D
ESCRIPTIONS

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1. Gain (Trim)
The coarse gain control. Sets the input sensitivity
so that the Fader can be used for ne gain control
with the channel fader.
2. Fader
The primary control for input adjusting level
during operation.
3. Pan
Switch
Assigns the input channel to the output bus. Left-
only, Center (equal left and right), or Right-only.
4. Peak
LED
When illuminated, indicates that the channel is
very near overload.
5. Limiter
LED
When illuminated, indicates that the channel
limiter is operating and reducing channel gain to
prevent overload.
6. High-Pass Filter (Low Cut)
Three-position switch engages the high-pass l-
ter. Used to reduce excessive low frequencies. 12
dB per octave at 80 Hz or 160 Hz. Center position
is off.
7. Polarity Reverse Switch Input 2
When engaged, the polarity of Input 2 is reverse
(180° out-of-phase) with respect to inputs 1 and
3. Useful to ip the stereo image with MS stereo.
8. Stereo Link LED (Inputs 1 & 2)
Indicates that inputs 1 and 2 are linked as a
stereo pair. Controlled in the Setup Menu. In L/R
stereo link input 2 Fader controls overall stereo
level. When in MS position input 1 Fader con-
trols Mid, input 2 Fader controls the amount of
stereo (Side) information.
9. Limiter
Switch
Activates both input and output limiters. ON
is dual-mono limiter operation, LINK is stereo
operation. Output limiter threshold controlled in
Setup Menu.
10. Output Meter
Sunlight-viewable, 20-segment LED meter. Cali-
brated in dBu when peak-reading.
11. Meter Brightness
Controls the brightness of the LED output meter.
Each push selects among four brightness levels.
12. Meter Ballistics
Toggles among the available meter ballistic
options: VU-only, peak-only, combo peak/VU,
peak-hold/VU.
13. Slate Mic/Tone Switch
Two-position switch activates the slate micro-
phone in the left (momentary) position, or the
tone oscillator in the right (latched) position. Ad-
ditional options available in the Setup Menu.
14. Headphone Selector Switch
Sets the signal source sent to headphones. Op-
tions include: input PFL 1, 2, 3; left output bus;
right output bus; Mono (summed left and right);
STereo master; RTN - stereo monitor return; MS-
mono; MS-stereo; RTN-MS.
15. Headphone Volume
Adjusts the overall volume of the headphones.
NOTE: the headphone output is capable of
ear-damaging levels. Take care when adjusting
among signal sources.
16. Headphone LED
Indicates overload of the headphone circuit and
RTN circuit.
17. Power Switch/LED
Three-position switch selects between internal
battery power or external DC sources. Power
LED illuminates when power is on. LED ashes
when voltage reaches low limit (see Powering).
18. Battery Check Button
Hold to show the internal and external battery
levels on the output meter. Battery level remains
for two seconds after button release. 302 Compact Production Mixer
User Guide and Technical Information
page 5
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ESCRIPTIONS


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UTPUT
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19. Transformer-Balanced Inputs

Can be used unbalanced by grounding pin-3 to
pin-1 of the XLR connector. Pin-1 = ground; pin-2
= hot; pin-3 = cold.
20. Mic/Line Channel Switch
Selects the input level of the adjacent connector.
Mic level has 40 dB more gain than line level.
21. Phantom/DYNamic/T-Power Selection
Selects the microphone powering type of the
adjacent input. DYN position turns off all micro-
phone powering. Mic powering is selected per
input.

NOTE: Use T-Powering only for T-Powered
microphones.
22. Phantom Voltage Selection
Selects between 48 V or 12 V phantom voltage
for the input channels. The three-position switch
uses two positions for 12 Vthere is no differ-
ence between these positions.
23. Headphone Output
3.5 mm TRS stereo headphone output. Can drive
headphones from 8 to 2000 ohms to required
monitoring levels.
24. XLR Master Outputs
Active-balanced outputs. Pin-1 = ground; pin-2 =
hot; pin 3 = cold. Can be unbalanced by using
pin-2 for signal and pin-1 for ground.
25. Output Attenuation LED
When illuminated, indicates that the XLR output
connectors are set for a level other than the fac-
tory default of line level. See Setup Menu to set