Tapco BLEND16, Owner'S Manual

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Appendix A: Using the Blend 16

At first glance, the controls on the front panel of the 

Blend 16 may seem more at home in a space movie, 
right next to the Navigation officer.  Like most things, 
it’s worse than that, really.

Here is a brief overview that may help:

Buses

A public transportation bus takes many passengers 

and delivers them to various destinations. In a similar 
way, an audio bus combines multiple audio signals 
and delivers them to an output.

The Blend 16 has two main mix buses, two auxiliary 

buses, and four subgroup buses.

Main Mix Buses

The audio signals from the microphones, guitars, 

instruments and keyboards of your wonder-band can 
be combined in the main mix bus and sent to your 
main amplifiers and speakers (or powered speakers). 
This could be your Club speaker system, or Uncle 
Ernie’s garage.

To get the channel signals onto the left and right 

main mix buses, press the L-R buttons near the bottom 
of each channel strip.

The channel PAN knobs adjust the signal balance 

onto the buses. Mono signals are shared equally to 
the left and right bus if the PAN is centered. With PAN 
fully left, the signals just go onto the left bus, and with 
PAN fully right, they go onto the right bus.

Each channel can be tweaked in EQ and level, 

and the MAIN MIX FADER used to adjust the overall 
volume level. The main mix can also be assigned to 
the USB output, and sent to a computer for recording. 

In addition to the channel inputs, the main mix can 

receive the following:
•  Each of the four subgroups has an L and R switch 

to assign the output onto the main mix. See below 
for more subgroup details.

•  The CD/Tape input has a level control to adjust the 

amount of signal going onto the main mix.

•  The FX RETURN input has a similar control to adjust 

the level of internal and external effects going on 
to the main mix.

•  Channels 15 and 16 can switch the audio output 

from your computer’s software (such as Tracktion) 
onto the main mix.

•  Channels 13 and 14 can accept the signals from a 

turntable onto the main mix.

Auxiliary 1 Stage Monitor bus

The Aux 1 Mon bus is normally used for sending 

an output to your stage monitors, so the band can 
clearly hear what they are playing, amidst the wild 
frenzy of the audience.

To get signals onto the Aux 1 Mon bus, rotate the 

AUX SEND 1 controls located just below the EQ section 
of each channel strip. 

The stage monitors receive a mix which is 

independent from the main mix, and not affected by 
the channel faders or Main Mix fader.

The mixer has a separate AUX SEND 1 output, which 

allows you to send the feed to your stage monitors.

Auxiliary 2 Effects bus

The Aux 2 FX bus is normally used to send an output 

through the internal effects processor and onto the 
main mix, and to send an output to external effects 
via the AUX SEND 2 output.

To get signals onto the Aux 2 FX bus, rotate the AUX 

SEND 2 controls located just below the EQ section of 
each channel strip.

Unlike Aux Send 1, the levels going to Aux Send 2 

are affected by the channel faders. (As the channel 
faders are changed, the signal levels going to the 
internal and external processors change.)

MAIN MIX BUS LEFT
MAIN MIX BUS RIGHT

MIC

MIC

MIC

MIC

BASS

MIC

GUIT

AR

KEYBO

ARD L

KEYBO

ARD R

MIC

MAIN OUT R

MAIN OUT L

AUX 1 MONITOR BUS

MIC

MIC

MICB

ASS

MIC

GUIT

AR

MIC

A

UX SEND 1

MICKEYBO

ARD L

KEYBO

ARD R

AUX 2 EFFECTS BUS

MIC

MIC

MICB

ASS

MIC

GUIT

AR

A

UX SEND 2

MICKEYBO

ARD L

KEYBO

ARD R

TO INTERNAL FX