The Global section of the main master module of the Ark has the following controls:

* Global Lights Dim controls the light intensity of all switch LED’s and VU meters. Turn it up if you work in a bright room, turn it down if you work in a darkened room.
* Global Meter Select switches all input channel meters to read either the Mic/Line input, the DAW input or the Direct Out.
* 0VU +6 switches all VU meters to 0VU = +10dB (instead of +4dB) to avoid the meter parking itself in the right corner when working with high-level DAW outputs. (This includes the master meters)
* Global Solo Select determines the functionality of all Solo switches on the console. This can be either PFL, AFL or Solo-In-Place (SIP)

The Comms section of the main master module of the Ark has the following controls:

* Listen Trim and Talkback Mic Trim set the external Listen Mic level and the internal Talkback Mic level.
* [Talk To] sets the destination for the talkback Mic
* [Listen] activates the external listen input, and routes this to the selected CRM

* [Auto] The Auto Comm switch and function are used in conjunction with the transport control. When the Auto Comm function is engaged:
- Listen input becomes active when transport is stopped (if Listen input switch is in)
- Talkback becomes active when transport is stopped (if Talkback Latch is in) (see Talkback section).

There are 2 Cue mixes available.
Cues can be used for anything, going from headphone mixes to speakers in the recording room, the bar or at the swimming pool. Or just a separate feed for whatever you need.

Both Cue mixes are identical, but independent, and offer the following:
* Cue Trim controls the level of the respective Cue output.
* [Aux 1-8] and [Master 1-2] select the source which is send to the Cue mix. You can use all of them at the same time if you want. (Singer wants full mix with “extra me”? Send either of the masters and one of the auxes)
* [CRM] can also be added to the Cue mix. This sends whatever is in the Control Room (CRM) speakers to the Cue mix (excluding Solo).

There are 3 talkback buttons.
These allow direct communication to :
- Aux 1 to 8, depending on the selection made in the Comms section.
- Cue 1
- Cue 2

Standard, the Talkback buttons are momentary, so they are only active as long as you press and hold them.
Each of the Talkback buttons can be changed to be latching, by means of the [Latch] switch.
When this switch is used, the Talkback stays on. You need to manually switch it off by pressing the Talkback button again. We suggest to be careful with the Talkback Latch function. Bands have split and divorces have happened because of talkback which was left on by accident.

The Talkback Latch function is effected by the Auto Comm function (see Comms)

[Auto Comm] The Auto Comm switch and function are used in conjunction with our transport control. When the Auto Comm function is engaged:
- Listen input becomes active when transport is stopped (if Listen input switch is in)
- Talkback becomes active when transport is stopped (if Talkback Latch is in).

There are two high-quality stereo master faders on the Ark.

Master 1 controls the level of the Stereo Master 1 output.
Master 2 controls the level of the Stereo Master 2 output.

Each of the master outputs has pre-fader insert send and return, which can be activated by means of the [Insert On] switch.
When this switch is not active, the insert is bypassed.
Insert Send is always active and can be used as additional pre-fader master output.


Master Inputs (rear panel or patchbay connectors)
Signals from the external Master Inputs are added to the respective master bus outputs before the Insert Send.
This allows the master outputs of another console or side-car to be directly connected to the Master bus of the Ark.

There is a wide selection of inputs, outputs and controls on the Control Room section of the main master module of the Ark.


Control Room Source Select
IP701: Master 1 or 2, External 1 to 4, or External 7.1 input can be selected here.
IP702: Master 1 or 2 or External 1 to 4 input can be selected here.
Only one of these inputs can be active at any time. The selected source is send to the CRM speakers.
There is an additional Ext 4 input on the front panel which is in parallel with the Ext 4 input on the rear panel. (this may come in handy to quickly connect a smartphone)


Control Room Speaker Select
IP701: There are 5 sets of Control Room Monitor speakers. All of them are controlled through the main, big CRM knob.
IP702: There are 4 sets of Control Room Monitor speakers. All of them are controlled through the main, big CRM knob.

- CRM 1 to 4 are stereo speaker sets. Each stereo speaker set has it’s own independent trim control (after the big CRM knob)
- CRM 7.1 can be used to connect any surround speaker configuration up to 7.1 The 7.1 speaker set has it’s own trim control after the big CRM knob.
(CRM 7.1 is not available on the IP702 master section)


CRM 1, 2 or 3 : only one set of these speakers can be active at any time. (selecting one switches of the other)

CRM 4 can be added to any other speaker selection, or can be used by itself by switching CRM 1-3 off.
This means you can have one of speaker sets CRM 1-3 active and CRM 4
(This may come in handy to send the Control Room signal to a speaker set in the recording room, for example)

CRM 7.1 can be used in addition to the CRM stereo speakers which are selected. (IP701 only)
See the 7.1 tab for more info on 7.1 sources and routing

The large CRM Vol knob controls the main level of CRM 1 to 4, and CRM 7.1. The actual speaker volume depends on the respective trim pots.

[Mute] with independent mute of Left and Right signal is available for the stereo CRM signal.

[DIM] is available for the stereo CRM signal. The Dim level is controlled by the Dim trim pot.

A global [Solo Clear] switch has been added to clear all solo switches which may have remained active on the console. The level of the Solo signal is controlled by the Solo trim.

The Ark was not designed as a surround console. But we wanted to offer basic surround monitoring and functionality. Our goal was to keep this as simple as possible, but at the same time as usable as possible. We opted for 7.1 functionality, since this can also be used for 5.1 or 5.1.2
This surround functionality is only available with the IP701 master module.
The IP702 does not have the 7.1 functionality.

Ext 7.1 Source Select
The Ext 7.1 input is a separate connector on the rear panel or patchbay. The 7.1 input is routed to the selected CRM monitors when Ext 7.1 is active.
Note that if a stereo monitor pair is selected (CRM 1-4), you’ll only hear front L/R of the 7.1 signal.

CRM 7.1
CRM 7.1 is a separate monitor output, independent from (or actually parallel to) the stereo CRM monitors.
CRM 7.1 can be used in addition to any stereo CRM speaker set. CRM 7.1 gets its signal from the 7.1 master bus, or from the Ext 7.1 input.

7.1 routing and configuration
The 7.1 surround bus gets it’s signal as follows:
Master 1 -> Front L/R (for 5.1, 5.1.2 and 7.1 use)
Master 2 -> Rear L/R (for 5.1, 5.1.2 and 7.1 use)
Aux 1 -> Front centre (for 5.1, 5.1.2 and 7.1 use)
Aux 2 -> Sub (for 5.1, 5.1.2, 7.1 or Sub only use)
Aux 5/6 -> Top or Middle L/R (5.1.2 or 7.1)

This routing is always active, and allows basic 5.1, 5.1.2, 7.1 mixing if needed.


Full 5.1.2 / 7.1 configuration
Connect all speakers of the 7.1 set to the CRM 7.1 output

5.1.2 / 7.1 configuration with front L/R coming from CRM 1-4
Since CRM 1-4 and CRM 7.1 can be active at the same time, you can use your main stereo speakers as part of the 7.1 set-up.
In this case, you would not connect front L/R of the CRM 7.1 output, but would use your main stereo speaker set for front L/R

5.1 configuration
Connect all speakers to the 7.1 output, apart from middle L/R

5.1 configuration with front L/R coming from CRM 1-4
Since CRM 1-4 and CRM 7.1 can be active at the same time, you can use your main stereo speakers as part of the 5.1 set-up.
In this case, you would not connect front L/R of the 7.1 CRM output, but would use your main stereo speaker set for front L/R

2.1 configuration
Connect only the subwoofer to the CRM 7.1 output.
The CRM 7.1 switch becomes “subwoofer on/off” (with sub signal controlled from aux 2 from each channel)