Applies to: Platinum Penta

Contents:

• No LEDs illuminate
• No Output when using the mic input
• No output when using the line input
• No output when using the Instrument input
• The Compressor isn't working
• No word Clock Lock
• No Output from the digital option card
• My Penta does not power on
• I have to turn the gain up very high 

No LEDs illuminate

• Is the POWER switched on?
• Is the correct mains voltage being used for your unit? If not, the fuse may blow, requiring the correct fuse to be refitted. 

No output when using the MIC INPUT

• Is the power switched on?
• Is the MIC/INST switch on the front panel switched in?
• Is something connected to the Instrument input? (This overrides the mic input.)
• Is the LEVEL set correctly?
• For microphones that require phantom power, is the +48V switch engaged? (If you are unsure whether your microphone requires phantom power, check the user guide for your microphone.)
• Is the output lead connected to the left channel? (Right channel output doesn’t work when Mic/Inst is selected.)

No output when using the LINE INPUT

• Is the power switched on?
• Is the MIC/INST switch on the front panel switched out?
• Is the LEVEL set correctly?

No output when using the INSTRUMENT INPUT

• Is the power switched on?
• Is the MIC/INST switch on the front panel switched in?
• Is the LEVEL set correctly?
• Is the output lead connected to the left channel? (Right channel output doesn’t work when Mic/Inst is selected.)

The COMPRESSOR is not working

• Is the compressor section’s IN switch engaged?
• Is the LEVEL set correctly? If set too low, the signal level may not be high enough to activate the compressor.
• Is the COMPRESSION control set correctly? If set too low, the input level may not reach the threshold at which compression starts. (See user manual)
• Is there something connected to the compressor side-chain input?
• With the compressor engaged and the compression and ratio knob turned fully clockwise, you should see the maximum amount of gain reduction (all LEDs on the gain reduction meter lit when the signal is present).
• Make sure that you have a good input level and see if you can hear a difference when switching the compressor in and out with these settings. If so, then see if you can hear a difference when you reduce the 'compression' knob. You should hear the sound get louder and should see the amount of gain reduction decreasing (that is, with a constant make-up gain).

No word clock lock

• Is your external word clock source transmitting word clock?
• Is the sample frequency set to match that of the word clock-transmitting device?
• Is an external word clock cable needed and, if so, is it connected? (See clocking regulations in the GENERIC SETUP)

No output from the digital output option

• Is the sample frequency set correctly?
• Is the receiving device set to receive at 24-bit?
• Is the receiving device set to external sync? (See DIGITAL in GENERIC SETUP)
• Is the signal format set correctly, Pro or Consumer, set with jumper J2? (See Platinum A/D card Jumpers section in GENERIC SETUP)

My Penta does not power on, what can I do?

• There is a fuse in a holder on the back of the Penta which may have blown. You can lever the holder out with a flathead screwdriver. Check the fuse to see if it is blown and, if it is, replace it with the appropriate fuse.
• Make sure the fuse holder arrowhead points to the correct supply voltage.
• Check the power cable is not faulty (try one you know works).

If the unit still does not power up, contact the distributor for your country to arrange for your unit to be looked at by an authorised Focusrite service engineer (contact details can be found in the distributors' section).

I have to turn the gain up very high to get a good level.

There is most likely nothing wrong with your Penta - note that its meters measure in dBFS.

This is because there is an optional digital output, and it is important to know the clipping point of the converter so as not to overload it and cause digital distortion. 0dBFS on the Penta is equivalent to +22dBu (dBu is the common unit used to express signal level in the analogue domain).

This is the absolute maximum level the input signal should reach, and it is important not to have the O/L LED lighting. It is best to set the input level so that the green LEDs are lit but the yellow ones are not so that there is some headroom.

This may require the input gain to be set to maximum but do not hesitate to do this since the Penta is designed to apply up to 60dB of gain to mic signals whilst retaining a flat frequency response.