Sound Devices CL-12 Linear Fader Controller for the 6-Series Mixer/Recorder Line

The Sound Devices CL-12 Linear Fader Controller attaches directly to any 6-Series mixer with minimal cables, making transitions between cart-based setups and over-the-shoulder workflows quick and easy. Your producer may actually thank you for improving on set workflow.

The CL-12 is compatible with the 688, the 664 and the 633 in the Sound Devices 6-Series Mixer/Recorder family (sold separately). With the CL-12, the 688 gains a 3-band parametric equalizer for each of its 12 inputs, shortcut access to SuperSlot™ wireless receiver data (when used with the SL-6), and MixAssist™ and Dugan automix monitoring. Not all features on the CL-12 are available with every 6-Series mixer/recorder, but you can explore CL-12 feature comparisons in a handy chart the manufacturer created.

The mixing surface of the CL-12 is divided into three areas:

• Top - Rotary controls for EQ and Outputs, plus LED metering and the Power LED
  • 3-Band EQ Controls: LF Gain, MID Freq/Gain, HF Gain (Q-factor & filter type set in the interface sub-menus)
  • LED Output Meters: 12-segment metering levels, plus ARM and Limiter for L, R, X1, and X2
  • Power LED: green illumination when powered via USB
  • Output Controls: (4) rotary control pots for routing or adjusting output or track levels
• Left - Channel Strip (majority of the top panel surface)
  • Each of the (12) strips include: linear faders, SEL and PFL buttons, LED indicators, and LED meters
• Right - Headphone encoder, varied control buttons (transport control, channel selection, etc.)
  • Transport Controls: Record start/stop
  • Channel Select Tools: activates channels (on or arm), naming, high-pass filtering, toggle the phase
  • Metadata Controls: Scene, Take, Notes, Increments, False (last take), @ (to toggle circle status of current take)
  • Fast Access: User definable buttons, SuperSlot, TC Timecode Jam Menu
  • COM & Return Controls: Select Return (RTN) A, B, or C to feed audio monitoring into headphones, or monitor COM
  • Meters & Menu: Duplicate functionality of the Meter button or display functionality of the mixer menu

Form & Function

The standard CL-12 is designed to be a sleek and durable mixing surface with robust black aluminum side panels. Tactile controls, including illuminated buttons and twelve easy-to-use manual faders, combine with LED metering to improve the whole mixing experience. There is also another option available: CL-12 Alaia. Please contact your AbelCine salesperson to find pricing for the Alaia with its hardwood side panels and smooth gliding Penny & Giles faders.

Dedicated Tactile Controls

The standard CL-12 features large, backlit transport buttons for record and stop, as well as numerous dedicated buttons for fast access to menus and other key functionality, such as track arming, naming, and routing. Metadata entry is a button press away, and there are buttons for PFL, HPF, phase inversion, COMs and RTNs. In addition, (3) user-definable buttons offer flexible customization.

Headphone Monitoring

A 3.5mm headphone port on the front panel and a 1/4 headphone port allows you to monitor audio from the CL-12. Sound Devices also mentions the added benefit of adding a low-resistance ground connection to provide robustness to the mixer/controller combo in the presence of static shock. Headphones are available separately.

Powering

A USB A-to-B cable provides both power and control. Sound Devices recommends always using the supplied USB cable and 1/4-inch headphone cable for optimum CL-12 performance. Although optional for the 688, a micro USB power cord (not provided with the CL-12) is required as a DC Power Boost for CL-12 integration with the 664 and 633.

Features:

• (12) 100mm linear input faders (Penny & Giles option with the CL-12 Alaia)
• L, R, X1, X2 level controls with press functionality for input routing
• 3-band parametric equalizer per channel
• Large, backlit transport controls (REC and STOP)
• Numerous dedicated buttons for fast access to menus and key functionality
• Single USB cable connection for power and control, and quick transition from cart to bag
• 22-segment LED meters for L, R, X1, X2
• 7-segment LED pre-fade input meters
• Limiter LEDs
• Indicator LEDs for MixAssist activity, Arm, Channel On, and Routing
• USB Ports keyboard, lamp, and 3rd-party remote control applications (sold separately)
• Headphone port for direct audio monitoring from CL-12

The CL-12 also includes ports for a USB keyboard connection for efficient metadata entry, and for powering an optional USB lamp. 

NOTE: EQ is only available when sample rate is 48.048 kHz or less.