Fostex FM-3 Portable 3-Channel Mixer

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The FM-3 portable mixer offers a three-input, stereo output portable mixing solution and has been designed primarily for ENG (electronic news gathering) but is also at home in on-location film productions. It’s equipped with 3 balanced inputs (switchable phantom power), with a 2-channel main output plus a wide variety of sub outputs.

The FM-3’s robust and rugged design has all controls, inputs and outputs easily accessible on three main surfaces with no ‘round the back’ controls. Special care has been taken to ensure noise levels are kept extremely low, which makes this mixer perfect for use in any over-the-shoulder production application including digital transmission links or digital video and audio recording media.

With its low-noise circuitry, exceptional audio fidelity and unique feature sets the FM-3 is not only more than suitable for all professional broadcast and film applications, it sets a new benchmark for portable on-location mixing devices.

• Inputs:
  • FM-3 Input 1 through Input 3: XLR-3-31 type (transformer balanced)
  • Mic Input:
    • Input Impedance: 2 k Ohm or more
    • Nominal Input Level: -70 dBu to -30 dBu
    • Phantom Power: P48V or T12V (selectable)
  • Line Input:
    • Input Impedance: 10 k Ohm or more
    • Nominal Input Level: -20 dBu to +4 dBu
  • Aux In: XLR-5-51 type (electronically balanced)
    • Input Impedance: 20 k Ohm or more
    • Nominal Input Level: +4 dBu
    • RTN IN: Connector: ø 3.5mm stereo mini-phone jack (unbalanced)
    • Input Impedance: 10 k Ohm or more
    • Nominal Input Level: -10 dBV
• Outputs:
  • Main Out (L, R): XLR-3-32 type (transformer balanced)
    • Applicable Load Impedance: 600 Ohm or more
    • Nominal Output Level: +4, 0, -20 or -60 dBu switchable)
  • Sub Out: XLR-5-52 type (electronically balanced)
    • Applicable Load Impedance: 10 k Ohm or more
    • Nominal Output Level: +4, 0, -20 or -60 dBu (switchable)
  • Tape Out: Connector: ø 3.5mm stereo mini-phone jack (unbalanced)
    • Applicable Load Impedance: 10 k Ohm or more
    • Nominal Output Level: -10 dBV
  • Aux Out: Connector: ø 3.5mm stereo mini-phone jack (unbalanced)
    • Applicable Load Impedance: 10 k Ohm or more
    • Nominal Output Level: -10 dBV or -60 dBV (switchable)
  • Phones: Connectors : 1/4" stereo phone jack and ø 3.5mm stereo mini-phone jack
    • Applicable Load Impedance: 8 Ohm or more
  • Limiter:
    • Attack Time: approx 5 msec. Release Time: approx 200 msec.
    • Threshold Level: +6 or +12dBu output level
    • Ratio: 3:1 or 5:1 (level and ratio can be selected using the status mode)
  • DC In: XLR-4-32 type (male). Input Voltage: DC10V to DC 24V
  • DC Out: Hirose 4 pin (female). Applicable Plug: Hirose HR10A-7P-4P. DC7.2V - 24
• Performance:
  • Frequency Response:
    • Line In - Main Out: 20Hz to 20kHz +/- 1dB (reference level)
    • Mic In - Main Out: 40Hz to 20kHz +/- 1dB (reference level)
    • Headphones (32 Ohm load, 25mW output power): 20Hz to 20kHz +/- 3dB
  • S/N Ratio (A-weighted):
    • Line (Input Gain: +4 dBu): 80dB or better
    • Mic (Input Gain: -70dBu: 55dB or better (equivalent input noise: -125 dBu)
  • Total Harmonic Distortion:
  • Line: 0.1% or less at 1 kHz (Input Gain +4dBu)
  • Mic: 0.1% or less at 1kHz (Input Gain -70dBu)
  • Headphones Residual Noise: (Phones level control at minimum)
    • -72 dBV or less (A-weighted)
  • Crosstalk: -70 dB or less at 1kHz
• Physical:
  • Internal Batteries: (8) AA batteries (alkaline: 12V, nickel hydride: 9.6V)/li>
  • Power Requirement: DC7.2 to 12V
  • External Power Supply: Optional AC adaptor (AD15C / AD15-4300)
  • External Dimensions (W x H x D): 8.27 x 2.24 x 6.14 in | 210 x 57 x 156 mm (including protrusions)
  • Weight: approximately 2.65 lbs | 1.2 kg (not including the internal batteries)