a few mixer questions

jigger_3 · Unread post by **jigger_3** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 9:23 pm

I've searched and haven't quite come up with an answer for these.

I use a soundhole pickup and the sound output is pretty weak when I run it through my amp or into my computer. I have to turn the volume waaaay up. I've been looking at the Behringer UB802. Would that boost the signal coming out of the soundhole pickup?
Also I have read some reviews about the mixer being "noisy" despite its ultra low noise design. Does that mean the signal coming out isn't very clean or the mixer itself has a fan or something making noise? Also what exactly does an IMP do? Sorry if these have been asked before, any help would be appreciated.

Too Step · Unread post by **Too Step** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 9:02 am

I can answer a few of those as i have the UB802...

Phantom Power sends 48V of power down the mic lead to power a microphone if it is compatible it won't have any effect on your pickup.

IMP's are Invisible Mic Pre-Amps although i'm not too sure what these do, i think they boost your mic signal.

And it doesn't have a fan.

Ok, looking back at that it doesn't help much but noone else replyed

:lol:

Chris

jigger_3 · Unread post by **jigger_3** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 9:39 am

What is it that is loud then?

jigger_3 · Unread post by **jigger_3** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 7:18 pm

Anyone else have any knowledge/experience they would like to share?

thejoe · Unread post by **thejoe** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 10:43 pm

when someone says its loud, he means that the output signals are slightly noisy compared to more expensive mixers

i have the ub 1202 and i have had no problems with it, for the price, its an excellent mixer.. i use it for home recording and recording live shows

im assuming that your soundhole pickup has a 1/4 in. plug on it, but ive never used one before so i could be wrong, if this is true, im not sure if it will boost the volume or not... im thinking it will because you will be putting a little bit of gain on the signal, or you could always just turn up the output volume on the mixer

but if the pickup has an xlr output, the mixer will boost the signal because xlr is low line (howie day uses the ub802, i think, for his vocals before he goes into his effects chain)

also, are you just plugging the pickup right into your computer's line in jack?

if i forget to check back on this, pm me

jigger_3 · Unread post by **jigger_3** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 5:55 pm

Yeah, the pickup has a 1/4" jack. I have been plugging it directly into my computer and amp.

thejoe · Unread post by **thejoe** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 10:38 pm

alright, then i dont think the mixer is exactly designed to increase the volume, but you could always just turn up the gain/volume on it

MWR · Unread post by **MWR** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 10:59 pm

A mixer is helpful when you need to mix two or more signals like vocals and guitar, bass, keyboards, etc.
If your just looking for a way to boost the signal, which I highly recommend, then get a DI box or a good pre-amp. You'll get more for your money that way because your not paying for stuff you don't need.
Many pre-amps have 1/4"/xlr combo inputs so you can plug in both mics and instruments.

jigger_3 · Unread post by **jigger_3** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 12:02 am

If I understand correctly, a Direct Box would be used to send the signal to a mixer through an XLR connection?

MWR · Unread post by **MWR** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 2:35 am

Yes or a recorder/soundcard. Generally a balanced line (XLR, TRS) will sound less noisy. The DI boosts the signal and provides a blanced output.

CheersDtoT · Unread post by **CheersDtoT** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 5:24 am

Boards are noisy... they ALL are. for example
Noise
(20 to 20kHz) Mic EIN ref. 150 Ohms
(gain + 60dB) - 129dBu

System Noise
(20 to 20kHz) Summing Noise
(48 channels routedwith faders down) - 80dB
Line to Mix Noise
(48 channels routed
at 0dB, pan centre) - 75dB

This is from a Midas Heritage 4k. If you want one of these get ready to sell your house...they start around 100,000 dollars.

If it is a buzz sound.... check the Ground/Lift on your DI (i recomend a Rapco or a Whirlwind DI...Beringer ones are crapy.)

If that has no effect look at the XLR cable. Pin 1 is the SHEILD...Pin2 is HOT...and Pin3 is COLD. Check pin 1 on both ends. Don't mess with pins2 and 3... if you swap those then you will reverse the phase of the cable which puts it out of polarity.

-------A QUICK LESSON ON BALANCED AND UNBALANCED.--------

When a cable is balnced they you are receiving both + and - signals. When a cable is unbalanced you receive the + signal. Bal. means MORE SIGNAL... UNbal. means less. If you are going to run a signal 50 or more... you better make it balanced. Don't buy a Hosa transformer... BUY A Direct Input Box (DI). The Whirlwind Director DI is the industry standard. Stereo and Bal. ARE NOT the same thing. Bal. is + and - .... Stereo is Left and Right... Anyone who says different is weird. Here are some cables that are Bal. and Unbal.

1.) 1/4 is unbalanced.
2.) XLR is balanced.
3.) a normal 1/4 to XLR is Unbalanced.
4.) A bal 1/4 to XLR is Balanced.
5.) MWR... I like you but TRS is NOT balanced.

TRS takes us to the world of INSCERTS (YEAH)!!!! TRS stands for Tip Ring Sleeve. The Tip is the Send...the Ring is the Receive... and the Sleeve is the Sheild. You use these cables for inscerts. A compressor is an inscert. The Tip goes into the Output of the comp. and the Ring goes into the Intput of the comp. TRS is unbalanced... their are two wires and a sheild but they are NOT + and -... they are + and +. If they were + and - and you use it as a stereo cable... then your signal would be out of polarity... and phase cancelation would take place with in your signal.

Which brings us to Bal. good... Unbal.......... not so good.

If you have any questions please feel free to email me... I'm here to help.

Enjoy.

Tranman66 · Unread post by **Tranman66** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 1:48 pm

Wow lol ^^^

CheersDtoT · Unread post by **CheersDtoT** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 9:29 pm

I have to correct myself. I thought you were talking about TRS in another use. A TRS cable can be balanced if wired as so... Tip + Ring - and Sleeve is Sheild. My mistake... I thought you were talking about somthing else. You can also wire a TRS cable to be stereo as well...just make sure that you have a TRS jack to plug your TRS cable into. Sorry my bad... enjoy

MWR · Unread post by **MWR** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 9:54 pm

CheersDtoT wrote:I have to correct myself. I thought you were talking about TRS in another use. A TRS cable can be balanced if wired as so... Tip + Ring - and Sleeve is Sheild. My mistake... I thought you were talking about somthing else. You can also wire a TRS cable to be stereo as well...just make sure that you have a TRS jack to plug your TRS cable into. Sorry my bad... enjoy

No worries. I'm glad I didn't have to lay the smack down. :wink:

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