Members nToHrv Posted February 5, 2010 Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 Is was wondering if it was ok to connect from my Mackie 1604 mixer to my dbx 1231 EQ with a 1/4" TRS to XLR cable ... the mackie does not have a XLR out from the board to the EQ (running MONO) ... just wondering if it was ok to go from the 1/4" TRS output on the board to XLR input on the EQ .... does it affect anything per say ?? Or would it be better to keep it 1/4" TRS to 1/4" TRS cable between the two ... thanks as always !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nToHrv Posted February 5, 2010 Author Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 Oh and sorry, one last question ... looking at the back of the mackie mixer ... http://www.mackie.com/home/showimage.html?u=/products/1604vlz3/images/1604VLZ3-Rear.jpg When running my Mains ... do i go out from the Mono 1/4" jack ... or should i use one of the L or R 1/4" jacks ... Sorry, i'm so used to my A&H Mixwiz, just want to make sure with this one as i'm helping out a friend tommorrow ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted February 5, 2010 Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 Either way is identical, the XLR and TRS are paralleled inside the 1231. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members drummer_jay Posted February 5, 2010 Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 Shouldn't be an issue going from TRS to XLR. Since it sounds like you're running a mono setup, then going out the mono output would be best... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members monkeyland Posted February 5, 2010 Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 ideally you would use the main inserts on the board to connect to the EQ. with either the mackie or the mixwiz, unless someone with more experience can correct me i believe that this would be the most efficient way to do it. having to do with the fact that with the insert the EQ would see a consistent signal. with the EQ inline after the main bus the amount of signal going to the EQ is dependent on the position of the master fader Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted February 5, 2010 Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 ideally you would use the main inserts on the board to connect to the EQ. with either the mackie or the mixwiz, unless someone with more experience can correct me i believe that this would be the most efficient way to do it. having to do with the fact that with the insert the EQ would see a consistent signal. with the EQ inline after the main bus the amount of signal going to the EQ is dependent on the position of the master fader Doesn't really matter under most circumstances. Where this is generally more accepted is where you need to do monitoring with the processing in the signal path. Most often encountered in the stage monitor world, where a cue wedge indentical to what was being used on stage was the primary listening device and cueing through the mixex post eq gives a better indication of what each performer is hearing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members monkeyland Posted February 5, 2010 Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 Doesn't really matter under most circumstances. Where this is generally more accepted is where you need to do monitoring with the processing in the signal path. Most often encountered in the stage monitor world, where a cue wedge indentical to what was being used on stage was the primary listening device and cueing through the mixex post eq gives a better indication of what each performer is hearing. i see. thanks for clearing that up. is there anything that you would specifically suggest running in the main inserts in a typical small system using a mixwiz or similar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted February 5, 2010 Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 It can be done, though an advantage of putting the 1231 after the Mackie is that now the outputs are available on XLR connectors, which are more rugged and reliable connectors for the outside world. Most (real) snakes include XLR F connectors on the return fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Coaster Posted February 5, 2010 Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 It can be done, though an advantage of putting the 1231 after the Mackie is that now the outputs are available on XLR connectors, which are more rugged and reliable connectors for the outside world. Most (real) snakes include XLR F connectors on the return fan. what about the considerable issue of the 1604 ouptut meters becoming meaningless by placing the eq after the mixer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dubravac Posted February 5, 2010 Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 Whoa ... Coaster, you just scared me ... is there a better way to connect this system ?? I need my output meters to set my gain structure ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RoadRanger Posted February 5, 2010 Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 what about the considerable issue of the 1604 ouptut meters becoming meaningless by placing the eq after the mixer?Don't remember ever having an issue with that - but I'm not one of those guys that tries to squeeze out every possible db of S/N either . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nToHrv Posted February 5, 2010 Author Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 Hmmm, interesting. So what is the consensus ? Is it ok to go from the MONO 1/4" output in the MAIN OUT section on the back of the mixer to the EQ (dbx 1231) via 1/4" to XLR cable or should it be rigged a different way. As Dubravac said above, i need my output levels to work properly to set my gains for each channel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Coaster Posted February 5, 2010 Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 i need my output levels to work properly to set my gains for each channel. why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nToHrv Posted February 5, 2010 Author Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 So i'm not clipping anything. It's a 5 piece band, guitars, vocals, keys, drums, bass. We set the gains (trims) for each channel to avoid clipping. Isn't that standard procedure ? But i just got a little worried because you said the output meters do not work properly when the EQ comes after the mixer. If thats the case, how can i set my trims properly ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nToHrv Posted February 5, 2010 Author Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 And one more quick question. When using the Mono Out plug to run my mains, there's a dial underneath it that goes from what looks like an 'infinity sign' to '+6db' .... what should that be set too ... Again, just so there's no confusion here ... i run my band FOH setup 2-way Mono ... mixer to the eq, eq to crossover, high to one amp (that powers my tops), low to the other amp (that powers my bins) ... Thank you all !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Coaster Posted February 5, 2010 Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 input and output are unrelated in this aspect. any changes you make on your eq will raise or lower the signal level after your mixer. therefore the output meters on your mixer become meaningless in the sense of the system. i run my eqs in the main insert, many do not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nToHrv Posted February 5, 2010 Author Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 I'm assuming you run stereo ?? The Main inserts have outputs for Left and Right ... which would do me no good because i run Mono for FOH. So on my dual 31 band EQ, i use the top for FOH eq'ing and the bottom for monitor eq'ing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Coaster Posted February 5, 2010 Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 I'm assuming you run stereo ?? sometimes with my mixwiz, not with my mackie. The Main inserts have outputs for Left and Right ... which would do me no good why? because i run Mono for FOH. so? So on my dual 31 band EQ, i use the top for FOH eq'ing and the bottom for monitor eq'ing. you are drawing conclusions without understanding. you have options you havent considered yet. you could use only the left side of your mackie for example, still be mono and still use channel inserts. BTW the mono out is the sum of the LR outs. or you could use the eq inbetween your mixer and crossover, just be sware that the mixers outputs become less meaningful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nToHrv Posted February 5, 2010 Author Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 Ok so let me ask you, and i'm sorry, i could tell you are getting frustrated with me lol ... how would you ideally setup my system ? Mixer (Mono Out or LEFT only ??) to Crossover Input ... crossover high/low to the amps ... and my dbx 1231 connected in the 'MAIN INSERT' area on the back of the Mackie, and only use the LEFT 1/4" jack to the Input on the EQ ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Coaster Posted February 5, 2010 Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 Mixer (Mono Out or LEFT only ??) to Crossover Input ... crossover high/low to the amps ... and my dbx 1231 connected in the 'MAIN INSERT' area on the back of the Mackie, and only use the LEFT 1/4" jack to the Input on the EQ ? thats pretty much how i setup my PA for my band, i use the left side of the mixer, left side master insert for eq, and run left side out to crossover. you dont have to do it that way though, its just one option. when i do sound for other bands i usually run a stereo pa (i mix mono) with an eq for each side (but not always). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nToHrv Posted February 5, 2010 Author Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 Appreciate your help Coaster .. i'll give it a go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RoadRanger Posted February 6, 2010 Members Share Posted February 6, 2010 So what is the consensus ?You want consensus? You're sure in the wrong place for that . BTW you do know you need a special cable for the insert jacks that goes from a TRS plug to two TS plugs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members monkeyland Posted February 6, 2010 Members Share Posted February 6, 2010 And one more quick question. When using the Mono Out plug to run my mains, there's a dial underneath it that goes from what looks like an 'infinity sign' to '+6db' .... what should that be set too ... Again, just so there's no confusion here ... i run my band FOH setup 2-way Mono ... mixer to the eq, eq to crossover, high to one amp (that powers my tops), low to the other amp (that powers my bins) ... Thank you all !! you really should probably read the manual for the mixer. it's pretty clear if not a little too verbose. its available for download from the mackie website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted February 6, 2010 Members Share Posted February 6, 2010 Good grief... it doesn't matter. The meters on your Mackie read output level of the board. the eq has a clipping level of +22dB or higher. If you are operating anywhere near this, you have other bidder problems understanding how this stuff works. I don't even look at the output meters on my console (the ppower supply osts more than your entire console), once reasonable gain structure is set up, it's not important information. Also, your output levels mean absolutely nothing in regards to setting your channel gains. Time to spend a little time with your manuals and maybe read a little bit here on this forum about BASIC gain structure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Deke08 Posted February 6, 2010 Members Share Posted February 6, 2010 the power supply costs more than your entire console Good grief... it doesn't matter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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