User manual SOUNDCRAFT EPM

[. . . ] User Guide 1 IMPORTANT Please read this manual carefully before using your mixer for the first time. © Harman International Industries Ltd. 2006 All rights reserved Parts of the design of this product may be protected by worldwide patents. ZM0338-01 Soundcraft is a trading division of Harman International Industries Ltd. Information in this manual is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of the vendor. [. . . ] Professional dynamic, condenser or ribbon mics are best because these will be LOW IMPEDANCE. You can use low-cost HIGH IMPEDANCE mics, but the level of background noise will be higher. If you turn the PHANTOM POWER on (top right-hand side of the mixer) the socket provides a suitable powering voltage for professional condenser mics. ONLY connect condenser microphones with the +48V powering OFF, and ONLY turn the +48V powering on or off with all output faders DOWN, to prevent damage to the mixer or external devices. TAKE CARE when using unbalanced sources, which may be damaged by the phantom power voltage on pins 2 & 3 of the XLR connector. The input level is set using the GAIN knob. 2 Line Input Accepts 3-pole `A' gauge (TRS) jacks. Use this input for sources other than mics, such as keyboards, drum machines, synths, tape machines or DI'd guitars. The input is BALANCED for low noise and top quality from professional equipment, but you can use UNBALANCED sources by wiring up the jacks as shown below, although you should then keep cable lengths as short as possible. Set the input level using the GAIN knob. 3 Insert Point The unbalanced, pre-EQ insert point is a break in the channel signal path, allowing limiters, compressors, special EQ or other signal processing units to be added in the signal path. The Insert is a 3-pole `A' gauge jack socket which is normally bypassed. When a jack is inserted, the signal path is broken, just before the EQ section. The Send may also be tapped off as an alternative pre-fade, pre-EQ direct output if required, using a lead with tip and ring shorted together so that the signal path is not interrupted (see below). 4 Gain This knob sets how much of the source signal is sent to the rest of the mixer. Too low, and the level of any 15 background hiss will be more noticeable and you may not be able to get enough signal level to the output of the mixer. Note that some sound equipment, particularly that intended for domestic use, operates at a lower level (-10dBV) than professional equipment and will therefore need a higher gain setting to give the same output level. See "Initial Setup" on page 22 to learn how to set GAIN correctly. 5 Equaliser The Equaliser (EQ) allows fine manipulation of the sound, particularly to improve the sound in live PA applications where the original signal is often far from ideal and where slight boosting or cutting of particular voice frequencies can really make a difference to clarity. There are three sections giving the sort of control usually only found on much larger mixers. The EQ knobs can have a dramatic effect, so use them sparingly and listen carefully as you change any settings so that you get to know how they affect the sound. HF EQ Turn to the right to boost high (treble) frequencies above 12kHz by up to 15dB, adding crispness to cymbals, vocals and electronic instruments. Turn to the left to cut by up to 15dB, reducing hiss or excessive sibilance which can occur with certain types of microphone. MID EQ There are two knobs which work together to form a SWEPT MID EQ. The lower knob provides 15dB of boost and cut, just like the HF EQ knob, but the frequency at which this occurs can be set by the upper knob over a range of 140Hz to 3kHz. This allows some truly creative improvement of the signal in live situations, because this mid band covers the range of most vocals. Listen carefully as you use these controls together to find how particular characteristics of a vocal signal can be enhanced or reduced. LF EQ Turn to the right to boost low (bass) frequencies below 60Hz by up to 15dB, adding warmth to vocals or extra punch to synths, guitars and drums. Turn to the left to cut low frequencies by up to 15dB for reducing hum, stage rumble or to improve a mushy sound. [. . . ] Nominal levels can be anywhere between -0dBu to +6dBu, usually coming from a low impedance source. Abbreviation of `panorama': controls the levels sent to left and right outputs. The point at which a signal rises to its maximum instantaneous level, before falling back down again. It can also describe an equaliser response curve affecting only a band of frequencies, (like on a graphic equaliser), "peaking" at the centre of that band. [. . . ]