User manual SOUNDCRAFT POWERSTATION 600

[. . . ] . 20 INTRODUCTION Thank you for purchasing a Powerstation mixer, brought to you with pride by the SPIRIT team of Andy, Colin, Chris, James, Simon, Mukesh, Graham, Martin, Paul, Tony, Adam, Peter, our friends in Boston and with the support of many others - we hope you will have as much fun using it as we did building it! SAFETY PRECAUTIONS For your own safety and to avoid invalidation of the warranty please read this section carefully. WARNING: THIS UNIT MUST BE EARTHED Under no circumstances should the mains earth be disconnected from the mains lead. The wires in the mains lead are coloured in accordance with the following code: Earth: Neutral: Live: Green and Yellow (Green/Yellow - US) Blue (White - US) Brown (Black - US) As the colours of the wires in the mains lead may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows: l The wire which is coloured Green and Yellow must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked with the letter E or by the earth symbol. l The wire which is coloured Blue must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked with the letter N. l The wire which is coloured Brown must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked with the letter L. [. . . ] Turning to the left can be helpful to reduce hum or boominess or to improve a mushy sound. Set the controls to the centre-detented position when not required. AUXILIARY SENDS These are used to set up separate mono mixes for FOLDBACK, EFFECTS or recording, and the combination of each Aux Send is mixed to the respective Aux Output at the rear of the mixer. For Effects it is useful for the signal to fade up and down with the fader (this is called POST-FADE), but for Foldback or Monitor feeds it is important for the send to be independent of the fader (this is called PRE-FADE). Aux 1 is always PRE-FADE, POST-EQ, for typical use as a monitor or foldback feed. By pressing the AUX 2 PRE switch on the Master section the Aux 2 send is set PRE-FADE, POST-EQ. If a mono source is used, plugging into the Left jack only automatically feeds the signal to both Left and Right. PROGRAM SELECT/PARAMETER ADJUST PROGRAM SELECT This rotary switch allows any one of 16 factory-programmed effect combinations to be selected, as listed on the panel legend below the controls. These factory presets have been carefully selected and should be suitable for most applications. 2 TRACK RETURN The unbalanced 2Track Return, at a nominal -10dBV on RCA phono sockets, feeds via the 2TRK TO MIX switch and the 2 TRACK RETURN control to Mix L/R, before the Mix L/R Master faders. This input is ideal for preshow or interval music from an external source, or as an additional effects return. PARAMETER ADJUST Two effects Parameters may be adjusted and saved in the onboard RAM for each of the pre-programmed effects, using the encoder knob and the two PARAMeter switches. The best setting for a particular application will be found by experimentation and careful listening to the final sound. Adjustments are made with the encoder knob while pressing and holding the required PARAM switch, listening to the result. As soon as the PARAM switch is released the setting will be held in internal flash RAM memory. Any alterations to the pre-programmed settings are retained, even if the mixer is turned off, and will be recalled the next time that the particular program is selected. If these settings differ from the original default settings the USER MODE LED illuminates. Factory default settings may be restored by pressing and holding both PARAM switches until the USER MODE LED goes out. PFL When the PFL switch is pressed, the pre-fade 2 Track Return signal is fed in mono to the headphones and meters, where it replaces the Mix as the monitor source. This is a useful way of listening to the Return for making adjustments or tracing problems. 2TRK TO MIX This switch routes the 2 Track Return to Mix L/R, and provides a very simple method of feeding an external source (e. g. interval music) to the Mix outputs. Page 7 LEXICON MUTE FOOT SWITCH The Effects may be turned ON or OFF remotely by connecting a standard latching or non-latching guitar foot-switch, or similar unit providing an isolated switch closure, to the rear panel Lexicon Foot Switch jack socket as shown. The Effect is muted when the switch is closed. STATUS INDICATORS Three LEDs provide visual indication of the status of the mixer. POWER The POWER (green) lights to show that power is switched on, and senses the power amplifier voltage rails. CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN THERMAL The THERMAL (yellow) indicates that power amplifier over-temperature has been detected. GRAPHIC EQUALISER GRAPHIC EQUALISER DO NOT apply any external voltage to the jack socket MUTE The MUTE (red) lights when the power amplifier output relays are open. This happens momentarily on power-up to isolate surges as the power rails stabilise, or will happen if the protection circuits detect a d. c. fault situation or overheating, in which case the relays will open as protection for the loudspeakers. offeset or overheating is suspected, check that the air vents at the front and rear of the mixer have not been inadvertently covered. 8 The stereo GRAHIC EQUALISER is Switch open = Effect ON normalled to the Mix L/R outputs. Switch closed Seven frequency bands, with cut or = Effect OFF boost of 6dB, allow very precise global control over subtle tonal changes to the PA rig in a particular room. (This is in contrast to the much more dangerous +/-12 or +/-15dB offered on some other units where a deceptively small movement of the faders can result in feedback or similar unwanted effects. ) The built-in graphic equaliser is intended to trim the overall sound to suit the room, and is not designed to null out frequencies to prevent feedback. [. . . ] Having set the correct input Gain settings for each channel, you are now ready to start building the mix and this should be done progressively, listening carefully for each component in the mix and watching the meters for any hint of overload. If this occurs, back off the appropriate Channel Fader slightly until the level is out of the red segments, or adjust the Mix Faders. Note: The level of any source signal in the final output is affected by many factors, principally the Gain control, Channel Fader, Mix Faders and Power Amp level. You should try to use only as much microphone gain as required to achieve a good balance between signals, with the faders set as described above. [. . . ]