9
Microphones & Speaker Systems
Take the time to study the potential audience area to
be covered with careful attention to the horizontal
and vertical angles the speakers will have to cover.
The height of the speakers above the audience is
critical to effective sound coverage and optimum
quality. For maximum sound quality and minimum
room interference, Passport’s speakers have been
specially designed to work with tripod and speaker
support systems. Using the optional Passport Tripod
kit, set the speakers at the maximum safe height that
will allow listeners at the rear of the audience area to
get a clear “view” of the speaker systems. Nothing
absorbs sound better that a few hundred people
between you and the speaker system. Always set
up speaker support and tripod systems in strict
accordance with the owner’s manuals and safety
requirements of those devices.
It is very important that the speakers are aimed and
positioned as
far away
from and
in front
of the
microphones as cables allow. A microphone is
designed to pick-up any and all sounds. Your
Passport P-51 microphones have a cardioid pick-up
pattern and are designed to reject as much sound
coming from the sides and rear of the microphone as
possible. If the loudest sound the microphone picks-
up is the sound from the speaker systems,
destructive feedback-howling will result. Position the
speakers and the microphones so the minimum
amount of amplified sound gets back to the
microphone(s), and the maximum amount of the
sound you wish to reinforce is input. In this way
greater volume before feedback can be realized and
disruptive howling-feedback reduced or avoided.
For music and other types of entertainment, place
the speaker systems symmetrically either side of the
stage, in relation to the audience. For effective
“stereo” reproduction, all of the audience must hear
both speakers. For mono or speech only
applications, consider placing the speakers as close
together as possible and angled for coverage of the
audience area. In this way greater output levels can
be reached and a more natural single point source is
created for the sound. Again, placement of the
speakers is a critical element in the successful use of
your sound system. Take time to carefully consider
the variables and by all means experiment. There is
no absolute right and wrong in sound, just what
works best for you in your application.
∆
This control features a detented or notched
position indicator
Channels 1 - 4
Level:
The Level control
adjusts the amount of incoming
signal sent to the rest of the
mixing stages. Correct
adjustment of this control is
critical for clean, and undistorted
operation of the Passport
System. Follow set-up
instructions on page 6.
VIP
(channel 1 only): The VIP or
Vocal Input Priority control
adjusts the threshold at which
the level of all other channels are
automatically reduced in favor of
the microphone attached to the
Mic 1 input. This unique feature
permits a user to speak while
other inputs (such as background music) continue at
temporarily reduced levels. Adjust this control while
speaking into a microphone on channel 1, with other
program material input through another channel.
Depending on the duration and level of the signal
being input to Mic 1 and the position of the threshold
control, the VIP circuit will trigger a reduction in level
of all the other channels. The original levels will be
automatically restored when there is no signal
present on channel 1. The duration of the reduction
in level will depend on how strong a signal is input to
the VIP circuit. Adjust for the amount of this effect
desired for your application. In typical use the circuit
will return normal levels in about 4 seconds. With the
threshold higher or a stronger signal normal levels
will be restored after approximately 6 seconds. The
VIP circuit has an intentionally slow release time. The
slow release prevents interruptions through the
momentary restoration of music when a talker
pauses for thought. With a hand held microphone
and normal speech the VIP will operate properly set
to approximately the two o’clock position, if the user
is further from the microphone, a higher setting will be
needed. Care should be taken to avoid the VIP
triggering on sound from the main speakers. At high
threshold settings the microphone may “hear” the
main system speakers and trigger a reduction in
level.
Note: The VIP Threshold is sensed Pre-
Fader. When not in use, turn this control to the
Off position.
See the section referring to speaker
placement and mounting and avoid setting the VIP
threshold unnecessarily high.
MONO MIC / LINE CONTROLS
