SoundCraft POWERSTATION 1200, User Manual

Page: 10 / 20

Page 10
Setting Up & Troubleshooting
INITIAL SET UP
Once you have connected up your system, you are
ready to set initial positions for the controls on your
mixer.
The front panel drawing on page 18 shows typical ini-
tial control positions which may serve as a useful guide
to setting up the mixer for the first time.
Set up individual input channels as follows:
l Connect the source required (microphone, key-
board etc.) to the appropriate inputs.
Note: Phantom powered mics should be
connected before the +48V is switched on.
l Set Mix faders at 0, input faders at 0, and set the
Power Amp Output level to the required level.
l Set all EQ controls to the centre ‘flat’ position.
l Press the PFL button on the particular channel,
monitoring the level on the meters.
l Adjust the input gain until the meter is just reach-
ing the amber section (0dB) at a typical maxi-
mum source level. This allows sufficient head-
room to accommodate peaks and establishes the
maximum level for normal operation (but see
note below).
l Release the PFL button
l Repeat this procedure on other channels as
required. As more channels are added to the
mix, the meters may move into the red section.
l Listen carefully for the characteristic sound of
‘feedback’. If you cannot achieve satisfactory
input level setting without feedback, check
microphone and speaker placement and repeat
the exercise.
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 careful-
ly 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 con-
trol, 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.
If the input gain is set too high, the channel fader will
need to be pulled down too far in compensation to
leave enough travel for successful mixing and there is a
greater risk of feedback because small fader move-
ments will have a very significant effect on output level.
If the gain is set too low, you will not find enough gain
on the faders to bring the signal up to an adequate
level.
Boosting or cutting EQ also affects gain. It is often nec-
essary to readjust input gain using the PFL switch after
changing a channel’s EQ settings
Microphone Placement
Careful microphone placement and the choice of a
suitable type of microphone for the job is one of the
essentials of successful sound reinforcement. The aim
should be to place the microphone as close as physi-
cally possible to the source, to cut out unwanted sur-
rounding sounds, allow a lower gain setting on the
mixer and avoid feedback. Also a well-chosen and
well-placed microphone should not need any appre-
ciable equalisation.
TROUBLESHOOTING
No Power
l Is the mains supply present? Check that mains
voltage selection is correct for your country.
l Is the mains lead firmly connected?
l Check the mains fusing
Condenser Mic Not Working
l Is the +48V turned on?
l Is the mic plugged into the Mic input?
l Is the mic cable a balanced 3-wire type?
Meters not showing any signal
l Has the input gain been set correctly? (see
above.)
l Is the source connected to the appropriate input
socket for the level of signal?
l Do you have something connected on the
Inserts, and is that external device switched on?
l Are the Master faders set at max., and are input
faders set high enough?
l Is there a PFL/AFL pressed on another channel?
No Mix output
l Check that the Mix Master Fader is up?
l Do you have something connected on the Mix
Inserts, and is that external device switched on?
Headphones Distorting
l Are the headphones less than 200 W impedance?
l Is the Monitor level set too high?
No Loudspeaker output
l Is the power amp level control set high enough?
l Is the power input bypassed by a jack inserted in
the power amp input jack?
Thermal LED On
l This is a warning that you should allow the ampli-
fier to cool down. The internal temperature has
reached safe limits and the amplifier may shut
down if no action is taken.
Thermal LED On and Mute LED On with no output to
Speakers
l The amplifier has shut down due to overheating
and the output relays have opened. Switch off
and allow the unit to cool down! Check that the
unit has adequate ventilation, that operating lev-
els are set correctly and that the speaker load is
4 W or greater.