SoundCraft SPIRIT POWERSTATION, User Manual

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BASIC PRINCIPLES OF PA MIXING
There was a time when the P.A. system and the operator
existed only to increase the overall volume of the performers,
so that they could be heard in a large room or above high
ambient noise levels. This just isn’t true any more. The sound
system and the sound engineer have become an integral part
of the performance, and the artists are heavily dependent on
the operator’s skill and the quality of the equipment.
The following introduction to the basics of mixing are
included for the benefit of those users who may not have any
significant familiarity with sound equipment, and who are
baffled by the endless jargon used by engineers and artists
alike.
System Overview
As one would expect, the main purpose of the mixer is to
combine sounds, but under precise and smooth control. This
is why linear faders are essential on any professional product.
The faders provide you with clear and instinctive control of
the final sound balance and like an artist playing an
instrument you should listen to the effect of your fader
movements, not look at your hands.
Your
SPIRIT POWERSTATION
mixer accepts a wide range of
input signals via a microphone input, for very low level
signals, or a line input, for higher level signals from, for
instance, tape machines, keyboards, etc.
A built-in 7-band Graphic Equaliser offers precise correction
of the output signal if required, and is normally patched into
the input to the integral power amplifier.
POWER STATION
is designed to be as user-friendly as
possible, but a few minutes spent reading through this
manual will help you become familiar with the product away
from the pressure of a live session, and allow you to gain full
benefit from the superb performance offered by your new
mixer.
Above all, remember that your
SPIRIT
mixer is designed to
extend your creativity. The more you explore the controls
and the effect they have on the sound output, the more you
will appreciate how you can influence and enhance the final
sound.
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