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 Making the Most of Your Mixer

EMX512SC/EMX312SC/EMX212S

15

BASIC

Signal Levels and 
the Decibel

Let’s take a look at one of the 
most commonly used units in 
audio: the decibel (dB). If the 
smallest sound that can be heard 
by the human ear is given an 
arbitrary value of 1, then the 
loudest sound that can be heard 
is approximately 1,000,000 (one 
million) times louder. That’s too 
many digits to deal with for 
practical calculations, and so the 
more appropriate “decibel” (dB) 
unit was created for sound-related 
measurements. In this system the 
difference between the softest 
and loudest sounds that can be 
heard is 120 dB. This is a non-
linear scale, and a difference of 3 
dB actually results in a doubling 
or halving of the loudness.
You might encounter a number of 
different varieties of the dB: dBu, 
dBV, dBM and others, but the 
dBu is the basic decibel unit. In 
the case of dBu, “0 dBu” is 
specified as a signal level of 
0.775 volts. For example, if a 
microphone’s output level is –40 
dBu (0.00775 V), then to raise 
that level to 0 dBu (0.775 V) in the 
mixer’s preamp stage requires 
that the signal be amplified by 
100 times.
A mixer may be required to 
handle signals at a wide range of 

levels, and it is necessary match 
input and output levels as closely 
as possible. In most cases the 
“nominal” level for a mixer’s input 
and outputs is marked on the 
panel or listed in the owner’s 
manual.

Making Better Mixes

Approaching the 
Mix—Where Do You 
Start?

Mixing is easy, right? Just move 
the faders around until it sounds 
right? Well, you can do it that 

way, but a more systematic 
approach that is suited to the 
material you’re mixing will 
produce much better results, and 
faster. There are no rules, and 
you’ll probably end up developing 
a system that works best for you. 
But the key is to 

develop a 

system

 rather than working 

haphazardly. Here are a few 
ideas to get you started:

Faders Down

It might sound overly simple, but it 
is usually a good idea to start with 
all channel faders off—all the way 
down. It’s also possible to start 
with all faders at their nominal 
settings, but it’s too easy to lose 
perspective with this approach. 
Start with all faders down, then 
bring them up one by one to fill 
out the mix. But which channel 
should you start with?

Example1:
Vocal Ballad Backed by 
Piano Trio

What are you 
mixing? Is it a song 
in which the vocals 
are the most 
important element?

Unbalanced noise

Noise

Source

Cable

Receiving device

+ 20 dBu

0 dBu

0.775 V

-20 dBu

-40 dBu

-60 dBu

The inputs and outputs on home-use audio gear 
usually have a nominal level of 

–10 dBu

.

Most professional mixers, power amplifiers, and other 
types of equipment have inputs and outputs with a 
nominal level of 

+4 dBu

.

Microphone signal levels vary over a wide range 
depending on the type of microphone and the source. 
Average speech is about 

–30 dBu

, but the twittering of 

a bird might be lower than 

–50 dBu

 while a solid bass 

drum beat might produce a level as high as 

0 dBu

.

Summary of Contents for EMX212S

Page 1: ...POWERED MIXER POWERED MIXER Owner s Manual Owner s Manual Making the Most of Your Mixer Pages 13 to 19 Quick Guide Pages 6 to 12 EN ...

Page 2: ...he provided plug does not fit into your outlet consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet 10 Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs convenience receptacles and the point where they exit from the apparatus 11 Only use attachments accessories specified by the manufacturer 12 Use only with the cart stand tripod bracket or table specified by the...

Page 3: ...ure that it is at least 10 cm away from walls or surfaces Also if this device is to be mounted with devices that tend to generate heat such as power amplifiers be sure to keep an adequate gap between this device and the heat generating devices or install ventilation panels to prevent high temperatures from developing inside this device Inadequate ventilation can result in overheating possibly caus...

Page 4: ...N or coloured BLACK The wire which is coloured BROWN must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter L or coloured RED This applies only to products distributed by Yamaha Kemble Music U K Ltd 3 wires 1 IMPORTANT NOTICE DO NOT MODIFY THIS UNIT This product when installed as indicated in the instructions con tained in this manual meets FCC requirements Modifications not expressly a...

Page 5: ...en microphones with one stereo synthesizer Phantom Power 15V page 25 A single switch turns phantom power on to all mic inputs Use this feature to provide power to condenser microphones High Quality Digital Effects page 22 The mixer s internal effector is in the same league as our SPX effector series allowing you to create a rich range of variations with no external help But of course you are also ...

Page 6: ...oise from the speakers you should power up the sound sources first and then the other devices in order of their distance from the source starting with the closest For example Sound source external device EMX unit Amps Powered speakers When turning power off proceed in the opposite order Before turning power on make sure that the LEVEL and MASTER knobs are set to the 0 position 1 Push the POWER swi...

Page 7: ...ng Sound to the Speakers 1 2 8 4 6 2 7 9 3 5 1 NOTE We recommend that you do not connect electric instruments such as electric guitars and basses directly to the EMX Instead these instruments should be connected through an intermediary device such as a direct box a preamp guitar amp or an amp simulator Before connecting input devices to the EMX be sure that all of these devices includ ing micropho...

Page 8: ...312SC EMX212S Quick Guide BASIC 2 Turn the LEVEL knobs and the MASTER knobs to 0 3 Set the POWER AMP switch to its upper position to MAIN L R For information about this switch see page 25 This position This position ...

Page 9: ...ed speakers and amp and then turn on the EMX itself If using powered speakers or amps turn these on last Be sure to leave this switch off if you do not need phan tom power When using phantom power do not connect any devices other than condenser micro phones to the XLR input jacks Other devices may be damaged if connected to phantom power This precau tion does not apply to bal anced dynamic microph...

Page 10: ...orresponding channel s LEVEL knob Adjust so that the LEVEL meter occasionally reaches the 0 level 9 Now turn the MASTER knob in the MAIN section again as necessary to adjust the overall output level This position It is acceptable for the LIMITER lamps to flash on briefly at times but if they remain lit con tinuously then there is risk of damage to your speakers or to the internal amp Reduce the MA...

Page 11: ...to the ON switch you can use a separately sold FC5 foot switch to toggle the effector on and off 2 Turn the PROGRAM dial to select the desired effect type To select a reverb effect turn the dial to any value from 1 to 7 3 Use the channel EFFECT knobs to adjust the effect depth for each channel Adding Some Reverb 3 1 4 2 1 REVERB HALL 1 9 KARAOKE ECHO 2 REVERB HALL 2 0 VOCAL ECHO 3 REVERB ROOM 1 A ...

Page 12: ...pressor evens out the input level reducing the level of loud passages and bringing up softer passages The result is a cleaner sound where nuances remain audible and the lyrics are easier to hear 1 Adjust the COMP knobs on the relevant channels Turn the knob clockwise to increase the compression Avoid setting the value too high as too much compression may lead to howling For more information about ...

Page 13: ... confusable with phone jacks below RCA pin jacks are always unbalanced and generally carry a line level signal at 10 dB nominal You re most likely to use this type of connector when connecting a CD player or other home audio type source to your mixer or when connecting the output of your mixer to a cassette recorder or similar gear The Versatile Phone Jack The name phone jack arose simply because ...

Page 14: ... Reject Noise Skip this section if technical details make you queasy Balanced lines work on the principle of phase cancellation if you add two identical signals out of phase i e one signal is inverted so its peaks coincide with the troughs in the other signal the result is nothing A flat line The signals cancel each other out A balanced cable has three conductors 1 A ground conductor which carries...

Page 15: ...ner s manual Making Better Mixes Approaching the Mix Where Do You Start Mixing is easy right Just move the faders around until it sounds right Well you can do it that way but a more systematic approach that is suited to the material you re mixing will produce much better results and faster There are no rules and you ll probably end up developing a system that works best for you But the key is to d...

Page 16: ...st commonly bad boost just sounds terrible Cut for a Cleaner Mix For example cymbals have a lot of energy in the mid and low frequency ranges that you don t really perceive as musical sound but which can interfere with the clarity of other instruments in these ranges You can basically turn the low EQ on cymbal channels all the way down without changing the way they sound in the mix You ll hear the...

Page 17: ...going to far can undermine the clarity and quality of your mix Use your ambience effects just enough to create the required feeling of depth but no more than is necessary to keep your sound clean Reverb and Delay Time A variety of reverb and delay effect programs are provided and nearly all of then have a reverb delay time parameter than can be adjusted via the panel PARAMETER control Small adjust...

Page 18: ... shift which when mixed with the direct signal results in a harmonically rich swirling or swishing sound The difference between chorus and flanging effects is primarily in the amount of delay time and feedback used flanging uses longer delay times than chorus whereas chorus generally uses a more complex delay structure Chorus is most often used to thicken the sound of an instrument while flanging ...

Page 19: ...ass sound that stays solid through the tune Compression can also be applied to guitar tracks to add extra sustain Too much compression can be a cause of feedback however so use it sparingly Music First Then Mix In any case the music comes first Think about the music and let it guide the mix rather than trying to do things the other way around What is the music saying and what instrument or techniq...

Page 20: ...t is from a stereo channel pair 5 6 7 8 9 10 or 11 12 the signals from the L and R channels are mixed before moving into the bus The MONITOR bus signal is output at the MONITOR OUT jack O and may also be output from the SPEAKERS A jacks V depending on the setting of the POWER AMP switch R The channel s LEVEL knob 5 has no effect on the level of the signal sent into the MONITOR bus 4 EFFECT knob Ad...

Page 21: ...RS phone type balanced line input T hot R cold S ground Accepts both bal anced and unbalanced line input INPUT B XLR balanced mic input 1 ground 2 hot 3 cold If you are connecting a con denser microphone be sure to turn the PHANTOM switch P to its ON position You cannot use both jacks at the same time The signal into an INPUT jack is sent in equal lev els to the MAIN L and MAIN R buses 9 LINE and ...

Page 22: ...switch on the mixer s power C EFFECT OUT jack This unbalanced phone output jack outputs the signal from the EFFECT bus You can use this jack to output the signal to an external effector You can then return the signal by connecting the external effector to any of the LINE jacks on channel pairs 5 6 to 11 12 If you are returning a signal from an external effector into a LINE jack on any channel pair...

Page 23: ...asses through the inter nal power amp and is then output at the SPEAKERS jacks V Keep an eye on the LIMITER lamps Q to ensure that the level at the SPEAKERS jacks does not stay too high I MAIN OUT L and R jacks These unbalanced phone output jacks feed out the main stereo output You would typically connect these jacks to a power amp or powered speakers The signal sent to these jacks is adjusted by ...

Page 24: ... the MON ITOR OUT jack O and if the POWER AMP switch is down to the SPEAKERS B jacks V N LEVEL meters The L and R meters show the level of the signal output from the MONITOR OUT jack O If the POWER AMP switch is down the MONITOR OUT signal also passes through the internal power amp and is then output at SPEAKERS jacks B1 and B2 V Keep an eye on the LIMITER lamps Q to ensure that the level at the S...

Page 25: ...there is risk of damage to your equip ment Reduce the setting of the MASTER knobs G and M until the lamps flash only briefly or not at all R POWER AMP switch Selects the output that gets sent to the SPEAKERS jacks as follows Up MAIN L R SPEAKERS jacks A1 and A2 output the signal from the MAIN L bus and SPEAKERS jack B1 and B2 output the signal from the MAIN R bus The MAIN section s MASTER knob G a...

Page 26: ... other end into a standard power outlet Please use the cord that comes with the mixer Use of a different cord may pose risk of fire burns or equip ment damage X Ground Screw For maximum safety be sure to securely connect the EMX to an earth connection The supplied power cable has a three prong plug that will ground the unit when the plug is inserted into an appropriately grounded three prong type ...

Page 27: ...d num ber of speakers When making connections be sure that your cables have the appropriate ratings and the correct plugs Be sure to use dedicated speaker cables when connecting speakers to the SPEAKERS jacks 2 channel connection When connecting by 2 channel connection use speakers with impedance of 4 ohms to 8 ohms 2 channel parallel connection When connecting speakers in parallel as shown below ...

Page 28: ... to attach the included rubber stabilizers before use The stabilizers prevent the unit from tipping over Please detach the stabilizers when transporting the unit How to attach the rubber stabilizers Turn the EMX unit upside down Attach the two rubber stabilizers that were included with the unit Push each stabilizer all the way in so that they are firmly in place Turn the EMX right side up NOTE 1 2...

Page 29: ...ack Mounting To prepare the unit for rack mounting use the separately sold RK512 rack mount kit If rack mounting the unit be sure to maintain adequate ventilation so the unit does not overheat Consider attaching a vent panel and do not use a sealed rack The EMX unit requires 7U of rack space How to install the rack mount hardware Turn the EMX unit upside down Using the kit s 4 screws attach the ki...

Page 30: ...IO ON OFF ON OFF R AUDIO G MIDI BYPASS INSERTION SYSTEM MASTER EFFECT VOICE SONG PERFORM MASTER PATTERN FILE EFFECT MODE SEQ TRANSPORT SEQUENCER LOCATE 1 2 INTEGRATED SAMPLING MIXING UTILITY EDIT COMPARE SCENE STORE SET LOCATE JOB STORE DEMO EXIT ENTER EXECUTE DEC NO INC YES KNOB CONTROL FUNCTION MASTER VOLUME ZONE 1 CS 1 VOLUME 1 SWING CUTOFF PAN ASSIGN A GATE TIME RESONANCE REVERB ASSIGN B VELOC...

Page 31: ... not connected to both INPUT A and INPUT B On each of these channels you may use one input or the other but not both Is the input signal from the connected device set to an appropriate level An FCL lamp comes even though there is no howling on the channel Input of a continuous sound from a CD player or other such source may cause the lamp to come on even in the absence of howling Can t hear the in...

Page 32: ...1 12 MAIN OUT MONITOR OUT EFFECT OUT REC OUT 10 kΩ 14 dBu 20 Hz 1 kHz 20 kHz 0 5 Hum Noise 20 Hz 20 kHz It measures in each CH unit EIN Equivalent Input Noise CH 1 4 INPUT B CH 5 6 11 12 MIC MAIN OUT 10 kΩ EIN Rs 150 Ω CH1 4 MIC LINE MIC 115 dBu CH INPUT 1 11 12 MAIN OUT MONITOR OUT EFFECT OUT Output Noise Rs 150 Ω CH1 4 MIC LINE MIC 50 Residual Output Noise 20 Hz 20 kHz MAIN OUT L R 10 kΩ Master ...

Page 33: ... stabilizers 2 Owner s Manual Options RACK MOUNT KIT RK512 FOOT SW FC5 Input Terminals MIC LINE Actual Load Impedance For Use with Nominal Input Level Connector Sensitivity 2 Nominal position Max before Clip CH INPUT 1 4 XLR MIC 2 kΩ 50 600 Ω Mics 60 dBu 0 775 mV 35 dBu 13 8 mV 15 dBu 138 mV XLR 3 31 type 3 LINE 30 dBu 24 5 mV 5 dBu 436 mV 15 dBu 4 36 V Phone MIC 6 kΩ 600 Ω Lines 50 dBu 2 45 mV 25...

Page 34: ...Specifications 34 EMX512SC EMX312SC EMX212S Dimensional Diagrams 71 66 1 54 108 284 2 286 264 71 66 1 298 307 8 440 2 5 442 5 Unit mm ...

Page 35: ...Specifications EMX512SC EMX312SC EMX212S 35 Block Diagram and Level Diagram ...

Page 36: ...AIN PORTUGAL Yamaha Hazen Música S A Ctra de la Coruna km 17 200 28230 Las Rozas Madrid Spain Tel 91 639 8888 SWEDEN Yamaha Scandinavia AB J A Wettergrens Gata 1 Box 30053 S 400 43 Göteborg Sweden Tel 031 89 34 00 DENMARK YS Copenhagen Liaison Office Generatorvej 6A DK 2730 Herlev Denmark Tel 44 92 49 00 NORWAY Norsk filial av Yamaha Scandinavia AB Grini Næringspark 1 N 1345 Østerås Norway Tel 67 ...

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