Samson MIXPAD Owner'S Manual Download

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Produced by

On The Right Wavelength for Samson Technologies Corp.

Printed February, 1997

Samson Technologies Corp.
575 Underhill Blvd.
P.O. Box 9031
Syosset, NY 11791-9031
Phone: 1-800-3-SAMSON (1-800-372-6766)
Fax: 516-364-3888

Summary of Contents for MIXPAD

Page 1: ...ngth for Samson Technologies Corp Copyright 1996 1997 Samson Technologies Corp Printed February 1997 Samson Technologies Corp 575 Underhill Blvd P O Box 9031 Syosset NY 11791 9031 Phone 1 800 3 SAMSON 1 800 372 6766 Fax 516 364 3888 ...

Page 2: ...ls 12 MIXPAD 4 Main Section 16 MIXPAD 4 Jackfield 18 Connecting the MIXPAD 19 Setting Up and Using the MIXPAD 22 Setting the Correct Gain Structure 23 Grounding Techniques 26 Using Pan Balance 28 Using Equalization 30 Using Aux Sends and Returns 32 Appendix A Operating the MIXPAD 12 9 off Battery Power 34 MIXPAD 12 9 Specifications 36 MIXPAD 4 Specifications 37 Table of Contents ...

Page 3: ...els are well suited for specialized applications such as videography remote site recording ENG Electronic News Gathering or audio coverage of fast paced outdoor events such as sports shows In these pages we ll provide you with an overview of the unit s features followed by a guided tour of the MIXPAD channels main section and jackfield Then we ll describe how to set up your MIXPAD including instru...

Page 4: ...ines and keyboards and MIDI tone modules An electronically balanced main stereo output for connection to a power amplifier or tape recorder A dedicated Tape CD input for playback of prerecorded material In the MIXPAD 12 and MIXPAD 9 two auxiliary sends and two stereo auxiliary returns which can be used as four monophonic returns Aux send 1 is pre fader but post equalizer making it ideal for use as...

Page 5: ... you when signal is overloading or near overloading Center detents for all pan balance and EQ controls making it easy to access them in low light situations such as live performance Convenient front panel Power switch Power LED and dedicated headphone jack The MIXPAD 4 runs on either AC or battery power requiring just two standard 9 volt batteries three if you need phantom power with optional batt...

Page 6: ...D 9 Channels 1 LEVEL LINE TRIM 50 10 0 4 MIC L R MONO 3 4 5 6 8 2 7 Mono Channel LOW HIGH 15 15 O 15 15 O 10 O 10 O L R PAN AUX 2 AUX1 PRE O 10 10 O 10 O L R BALANCE AUX 2 AUX1 PRE O 10 LEVEL LOW HIGH 15 15 O 15 15 O Stereo Channel ...

Page 7: ...s boosted when the trim is turned to the right of 0 and attenuated when turned to the left of 0 For information on how to properly set this for each channel see the section on page 23 entitled Setting The Correct Gain Structure 3 Line inputs Use these standard 1 4 jacks to connect line level sources such as synthesizers drum machines CD players tape decks or effects processors to any of the MIXPAD...

Page 8: ... multiple channels to outboard effects devices At the 0 2 o clock position the signal is routed with unity gain that is no boost or attenuation As each knob is turned clockwise from the 0 position the signal is boosted as it is turned counterclockwise from the 0 position it is attenuated Aux send 1 is post eq but pre fade that is the level of the signal is determined solely by its EQ settings and ...

Page 9: ... page 28 in this manual 8 Level white In mono channels or in stereo channels where only the upper input is connected this knob determines the signal level being sent to the main output as well as affecting the signal level being sent to Aux send 2 In stereo channels this knob simultaneously controls the level of both the upper and lower inputs the relative levels of the two can be adjusted with th...

Page 10: ...gnal connected here appears at stereo channel 11 12 and is mixed at unity gain with any line input signal connected to channel 11 12 In the MIXPAD 9 signal connected here appears at stereo channel 8 9 and is mixed at unity gain with any line input signal connected to channel 8 9 POWER LEFT RIGHT TAPE CD MAIN LEVEL LEFT RIGHT 1 4 5 6 7 2 3 10 O 10 O O 10 AUX RET 3 4 AUX RET 1 2 ...

Page 11: ... turned to the right of 0 and attenuated when turned to the left of 0 For information on how to properly set these see the sections in this manual entitled Setting the Correct Gain Structure and Using the Aux Sends and Returns pages 23 and 32 Auxiliary return signal is automatically routed to the Main L R output 6 Headphone jack Connect any standard stereo headphones to this jack via a standard 1 ...

Page 12: ...anced three conductor cabling and TRS plugs wherever possible unbalanced two conductor plugs can also be inserted into these outputs but you ll get better signal quality and less outside noise and hum if you use balanced lines See the Connecting the MIXPAD section on page 19 in this manual for more information 3 Aux Returns 1 2 3 4 These inputs allow you to route signal from external devices such ...

Page 13: ...ide buckle clips in order to extract them from the connector slots Connecting the MIXPAD 4 Carrying Strap 11 MIXPAD PAD4 S N A V I S R I S Q U E D E C H O C E L E C T R I Q U E N E P A S O U V R I R D O N O T E X P O S E T H I S E Q U I P M E N T T O R A I N O R M O I S T U R E 1 2 3 4 5 D C I N P U T P I N 1 1 5 V P I N 2 1 5 V P I N 3 G N D P I N 4 3 2 V P I N 5 G N D X L R L I N E I N P U T 2 T...

Page 14: ... Tour MIXPAD 4 Channels HIGH 15 15 O 12 12 O L R PAN LINE MIC L R LEVEL BALANCE O 10 O 10 TRIM 50 10 0 6 20 LINE 3L 4R 10 O AUX 10 O AUX LEVEL LOW 15 15 O MID 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 7 HIGH 15 15 O 12 12 O LOW 15 15 O MID ...

Page 15: ...ignal is boosted when the trim is turned to the right of 0 and attenuated when turned to the left of 0 For information on how to properly set this for each channel see the section on page 23 in this manual entitled Setting The Correct Gain Structure 3 Line inputs Use these 1 4 jacks to connect line level sources such as synthesizers drum machines CD players tape decks or effects processors to any ...

Page 16: ...e or multiple channels to outboard effects devices At the 0 2 o clock position the signal is routed with unity gain that is no boost or attenuation As each knob is turned clockwise from the 0 position the signal is boosted as it is turned counterclockwise from the 0 position it is attenuated The MIXPAD 4 Aux send is post eq and post fade that is the level of the signal is determined by the channel...

Page 17: ...e 28 in this manual 8 Level white This knob determines the signal level being sent to the main output When both channels are connected in the stereo channel this knob simultaneously controls the level of both inputs the relative levels of the two can be adjusted with the Balance knob as described above In practice you will use the channel Level controls to continuously adjust the levels of the var...

Page 18: ... signal sources such as passive direct injection boxes from the XLR mic jacks Although phantom power will have no adverse affect on connected dynamic microphones it should be used only when one or more condenser microphones are connected to the MIXPAD 4 Refer to the owners manual of your microphone or active direct injection DI box to determine whether or not it requires 18 volts of phantom power ...

Page 19: ... and attenuated when turned to the left of 0 For information on how to properly set this see the sections in this manual entitled Setting the Correct Gain Structure and Using Aux Sends and Returns pages 23 and 32 Note that signal applied to the Aux return is automatically routed to the Main L R output 7 Headphone jack Connect any standard stereo headphones to this jack via a standard 1 4 TRS plug ...

Page 20: ...s to external devices such as effects processors The MIXPAD 4 Aux send is post fade and post EQ See the Using Aux Sends and Returns section on page 32 for more information 3 Aux Return 1 Mono 2 These unbalanced 1 4 inputs allow you to route signal from external devices such as effects processors to the MIXPAD 4 s stereo Aux Return When connecting only a single mono signal to the Aux Return use the...

Page 21: ... amps first Wait a few seconds for their power supplies to discharge and then turn off all connected equipment turning the MIXPAD off last Try to use balanced connectors and cabling wherever possible These kind of connections do a better job of rejecting extraneous noise and hum and generally provide a cleaner signal Although the MIXPAD will accept unbalanced connectors throughout it specifically ...

Page 22: ...r of matched signals i e the left right outputs of a stereo effects processor keyboard drum machine tone generator CD player or tape recorder use the MIXPAD s stereo input channels The Balance control in these channels will allow you to adjust the relative levels of the two inputs and you can also equalize the stereo signal with the same EQ settings applied to both inputs There are additional hidd...

Page 23: ... Sends And Returns sections in this manual pages 28 and 32 for more information In the MIXPAD 12 and MIXPAD 9 the Aux return jacks are unbalanced stereo inputs with the tip carrying the left input signal and the ring carrying the right input signal with the sleeve carrying common ground as shown below the MIXPAD 4 stereo channel line input is wired the same way Insertion of a monophonic 1 4 jack i...

Page 24: ...nput or vice versa each channel is designed to accept only one source or the other 4 Turn all channel Level and Trim controls as well as the Main Level control fully counterclockwise 5 If you running the MIXPAD off mains power plug the included power supply into the rear panel AC connector and then into any standard AC socket If you are running a MIXPAD 12 or MIXPAD 9 off battery power plug the ba...

Page 25: ...n level knobs fully counterclockwise e Turn on all devices connected to channel line inputs and Aux returns and set their level controls to unity gain or if there is no unity gain indi cated on their output control to maximum If you ve got effects proces sors connected to Aux returns make sure they are sending completely wet processed signal with no dry unprocessed signal mixed in f Press the MIXP...

Page 26: ...d effects processors can sometimes be quite noisy it s particularly important to maximize the amount of signal being sent to them via the MIXPAD Aux sends The idea is to drive these devices as hot as possible short of overloading them and then to use the corresponding Aux return level to carefully adjust the amount of processed signal being blended with the dry signal To set optimum Aux send level...

Page 27: ... can be accomplished with most channel Level controls at or near their 2 o clock 0 unity gain position and that the main Left Right peak LEDs rarely if ever light remember if they do light it means that something is distorting If you need to make adjustments to the overall level alter the level control of your power amplifier If you encounter difficulty with any aspect of setting up or using your ...

Page 28: ...ers refrigerators washing machines neon signs or fluorescent light fixtures One particular culprit that will almost certainly create problems is the standard light dimmer the kind that uses silicon controlled rectifiers Where low level lighting is desired use incandescent fixtures with autotransformer type dimmers sometimes called Variacs instead these cost considerably more than the standard dimm...

Page 29: ...un parallel to one another If they have to cross try to ensure that they do so at a 90 angle that is perpendicular to one another In particular try to keep audio cabling away from external AC DC adapters Another less common problem you may encounter is that of oscillation a ringing tone which apart from being annoying is potentially dangerous to your speakers This is generally caused either by poo...

Page 30: ...om one speaker and keyboards from another or you might use panning to spread the signal from a piano miked with two microphones one over the bass notes panned left and the other over the treble notes panned right By turning a Pan knob while a signal is present the sound appears to move in space a process known as dynamic panning this can be particularly effective when applied to sound effects In l...

Page 31: ...nnels controls the relative levels of the two input signals When the knob is placed at its center detented position both the upper and lower inputs are at equal strength When moved left of center the signal of the upper channel remains the same but the signal of the lower channel is attenuated when the knob is moved right of center the reverse occurs the signal of the lower channel remains the sam...

Page 32: ...b is labeled with the maximum amount of cut or boost provided 15 dB in the case of the High and Low frequencies and in the MIXPAD 4 12 dB in the case of the Mid frequency In the MIXPAD 12 and MIXPAD 9 the High EQ knob affects frequencies above 10 kHz while the Low EQ knob affects frequencies below 100 Hz with both using a shelving curve In the MIXPAD 4 the High EQ knob affects frequencies above 12...

Page 33: ...pply to a signal is very much a matter of personal taste here are a few general suggestions Boosting the low frequency of instruments such as bass drums or bass guitar will add warmth and make the sound fatter conversely you may want to attenuate the low frequency component of instruments such as cymbals high hats and shakers so as to thin them out Be careful not to boost high frequencies too much...

Page 34: ...the main mix You can also use Aux 1 to route signal to a reverb processor in order to create a distancing kind of effect where the wet reverb signal remains constant even as the dry source signal fades away In contrast Aux send 2 is post eq and post fader that is the level of the signal is determined by EQ settings and the channel Level setting as well as in mono channels the position of the Trim ...

Page 35: ...he Aux return jacks are unbalanced stereo inputs with the tip carrying the left input signal and the ring carrying the right input signal the sleeve carries common ground as shown in the wiring diagram on page 21 of this manual Insertion of a monophonic 1 4 jack into an Aux return will result in the incoming signal being automatically routed to the left input only and therefore panned hard left Th...

Page 36: ...tain excellent audio quality Jumper 2 pieces 1 m 1 piece Phantom Power 12V 12V Ground Ground 20cm M9 M12 Connector Standard 5 Pin DIN MIDI Connector All Quick Disconnects are Female except where noted All Male and Female Quick Disconnects are fully insulated and 187 T Connector 2 pieces Male Male Phantom Power 12V 12V Ground Ground All Batteries 187 Male Quick Disconnect T Connector Jumper Female ...

Page 37: ...contact your local authorized Samson Audio dealer for more information Recommended batteries PowerSonic PS 1212 Eagle Picher CF12V1 5 Panasonic LCR12V1 3P Yuasa NP1 2 12 Union MX12012 Batteries and rechargers are available through the following national electronic parts distributors For PowerSonic and Eagle Picher Batteries and accessories MOUSER Electronics 800 346 6873 RS Electronics 800 555 531...

Page 38: ...ape to Main Stereo Ch 34 dB Aux Return to Main 20 dB Mic to Aux Send 1 Mono Ch 64 dB Mic to Aux Send 2 Mono Ch 74 dB Line to Aux Send 1 Stereo Ch 24 dB Line to Aux Send 2 Stereo Ch 34 dB Residual Noise 30 kHz LPF all control Min L R Main 100 dB 95 dB Aux Send 1 2 92 dB 91 dB 85 dB Crosstalk 1 kHz w 30 kHz LPF Ch vs Ch 77 dB 70 dB Input vs Output 82 dB 75 dB Peak LED Sensitivity before clipping 3 d...

Page 39: ...n 74 dB Line to Main Mono Ch 56 dB Line Tape to Main Stereo Ch 34 dB Aux Return to Main 20 dB Mic to Aux Send 74 dB Line to Aux Send Stereo Ch 34 dB Residual Noise 30 kHz LPF all control Min Main 89 dBu 85 dBu Aux Send 86 dBu 82 dBu Crosstalk 1 kHz w 30 kHz LPF Ch vs Ch 75 dB 70 dB Input vs Output 87 5 dB 80 dB Peak LED Sensitivity before clipping 5 dB 5 2dB Headphone output 600 ohm load 38 mW 30 ...

Page 40: ...Notes ...

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