Audio Equipment Guide

The following equipment is hosted by a member to provide Asmbly with professional audio equipment for various AV needs.  This page outlines the gear on hand and how to properly use it.

Inventory List

• Mackie PA speakers (2)
• Speaker stands (2)
• Mackie mixer
• Wired mic (2)
• Mic stand (2)
• Cables & Adapters
  • Power cords (3)
    • 1 for mixer
    • 2 for speakers
  • XLR cables (7)
  • 1/4" TS cable (mono)
  • 1/4" TS cable - stereo pair
  • RCA cable
  • 1/8" to 1/4" adapter

Mackie PA Speakers

Important info:

• Speakers go on last and off first!
• Turn on only with sound all the way down
• They have built in power amplifier (i.e. no need for separate amplifier)
• You want contour button out (or off) bc no contour
• Low cut on (cuts out low frequency)
• Start volume at 12:00 (North) - set both the same, and adjust from there (preferable to adjust via mixer for fine tuning)
• Carry PAs using the handles with the back away from you as shown.  The heat sink grill is metal and can scratch you/your clothes (it can also be warm).
• Woofer is bottom speaker, tweeter is top
• If you’re moving the speaker after wires are in, hold wires while doing it - be careful not to break attachment!

Speaker Stands

These are typical tripods — unscrew to expand.

Important setup info:

• You want tweeter to be above people’s heads (top, concave area with treble sounds)
• Determining feet position — trade off steadiness vs trip hazard with the speaker stands in terms of how far the legs go out.
• When extending the central pole, you must use the attached pin to set height + stabilize in addition to screw knob. Be careful not to pull pole all the way out when extending.

Mackie Mixer

• Switches should be off before plugging anything in
• Phantom power should NEVER be on
• Start with trim down
• 4 Channel Mixer (outputs are 3+4)
• Not powered mixer (no amplifiers)
• Vertical lines are channels, horizontally, those are all the buttons you use for tasks.
  • Mono Section (Channels 1-6) used for microphone stuff
    • Image:
  • Stereo Section (Channels 7-14)
    • Image:
  • Master (controls the whole board, working with other channels that are engaged)
    • The only thing you’ll touch in this section is the
    • Image:

• Sound knobs
  • “U” means unity - not gaining or cutting, just passing through
  • EQ knobs need to be facing north - “u” pointed at 12 o’clock
  • Mute button: pressed in means enabled, and pushed out means not
    • Mixer stored with everything muted, but manually unmute channel 1 (or whatever channel you’re using)
  • Adjust master volume last
    • This is also your first thing to cut when a loud/bad noise is happening!
  • Mic Volume:
    • Put in solo mode
    • Look at lights in master section next blinking red “rude solo” light
    • Aim for green lights reaching middle line

Microphones

1 mic stand

• Lefty loosey, righty tighty
• Use counterweight to balance so mic doesn’t fall over

Troubleshooting

No Sound

Sound volume is controlled in many places.  If you aren’t getting sound, check these places:

• PA speakers — power and volume
• Mic on/off switch
• Mixer
  • Power — "Power" switch only; never turn on "phantom" power switch
  • Main mix faders
  • Individual channel fader
  • Individual channel trim knob (1-6)/button (7-14)
  • Individual channel mute button
  • Solo button pressed on a channel (“rude solo light” will be blinking red in the master section)