CARVIN PA1200 Operating Manual

CARVIN ENGINEERING DATA
CONGRATULATIONS on your purchase of Carvin's PA800, PA1200 or PA1200R Series
mixer! The "R" version is a non-power rack model designed for your own power amp while the
PA800 and PA1200 models included built-in high power amplifiers for direct hook-up to your
speakers. Please read this manual carefully to take all the advantages of your new mixer.
SUPERB SOUND is derived from the extremely low distortion, high "Headroom" design.
A state-of-the art, low noise, high headroom, balanced XLR preamp for each channel features
a common mode rejection of better than 78 dB, which means that any possible noise that may
come over your cables is virtually eliminated. Even the balanced XLR output connectors guard
your system from cable noise for professional recordings or external power amp connections.
Distortion is nearly non-existent with THD below .1%, which guarantees the purity of your
sound. Hear the difference - your sound will not seem "sterile" or "processed". It will be
dynamically open and transparent just like it was meant to be!
LIGHT WEIGHT and EASY TO USE everything is logically laid out making the PA
Series simple to use, which helps to eliminate operator error. Its compact size and weight of
28 lbs. makes it the lightest, most powerful mixer of its kind. No other competitor in the
industry offers a higher performance to weight ratio!
3 HIGH CURRENT AMPLIFIERS deliver 333 watts RMS each. A total of 666 watts is
delivered to your main speakers (333 watts each for the R/L if played in stereo), plus a 333
watt amp to drive your stage monitors for a total of 1000 watts. This is the kind of output
required for today's professionals to maintain purity and integrity of sound. Six output jacks,
two from each amp, deliver full power into 4 ohms, making these mixers more powerful than
most amplifiers rated at 2 ohms. A peak indicator for every amp and a protect LED gives you
a visual monitor.
A HIGH CURRENT POWER SUPPLY is provided by a beefy toroid transformer to
assure continuous high amperage DC voltage to all three power amplifiers, eliminating "overload"
or shutdown. 20,000 mfd capacitors offer a large power reservoir for bass thumping output.
The PA1200R features a 125k Hz switching power supply for operating your mixer at any volt-
age from 90 VAC to 240VAC. Like a laptop computer, you can go anywhere in the world and
not worry about power adapters.
2 INDEPENDENT 24-Bit STEREO DSP EFFECTS allow you to assign each chan-
nel to your choice of effects. You can dedicate chorus/rev to the acoustic guitar channel and
reverb to the vocals, etc. Both effects are adjustable to your stage monitors so you can hear
yourself with full effects. The effects processors with 256 effects each, include reverbs, cho-
ruses, flanging and echoes, with parameters fully adjustable for; damping, decay, depth,
speed, regeneration and time.
ACTIVE 3 BAND CHANNEL EQ provides easy adjustment for the tone you want. The
LO frequency controls starts at 20 Hz and continues through 80 Hz for a solid non-flabby bass.
A simple adjustment with the MID band, gives you the best sound for vocals or guitar in the
very important 750Hz frequency range. The 11.5k Hz HI treble control adds sparkle to your
top-end without adding harshness. Both the LO and HI are "shelving", which means they are
effective from 20Hz up to 20k Hz.
TWO 9 BAND EQUALIZERS provide precise 1 octave adjustments to fine tune your
over all sound and to help control feedback. Unlike one stereo graphic equalizer, two inde-
pendent 9 bands give you total flexibility. At the push of a button, you can assign both equal-
izers to the main and monitor speakers or to the L and R outputs.
ENGINEERED TO LAST Every PA Series mixer incorporates a rugged reinforced steel
chassis. Continuous full power is assured from a 370 sq inch, high-grade 6063-T5-aluminum
heat sink cooled by a quiet dual-speed fan. You'll never have to worry about protect or power
reduction modes.
76-01273A 0601
PA800, PA1200, PA1200R MIXERS
ENGINEERED TO LAST cont. Hidden deep in the heart of these mixers is the
"SMT" Surface Mount Technology construction that utilizes surface mounted com-
ponents to prevent parts from shaking or vibrating loose. Sealed controls and switch-
es guard against the outside elements while heavy-duty connectors provide a posi-
tive connection to your cables. Fire retardant FR-4 military spec circuit cards feature
double-sided copper construction to guard against noise and radio frequencies (RF).
Precision 1% tolerances guarantee that your settings will be accurate every time. The
multi-ply wood cabinet is not the typical heavy particleboard that can break or crack,
and the Duratuff covering is scratch and dent resistant. The PA Series is profession-
ally made in the USA for years of service!
RECEIVING INSPECTION—read before getting started
INSPECT YOUR MIXER FOR ANY DAMAGE which may have occurred during ship-
ping. If any damage is found, please notify the shipping company and CARVIN
immediately.
SAVE THE CARTON & ALL PACKING MATERIALS. In the event you have to re-ship
your unit, always use the original carton and packing material. This will provide the
best possible protection during shipment. CARVIN and the shipping company are
not liable for any damage caused by improper packing.
SAVE YOUR INVOICE. It will be required for warranty service if needed in the future.
SHIPMENT SHORTAGE. If you find items missing, they may have been shipped sep-
arately. Please allow several days for the rest of your order to arrive before inquir-
ing.
RECORD THE SERIAL NUMBER on the enclosed warranty card or below on this
manual for your records. Keep your portion of the card and return the portion with
your name and comments to us or register online at www.carvin.com/registration
For your records, you may wish to record the following information.
Serial No._____________________ Invoice Date_______________
PA1200 BLOCK DIAGRAM
20dB
GAIN SWITCH
MIC
THREE BAND
MIC
CHANNEL TONE
PRE
CONTROLS
PAD
LINE
LINE IN PAD
(-20dB bal.) HI MID LOW
(-26dB unbal.)
CHANNEL
STEREO
RETURN FROM
INTERNAL DSP
x 2
TAPE INPUT
L-R
RETURN
MODEL PA800, PA1200, PA1200R SPECIFICATIONS:
Frequency Response:
Total Harmonic Distortion: Less than .1% at nominal levels
Equivalent Input Noise:
Output Noise:
Output Headroom:
Maximum Gain:
Crosstalk:
Common Mode Rejection: -78db at 1KHz
Phantom Power:
Channel EQ 3-band active: LOW: 80Hz ±12dB
Power Output:
Power Req.:
Size and Weight:
PA1200R Power Req.:
Size and Weight:
Remote Effects Controller: Optional FS22 footswitch
Vinyl Cover:
OPERATING MANUAL
PAN
LEFT
SUMMING AMP
MAIN LEVEL
CHANNEL
LEVEL
CHANNEL
EFF SND
1 or 2
MONO
L
CHANNEL TAPE OUT
MONITOR
R
LEVEL
RIGHT
SUMMING AMP
MAIN LEVEL
STEREO
DSP RETURN
LEVEL x 2
MONITOR
DSP 1+2 TO SUMMING AMP
MONITOR AND LEVEL
GAIN
REDUCTION
FOR DSP
INTERNAL
STEREO
DSP SEND
TAPE IN EFFECTS
x 2
LEVEL SUMMING AMP x 2
EXTERNAL
STEREO SEND
RETURN DSP 2 ONLY
LEVEL
Mic or Line Inputs: 20Hz-20kHz ±1dB
150 ohm source: -117dBu
-90dBu Master Line Out
(All Levels Minimum)
+26dB XLR bal, +20dB 1/4" unbal
Mic in to Master Line Out: 70dB
Adjacent ch's: -60db at 1KHz
XLR Mic channels
MID: 750Hz ±12dB
HI: 11.5KHz ±12dB
1000w @ 4Ω (8Ω: 200w x3, 4Ω: 333w x3)
120VAC 60 Hz or optional 240VAC 50 Hz model
12.5"H x 20"W x 10"D, 28 lbs
90 - 240 VAC 50 - 60 Hz
11"H x 19.5"W x 4"D, 10 lbs
CV1200
12340 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128
800.854.2235 www.carvin.com
GRAPHIC EQ SWITCH
LEFT - RIGHT
or
MONO - MONITOR
PRE EQ
INSERT #1
TIP-SEND LEFT
BAL XLR OUT
NINE BAND
GRAPHIC
EQUALIZER
#1
TO INTERNAL
POWER AMP #1
PRE EQ
INSERT #2
TIP-SEND
RIGHT
BAL XLR OUT
NINE BAND
GRAPHIC
EQUALIZER
#2
TO INTERNAL
POWER AMP #2
MON
BAL XLR OUT
TO INTERNAL
POWER AMP #3