SoundCraft NOTEPAD 102 User Manual page 29

Soundcraft Notepad User Guide
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Repeat this procedure on other channels as required. As more channels
are added to the mix, the meters may move into the red section. Adjust
the overall level using the Master Faders if necessary.
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Listen carefully for the characteristic sound of "feedback". If you cannot
achieve satisfactory input level setting without feedback, check micro-
phone and speaker placement and repeat the exercise. If feedback
persists, it may be necessary to use a Graphic Equaliser to reduce the
system response at particular resonant frequencies.
Note:
The initial settings should only be regarded as a starting point for your mix. It is
important to remember that many factors affect the sound during a live perform-
ance, for instance the size of the audience!
You are now ready to start building the mix and this should be done
progressively, listening carefully for each component in the mix and
watching the meters for any hint of overload. If this occurs, back off the
appropriate Channel Fader slightly until the level is out of the red segments, or
adjust the Master Faders.
Remember that the mixer is a mixer, not an amplifier. Increasing the overall level
is the job of the amplifier, and if it is impossible to provide adequate level, it is
probable that the amplifier is too small for the application. Choose your
amplifier carefully, and do not try to compensate for lack of power by using the
mixer to increase output level.
Note:
The level of any source signal in the final output is affected by many factors,
principally the Input Gain control, Channel Fader and Mix Faders. You should try
to use only as much microphone gain as required to achieve a good balance
between signals, with the faders set as described above. If the input gain is set
too high, the channel fader will need to be pulled down too far in
compensation to leave enough travel for successful mixing and there is a greater
risk of feedback because small fader movements will have a very significant
effect on output level. Also there will be a chance of distortion as the signal
overloads the channel and causes clipping. If the gain is set too low, you will
not find enough gain on the faders to bring the signal up to an adequate level,
and backgound hiss will be more noticeable. This is illustrated below:
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