It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:42 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Using Passport PD250 as a mixer
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 12:49 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2010 9:00 am
Posts: 15
I use a PD250 to power music and microphones at gatherings, fundraisers, networking events and more.

A client has asked me to control the audio at a dinner for 250, providing music and mics. The venue is very large and has an installed system. I need to send a mix to their amplifier through a single XLR connection point.

Is the PD250 an adequate mixer, and how would I connect to their amplifier?

Picking up a non-powered mixer is an option.

Thanks in advance for your time and assistance.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Using Passport PD250 as a mixer
Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 7:20 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:24 am
Posts: 434
The engineers from Fender can answer this with more authority than I can, but to get you a timely answer, I think you will have slightly different hassles depending on whether you use the Passport or another unpowered mixer. I'm mostly trying to give you a heads-up on issues you'll have to deal with for each choice you might make.

The single XLR input connection for the venue's system implies that the system is mono and they are expecting a single microphone or perhaps line-level signal. You have several options for providing that. If the unpowered mixer you could acquire has an XLR out, that's probably the best option. XLR is "balanced". All of the line-level outputs on the PD250 are 1/4" TS, which are unbalanced. You can get a cable that is 1/4" TS or TRS at one end and XLR at the other end, but that won't make the signal going through the cable balanced. There could be induced hum, depending on the environment. The third wire of a balanced cable is supposed to take care of that, and that third wire has no place to connect to on the PD250.

Add that the main reason you'd want to use the PD250 is that you are accustomed to its controls. The RCA tape outs and the three 1/4" TS "Send" connectors bypass the master volume control and possibly the EQ control. I think that the two "Send" outputs next to the speaker outputs bypass the EQ, but the single Rev/Aux Send may include the EQ control from the mixer. I'm not positive about that.

Mostly, I'm trying to give you the heads up that since those outputs bypass some of the Passport's mixer controls, you could be surprised when you reach for the Master Volume and it doesn't do anything. I'm not sure if the System EQ control will do anything or not.

Basically, you are taking a unit designed to drive its speakers and using it for a different purpose. It will work, but the behavior will be a little different than what you are accustomed to while using the unit in the normal way as both a mixer and a power amp.

Another minor concern is that if you use stereo input through one of the two stereo channels in the Passport, then the RCA outputs and the two 1/4" send outputs next to the speaker outputs would only send one side of the stereo signal. Only the Rev/Aux Send would combine those into a single mono signal for the external power amp. Likely, you won't be doing that, but if you were, you should be aware of that.

Good luck with the gig.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Using Passport PD250 as a mixer
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 11:17 am
Offline
Fender Staff

Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2010 10:53 pm
Posts: 68
Location: Scottsdale
Hi,

Not being there, I don't know exactly what system you're dealing with with their house system. I would suggest asking them details on the input to their system, but I can help clarify from the PD-250 side of things.

As Contra mentioned, all of the outputs from the PD-250 are unbalanced (Stereo out and Amplifier Send). However, I will make a clarification of where these are located within the circuit. The Stereo out is located after the pre-amp, but before the master volume, so any changes to the input level controls, channel EQ, and reverb controls will be heard in the Stereo Out mix. The Amplifier Send (L/R) are located after the Left/Right Master volume controls, just before the power amp, so you could use these outputs if you want to control the master volume as well. If you would like to reference the manual, go to http://support.fender.com/manuals/pro_a ... manual.pdf.

_________________
----------------------------------------------------
Byron A. Tanigawa
Design Engineer - Pro Audio
Research & Development
Fender Musical Instruments Corp.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: