Sound Desk Operation - Ormond Anglican · Shure vocal – there are three Shure SM58 microphones...

SECOND EDITION December 2009

Sound Desk Operation

A Users’ Guide to the sound system in The Ormond Anglican Church


1. Overview ................................................................................................................ 3 1.1. Desk ................................................................................................................. 3 1.2. Amplifiers........................................................................................................ 3 1.3. Inputs ............................................................................................................... 4

1.4. Microphones .................................................................................................... 6 1.5. DI Box ............................................................................................................. 7 1.6. Speakers .......................................................................................................... 8 1.7. Foldback .......................................................................................................... 8 1.8. Children‟s Room speaker ................................................................................ 9

1.9. Sanctuary speaker ............................................................................................ 9 2. Things you Need to Know .................................................................................... 10

2.1. Opening the Desk cabinet ............................................................................. 10 2.2. Turning the Desk on ...................................................................................... 10 2.3. Channels used at 9am & 3pm ........................................................................ 11

2.4. Channels used at 10:45am & 7:00pm ........................................................... 11 2.5. Connecting microphones ............................................................................... 11

2.6. Connecting instruments ................................................................................. 11 2.7. Connecting foldback speakers ....................................................................... 12

2.8. Input controls................................................................................................. 13 2.9. Master Volume .............................................................................................. 15

2.10. Children‟s Room Volume .......................................................................... 16 2.11. Foldback Volume ...................................................................................... 17 2.12. Busses & how to use them ......................................................................... 18

2.13. Managing Foldback ................................................................................... 19 2.14. Monitoring through the headphones .......................................................... 19

3. Things that Might Be Useful ................................................................................ 20 3.1. Sound sent to the PC for recording ............................................................... 20 3.2. Output for recording at the desk .................................................................... 20

3.3. PC playback volume...................................................................................... 20

3.4. Playing from a laptop out the front ............................................................... 20 3.5. Recording from the mixer to a laptop ........................................................... 20 3.6. Playing from an iPod ..................................................................................... 21

3.7. Playing from a CD......................................................................................... 22 3.8. Talking from the desk through Foldback ...................................................... 22

3.9. Setting up a channel from scratch ................................................................. 23 3.10. Equipment Manuals ................................................................................... 23

4. Things that might get you out of TROUBLE ....................................................... 24

4.1. No volume for one input channel .................................................................. 24 4.2. No signal to the PC for recording.................................................................. 24

4.3. Hum from a Guitar ........................................................................................ 24 4.4. No sound in the Foldback Speakers .............................................................. 24

4.5. Radio Interference ......................................................................................... 24 5. What to do with the Sound System after each service ......................................... 25 6. Signal Flow Diagram ............................................................................................ 27


1. Overview This document is a users‟ guide for the sound system in The Anglican Parish of

Ormond. It aims to give an overview of all the major components, as well as provide

practical guidance in using the system for voice and music.

1.1. Desk

The mixer desk is an Inter-M CMX-3268 Mixing Console with 32 mono inputs and 4

stereo inputs. The console is mounted in a cabinet with locking, top, back and front

doors. A full Operating Manual is located in the front middle cupboard of the cabinet.

Most of the top of the desk is occupied with controls (dials, buttons and faders) for the

input channels or output signals.

1.2. Amplifiers

The amplifiers, CD player and other equipment are located in the cupboards under the

desk. Please do not touch anything on this equipment, other than the CD player.

The left hand cupboard contains:

Rear speakers controller

Front speakers

controller

Subwoofer amplifier

Rear speakers amplifier

Front speakers power

amplifier


The right hand cupboard contains:

Front of House signal

processor

CD player

Foldback speakers

amplifier

Master power supply

Hearing aid loop

amplifier

1.3. Inputs

Sound signals are fed into the desk from a number of sources.

Microphone inputs for the desk are spread around the front part of the church. These

are XLR balanced connectors. Magnetic labels located above each channel‟s fader

indicate the “normal” use for each channel.

Microphone cables have a different connector on each end.

There is a Stage Box of XLR connectors located under the floor either side of the

platform. Magnetic labels on the top of the box may help you match the connectors

with channels on the desk.

There are also two small boxes in the floor of the centre platform. They each contain

two power points, and XLR connector and a video connector.


Wireless – two handheld wireless microphones are connected to channels 13

and 14. The microphones and channels are identified with red or yellow tape.

The radio receivers for these microphones are in the centre cupboard of the

cabinet. The red microphone (Handheld 1) is normally used for the service

leader at 9:00am and 10:45am. The yellow microphone (Handheld 2) is often

used by a singer.

Front Of House – channels 17 and 18 (labelled F.O.H 1 and 2) are connected

to the two small floor boxes located in the main platform.

PC – sound from the PC next to the mixer desk is connected to channels 19

and 20.

Stereo – the desk has four stereo inputs (ST1 to ST4).

ST1 is connected to a 3.5mm stereo plug for connecting other sound sources.

ST3 is connected to the CD player.

These channels are labelled iPod and CD.


1.4. Microphones

Shure vocal – there are three Shure SM58 microphones which are a better

quality vocal microphone, well suited to a male voice.

Shure instrumental – there are two Shure SM57 microphones which are well

suited to non-vocal use.

Wireless – there are two wireless Shure microphones. There is a radio receiver

for each microphone located in the centre cupboard of the console. These

microphones use two AA rechargeable batteries. There is a quick charger that

will take all four batteries at once. A full charge takes 15 minutes. The green

lights go out when the batteries are charged. These microphones use a larger

than standard clip on the microphone stand.

AKG – we have four AKG microphones with a slightly triangular cross

section. These are general purpose microphones for vocal and instrument use.

Two of these microphones are permanently mounted on the piano.

Radio – there are two radio headset/lapel microphones. They are powered by a

9v battery. The transmitter must be turned off after use or the battery will be

flat next time it is needed. With the “Hi-5” headsets these microphone are

suited for vocals. The microphone transmitters and receivers are marked with

white and green tape and are connected to channels 15 and 16.


Flute – an older microphone is often used for flute, violin or other instrument

when we have run out of the other microphones.

1.5. DI Box

The desk input connectors at the front of the church are XLR balanced microphone

connectors. These are great for microphones, but don‟t work with guitars, keyboards

etc. which have a 1/4” plug.

A Direct Input (DI) box is used to convert the signal from these instruments into XLR

balanced signals.

We have an eight channel DI box that is connected to one of the stage boxes.

Musicians may also have their own single channel DI devices.


1.6. Speakers

Two main speakers provide sound to the body of the church. They are located to the

left and right of the platform. Two secondary speakers provide sound in the extension

at the rear of the church, behind the mixing desk.

A single subwoofer provides deep bass sounds and is located inside the pulpit.

1.7. Foldback

Foldback speakers are used to allow musicians up the front to hear what they and the

other musicians are playing.

There are four foldback speakers connected into two foldback channels.

Foldback speakers should face the back of the playing area.

Note that pointing the front of a microphone towards these speakers may cause

feedback (and subsequent aggravation amongst the musicians and congregation) and

should be avoided.


1.8. Children’s Room speaker

There is a speaker mounted above a doorway in the children‟s room.

The blue volume fader on the desk marked “Mono” controls this speakers.

1.9. Sanctuary speaker

There is a speaker near the organ in the sanctuary.

It is controlled with the main church speakers, but there is also a volume knob on the

speaker itself.


2. Things you Need to Know

2.1. Opening the Desk cabinet

The cabinet has locks on the top, back and cupboard doors. The back is normally left

ajar. Open all the cupboards when the desk is in use to allow air to circulate to cool

the amplifiers.

2.2. Turning the Desk on

There is one main power switch for the whole cabinet located behind the middle door.

Turn the power on and off with the large red switch.


2.3. Channels used at 9am & 3pm

These services normally only use the red and yellow handheld wireless microphones.

The key controls required are the volume for channels 13 and 14, the master volume

and the children‟s room volume.

The foldback speakers are not generally used for these services.

2.4. Channels used at 10:45am & 7:00pm

Magnetic labels above each channel‟s fader indicate standard usage. The channels for

vocals, piano and keyboard are normally fixed with the channels in between being

configured as appropriate for each band‟s needs.

When setting up for a particular band it is normally easier to label the channels on the

desk and then make the connections from the stage box. There are additional labels in

a plastic bag in the centre console cupboard.

2.5. Connecting microphones

For the 9am and 3pm services no microphone connections are required as the

handheld wireless microphone is used.

For the 10:45am and 7pm services microphones are normally connected to the stage

box on the left side of the platform. Vocal microphones connect to the channels

marked Vocal 1 to 4.

The piano is miked with two AKG microphones to give a stereo sound. These

microphones do not need to be packed away. Channels 1 and 2 control the volume.

Other microphones may be connected for instruments such as flute, clarinet, violin,

cello, acoustic guitar, tin whistle etc.

The red wireless microphone is normally used for the service leader. The yellow

microphone may be used for a vocalist, roaming (eg baptisms) or just as an additional

instrument microphone. The batteries will normally need to be installed and checked

to ensure they are charged. The charger lives in the music room to the left of the

musicians‟ area.

Note that plugging in the microphones before turning on the desk removes any risk

that transient connection noise might damage the desk input channels.

2.6. Connecting instruments

Instruments such as electric guitars, acoustic guitars with a pickup, keyboards etc

normally use a cable with a ¼” plug. Connect these to the INPUT socket of the DI

box and then into an appropriately labelled connector on the XLR box.


If a player has their own DI box or effects box with an XLR output that can be

connected directly into the XLR box.

Sometimes a guitarist may want to use a small amplifier pointing at themselves. In

this case a microphone can be placed directly in front of the amplifier‟s speaker and

connected into the XLR box. One of the black AKG microphones is usually used.

There is a small boom microphone stand that works well in this situation.

2.7. Connecting foldback speakers

By convention channel 1 is used for foldback to singers and channel 2 is used for

foldback to players. This is indicated on the mixing desk with magnetic labels.

The sockets for the foldback channels are located in the left hand stage box.

Normally all four speakers are connected to the two channels1. Run a speaker cable

(not instrument cable2) from the socket to the INPUT socket on one foldback speaker.

Run another speaker cable from the OUTPUT socket to the INPUT socket of the

second speaker. Repeat for the other channel.

1 You can run the foldback with just one speaker per channel, but the default volume might need

adjusting. 2 Speaker cable is normally thicker than instrument cable. Speaker cable is made to carry a powerful

current from the amplifiers, instrument cable is made to carry a quiet signal without extra noise.


Note that foldback speakers should be directed

towards the back of a microphone, not the front. For

this reason they are normally pointed directly away

from the entrance end of the church. They should also

be about ½ to 1 meter in front of the microphone.

2.8. Input controls

Each channel has controls that allow you to manage

the quality of the sound and direct it through the

mixer. The controls for each of the 32 channels are

identical, so when you understand one you understand

them all. Many of the channel controls do not need to

be changed on a day-to-day basis.

The Fader (19 in the diagram) is the main volume

control for the channel. The “normal” position is 0db.

You may need to use the fader to maintain a steady

volume, for example as the service leader‟s

microphone is used by different people of different

heights and voice volumes.

The TRIM control (3 in the diagram) is used to adjust

for different strength signals from microphones and

instruments. The idea is to adjust the Trim so that

normal volume occurs when the Fader is at 0. For

9am and 3pm you should rarely need to adjust the

trim. For 10:45am and 7pm the default positions

should be OK, except when a different model

microphone is used or a different sort of instrument.

If an instrument‟s signal is too large the mixer will

distort (shown by the PEAK LED at 1 in the diagram)

and you will need to turn the trim down.

Note that when you adjust the trim you also adjust

that channel‟s volume in the foldback, so it is easier

to leave it alone if you can.

The Equaliser controls (7 in the diagram) allow you

to adjust the treble, midrange and bass of the channel.

Leave these alone unless you have a big ego!

The AUX1 and AUX2 controls (8 in the diagram)

allow you to set the volume of this channel in the two

foldback channels AUX1 feeds foldback channel 1

(To singers) and AUX2 feeds foldback channel 2 (To

players).

The PAN control (15 in the diagram) allows you to

adjust the signal from this channel somewhere


between the left speaker and the right speaker. Straight up is centred.

The red MUTE switch (16 in the diagram) on each channel allows you to quickly

silence that channel in the main speakers. Note that it does not silence it from the

foldback speakers and does not normally help in fixing feedback.

The SOLO switch (18 in the diagram) allows you to listen to the channel through the

headphones, which is useful to listen to individual singers and instruments and to

check that a particular instrument signal is coming through.

The MIX-B level control (12 in the diagram) feeds the signal sent to the PC for

recording. This is normally only used for the two wireless microphone channels and

the headset radio microphone for recording the reading and sermon in the services

where this is done.

The Buss switches (17 in the diagram) are used to direct the signal for this channel

and are explained in the section on Busses. Note that for channels used at 9am and

3pm the L/R buss switch must be selected.


2.9. Master Volume

The master volume faders control the loudness of the main speakers.

The faders are labelled “L-MIX-R” and “SPEAKERS MAIN”.

The normal position of the faders is 0. Use these faders to manage the overall volume

of sound.


2.10. Children’s Room Volume

The volume of the small speaker in the children‟s room is

controlled by the blue fader labelled “MONO”.


2.11. Foldback Volume

The two foldback channel controls are labelled “F’back to vocalists” and “F’back to

inst’ists” for channels 1 and 2 respectively.

Foldback volume should be sufficient for the musicians to hear each other, but not so

load as to overwhelm the main speakers for people in the main body of the room. Too

high a level can also cause feedback3.

A level somewhere in the lower left quarter as shown in the picture will be sufficient.

The MUTE switch on each channel allows you to quickly silence the foldback

speakers. If you get feedback this is the quickest way to halt it before everyone‟s ears

suffer.

The SOLO switch allows you to listen to the foldback channel through the

headphones, which may be useful.

Note that foldback is not normally used at 9am and 3pm.

3 That screaming sound discovered by rock guitarists in the „60s which can be quite painful and

distracting in our setting.


2.12. Busses & how to use them

The mixer provides eight busses giving flexibility in

the management of sound.

For 9am and 3pm the L/R buss switch should be

selected for and microphone channel used and the

volume controlled with the L-MIX-R faders. If you

only mix at these services skip the rest of this

section.

The Busses allow similar channels to be grouped

and controlled together. On our mixer the busses

have been grouped as Singers (1/2), Acoustic

Instruments (3/4), Electric Instruments (5/6) and

Backing (7/8). The Backing group is not normally

used.

By grouping signals together it is easier to manage

the volume of singers relative to instruments. For

example all instruments can be lowered in volume

together with the 3/4 and 5/6 faders.

Channels are allocated to groups using the buss

switches noted in the Input Controls section.

Normally only one switch would be selected, but

there may be occasions when L/R would be selected

as well.

Note that if no buss switches are selected for a

channel then that channel will be mute in the main speaker mix (but not the foldback).

Check that the buss switches are set reasonably (in case the last person driving the

mixer was a fiddler). It doesn‟t matter too much how things are divided between

acoustic and electric instruments. One way to organise this is to call instruments

picked up by microphone as “acoustic” and instruments that directly plug in as

“Electric”, but it doesn‟t matter much. Don‟t change things just for the sake of

changing them.


2.13. Managing Foldback

The goal of foldback is to allow the singers and players to hear enough of themselves

and each other to sing and play well.

The two foldback channels (1 – To vocalists, 2 – To instrumentalists) allow each

group to hear a different mix. The mix is controlled with the AUX1 and AUX2

controls on each channel. You should not normally need to change these much from

the default settings.

You should aim to have only “just enough” foldback volume. If you have too much

volume you increase the risk that:

The sound from the foldback speakers bounces off the wall behind the

musicians towards everyone else in the church and overwhelms the main mix.

You then lose control of the mix heard by everyone else in the room.

Feedback occurs causing distraction and discomfort.

If you get an incident of feedback the quickest way to stop it is to use the two Mute

switches on the foldback channels. It may only be necessary to mute briefly, though it

may be wise to gently lower the overall foldback volume to prevent re-occurrence.

2.14. Monitoring through the headphones

You can listen to the mix through the headphones. This

removes the sound reaching you ears directly from

sources through the air.

A much more practical use of the headphones is to

monitor individual channels or a group of channels using

the SOLO switches.

For instance you can check if the sound of an instrument

is really coming through much more easily than by

listening to the whole mix. You can listen to singers

individually to find who is holding the melody and adjust

the volume of the vocal microphones accordingly. Or you

can have your own private performance by selecting all

the singers and enjoy their harmonies lifted above the

instruments.

Headphone volume is adjusted by the PHONES control

(6 in the diagram).


3. Things that Might Be Useful

3.1. Sound sent to the PC for recording

The PC records from MIX-B.

Normally only the two wireless microphones and the headset radio microphone are set

with the MIX-B volume enabled. If the MIX-B control for a channel has been

accidentally turned down the PC will not hear anything from that channel.

If the main MIX-B volume control has been turned down the PC will not hear

anything at all.

3.2. Output for recording at the desk

A 3.5mm stereo plug connects into the Studio Out channel, labelled “Studio OUT”

which gives a copy of the main front of house mix.

This can be used to record in stereo to a laptop or other device placed on the mixing

desk.

3.3. PC playback volume

Channels 19 and 20 are signals from the PC into the mixer. They are used when a

DVD or presentation is played on the PC.

Normally a setting of -30 to -20 is a good starting point for these faders.

These faders should always be turned all the way down to -∞ when not in use as they

have been known to cause feedback.

3.4. Playing from a laptop out the front

Channels 17 and 18, labelled F.O.H 1 and 2 (Front of House) connect to the two small

floor boxes in the platform.

A Laptop can be connected to a floor box XLR socket using a DI.

3.5. Recording from the mixer to a laptop

A 3.5mm stereo plug labelled “Studio OUT” provides a stereo signal the same as the

main mix.

The Studio OUT knob controls the level of this signal.

This can be used to record to a laptop sitting on top of the mixer.

A power cord is available in the bottom of the centre cupboard.


3.6. Playing from an iPod

A 3.5mm stereo plug connects into the stereo ST1 channel, labelled iPod.

An iPod or other portable

music player can be connected

to this through its headphone

socket.

Use the ST1 fader to control

the volume of sound for this

device.


3.7. Playing from a CD

The CD player located in the right hand cupboard of the console is connected to ST3

and labelled CD.

Use the ST3 fader to control the volume of sound for this device in the same way as

for an iPod.

3.8. Talking from the desk through Foldback

The microphone connected to the TALK BACK socket can be used to communicate

through the foldback speakers to the musicians.

Press the ON switch (3 in the diagram) to enable the microphone. Use the LEVEL

control (4 in the diagram) to adjust the volume.

Note that the AUX/1/2 button must be selected. If you select the MIX button or any of

groups 1/2, 3/4 or 5/6 your voice will come out of the main speakers!


3.9. Setting up a channel from scratch

You may need to setup a channel that has not previously been used, or that is going to

be used for something quite different.

The mixer Operating Manual provides the following instructions:

FOLLOW THIS SENSITIVITY ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE FOR EACH

CHANNEL IN USE

1. Assign signal to channel fader:

If the channel is to be used with a microphone, the MIC/LINE switch should

be up and the FLIP switch should be up.

If channel is to be used with line input, the MIC/LINE switch should be down

and the FLIP switch should be up.

If the channel is to be used with a tape input (generally, while mixing), FLIP

switch should be down.

2. Set channel strip controls as follows:

TRIM pot all the way counter-clockwise

AUX SEND controls all the way counter-clockwise

LOW-CUT switch either on or off (on is recommended for mic inputs)

Channel fader at UNITY

PAN pot hard left or right (for sending to a mono Group buss)

SOLO switch on (for monitoring)

3. If the channel is being used for a tape input during mix-down, roll an already-

recorded track from your recorder.

4. The channel‟s -10dB SIGNAL LED should light. The L/R main meters will show

the actual internal operating level.

5. Adjust the TRIM control clockwise to get peaks that regularly hit 0dB on the L/R

meters. (If you use EQ, adjust the TRIM control after the EQ controls are set up.)

6. Repeat Steps 1-5 on the next channel that is being used, switching SOLO off for

the channel you have just set up and switching SOLO on for the next channel.

3.10. Equipment Manuals

A copy of this manual and the mixer manual are

kept in a holder inside the right hand cupboard

door.

Copies of manufacturer‟s user manuals for most

of the sound equipment are kept in a magazine

box in the music store room.

These may be helpful if you are trying to work out what a particular light means, or if

something does not work, but don‟t fiddle with knobs and buttons just for fun.


4. Things that might get you out of TROUBLE

4.1. No volume for one input channel

There are a number of possible causes for this.

Check for:

Wireless microphone switched off4 (or on standby

5) at the microphone

Wireless microphone receiver switched off (receiver in middle cupboard,

power from the four outlet power point on the floor)

Wrong buss switch selected for this channel

No buss switch selected for this channel

The appropriate Group faders are turned down or muted

A loose microphone cable at either end

Electric instrument turned down on the instrument

A loose instrument cable, DI cable etc.

The “-30db PAD” switch depressed on the 8 channel DI box.

4.2. No signal to the PC for recording

The “Mix B” knob is set too low, try around 12 o‟clock.

No channels have sufficient Mix B volume set.

Check that the cable into the PC has not been disconnected.

4.3. Hum from a Guitar

If a significant hum is heard from a guitar or other instrument that is connected via the

DI box try pressing in the “Ground Lift” button on the DI box for that channel.

This may remove the hum.

4.4. No sound in the Foldback Speakers

If there is no sound coming out of the foldback speakers check:

Are the foldback channels muted?

Are the foldback channels turned down? They should normally be at about 9

o‟clock.

Is the foldback amplifier turned on?

Are the foldback speakers plugged into the sockets in the left hand floor box?

4.5. Radio Interference

If there is audible radio interference, eg from taxis etc, look for microphone channels

with the gain turned high.

Try muting these channels to see if the interference goes away. If it does, turn the gain

down a bit.

4 Red light or no light if wireless receiver is off

5 Orange light


5. What to do with the Sound System after each service

9.00am 1. If there is a lectern or anything in the music area, move it elsewhere.

2. Go and have a cup of tea or coffee.

10.45am 1. Put the AA and 9V batteries in their chargers.

2. Pack up the microphones, stands and cables.

3. Hang the XLR cables coiled up on the coat stand.

4. Leave the foldback speakers out and connected.

5. If there is a 3.00pm service that day tidy up a bit and ensure that there is

room for communion along the side of the platform.

6. Turn off the sound system with the master switch.

7. Lock the mixer desk.

3.00pm 1. Put the AA batteries in their charger.



4. Go and have a cup of tea or coffee.

7.00pm 1. Put the AA and 9V batteries in their chargers.

2. Pack up the microphones, stands, XLR cables and DI box.

3. Hang the XLR cables coiled up on the coat stand.

4. Leave the piano microphones and cables.

5. Leave the foldback speakers and cables out (tidily).

6. Mute the two foldback channels, Aux1 & Aux2.

7. Reset anything on the mixer that you have changed significantly back to

the default setting (This includes channels 1 & 2 for the piano, channel 3

for bass and channels 10-16 for vocals and wireless microphones). See the

following page for the default settings.

8. Remember the goal is to help the 10:45am service to be able to setup

quickly in the limited timed between the morning services.




6. Signal Flow Diagram This diagram shows the flow of signals from inputs to outputs.

Sound Desk Operation - Ormond Anglican · Shure vocal – there are three Shure SM58 microphones...

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Transcript of Sound Desk Operation - Ormond Anglican · Shure vocal – there are three Shure SM58 microphones...