PA Hookup & Setting Question

[elduave]

I have a Behringer PMP2000 powered mixer and 2 Behringer B1220PRO speakers. How should all this be hooked up for max volume and clarity and where should the switches be set?

I get too many switches and ohm options and I become clueless.

Thanks!

[Guest pirateflynn]

on 11 .. !

sorry Dave

[Len]

Dave, I'll give you a call at the shop on Monday .... Maybe I can Help .... Len

[elduave]

Thanks Len!

[JohnnyB]

I have a Behringer PMP2000 powered mixer and 2 Behringer B1220PRO speakers. How should all this be hooked up for max volume and clarity and where should the switches be set?

I get too many switches and ohm options and I become clueless.

Thanks!

The answer depends on the component you are hooking up and the feedback characteristics and resonant nodes of the room. Different mics and input devices have different amounts of gain. Therefore, it's going to depend on the component as to where to set things. That's why many mixers have little stickers and white-out markings all over them with dire warnings about changing things. You should definitely keep a cheat sheet and maybe a notebook. One thing that simplifies things: you don't have an input vol. and an output vol. for each channel, just individual channel volumes and a unit master.

A wideband Sony condenser mic is going to have different gain and frequency response than a voice-oriented EV R50/B, vs. a drum mic, etc.

• First thing to do is pick a channel for each mic or other input device, and plug them in that way every time.
  
• Set all channels' tone controls and the PMP2000's multi-band EQ to flat.
  
• Turn all FX off and monitor output off.
  
• Set the master volume to zero and set all the channel volumes to 5. Make sure all channels' Pad buttons are disengaged.
  
• Plug in all the mics or devices and have everybody who's using one to step up to their mics or whatever. Plug high impedance mics and line feeds into the 1/4" jacks and plug Lo-Z mics and devices into the XLR jacks.
  
• Have channel one start singing/talking/strumming while you bring the master up until you get a comfortable level. If the device is overloading the channel and is way louder than the others, engage that channel's "Pad" button to drop the input level by 25 dB. Then re-adjust the volume.
  
• Go through each channel and adjust the channel volumes to get the blend you want.
  
• If there is a suckout, resonant node, or feedback that is consistent from channel to channel, use the Main Master equalizer to find the frequency band to correct these.
  
• Mix in the monitors and push them until each musician is satisfied with the level, but without inducing feedback. If you need more volume but you're getting feedback, adjust the mic positions and play with the Monitor Section master EQ to kill the feedback.
  
• Mix in effects as desired, channel by channel, in the same way you previously set volume.
  
• Now go back through channel by channel to tweak each channel's bass/mid/treble to dial in the most natural tonal balance, because mixing in the FX will influence EQ and tonal balance.
  

For a Manual and a Preset List for various effects, go here. The manual is excellent at spelling out the limitations and suitability of various connections. E.g., don't subject the built-in amps to anything less than a 4-ohm load.

If I'm just restating the obvious, please accept my apologies. But basically it looks like you have to go through this channel by channel to set it up. Versatility is a great thing, but it also brings complication and a longer initial learning curve with it.

[elduave]

Known or not, that's a print and laminate. Thanks JB!