Samson PL2404 manual

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Introduction 1 PL 2404 Features 1 Guided T our 3 Overview 3 Channels 4 Main Section 6 Rear Panel 8 Connecting The PL 2404 - General Suggestions 10 Setting Up and Using the PL 2404 12 Setting the Correct Gain Structure 13 Grounding T echniques 15 Busing , Submixing , and Channel Muting 17 Using the Balance Control 18 Using Equalization 19 Using Aux [...]

Introduction Congratulations on purchasing the Samson PL 2404 four-bus line mixer! The PL 2404 is optimized for use as a keyboard submixer in both live performance and recording applications, and it can be used wherever there are a number of stereo or mono line-level sources that need to mixed down to two or four outputs. Although the PL 2404 is de[...]

PL 2404 F eatures • An independent electronically balanced Control Room output (with dedicated level control) for connection to a power amplifier and studio monitors. • Four Bus faders enable easy control of bus output levels. • Input trims for the mic inputs of channels 1 and 3 are continuously adjustable from +4 to -50 dB, making it possibl[...]

Guided T our - Over view The following illustration shows an overview of the front panel of the PL 2404: 3 -15 +15 MID 0 LOW ∞ R BALANCE L -15 +15 0 AUX +10 0 ∞ AUX +10 0 MUTE 3/4 ∞ +10 LEVEL R BALANCE L LEVEL R BALANCE L LEVEL R BALANCE L LEVEL R BALANCE L LEVEL R BALANCE L LEVEL L LEVEL R BALANCE L LEVEL R BALANCE L LEVEL LEVEL LEVEL LEVEL [...]

Guided T our - Channels 1: Equalizer (violet) - These knobs determine the amount of boost or attenuation in each of three frequency areas (up to 15 dB for each area). The mid frequency control (centered at 1 kHz) utilizes a resonant ( “ bell ” ) peaking curve, while the high and low frequency controls (centered at 10 kHz and 80 Hz, respectively[...]

Guided T our - Channels fully clockwise, only the even-numbered (right) input signal is heard (panned hard right). When only the odd-numbered (left) input is connected, the Balance knob functions as a constant level Pan control, allowing you to continuously place the incoming signal anywhere in the left-right stereo field. For more information, see[...]

6 Guided T our - Main Section 1: Auxiliary Return Level (orange) - These knobs determine the input level of signal arriving via the PL 2404 ’ s four stereo Auxiliary returns. The “ 0 ” (2 o ’ clock) position of each knob indicates unity gain (no level attenuation or boost). Moving each knob counterclockwise from the “ 0 ” position (towa[...]

7 Guided T our - Main Section 5: Meter - This ten-segment bar meter shows the continuous output level of the Main left/right output. For optimum signal-to-noise ratio, try to adjust all levels so that program material is usually at or around 0 VU, with occasional but not steady excursions to the red “ + ” segments. See the “ Setting the Corre[...]

Guided T our - Rear P anel 1: Power on-off switch - As you may have guessed, this is what you use to turn the PL 2404 on and off. To avoid potential damage to your speakers, turn the PL 2404 on before you turn on any connected power amps — and turn it off after the power amps are turned off. 2. Fuse - Contains a 1 amp, 250 volt fuse. 3. AC input [...]

9 Guided T our - Rear P anel 7: Mic inputs (channels 1 and 3) - Use these electronically balanced XLR jacks to connect a microphone to channel 1 and/or channel 3. These are intended to accept signal from low-level, low-impedance mics but can also be used for signal from other sources (such as direct injection boxes) if the channel ’ s Trim contro[...]

10 Connecting The PL 2404 - General Suggestions The actual connections you ’ ll make to and from the PL 2404 will vary according to the environment you use it in and the particular equipment you have. In the “ PL 2404 Applications ” sections at the rear of this manual, you ’ ll find some suggested setups. Here are a few basic rules concerni[...]

11 • Matched signals (i.e. the stereo left-right outputs of a keyboard, drum machine, tone generator, effects processor, CD player, or tape recorder), should always be connected to the PL 2404 ’ s paired odd/even channels (i.e. 1L/2R, 3L/4R, etc.). The channel Balance control will allow you to adjust the relative levels of the two inputs, and y[...]

12 Setting up your PL 2404 is a simple procedure which takes only a few minutes: 1. Remove all packing materials (save them in case of need for future service) and decide where the unit is to be physically placed — it can be mounted in any standard 19" rack, requiring four rack spaces, or used on a tabletop. 2. Before even plugging the unit [...]

13 You ’ re now ready to establish the correct gain structure — the key to getting the best performance from the PL 2404, or from any mixer, for that matter. This is a simple procedure that ensures optimum input and output levels so that no unnecessary noise (caused by too low a signal) or overload distortion (caused by too high a signal) is cr[...]

14 Setting the Cor rect Gain Str ucture i. If you have a microphone connected to channel 1 or channel 3, the procedure for setting optimum microphone levels is as follows: sing or speak into the mic at the level you expect to use in performance while slowly raising the Level control for that channel to its 2 o ’ clock “ 0 ” position. Again, s[...]

15 Grounding T echniques Hum and buzz are the biggest enemies you face when interconnecting a large number of different pieces of equipment to a central audio mixer. This is because each piece of equipment may operate at a marginally different voltage (this difference is called potential ) and, when two devices at slightly different potential are p[...]

16 Grounding T echniques If you ’ re using the PL 2404 in a fixed location such as a recording studio, you may want to invest the time and money into creating a star ground network . This is by far the best technique for avoiding grounding problems. It involves using a formidable ground source such as a cold water pipe or a copper spike driven in[...]

17 Busing , Submixing and Channel Muting As we ’ ve seen, the PL 2404 uses a system of four buses — pathways through which signal can be routed. The four PL 2404 bus faders control the overall level of the signal being output through the four buses. When the “ L/R ” switches above each bus fader are pressed in, the signal from that bus is a[...]

Using the Balance Control The final Main output of the PL 2404 is stereo — that is, there are two discrete Main output jacks (and two discrete Control Room output jacks), labeled “ left ” and “ right, ” which will normally be routed to two discrete speakers.* Because of this, you will usually be working with a stereo field that ranges fro[...]

19 Using Equalization One of the most exciting aspects of using a mixer such as the PL 2404 is the ability to shape a sound, using a process called equalization . But there are few areas of sound engineering more misunderstood than equalization, and, just as good EQ can really help a sound, bad EQ can really hurt it, so read on... Every naturally o[...]

20 Using Aux Sends and Retur ns The PL 2404 ’ s four Auxiliary sends allow you to combine the signal from multiple channels and send the resulting mix to external devices such as effects proces- sors. When an Aux send knob is at its 2 o ’ clock “ 0 ” position, the signal is routed with unity gain (that is, no boost or attenuation). As it is[...]

21 Using Channel Inser ts In addition to using Auxiliary sends and returns to access outboard devices, the PL 2404 also provides channel inserts for the first four input channels. These should be used when you want to affect just one input signal, as opposed to signal from several inputs — most often, this will be for dynamic processing purposes [...]

Using PFL/AFL The PL 2404 provides two options for soloing input signals in headphones connected to the front panel headphone jack — Pre Fade Listen ( PFL ) and After-Fade Listen ( AFL ). The PFL/AFL switch in the main section allows you to choose between these two modes of operation. Although they may at first glance appear similar (and both are[...]

23 Applications Here are four suggested applications for the PL 2404; bear in mind that your particular circumstance may dictate changes in these suggested signal connections and routings. Application 1 - Using The PL 2404 As A Recording Mixer The PL 2404 is optimized for use as a recording mixer with multitrack digital or analog recorders. As show[...]

24 Application 2 - Using The PL 2404 As A Main Live Mixer Here, the PL 2404 ’ s Main output is connected to the input of a power amplifier, and, from there, to PA speakers. Microphones are connected to channels 1 and 3, while line level signals are connected to other channel inputs (stereo signals are routed to “ matched ” consecutive odd- an[...]

25 Application 3 - Using The PL 2404 As A K e yboard Submixer Here, various keyboards and MIDI tone generators are connected to the channel line inputs of the PL 2404, with stereo signals routed to “ matched ” consecutive odd- and even-numbered inputs. Signal processors are connected to Aux sends and returns and to channel inserts as required. [...]

Applications Application 4 - Linking The PL 2404 With Other Mixers The provision of four rear-panel Bus Inserts makes it easy to link multiple PL 2404s or to link the PL 2404 with other mixers, without the need to use up channel line inputs. As shown in this illustration, simply connect the main output of another mixer to the PL 2404 Bus Inserts. T[...]

27 Appendix A: Block Diagram ALL MIC LEVEL INPUTS > 1.5K OHMS XLR BALANCED 3-H 1 , 2-L 0 , 1-Com LINE BALANCED OdB LINE BALANCED 0dB MIC 1, 3 HA CH1-3 (0DD) CH 1, 3 CH 2, 4 CH2-4 (EVEN) CH5-23 (0DD) CH5-24 (EVEN) CH INSERT 0dB 1. TRS BALANCED : Tip-H1, Ring-Lo, Sleeve-Com 2. XLR BALANCED : 3-H1, 2-Lo, 1-Com 3. TRS INSERT UNBALANCED : T1p-Return,[...]

28 Specifications 1. Frequency Response (unity gain, line input 0 dB) Mic in to Main out 20 Hz to 30 kHz ± 1 dB Line in to Main out 15 Hz to 70 kHz ± 3 dB Aux return to Main out 15 Hz to 70 kHz ± 3 dB Mic in to Control Room out 20 Hz to 30 kHz ± 1 dB Line in to Control Room out 15 Hz to 70 kHz ± 3 dB 2. THD+N (unity gain, line input 0 dB, with[...]

Produced by On The Right Wavelength for Samson Technologies Corp. Copyright 1996, Samson Technologies Corp. Printed March 1996 Samson Technologies Corp. 575 Underhill Blvd. P.O. Box 9031 Syosset, NY 11791-9031 Phone: 1-800-3-SAMSON (1-800-372-6766) Fax: 516-364-3888[...]