Samson PL1602 manual

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Intr oduction 1 System Featur es 2 Guided T our 3 Overview 3 Channels 4 Main Section 5 Rear Panel 7 Connecting The PL 1602 - General Suggestions 9 Setting Up and Using the PL 1602 11 Setting the Correct Gain Structure 12 Gr ounding T echniques 14 Using the Balance Contr ol 16 Using Equalization 17 Using Aux Sends and Retur ns 18 Using Channel Inser[...]

Intr oduction Congratulations on purchasing the Samson PL 1602 stereo mixer! Although this unit is designed for easy operation, we suggest you first take some time to go through these pages so you can fully understand how we’ve implemented a number of unique features. In this manual, we’ll provide you with an overview of the PL 1602 features, f[...]

System Featur es “ PL ” stands for “ Program/Line ” and the name describes the broad range of signals which can be handled by this powerful stereo mixer. In fact, the com- pact design of the PL 1602 belies an extraordinary versatility. Add excellent sound quality to the equation, and you ’ ve got a product which is equally useful as a liv[...]

Guided T our - Over view The following illustration shows an overview of the front panel of the PL 1602: 3 SAMSON -15 +15 0 -15 +15 HIGH 0 ∞ AUX 1L +10 0 LOW ∞ +10 LEVEL 0 ∞ AUX 2R +10 0 R BALANCE L -15 +15 0 -15 +15 HIGH 0 ∞ AUX 1L +10 0 LOW ∞ +10 LEVEL 0 ∞ AUX 2R +10 0 R BALANCE L -15 +15 0 -15 +15 HIGH 0 ∞ AUX 1L +10 0 LOW ∞ +10 [...]

Guided T our - Channels 1: Equalizer (white) - These knobs determine the amount of boost or attenuation in each of two frequency areas. The high and low frequency knobs provide 15 dB of cut or boost at 10 kHz and 100 Hz, respectively, with both utilizing a shelving curve. The EQ setting affects both the odd- and even-numbered channel inputs, althou[...]

5 Guided T our - Main Section 1: Stereo Auxiliary Return Level (blue) - These knobs determine the input level of signal arriving via the PL 1602 ’ s two 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 ([...]

6 Guided T our - Main Section 4: Headphone jack - Connect any standard stereo headphones to this jack (via a 1/4" TRS plug) for private monitoring of the main stereo output (including all connected Aux returns). The built-in PL 1602 headphone preamp delivers 100 mw at 32 ohms. 5: Main L/R faders These faders determine the final output signal l[...]

Guided T our - Rear Panel 1. Fuse sled - This contains a fuse holder and shows the currently selected voltage rating for your PL 1602. Make sure the voltage rating is correctly set before powering up! Fuse ratings are: 0.3 amp for 115 VAC and 0.15 amp for 230 VAC. The voltage rating will normally be preset correctly at the factory and will require [...]

8 Guided T our - Rear Panel 5: Mic inputs (channels 1 and 3) - Use these electronically balanced XLR jacks to connect a microphone to channels 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[...]

9 Connecting The PL 1602 - General Suggestions The actual connections you ’ ll make to and from the PL 1602 will vary according to the environment you use it in and the particular equipment you have. In the “ PL 1602 Applications ” sections at the rear of this manual, you ’ ll find some suggested setups. Here are a few basic rules concernin[...]

10 • 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 1602 ’ 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[...]

11 Setting up your PL 1602 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 two rack spaces, or used on a tabletop. 2. Before even plugging the unit i[...]

-40 +4 0 -10 TRIM -40 +4 0 -10 TRIM 12 You ’ re now ready to establish the correct gain structure — the key to getting the best performance from the PL 1602, 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[...]

13 Setting the Cor r ect Gain Str uctur e j. If you have any outboard signal processors connected to the Aux send and return jacks on the rear panel, follow this step. Because outboard effects processors can sometimes be quite noisy, it ’ s particularly important to maximize the amount of signal being sent to them via the PL 1602 Aux sends. The i[...]

14 Gr ounding 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 [...]

15 Gr ounding T echniques If you ’ re using the PL 1602 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 i[...]

16 Using the Balance Contr ol The final Main output of the PL 1602 is stereo — that is, there are two discrete Main 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 from hard left to hard right. The PL 1602 pr[...]

17 Using Equalization One of the most exciting aspects of using a mixer such as the PL 1602 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[...]

18 Using Aux Sends and Retur ns The PL 1602 ’ s two 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 the “ 0 ” position, the signal is routed with unity gain (that is, no boost or attenuation). As it is turned clockwi[...]

19 Using Channel Inser ts In addition to using Auxiliary sends and returns to access outboard devices, the PL 1602 also provides channel inserts for the first six 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 ([...]

20 Applications Here are four suggested applications for the PL 1602; bear in mind that your particular circumstance may dictate changes in these suggested signal connections and routings. Application 1 - Using The PL 1602 As A Main Live Mixer The main connections here involve routing the PL 1602 ’ s Main output to the input of a power amplifier,[...]

21 Application 2 - Using The PL 1602 As An Onstage Monitor Mixer Here, the PL 1602 is receiving monophonic signal into its line inputs from the direct channel outputs of a main live mixer. Its Main output is connected to an outboard signal processor (typically an equalizer) prior to being routed to an amplifier and onstage monitors. This allows the[...]

22 Application 3 - Using The PL 1602 As A Keyboar d Submixer Here, various keyboards and MIDI tone generators are connected to the channel line inputs of the PL 1602, 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. T[...]

Applications Application 4 - Linking The PL 1602 With Other Mixers The provision of rear-panel Bus Inserts makes it easy to link multiple PL 1602s or to link the PL 1602 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 1602 Bus Inserts. The si[...]

Appendix A: Block Diagram 24 MIC 1 H.A. H.A. B.A. H.A. - + - + -50dBu - +4dBu LEVEL HIGH HIGH LOW LOW BALANCE AUX 2R CHANNEL 3/4 CHANNEL 9/10 CHANNEL 11/12 CHANNEL 13/14 CHANNEL 15/16 AUX 2 RETURN AUX 1L CH 1L INSERT 1L INSERT 2R CH 2R -30dBu - +4dBu 10Kohm B.A. MASTER L H.A. B.A. H.A. - + - + LEVEL BALANCE AUX 2R AUX 1L CH 5R INSERT 5L INSERT 6L C[...]

Appendix B: Changing the PL 1602 V oltage 25 Following are step-by-step instructions for changing the mains voltage of the PL 1602. NOTE: The voltage rating will nor- mally be preset correctly at the factory and will require no adjustment unless you use the PL 1602 in a country other than the one in which you purchased the unit. WARNING: Before car[...]

26 Specifications 1. Frequency Response (Unity) 20 Hz to 20 kHz ± 1 dB 2. THD+N (unity gain, 20 Hz - 20 kHz) Less than 0.05 % 3. Maximum Gain (Mic in to Main Mix out) 69 dB 4. Crosstalk (Ch - to - Ch, 1 kHz) -70 dB 5. Residual Noise -85 dB 6. Headphone Output Level 100 mW (32 Ω loaded) 7. Equalizer High 10 kHz ± 15 dB Low 100 Hz ± 15 dB 8. Dim[...]