Advice - In house PA with one input???

[DiscoMagic]

Hey guys - hope you are all good :)

This one I think should be fairly easy!?

Ok so I had a pre-event meeting last night, for a Golf Club Social Bash, where the client insisted that I use the in house system. Fine with me I say, done it loads of times before etc etc...

Until they show me where I plug my inputs to - which consists of ONE xlr input?
Tried it out with my PO system, and it seemed to work OKish, but not sure whether this will affect the overall quality of the sound...

What would you recommend - I could use the MONO button on my mixer, which doesn't sound great, or is there an xlr stereo to mono converter I can get which would be better (perhaps from those lovely guys at Craplins)?

Over to you - cheers :D :beer1: :beer1:

[Dynamic Entertainment]

http://www.audiospares.com/product.php?productid=1211

[DiscoMagic]

Thanks Steven,

Will this sound OK, or better than just hitting the mono button?

Cheers :)

[CRAZY K]

Hey guys - hope you are all good :)

This one I think should be fairly easy!?

Ok so I had a pre-event meeting last night, for a Golf Club Social Bash, where the client insisted that I use the in house system. Fine with me I say, done it loads of times before etc etc...

Until they show me where I plug my inputs to - which consists of ONE xlr input?
Tried it out with my PO system, and it seemed to work OKish, but not sure whether this will affect the overall quality of the sound...

What would you recommend - I could use the MONO button on my mixer, which doesn't sound great, or is there an xlr stereo to mono converter I can get which would be better (perhaps from those lovely guys at Craplins)?

Over to you - cheers :D :beer1: :beer1:

Using your mixer on Mono really should sound fine--most of these inputs have always seemed to give reasonable results when I have used them in the past---is there some adjustment you need to make on the master controls on the in house system?

Seems a bit odd.:confused:

[DiscoMagic]

The only adjustment is volume, and TBH the guy I spoke to last night didn't know what he was doing so just turned it up to max volume, resulting in hissing and buzzing throughout without music and sounded terrible with music! (I didn't want to interfere just yet though!)

So will the mixer just send the same signal through both xlr outputs, and it won't matter that only one of them will be used??? - Sorry for sounded a little dim - never encountered this before?! :confused:

[Excalibur]

Ralph, one input? :confused: Seems strange. :confused:


A cable of the type Steven linked to ought to be your best bet. Not every mixer has a mono switch anyway, and also, if you only run from one side of the mixer, I'd regard that as less than ideal.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Shouldn't make a difference if you use the cable or put the mixer in mono tbh...although as Peter has said....I would prefer to use the cable ;)

[Corabar Steve]

http://cpc.farnell.com/pulse/pls00259-psg01371/xlr-splitter-lead/dp/AV14539?Ntt=AV14539

http://cpc.farnell.com/pulse/pls00288-psg02975/xlr-adaptor-lead-plug-to-2x-skts/dp/AV17587?Ntt=av17587

http://cpc.farnell.com/_/fl-38-150/adaptor-lead-2x-xlr-s-to-xlr-p/dp/AV07032?Ntt=av07032

[DiscoMagic]

Ralph, one input? :confused: Seems strange. :confused:

I know chap - I hate to think of the type of people who install these systems???

[mikeee]

Years ago, XLR's were used as stereo connectors - Pin1 left, Pin 3 Right and Pin 2 ground, if I remember correctly, haven't seen it for a few years now.
What is the installed unit? Google it.

[Excalibur]

Years ago, XLR's were used as stereo connectors - Pin1 left, Pin 3 Right and Pin 2 ground, if I remember correctly, haven't seen it for a few years now.
What is the installed unit? Google it.

And that was exactly the possibility which was in my mind. In which case, a cable with XLR plug to two Phono might be of use. ( If it's wired how I'd expect )

[soundmaster mobile disco]

If it is going to sound that bad and you are uncomfartable,why not use your own sound system???????????

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

If it is going to sound that bad and you are uncomfartable,why not use your own sound system???????????


I'm guessing because...



the client insisted that I use the in house system.

;)

[DAVESOUNDS SERVICES]

It will probably be connected to a "CLOUD" pa system which run in mono anyway ( they sum ALL their StereO inputs into a mono output)
easiest way to set up?
Connect the One cable to one side of yr mixer
Engage MONO button
play your music so mixers just short of the red line/light/leds
set thr house knob to loudness you desire for the gig
do yr gig if you need a little more just increase your mixer out put slightly!
Enjoy your night

Dave

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Dave

Please don't use text talk, thanks.

[BeerFunk]

I would prefer the signal to be mixed from stereo to mono with an adaptor cable myself.

There is a very small possibility, but a possibility nevertheless, of this happening :

You are using the mono button on the mixer, and one of your L/R inputs to your mixer fails, which happens to be the the only active side in a track which was produced in stereo. Suddenly you have no sound, or at best, something that sounds like a stripped-back instrumental :o

[CRAZY K]

I'm guessing because...




;)

The client doesnt always know best--however if it sounds :Censored: just tell him--I TOLD YOU SO .:D :D :D :D :D

There arent too many in house systems I have found to be great--other than the High Barn, Braintree who actually have a recording studio on the premises and an in house engineer for you using RCF gear. Yee-ha!

Great sound---except he kept turning down the volume as I was increasing it on my mixer:eek:

Neighbours :daft: :daft: :daft:

[Jiggles]

Don't use those Y cables... All they will do is mix the left and right and there is a high chance of cancelation. To do it right you would need a Stereo to mono mixer.

[DiscoMagic]

Don't use those Y cables... All they will do is mix the left and right and there is a high chance of cancelation. To do it right you would need a Stereo to mono mixer.

So now i confused !!! :confused:

Most people are telling me to use splitters, and so I was all but going to order some online, but then I see this :( :confused: :( :confused:

[Happy Jack]

Don't use those Y cables...
Please listen to this. Suggesting that you sum the outputs via a standard Y split is, in fact, very bad advice. I'd encourage you to engage the mono switch on your mixer and run it as intended.

[Corabar Steve]

What about a belt & braces approach?

Turn your mixer to mono & use a Y lead?

[DiscoMagic]

Good call steve - I'll go with that :D

[Supreme Soundz]

i'd put my money on the xlr socket in the wall being wired stereo too ive encountered this in a village hall near us. i just knocked up a lead with two xlr's on the mixer wires cant remember the pin numbers of hand, and a single xlr on the other with the left audio on one pin and the right on another pin with a common earth shortly after the gig the members of the comittee were impressed how it sounded from other discos and asked me what id done i explained that most mixers have 2 xlrs out not one then they gave me some cash to fit another xlr :) :)

[Larry B Entertainment]

i'd put my money on the xlr socket in the wall being wired stereo

:agree:

I would check exactly whether the system runs in mono or stereo but it is possible that the single XLR is split off into stereo on the other end of the cable.
If it is only mono then do as Steve suggested. Use the Mono switch on the mixer along with a Y cable. Dont use the Y cable in stereo mode as a phasing effect may result.