How do you set your mixer and amp?

[BeerFunk]

This was brought up in another thread, and I've heard different methods over the years from different DJs... and I'm not sure if there is a 'correct' way to do it.

I've always set my amp to around 80%, and the master on my mixer in order to get the full length of the channel faders (ie. fader up to around 90-95% for full volume). I then adjust the master on the mixer accordingly, depending on how many people are in the hall.

[Danno13]

I have amps on full. Then the gains on the crossover adjusted to balance the bass to mid/top outputs. Then set the mixer master at a level so when a channel fader is at the top then it's at the loudest i'll need for the night. Then keep the channel faders at around 60-70% for the first hour or so before cranking it up.

[sleah]

This was brought up in another thread, and I've heard different methods over the years from different DJs... and I'm not sure if there is a 'correct' way to do it.

I've always set my amp to around 80%, and the master on my mixer in order to get the full length of the channel faders (ie. fader up to around 90-95% for full volume). I then adjust the master on the mixer accordingly, depending on how many people are in the hall.

That's fairly standard from a sound engineering point of view. You may aswell put the amps on full. Mixer master should be around 80%ish, some even have a mark around that setting.
Use the trims (if present) on individual channels to set a comfortable position for faders.

It's best to put the amps to full otherwise you risk driving the mixer too hard and sending out distorted or clipped sound. Setting the mixer master a little lower gives you some headroom if needed.
Think of the 75-80% position as being zero, anything below is minus and anything above plus.
In theory, with the amps full, the mixer master and channels at zero, if you send a signal of 0db gain in, the amps would be outputting their rated power, with no distortion or clipping.
Not quite that simple, but good to base your settings on.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

That's fairly standard from a sound engineering point of view. You may aswell put the amps on full. Mixer master should be around 80%ish, some even have a mark around that setting.
Use the trims (if present) on individual channels to set a comfortable position for faders.

It's best to put the amps to full otherwise you risk driving the mixer too hard and sending out distorted or clipped sound. Setting the mixer master a little lower gives you some headroom if needed.
Think of the 75-80% position as being zero, anything below is minus and anything above plus.
In theory, with the amps full, the mixer master and channels at zero, if you send a signal of 0db gain in, the amps would be outputting their rated power, with no distortion or clipping.
Not quite that simple, but good to base your settings on.

But that is not what Mr Denon said earlier in his post about the leds on my mixer not coming on:confused:

[sleah]

But that is not what Mr Denon said earlier in his post about the leds on my mixer not coming on:confused:

You've lost me there.... what post about leds???:confused:

If it's what I think you mean, that the output leds hardly light when the volume is fairly loud..... (one of mine's like that!)
It's because amps/mixers/cd players generally aren't perfectly matched or calibrated. To coin a phrase "not singing from the same hymn sheet".
One manufacturers 0db can be different from anothers.
Also impedences can be slightly different and sensitivity can be different.
The best you can hope for is using all kit from the same manufacturer from the same range.
If you were using broadcast kit, a 775mv p-p* input with all controls set to 0db gain would result in 775mv p-p* output and VU meters would read 0db (the led last led before red normally).
There are soooooo many factors that can affect where controls sit for the best. Now throw EQ in to the equation!:eek: All the above refers to a 'flat' signal.

*Edit: this what we call line level. There are actually 2 standards - 775mv is the out from CD players, mixers to amps ec.
The other is 400mv which is normally called recording level. Used for REC out from mixers to tape/minidisc recorders etc.
Dunno why! Just what I learned yonks ago.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

You've lost me there.... what post about leds???:confused:

If it's what I think you mean, that the output leds hardly light when the volume is fairly loud..... (one of mine's like that!)
It's because amps/mixers/cd players generally aren't perfectly matched or calibrated. To coin a phrase "not singing from the same hymn sheet".
One manufacturers 0db can be different from anothers.
Also impedences can be slightly different and sensitivity can be different.
The best you can hope for is using all kit from the same manufacturer from the same range.
If you were using broadcast kit, a 775mv p-p input with all controls set to 0db gain would result in 775mv p-p output and VU meters would read 0db (the led last led before red normally).
There are soooooo many factors that can affect where controls sit for the best. Now throw EQ in to the equation!:eek: All the above refers to a 'flat' signal.

It was the post in the Denon HD2500 thread, and yes you have the right end of the stick!

If you read the Denon thread, Mr Denon suggests that I need to turn down the amps and turn up the gains and faders on my mixer to get to a certain point.

[rob1963]

In my case, amp on maximum, channel faders on maximum (using gain pots to compensate for different recording levels on different cds) & control overall sound level with master output on mixer, which us usually set between 4 & 6.