How to find the specs of my mixing board.

oniman7 · #1 04-03-2011, 07:46 PM

I bought a mixing board along with a power amp and speaker set up at a garage sale. I figured it was an investment to get it all for $125. However, it was mostly suitable for playing CD's in my garage and now we need a decent PA system. I don't want to risk blowing out speakers, but I'd like to save on the system since we have the mixer. How do I determine the impedance and such, and how do I determine what speakers this will work with?

It's at my drummer's house currently, where most of our excess equipment is stored. However, we have practice Wednesday and Sunday, so I can check then.

walterw · #2 04-03-2011, 09:29 PM

how about telling us what you've actually got? mixer? power amp? speakers?

a mixing board doesn't "work with" speakers, that's the power amp's job.

T-Bird · #3 04-03-2011, 11:24 PM

Hi.

You have to be kidding, right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

how about telling us what you've actually got? mixer? power amp? speakers?

a mixing board doesn't "work with" speakers, that's the power amp's job.

^This.

us to

You.

We do know a few bits and pieces, but we are not psychics You know?

Regards
Sam

Jazz Ad · #4 04-03-2011, 11:32 PM

It may very well be a powered speaker.
I guess as soon as you know the brand and model you can find the specs online.

oniman7 · #5 04-04-2011, 06:08 AM

I'm not entirely sure if it's powered. I've always run it through a power amp to the speakers in my house. But we once tried it through a PA my guitarist borrowed, and it resulted in a hideous feedback (I accidentally bumped one of the channels up to full volume, and moved the instrument cable without knowing that the channel was at full). My guitarist won't let me run it through his PA again, understanding the stupid nature of the mistake I made. It's an Alesis, but besides that, I know precious little more about it than you do. there was no box or instruction manual or anything, and there's almost nothing printed on the box. I'll let you know Wednesday if I figure out more, but all I know is that it's an Alesis 8-channel.

This thread was thrown in to the pile of other thigns I had to do, so it wasn't thought out very well. What I should be asking is, once I find the specs, how do I know what will go with what speaker systems? How do

T-Bird · #6 04-04-2011, 07:14 AM

Hi.

Well that helps narrow things a bit.

alesis mixer - Google-haku

Which one is it?

If it's one of the more recent ones, it's perfectly adequate for light duty, and does indeed need a power amp.

If it's one of those god-damn-awful "portastudio" plastic POS thingamajingies from the 80's with recessed sliders, forget it. It'll crap out on You at the most inconvenient moment.

Regards
Sam

walker rosewood · #7 04-04-2011, 11:47 AM

The model number is probably printed on it somewhere. go to the Alesis website and they have archives of instruction manuals for all there products, and most of the discontinued ones. Most product manuals have a 'tech specs' section at the back, which will tell you all the impedances, power requirements, outputs, etc.

If it's not on their site search the web for the manual. If you still have no luck you might just have to find somebody who owns one and has the manual, have them scan it and send it to you as a pdf.

greenboy · #8 04-04-2011, 12:23 PM

I drive a car. Can any one tell me what oil filter size to buy?

oniman7 · #9 04-04-2011, 03:41 PM

Google-kuvahaun tulos kohteessa http://forsale.esendeavors.com/Alesis%20Studio%2024%20b.jpg

That gave me an idea. It wasn't one on the google page, but I ended up finding it. I'm 99.9% sure it's the Studio 24 in the picture above. I'll go to the Alesis page and look for it.

Once I have the specs, what do I do with them? It requires a power amp (which I have) so I assume I need the specs on that also? How do I match up the impedance of the board, amp, and speakers?

Please excuse a noob's ignorance =p

T-Bird · #10 04-04-2011, 08:59 PM

Hi.

I don't have any experience about that one, but I don't see any reason why it would be any worse than anything else in the same configuration.

It's not a studio desk, at least not the kind I'd prefer, seems more suited to live applications.

If the designers had two braincells to collide when designing the board and it has XLR outs, and the power amp You have was made for PA duty, You won't have to worry about impedance matching.

Edit: Just looked at the pics further, and it appears they only had one lonely braincell to cry in the dark. Alone and miserable.
So... the connection won't probably be as easy as just plugging the stuff together, but when You find the exact model of the desk, search out the operators manual from the web and link it to this thread. Do the same for the power amp and we will be one step closer to You to have a functioning PA.

The speakers and the amp must obviously match power- and impedance-wise, but that You probably already knew.

Regards
Sam

walterw · #11 04-04-2011, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oniman7

How do I match up the impedance of the board, amp, and speakers?

you only need to worry about impedance between the power amp and the speakers. (the rest is all "line level" signal, it'll work fine however it's routed.)

2 speakers means that whatever they have printed on the back, divide by two. for you and me in our garages, that means 2 8Ω speakers creates a 4Ω load, which is fine for any power amp.

oniman7 · #12 04-05-2011, 03:45 PM

I'm taking a break from searching for the power amp, but was unable to find it. It's a big bulky Sony unit with a sort of grid open where I can see into it. Lots of copper in there, so it weighs a lot (about 30 or 40 pounds). On the front it has a digital display with some buttons (real helpful, I know). To the right, two big knobs, one volume and one "Function". On the back, a ton of outputs, mostly RGBA, labeled with different things like "TV".

I post this in case somebody knows it offhand.

walker rosewood · #13 04-05-2011, 04:00 PM

That sounds like a home audio receiver, not a piece of pro audio equipment.

oniman7 · #14 04-05-2011, 04:13 PM

It's not. That's why I'm debating whether or not to buy a PA system.

However, in the meantime, my singer may have some big enough speakers to practice with (right now we can't hear her with anything we use) and I'd like to know how to match up the two.

Soon enough, we'll probably get a PA system, but for now I'm using what we have.

walterw · #15 04-05-2011, 07:47 PM

the home stereo receiver will not help you, don't even bother with it.

used PA power amps are cheap; hell, nice new 500watt/side power amps can be had for like $300!

T-Bird · #16 04-06-2011, 12:40 AM

Hi.

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

the home stereo receiver will not help you, don't even bother with it.

used PA power amps are cheap; hell, nice new 500watt/side power amps can be had for like $300!

^This.

Just a wild guess: the speakers are "Hi-Fi" speakers as well?

If they are, You need a pair of passive speakers as well.

There's another option though. You can buy two active PA speakers to connect directly to the Alesis mixer. That way You gain a bit of space and hassle from the set-up/tear-down. You also lose the possibility to use the power amp for some other purpose, as a part of your bass rig for example.

A passable power amp + 2 pole mounted passive cabs shouldn't be more than $500 new. Same for two passable active speakers.
In this price range we are talking about Behringer and eqvivalent though. Go used, and You can step a notch or a two up the food chain.

Regards
Sam

Munjibunga · #17 04-06-2011, 01:39 AM

It's almost like you're trying to prevent us from helping you. If you're not going to give us the model numbers of all the stuff, how about some good, clear pictures of it? If you want meaningful help, put a little effort into it.

**251** · #18 04-06-2011, 07:42 AM

The Alesis Studio 24 Operating Manual is available at any 1 of these sites.

Alesis Studio 24 Mixer Reference Manual
Alesis Studio 24 Manuals, Support and Troubleshooting
Alesis Studio 24 Reference Manual

oniman7 · #19 04-06-2011, 05:38 PM

Sorry, guys I went over there today, and talked to them about it. They all just wanted to buy a complete package with everything we need to make things simple. I wasn't able to get any good pictures because I spent the whole time arguing with the guitarist. But that's another story that I've talked about enough in another thread.

Anyways, this was pretty much a waste of forum space. I try to keep threads like this few and far between.