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Hooking up external effects unit to mixer

nitrofix

nitrofix

Gold Supporting Member
Jan 15, 2009
1,807
579
Miami Fl
#1
Hey Guys, question for you sound guys. We have a Allen & Heath Zed 428 mixer and I'm a little confused on how to hook up our Lexicon MX300 to it. I pretty sure we run Aux send from the board to the Lexicon but where does it return to ? Someone told me I could run it back to a channel, Aux 5 send to unit and return to the board then Aux send 6 and back to the board.
Any help would be much appreciated, and please use simple terms as I'm not very good at hooking this stuff up...Thanks Guys
 
#2
nitrofix said:
Hey Guys, question for you sound guys. We have a Allen & Heath Zed 428 mixer and I'm a little confused on how to hook up our Lexicon MX300 to it. I pretty sure we run Aux send from the board to the Lexicon but where does it return to ? Someone told me I could run it back to a channel, Aux 5 send to unit and return to the board then Aux send 6 and back to the board.
Any help would be much appreciated, and please use simple terms as I'm not very good at hooking this stuff up...Thanks Guys
Click to expand...
Are you running it stereo or mono? If your PA is mono then there is no reason to run it stereo. If mono, then run an aux output to one input (conventionally the L channel is mono if nothing is in the R channel) of the Lex and run the output of that channel to either an effects return (if your board has one) or a board channel line input. If stereo, run two aux outputs to the L and R inputs of the Lex and the outputs to two effects returns (if you have them) or to two channels of the board.
 
#4
Thanks Guys, we are running left out of the board to a sub, which has a built in crossover up to a main, and running right out of the board to a sub and up to a main. So I could just run aux 5 out to the Lexicon and out of the Lex to a channel and do the same with aux 6 to a channel, then I would have a master control of effects and adjust them on the individual channel ?
 
#5
Conventional mapping for reverb effects (as in Lexi) is mono out (AUX) and stereo return - either into effects/aux return, or stereo channel or 2 separate channels - regardless of whether you are running mono or "stereo".

On the Zed use AUX 5 or 6 out into Llexi, then take the L/R returns and connect into chan 17 or 18 (stereo). Check your send/return levels and blend to taste.

Just make sure it's a POST fader and not PRE-FADER AUX send. You want to ensure the level send to the Lex matches the mixer levels.
 
#6
nitrofix said:
Thanks Guys, we are running left out of the board to a sub, which has a built in crossover up to a main, and running right out of the board to a sub and up to a main. So I could just run aux 5 out to the Lexicon and out of the Lex to a channel and do the same with aux 6 to a channel, then I would have a master control of effects and adjust them on the individual channel ?
Click to expand...
Yes, but if you are just running the FOH speakers mono from one side of the board, then there is no need to use both channels of the Lexicon unless it has the capability to run in dual mono mode, i.e., a different effect on the L channel from the R channel.
 
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#7
OK - it's hard to tell from the description, it sounds like you are running the mains in stereo. You keep talking about using TWO aux sends - there's no need for that. Just do as s0c9 said. Mono aux in (aux 5 I guess) and run the stereo outs into the left/right of one of your stereo channels. Just to clarify - looking at that board even though there are two stereo channels next to Ch 16, they are actually 25-26 and 27-28, not 17 and 18. The fader for whatever stereo channel you use will control the overall level of the effect signal. I think the stereo channels on that board are really meant to be effect returns, they just don't call them that.
 
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#9
nitrofix said:
Thanks again Guys, I think I got it now. Gonna head out to the gig in a little while and see if I can get this up and running.
Click to expand...

Appears as if you have a handle on things. I use a Lexie MX200 and Soundcraft Spirit 16 mixer (...4 auxes...sheeesh!). Auxes 1 & 2 are used for monitors, Aux 3 is my FX send which goes to central bus. I run the Aux 3 send to the input of the Lexie (mono!) which is then returned to the open channel 16 mic channel. I set all send / output / trim levels (listed below) in such a way that, when the channel 16 slider is set at -0-, it produces a pleasing wet / dry mix. Don't forget to turn off all channel 16 aux sends...can you say "feedback"?

*Individual mic channel Aux 3 sends (...or your aux channel of choice).

*Central Aux 3 bus send.

*Lexie input. Set your Mixes at 100% wet.

*Channel 16 trim pot. Use your "Solo / PFL" to set your input level.

Are the resulting FX a little too prominent? The easiest way to adjust is to roll off the input level at the Lexicon. Sounds counter-intuitive, doesn't it? I do this so that my channel 16 slider can be quickly withdrawn or advanced to -0- when dealing with public announcements and such when FX are neither necessary nor desired.

Riis
 
#10
Yep, that and you can EQ the verb and reduce any brightness that might have crept in from the Lex...

If you have 2 auxes and 2 channels to burn. Put delay on one, verb on the other... My old lex 200 could be set to verb on one side, delay or something else lexxy on the other.
 
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#11
4Mal said:
Yep, that and you can EQ the verb and reduce any brightness that might have crept in from the Lex...

If you have 2 auxes and 2 channels to burn. Put delay on one, verb on the other... My old lex 200 could be set to verb on one side, delay or something else lexxy on the other.
Click to expand...

Big thumbs up on both...although I don't have a spare aux *sob*. When running the Lex back into the spare mic channel, I generally roll off the treble by 3-5 dB to soften the top-end.

Any dedicated EQ's, processors and such are more appropriately add via mains or subgroup inserts, not aux channels.

Riis
 
#13
Zooberwerx said:
Any dedicated EQ's, processors and such are more appropriately add via mains or subgroup inserts, not aux channels.
Click to expand...
IMHO depends on need... reverb/delay on a sub group (like vocals) are better done with an AUX send.. as it give better control of individual effect level per vocal channel than it does on a sub group. But yes, it can be done.

EQ + Compression, depends on objective. If you have a DSP, both are usually handled there for the main FOH mix. One can put a compressor on the drum sub group (I prefer kick and bass channels) or one can put EQ on EACH monitor mix or... The possibilities are endless, but proper placement (much like effect order on a pedalboard) tends to yield best results.
 

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