Mixer trouble at my band's last gig

[MakoMan]

Well it looks like my Soundcraft EFX8 has bit the dust. It doesn't owe me anything as I bought it very inexpensively used 5 years ago and it has served my band flawlessly for over 30 gigs a year, but I guess I just expected it to work forever.
This past Saturday night our band was doing sound check at an out-of-town show and we noticed crackling sounds coming from the left main just before it cut out completely. We changed cables etc. and no matter what we did could not get sound out of the left side. We were running out of time so I just panned everything on the board to the right, daisy chained the non-working speaker to the working speaker and bingo we had sound on both sides. We did a quick sound check and then played three one-hour sets using only the left side of the mixer driving both mains. The monitors were not affected. Otherwise everything worked fine.
So tonight I had a little time to take a look at the mixer. I took out the two monitor speakers, plugged them in as mains to the mixer and... dang, no sound from the left. Tried everything and no luck. So with nothing to lose I banged on the mixer with the palm of my hand and bingo, sound suddenly came out from the left. I used it for a few minutes and made sure everything was working fine, then turned it off. After a few minutes I turned it back on and no sound from the left.
So obviously I have a blown channel, either from a loose wire or broken solder I suspect. It is beyond my technical capabilities and there are no real techs around here so I suspect my trusty EFX8 is toast. I'm really not ready for digital so I just have to figure out what the best replacement analogue mixer would be. Fortunately I have a bit of time because while we have several gigs coming up they are all at plug and play. We don't need to use our own PA again until late March.

 

[JRA]

mackie has a piece which matches up nicely with that board --- and maybe has a few more bells and whistles, for around $200-$250 IIRC. or look for another SC like yours, used.

in general: you should be able to find some nice deals on the small analog boards these days just because so many are unloading them for the digital stuff.

good luck finding a mixer that you like!

 

[MakoMan]

mackie has a piece which matches up nicely with that board --- and maybe has a few more bells and whistles, for around $200-$250 IIRC. or look for another SC like yours, used.

in general: you should be able to find some nice deals on the small analog boards these days just because so many are unloading them for the digital stuff.

good luck finding a mixer that you like!

Thank you. Yes I've been eyeing the Mackies, which coincidentally are on sale this week at Long and McQuade. There are also a couple of used EFX8s for sale in the area and just getting another one has crossed my mind. Ideally I'd love to find something about the same size as the EFX8 but with 10 xlr inputs instead of 8.

 

[s0c9]

Digital is pretty simple and you can get a decent digital mixer for next to nothing these days.
That said, if you're comfortable with the EFX8 and get another.. I'd say stick w/ it

 

[MakoMan]

So I looked around the house this evening to see what other mixers I have and I realized that last year when I bought a lot of six used powered speakers from a sound and lighting company I also got as part of the package a Soundcraft Spirit Folio mixer in a road case. I haven't even opened the road case since I picked it up but I took a look at it tonight and it appears to be in almost perfect condition and is an 8 XLR input mixer just like my EFX8. It has no effects but I am the lead singer and I use my own effects pedal anyway. Anyway I think it will do the job in a pinch until I get another board.
The one thing I cannot figure out from the owner's manual is whether the main and monitor outputs are balanced TRS or just plain unbalanced 1/4 inch. The manual does note that all the 1/4 inch inputs are balanced TRS but it says nothing about the outputs. I anyone happens to know please let me know.

 

[MakoMan]

Digital is pretty simple and you can get a decent digital mixer for next to nothing these days.
That said, if you're comfortable with the EFX8 and get another.. I'd say stick w/ it

That's pretty good advice and you have me thinking. One of our guitarists has a Behringer XR16 digital board which we have used at times in the past but we've never gotten comfortable with it. We had a couple of shows where he really struggled with the XR16 so I brought the EFX8 back out for a show and it went perfect. As our lead guitarist said at the time: "Let's just keep using your board. It's simple and it works." That was almost two years ago and we've continued to use the EFX8 ever since. This might be a sign LOL!
However the guitarist with the XR16 is in Florida until April so we have to wait until he gets back to try the digital board again. I may just try and get by with my Spirit Folio with the EFX8 as a backup until he returns. Then if we figure out his mixer I may get a digital board for myself. We only have one show In late March at which we need our own mixer, otherwise all our gigs are through house systems. I may even just rent one for that show if I don't think the Folio will do the job.

 

[s0c9]

So I looked around the house this evening to see what other mixers I have and I realized that last year when I bought a lot of six used powered speakers from a sound and lighting company I also got as part of the package a Soundcraft Spirit Folio mixer in a road case. I haven't even opened the road case since I picked it up but I took a look at it tonight and it appears to be in almost perfect condition and is an 8 XLR input mixer just like my EFX8. It has no effects but I am the lead singer and I use my own effects pedal anyway. Anyway I think it will do the job in a pinch until I get another board.
The one thing I cannot figure out from the owner's manual is whether the main and monitor outputs are balanced TRS or just plain unbalanced 1/4 inch. The manual does note that all the 1/4 inch inputs are balanced TRS but it says nothing about the outputs. I anyone happens to know please let me know.

I don't KNOW 4 sure.. but.. you can test them pretty quickly.
Get a TRS jack and insert SLOWLY.. you might "feel" the double click - as the tip slides past the ring. Might ork..
That said.. the wiring diagram implies the outputs are TRS!

 

[MakoMan]

I don't KNOW 4 sure.. but.. you can test them pretty quickly.
Get a TRS jack and insert SLOWLY.. you might "feel" the double click - as the tip slides past the ring. Might ork..
That said.. the wiring diagram implies the outputs are TRS!
View attachment 3706700

Thank you!!! I was thinking the wiring diagram indicated all the inputs and outputs were TRS but I was not sure. This is great news because if everything works as it should I can definitely get by with the old Spirit Folio until I am absolutely sure what mixer I want. I'll have a chance to test it out fully only on Sunday. Funny... it was in a pile of stuff I've been meaning to just sell off but I never got around to it. Last year on a whim I bid on an online auction and won a pallet of 6 well worn RCF Art 200 powered speakers from a sound company. When I was there picking them up I asked if they had anything else for sale and the guy pointed to a shelf of stuff. Without even looking at anything I said "I'll give you 100 bucks for the whole shelf" and they said 'take it away'. The shelf contained 3 old Shure mixers, two smaller busker style powered speakers, a bunch of small stuff and a road case. I just threw it all in the van along with the Art200s. It was a lot of stuff and I was in a hurry. When I got home I opened the road case and the the Spirit Folio was in it. I had actually thought it was empty because the case is very light even with the mixer in it. I closed the case and it's been sitting in a corner of the basement since.

 

[s0c9]

Thank you!!! I was thinking the wiring diagram indicated all the inputs and outputs were TRS but I was not sure. This is great news because if everything works as it should I can definitely get by with the old Spirit Folio until I am absolutely sure what mixer I want. I'll have a chance to test it out fully only on Sunday. Funny... it was in a pile of stuff I've been meaning to just sell off but I never got around to it. Last year on a whim I bid on an online auction and won a pallet of 6 well worn RCF Art 200 powered speakers from a sound company. When I was there picking them up I asked if they had anything else for sale and the guy pointed to a shelf of stuff. Without even looking at anything I said "I'll give you 100 bucks for the whole shelf" and they said 'take it away'. The shelf contained 3 old Shure mixers, two smaller busker style powered speakers, a bunch of small stuff and a road case. I just threw it all in the van along with the Art200s. It was a lot of stuff and I was in a hurry. When I got home I opened the road case and the the Spirit Folio was in it. I had actually thought it was empty because the case is very light even with the mixer in it. I closed the case and it's been sitting in a corner of the basement since.

oops - I typo'ed TRS in my post above..(not corrected it).
The attached pic ABOVE implies the outputs are TS (mono), NOT TRS (stereo).
Look at it again.. there's a ground and a "hot" side, like the MONO output next to the left/right outs.
For TRS there should be an additional connection on each?

and Line (1/4") inputs on that console are TS ...

 

[two fingers]

Yeah, honestly? What you had was a decent 8 channel mixer. For the most part, you wouldn't notice the difference between it or a nice Mackie, Yamaha, etc. The buttons and knobs will be a bit different.

You should be able to find a good used 8 channel analog mixer for (relative) peanuts just about anywhere these days.

 

[steveksux]

Were you really running a stereo FOH mix anyway? Just run both sides off the good channel for now, can daisy chain the L and R powered speakers together, or power amp inputs together if passive speakers. Then you still have whatever effects you were using on the bad board.

Randy

 

[MakoMan]

oops - I typo'ed TRS in my post above..(not corrected it).
The attached pic ABOVE implies the outputs are TS (mono), NOT TRS (stereo).
Look at it again.. there's a ground and a "hot" side, like the MONO output next to the left/right outs.
For TRS there should be an additional connection on each?

and Line (1/4") inputs on that console are TS ...

That's interesting because the manual I have clearly says the 1/4 inputs are TRS. There are even several diagrams showing what 1/4 inch tip to use. It however says nothing about the main and aux outputs. And this is why I was confused about the wiring diagram at the end of the manual, because I believe like you that it indicates TS connections.
In any case I will have a little more time on Sunday so I will fully test out the mixer. I'm also stopping in at our local music store tomorrow. They provide a lot of support to our band and I purchase a lot of stuff there so I would suspect they might even loan us one of their rental mixers until I decide what I want to get. They might even sell me one LOL!

 

[MakoMan]

Yeah, honestly? What you had was a decent 8 channel mixer. For the most part, you wouldn't notice the difference between it or a nice Mackie, Yamaha, etc. The buttons and knobs will be a bit different.

You should be able to find a good used 8 channel analog mixer for (relative) peanuts just about anywhere these days.

I agree that if I am going to stick with analogue for now I should probably purchase used. And I'm strongly leaning towards a Mackie. I'm pretty comfortable with just about any analogue mixer so it definitely doesn't have to be another EFX8. Mind you another EFX8 would fit my mixer case perfectly

 

[MakoMan]

Were you really running a stereo FOH mix anyway? Just run both sides off the good channel for now, can daisy chain the L and R powered speakers together, or power amp inputs together if passive speakers. Then you still have whatever effects you were using on the bad board.

Randy

That is definitely something I have considered. It certainly got us through last Saturday's gig and everyone thought the sound was great. I do worry about the current reliability factor of a unit that clearly has developed a serious issue. On the other hand I could get to know the Spirit Folio and bring it along as a backup to the EFX8 just in case.
However ultimately I gotta get a new board. We do 35-40 gigs a year, we have pretty nice equipment and I can afford a new board. I'm being a little bit cheap right now because I know ultimately digital is where our future is, but I'm not quite ready so I'd like to keep the purchase of another analogue board within a reasonable price.

 

[s0c9]

That's interesting because the manual I have clearly says the 1/4 inputs are TRS. There are even several diagrams showing what 1/4 inch tip to use. It however says nothing about the main and aux outputs. And this is why I was confused about the wiring diagram at the end of the manual, because I believe like you that it indicates TS connections.
In any case I will have a little more time on Sunday so I will fully test out the mixer. I'm also stopping in at our local music store tomorrow. They provide a lot of support to our band and I purchase a lot of stuff there so I would suspect they might even loan us one of their rental mixers until I decide what I want to get. They might even sell me one LOL!

Yeah, confusion is understandable.. I'm no EE, but can read basic wiring diagrams and there's conflicting data in the manual vs the wiring diagram!
idk.. best way is to try them by feel.. It's unusual to have TRS inputs on a single MONO channel tho. Stereo channels - labeled as such - sure!

 

[4StringDave]

I'm sure Soundcraft also did/do an EFX12 which is the same as the EFX8 but with 12 XLR inputs. Might be worth a look..

I bought an EFX8 for my band and it does the job perfectly - I also second the fact that digital mixers are not ideal for everyone, especially if you mix your own sound from stage whilst playing. I know this as our band also has an XR18 which has subsequently been sold.....

 

[MakoMan]

Yeah, confusion is understandable.. I'm no EE, but can read basic wiring diagrams and there's conflicting data in the manual vs the wiring diagram!
idk.. best way is to try them by feel.. It's unusual to have TRS inputs on a single MONO channel tho. Stereo channels - labeled as such - sure!

Thank you so much for all the info you have provided. I really appreciate your help. I was able to test out the Soundcraft Spirit Folio mixer last night using the two 1/4 TRS to XLR I have for the EFX8. I tested both the mixer outs as mains and then the two auxiliaries. Also tested the 8 XLR inputs and all the controls. The mixer appears to be in perfect working condition. Unfortunately I could not tell if the outputs are indeed TRS, however the mixer was very quiet.
One thing I will say is this might be easiest to use mixer I have ever seen. I kinda like it. I'd love to find a newer mixer as easy to operate as the Folio.

 

[MakoMan]

I'm sure Soundcraft also did/do an EFX12 which is the same as the EFX8 but with 12 XLR inputs. Might be worth a look..

I bought an EFX8 for my band and it does the job perfectly - I also second the fact that digital mixers are not ideal for everyone, especially if you mix your own sound from stage whilst playing. I know this as our band also has an XR18 which has subsequently been sold.....

Yeah the EFX8 is a great mixer. I am still toying with the idea of just running it on one channel and bringing my Spirit Folio as a backup just in case. I visited a few stores and have not seen a single new analogue mixer that I like as much or that I believe would be as reliable as the mixer we have been using for the past 5 years. I have indeed seen a couple of EFX12s for sale locally however both are priced pretty high. I do like the fact the EFX12 has two auxiliary outputs. The one thing I was never crazy about on the EFX8 was not being able to have two separate monitor mixes.
Mixing the sound from stage is indeed our issue and I just at this time cannot see how a digital mixer would help us in any way. I am the band leader, bassist, lead singer and the sound guy. I also already use a tablet with a page turning pedal for lyrics. I really don't want to also have to do sound from that tablet or have to worry about a second tablet. Right now if I need to make an adjustment I just turn around between songs, twist a dial and on we go. Once our sound is set for the night I hardly ever even have to think about it.

 

[4StringDave]

Yeah the EFX8 is a great mixer. I am still toying with the idea of just running it on one channel and bringing my Spirit Folio as a backup just in case. I visited a few stores and have not seen a single new analogue mixer that I like as much or that I believe would be as reliable as the mixer we have been using for the past 5 years. I have indeed seen a couple of EFX12s for sale locally however both are priced pretty high. I do like the fact the EFX12 has two auxiliary outputs. The one thing I was never crazy about on the EFX8 was not being able to have two separate monitor mixes.
Mixing the sound from stage is indeed our issue and I just at this time cannot see how a digital mixer would help us in any way. I am the band leader, bassist, lead singer and the sound guy. I also already use a tablet with a page turning pedal for lyrics. I really don't want to also have to do sound from that tablet or have to worry about a second tablet. Right now if I need to make an adjustment I just turn around between songs, twist a dial and on we go. Once our sound is set for the night I hardly ever even have to think about it.

My other problem with digital mixers is that ,apart what the issue you mentioned, there is almost too MUCH stuff on them - compressors, effects, noise gates, complex eq curves, etc etc. I know you don't need to use it all, but if it's there the temptation is to play with it. I just want to plug in and play with a minimum of fuss....

 

[thumbknuckle]

Yeah, confusion is understandable.. I'm no EE, but can read basic wiring diagrams and there's conflicting data in the manual vs the wiring diagram!
idk.. best way is to try them by feel.. It's unusual to have TRS inputs on a single MONO channel tho. Stereo channels - labeled as such - sure!

Not unusual at all, almost any piece of pro audio gear should have balanced connections, either on xlr or 1/4" trs.