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noob questions on our new Mixing Board

Our band recently went from a smaller mixing board to the 24 input Behringer SL2442FX that I got for a sweet price.

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So far we have really been loving the extra flexibility that a larger mixer has given us. Generally our lead singer handles the board but I have been trying to educate myself with the ins and outs of the board so I can make sure that we're doing things correctly.

A couple questions for those more educated with mixing boards, if I may:

- MONITORS: We have 4 wedge monitors and would prefer being able to get specific mixes in each one. For example, I want more of my bass in mine and less vocals. We had a gig a few days ago and during the soundcheck I dialed down the singers mic to zero with the Aux1 knob on his specific channel, but it had no effect whatsoever in my monitor. Obviously we're doing something wrong...

If we have 4 monitors, where specifically on the board should we be plugging them in?

- SUBWOOFER: After watching some very nice instructional videos on this board, I realize that the MONO OUT can be used to add a Subwoofer. I have a 4x10 bass cabinet...can I use that as a subwoofer? I believe it can be except for the fact that the cabinet is unpowered. Any thoughts on this, or ways to make this work?

Thanks in advance!!
 
In general, your monitor sends should come out of either MON or AUX sends. I did a very quick check on the specs of your board, and it appears that you have two AUX sends that can be either pre- or post-fader, and two AUX sends that are post-fader. You will normally want your monitor sends to be pre-fader, since that way your individual channel fader levels will not affect your monitor levels. Make sense? If you're using a post-fader send, then the overall fader level and EQ will have an effect on your monitor levels. You'll need to compensate for that at the individual channel AUX send levels. To me, you have two choices; 1) run only two separate monitor mixes and have them set to pre-fader, or 2) run the four monitor mixes as you desire using AUX1 - AUX4 and live with the fact that at least two of the sends are going to be post-fader (and EQ).

You didn't say if your monitors were powered or if they have onboard EQ. The EQ will certainly affect how you want to run things.
 

- MONITORS: We have 4 wedge monitors and would prefer being able to get specific mixes in each one. For example, I want more of my bass in mine and less vocals. We had a gig a few days ago and during the soundcheck I dialed down the singers mic to zero with the Aux1 knob on his specific channel, but it had no effect whatsoever in my monitor. Obviously we're doing something wrong...

If we have 4 monitors, where specifically on the board should we be plugging them in?
Separate mixes for each monitor will require a separate amplifier channel for each one. It will also require four AUX sends from the mixer. There are four AUX sends for each channel, and it appears from the manual that the Pre/Post switch controls them all, and you want them set for “Pre.” But strangely it has only two AUX master sends and outputs. It may be possible to use the EFX outputs for your other two monitor sends, but I’m not clear on where the master send for those output jacks are. You’ll probably have to poke around in the manual and experiment with different connection schemes. Oh yes, it's best to have a dedicated parametric EQ for each monitor mix, for feedback control. The EQ could also limit bass in the monitors, which would help clean up the house sound.


- SUBWOOFER: After watching some very nice instructional videos on this board, I realize that the MONO OUT can be used to add a Subwoofer. I have a 4x10 bass cabinet...can I use that as a subwoofer? I believe it can be except for the fact that the cabinet is unpowered. Any thoughts on this, or ways to make this work?
It would be better than nothing, but a “real” sub would be better. You’d need an amplifier, of course, and a separate electronic crossover – unless the mixer happens to have one built in.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt



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