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Yamaha EMX512SC

Red Planet

Red Planet

Inactive
May 29, 2005
6,487
2,152
Atlanta
Disclosures
I'm cranky in my old age.
#1
I ended up with two of these units and I was trying to figure some way of linking them.

I wonder how much trouble it would be to install a set of power amp inputs that break the signal on one of the units? If this could be done then one unit's mixer could be sent to two of the seconds channels (two mains in one of the stereo channels and monitors into a seperate channel) and then the power section outputs could be linked back to the power amp in the first unit. Thus giving a total of 14 XLR channels and 2000 watts all still in a very lightweight unit. Plus I have the option of using one most of the time but breaking the second unit out when needed.

Am I crazy?:D
 
#2
Take a look at the block diagram for a start.

It looks doable, although perhaps more trouble than it's worth.

What you would want to do is add inserts right before the YSP modules.
The amp mode switch may provide an easy way to find these points.
You can then use the main outs and route those to the first mixer, then route the main outs of the first mixer to the jacks you have installed on the second mixer. Bingo!

Or, you could just buy a mixer and a power amp... :)
 
#4
I agree it could be more trouble than it's worth. I'm going to think about it though. I talked with a guy at Yamaha and he was iffy. He said they would send me a schematic if I needed it.

The thing is (if doable) this would be such a neat little clean package that would allow me to only take what I need but be able to upsize in both channels and power without getting more gear. Not sure why in the world Yamaha would not have included this. This would have been a much more useful tool than the FX out and FX on/off foot switch out. Theoritcally I could use those two jacks. Make one a TRS for the L/R mains and the other a mono. That way no mods to the face.

What would have been cool is if Yamaha included a multi pin connector and cable that allowed you to chain the rascals. That way you could have one cable between them instead of five. I would at least make some kind of snake for it.


Hactar I believe you have nailed it looking at the Block. It appears the signal would need to be tapped right before the YSP circuit.
 
#5
Floyd Eye said:
Sell one of the units. Average price for this box used is about $400. Take the $400 add $150 to it and buy a used mix wiz. Then sell the other unit for a couple power amps. lol
Click to expand...

That kind of defeats the whole ultra light ultra small thing then. Not doing anything right now though, just thinking out loud.
 
#6
You would think someone would offer a unit with four class D power modules in it to cover more monitors and mains. Like the EMX5016 with 2000 watts. That would take me to where I'm talking about.

If I were able to add the power amp ins to one unit I could then have the ability to run eight 8 ohm cabs, have 14 XLR channels, and all of that in two little 20 pound packages pushing 2000 watts. I have been insanely downsizing my PA and perhaps I'm getting OCD here. :D

Lately I have been using a Shuttle 9.0 to drive an extra set of monitors and that has been working pretty well. After having come into a second EMX512SC it got my wheels turning. I at least could use the second unit for a power amp but I would have to go through the mixer to get there. It just seems a shame not be able to piggy back these dudes and a set of jacks being the only thing in the way between me and doing that. :bassist:
 
#9
Steve said:
14 channels all with the same EQ frequencies being tweaked = virtually guaranteed mush.
Click to expand...

What are you refering to? I'm not sure I'm following you. Nothing would be double EQ except where one would have to go back to a channel with the outputs of one board to the input of number two but you just set the channels flat = no extra EQ.
 
#11
Red Planet said:
What are you refering to? I'm not sure I'm following you. Nothing would be double EQ except where one would have to go back to a channel with the outputs of one board to the input of number two but you just set the channels flat = no extra EQ.
Click to expand...

what I was referring to is the lack of being able to tailor eq centers to the item that is in the channel specifically the mids.

What are you going to do when the kick drum is bumping up against the bass down around 125hz? and all you have is wide band mids at 1khz or whatever it is on that piece.

It'll be fine if you have 14 guitars, or 14 similar voices but if you have a bunch of different stuff that all has different eq needs and you don't have the ability to meet those needs, you tend to try harder with what you do have and force it and then....mush.

There is a ton of value in those box PA's. FOR VOCAL work. anything without at least one band of semi parametric mid EQ will fail miserably for actual mix building.

IMHO
 
#12
Sorry Steve I guess I should have mentioned we only run vocals through the PA or through this PA anyway. I use this for small gigs. Mostly pubs and small outdoor gatherings. You could not do much more than that with one of these units or two.


As far as Graphic EQ's I could just set the one on the first head flat and then I would use the one on the last head for EQ. I suppose one could come out and back in before the graphic so as to EQ separately each set of speakers though I'm using the same for mains and the same for monitors. Not the same for both mind you. Lots of other possibilities too.
 
#13
Listen, I used this box for gigging for a long time. The 512SC is a great little mixer. It is by far better quality then any Carvin gear you're thinking about. We even hooked a power amp and a sub to the L Mon out with some success. If you are only using it for vocals, you can run 2 monitor mixes and the mains off one box. Why you would need more than that I don't know, but if you do, you need to step up to an actual PA and quit wasting your time with the powered mixers. There is not a single unit that has a decent EQ on it, including the Yamaha. The onboard effects straight up suck.

A mixwiz and a couple power amps aren't going to weigh that much. Like I said though, if you aren't mic'ing any drums or anything other than vocals, I think you are way over thinking this.
 
#15
nutdog said:
How many vocalists do you have at small gigs? :confused::)

Did you snag the one on Chatt CL for $250?
Click to expand...

No I got the one off Knoxville. I traded a bunch of junk I'd been trying to get rid of for a couple years. This one is brand new and came with a flight case. The guy drove down here too.

No we do not have 14 vocals. I was just trying to think of ways I could use this second unit. Really in all actuality there is no way to do it unless I did mod it and that is most likely a waste of time. As it stands I could use the additional board or the power amp but not both.To the point about buying more equipment I'm ready and willing to take donations. :D

For most of the gigs we play I use one of these units but I do have to use an external power amp and that is what got me thinking down this road to start with. Usually we are three piece with three vocals occasionally we might add Keyboards.

Normally I end up using the two power amps in the board/head and an additional power amp for the monitors (Shuttle 9.0). I have just changed bands and now all three of us sing. My last band only the guitar player and I sang. Now I need three monitors which the Shuttle 9.0 will not do unless I did something extreme like series parallel on the monitor cab wiring. I can take the second Yamaha and just use it for a power amp which will get me where I'm going I suppose.
 
#19
I regularly daisy chained 3 8 ohm wedges off the monitor channel. I did this for years and years with success. There is one "Aux send" on this box ( It really shouldn't be called that, but they call it that) and I assume they are referring to the Mon out, which you can hook an amp to. I don't know how that will help gt a separate mix though. We never tried. We put 3 wedges on the monitor channel, 2 mains on the main channel and used the L Mon out for a power amp and a sub.
 

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