The mic pre's on my beringer 2222fx have started to act strangely. On channel one (main vocals) it clips very easily even with very low gain settings. Also one or two of the other channels seem to have very low level untill the gain is maxed then they suddenly get very loud. Is this fixable or should i start looking for a new mixer?

Welcome

Can't comment specifically on those issues, but my experience of Behringer gear is that it breaks and is certainly not worth fixing.

Best to upgrade to something more reliable like Allen and Heath or Soundcraft.

Bob

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www.bickerton.co.nz

It all depends on what you are plugging into the desk.

When the levels are way too hot try using the pad (if there is one) and this should make setting the gain easier.

The problem with the gain being not enough until it is almost completely maxed out it simply down to the design of the desk. I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, it is either more difficult or more costly to have gain pots where the gain is even across the complete turn (min to max) and so in mixers that are catering to lower budgets it is one place where the manufacturer may have cut a few corners to save you some money.

So long as you can get signal into the desk and it's not clipping and the sound isn't distorted or not as it should be, in any way then there probably isn't anything wrong with the desk. Just keep using it and get to know it.

Remember, instrument inputs (e.g. line level sources) shouldn't really need any amplification so might have to have the gain set to minimum if you are plugging into the mic input and some mics, usually dynamics and including ribbons, will require more gain than condenser mics (typically).

If it's just the amount of gain you're worried about and not because it's distorting the sound then you probably don't have a fault with your desk.

Dave

Thanx for the welcome Bob and your reply.

Yeah im aware that beringer gear is very erm how should i say, "entry level" but im working on a very limited budget and that level is pretty much all we as a band can stump up! I have spare channels on the mixer which seem to be ok so i can use those till a replacement can be bought. One of the things i have noticed is that when i use the DI from the bass players head i get the very low signal right through the gain trim problem and then massive signal right at the top of the trim. However, when micing his cab (sm57) it seems to react normally, is this a problem with his head more than the desk?

Back to your original reply it's defo not worth having a tech look at the mixer right?

If i give you a run down of the band and equipment we use could you point me in the direction of a decent mixer that i might be able to convince the rest of the band to sacrifice some gig money towards?

Much appreciated

Wayno.

Thanx for the reply Dave,

Unfortunatle the mixer doesn't have a pad for reducing the level in the channels, not that i know of anyhoo, just the low cut switch. The sound doesn't seem to be affected that much by the clip i was more concerned about square wave destroying the horns in the PA tops than anything else. We play heavy rock in the band and are rediculously loud and are therefore driving the PA very hard. If i swap the lead vocals to a different channel that doesn't clip so easily will it be better? Would a run down of gear be helpfull and would any of you give me any pointers if im doing any thing wrong?

Regards

Wayno.

If channels are behaving differently, then it would seems to be a fault.

If it was me I wouldn't bother getting it fixed, because more than likely other channels are about to fail.

Sure tell us what you need and I'm sure you'll get some useful suggestions.

Bob

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www.bickerton.co.nz

Quote waynogeoff:

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On channel one (main vocals) it clips very easily even with very low gain settings. Also one or two of the other channels seem to have very low level untill the gain is maxed then they suddenly get very loud. Is this fixable or should i start looking for a new mixer?

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It sounds to me like the physical gain controls are dodgy. Cleaning is unlikely to help (or be very practical to do) and replacing the pots would probably cost nearly as much as a new desk.

It would be sensible to get a tech to take a quick look -- it's far easier to diagnose in the flesh than remotely -- but I think you'd be best advised to reallocate your channels in thge meantime and start looking for a new desk.

hugh

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Technical Editor, Sound On Sound

Thanks for the input guys, guess im gonna have to start looking for a replacement.

Here's the run down of band equipment;

Lead vocals - SM58
Backing vocals x 2 - SM58
Lead guitar - Marshall AVT275 (not mic'd)
Rhythm guitar - Line 6 spider 2 (not mic'd)
Bass guitar - Hartke 500w head & Hartke 4x10 cab (mic'd with SM57)
Kick drum (mic'd with a speaker converted to work as a mic - sounds awesome, low and punchy!)

PA;

Dodgy behringer 2222fx
Behringer CX2310 crossover
Peavey PV1500 running tops (2 x hysis 2's)
Tapco juice J2500 running subs (2 x Tapco 6918's)

We play rock covers such as Green day, Foo's, some Metallica etc etc.

I am considering replacing the PV1500 for something with a bit more grunt as when we're live i have to ring the nuts out of the poor thing to get the vocals heard (seriously loud drummer im afraid!) but that will have to wait for now. Any recommendations for a suitable replacement mixer would bve greatly appreciated, like i said im really restrained by budget so will most likely be looking at second hand (good old ebay :-) ). One thing i will add is that i do like the group channels which come in very handy for my other band (2 x acoustics through mixer with a cajon and various other things from time to time) and need a minimum of 8 mic channels.

Thanx for your time

Wayno.

Have a look at the Soundcraft EPM/MPM series. Good little mixers at reasonable prices. If you can stretch to it I'd recommend an Allen & Heath ZED series, but I suspect they're out of your budget.

Thanx for the advice Mike, i do like the look of the soundcraft mixers. Especially the direct outs on each channel which would come in handy as i would love to record some gigs in the future and they would allow me to record separate tracks for later mixdown. Being as i will more than likely buying second hand are they sturdy reliable units? I think the allen & heath mixers may be a little out of my range (would love to be able to own one tho).

Cheers

Wayno.

Quote waynogeoff:

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... i do like the look of the soundcraft mixers. Especially the direct outs on each channel which would come in handy as i would love to record some gigs in the future and they would allow me to record separate tracks for later mixdown. Being as i will more than likely buying second hand are they sturdy reliable units? Cheers

Wayno.

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Hi!

I'm a bit confused about your reference to 'direct outs' as the EPM/EFX/MPM range don't have them. I guess you must be looking at other Soundcrafts such as the FX8/16 or maybe the M series. or the Folio SX.

I have a secondhand Soundcraft F1 which does me well for small gigs and small recording set-ups - I use 'sniffer' leads in the inserts for multitrack recording. The F1 produces good results for live and acceptable for recording. I wouldn't call its construction 'robust' though and I do treat it with care. The one BIG downer with some of these earlier Soundcrafts is the very fiddly/flimsy connecton for the mains unit - I know "grab" has upgraded his to something more 'industrial' and it's somewhere on my 'to do' list. The giveaway to identify which of these is affected is the 'carry-handle' across the top of the mixer.

The EPM/EFX/MPM are much more robustly constructed - both in terms of surface controls and the mains connector - which I believe is an IEC socket.

For life on the road, whatever you get I suggest you rack it or case it.

Ah i see, yeah i have only looked at the older range such as the FX16 etc which have the direct outs but you've reminded me about using the sniffer technique on the inserts. Will defo have a look at the new range such as the EPM and i've got a flight case ready for it to live in. A local company which makes rack cases for telephone companies who i know quite well are gonna make me a rack case for the amps etc too. Major bonus as i can leave everything setup and ready to go. Im the only one in the band with any idea how it's done and is a bit of a bind having to do it all the time, much better for the gear in the long run too.

Really like the sound of the EPM etc especially if they're built robust which is much more important to me than the highest sound quality, we're only a covers band after all. Am i right in thinking they're british made too? Can't be a bad thing right!

Thanks for your time,

Wayno.

Edited by waynogeoff (19/02/12 03:57 PM)