Main Forums >> Live Sound & Performance
        Print Thread

Pages: 1
DARK



Joined: 21/12/05
Posts: 169
studio engineer asked to look at pub pa ..what sohould i look out for
      #334954 - 06/08/06 12:46 AM
ok
my mates dad's band's pa is broken and he kindly told them id look at it for them........i dont have much experience with the live side of things so what would the obvious things i should be looking out for

i only found out about this a few mins ago and was just told "its broken" so i dont know wheather it went during a gig or it jsut wouldnt work after theyd set it up or what...
please advise
thanks,
mark

--------------------
alienware area51m7700 3ghz 2gb(so loud but so powerful) cubase sx3, reason3, soundforge, motu 896hd interface


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator     Back to top
--
active member


Joined: 29/05/03
Posts: 6085
Re: studio engineer asked to look at pub pa ..what sohould i look out for new [Re: DARK]
      #335011 - 06/08/06 09:51 AM
I'd imagine in the 'things that can go wrong' area we are either talking about a powered mixer or else a mixer/power amp combination. It's unlikely two speakers would stop working at exactly the same time.

There's a limited amount of fault finding you can do. Ideally you would have a known working counterpart to all the equipment so that you can quickly narrow down which component is at fault.

Main culprits are blown fuses - mains leads and in the equipment itself. Check the plugs for loose wires. If they always use the same multi-way mains block then make sure that is working as well. Do the power lights come on?

Some power amps have electronic overloads that can trip and need a manual reset. These are normally on the back panel, so try pressing any reset buttons you can see.

Apart from fuses, the only things that you can easily check are any in-line jack sockets on the main bus - especially on mixer amps. These often have 'mixer out' and 'power amp in' connections and if they don't get used, the connections can tarnish and the signal continuity gets broken. Again it's unlikely that both channels would suddenly go at the same time on a stereo mixer, but possible if it's only a mono unit. Inserting a link cable between the 'out' and 'in' sockets can ofter be used as a temporary fix for this problem (use a squirt of DeOxit or Servisol contact cleaner as well. Replacing the jacks is the long term solution here.

If it's a mixer with an external power supply, then one of the voltage rails could have failed, so you may see power-on lights but the other voltage(s) required may not be present. It may be due to a damaged cable or to the PSU itself failing. You shoud be able to check with a multi-meter if you've got the required voltages on the end of the PSU plug.

Failing that, if you feel like opening it up you may be able to spot an internal fuse that has blown. If you spot
some burnt out circuitry then you've found the problem but its probably beyond your ability to rectify.

Before you take anything apart, (apart from diconnecting the mains and waiting an hour or so to ensure any power supply capacitors have discharged to avoid the risk of shock) check the age of the kit. If its still in warranty, then back to the shop. If it's not in warranty, then someone will have to make a decision as to whether it's worth repairing or buying something new. They can try flogging the old one on eBay 'for parts or repair'.


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator     Back to top
DARK



Joined: 21/12/05
Posts: 169
Re: studio engineer asked to look at pub pa ..what sohould i look out for new [Re: DARK]
      #335644 - 07/08/06 10:36 PM
thanks man very detailed answer to a very vague Q...ill let you know how i get on.......

--------------------
alienware area51m7700 3ghz 2gb(so loud but so powerful) cubase sx3, reason3, soundforge, motu 896hd interface


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator     Back to top
Pages: 1

Rate this thread

Jump to

Extra Information
3 registered and 41 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator:  David Etheridge, James Perrett, Paul White, zenguitar, Martin Walker, Forum Admin, Hugh Robjohns, Zukan, Frank Eleveld, Will Betts,  
Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is disabled
      UBBCode is enabled
Rating:
Thread views: 2233

 

Home | Search | News | Current Issue | Digital Editions | Articles | Forum | Subscribe | Shop | Readers Ads

Advertise | Information | Links | Privacy Policy | Support

May 2013
On sale now at main newsagents and bookstores (or buy direct from the
SOS Web Shop)
SOS current Print Magazine: click here for FULL Contents list
Click image for May 2013
DAW Tips from SOS
 

Email: Contact SOS

Telephone: +44 (0)1954 789888

Fax: +44 (0)1954 789895

Registered Office: Media House, Trafalgar Way, Bar Hill, Cambridge, CB23 8SQ, United Kingdom.

Sound On Sound Ltd is registered in England and Wales.

Company number: 3015516 VAT number: GB 638 5307 26

         

All contents copyright © SOS Publications Group and/or its licensors, 1985-2013. All rights reserved.
The contents of this article are subject to worldwide copyright protection and reproduction in whole or part, whether mechanical or electronic, is expressly forbidden without the prior written consent of the Publishers. Great care has been taken to ensure accuracy in the preparation of this article but neither Sound On Sound Limited nor the publishers can be held responsible for its contents. The views expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the publishers.

Web site designed & maintained by PB Associates | SOS | Relative Media