Karaoke Forums

I am using a Yamaha MG16/6FX board. I have always thought that it was best to add volume and gain at the earliest point in the signal to reduce noise, etc. I usually put my amp on about 85% of max, my main sliders on about 50-60% volume and each mic channel at about 1/2 way on the gain and about 50% volume at the individual sliders. Will using more gain cause the mics to be too "hot" and have more feedback issues? Each mic channel also has EQ with high, mid-high, mid-low, and low I believe they call them... Is it risky to crank up the highs and turn down the lows? Some people really sound like crap singing (muffled like they are eating the mic) and I have to crank up the highs a lot some times just to hear them reasonably clear. I am using 4 Shure wireless UHF mics...

I have never really had anybody teach me anything about running a mixer board. I have been doing it for a few years now on and off and I have always just "tinkered" to get my sound....and cut back on gain or volume if I was getting feedback... Just maybe need some more direction.

Thanks in advance...

D.J.

_________________
~ D.J. ~
Dothan, AL 36301

My Rig:

- Shure PGX/SM58 Wireless mics (4)
- Yamaha MG-16 6 FX Mixer
- Behringer EP2500 Power Amp
- DBX 266XL Comp/Gate
- JBL MPro 15" Speakers (x2)
- Behringer 15" Powered monitor
- Compaq Laptop
- Furman Rack light
- Furman Power Conditioner

As far as I know, amp should always be set at maximum. On your mics, run your faders to the "U" = unity. Use gain for volume. Feedback should NOT be an issue this way. However, if a singer is still too loud with gain all the way to the off position (all the way to the left), the corresponding slider can be used to further decrease the volume.

EQ on the voices is purely a matter of what sounds good. Most singers (those without specific traits to their voice - high pitched, deep/booming, etc) can be easily set at 12:00 and you can expect a decent sound quality. Be cautious about EQ'ing too high on any of the three settings - this shouldn't be necessary.

This is how I have run karaoke sound for years - it's a little different for live sound, running multiple instruments and drums through a board, but for karaoke it seems to have worked fine - I have never had feedback issues.

k

I assume by gain you mean the trim for each channel. That is actually the gain for the mic preamp. You try to set that once and forget it, pretty much. The idea is to take your loudest singers and have them flash the peak light, without clipping (distorting). As you thought, you want this to be as high as you can handle without distortion. If you can add compression on the channel insert, that helps you, because you can handle the loud singers without turning the gain down. Also, the PFL (Pre-Fader Listen) switch is your friend. You can set the gain by looking it on the VU meter, if you press that switch.

At that point, the mix is much like you have described. If you still have the manual for your mixer, it actually has a great section on setting the gain structure:

http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/pdf/pa/ ... 6_6FXE.pdf

Yamaha literally wrote the bible on this stuff, the Yamaha Sound Reinforcement Manual. It is available at any pro audio store or on Amazon. I should re-read mine.

I would also listen carefully here to anything LondonLive or Lonman tell you.

Best of luck!

Thank you for your reply. I have never heard of using the gain for the volume, so that is good to know. I will give that a try. The only other question I have is about setting my main faders and individual faders... I don't have a "U" position. Mine just has numbers... Mine is like this one... but a slightly different model.

http://www.dormusic.com/administra/prod ... MG16_4.jpg

Thanks again,

D.J.

_________________
~ D.J. ~
Dothan, AL 36301

My Rig:

- Shure PGX/SM58 Wireless mics (4)
- Yamaha MG-16 6 FX Mixer
- Behringer EP2500 Power Amp
- DBX 266XL Comp/Gate
- JBL MPro 15" Speakers (x2)
- Behringer 15" Powered monitor
- Compaq Laptop
- Furman Rack light
- Furman Power Conditioner

Hmm. I think the manuals are all pretty clear that you want gain at the max at all times to get the quietest mix.



U is the same as 0 (zero).

There are more than one correct ways to get your board sound good. The most important thing is not to clip the mic ch.

There are time when I mix using the gain knob and there are time I use the faders.

Correctly:

Test your microphone at your loudest level. While doing this 1st set your gain by turing it up to the point where yourclip light starts to flash once you see it flash back it down slightly until it will not flash.

You channel fader is used to create the mix. Set your music on 0 and then you will match your mic and effect channels.

The main is just that used to control the output level to your amplifier or system volume.

If you use a crossover input should be set at 0 then also ste you main speakers at 0 then set your sub accordingly mine is about +3dB

Amplifers should be run at 100%

As has been suggested by a Lyquiddye and Mcky, GAIN is to set the input level, once your gain is set it is neither a good idea or should it be necessary to change it. ( in extreme cases, IE some singers have much stronger voices or perhaps less than adequate MIC technique, so small adjustments may be needed if the PEAK light comes on to often or stays on for more than a split second) In the case of your particular board this should be set by using your PEAK limit light as a guide. ( Note: all faders can be off while setting your input gain). For what its worth, this is how I set my GAIN. To set gain, plug a mic into the channel and sing or use the good ole "check one check two test" at the level you anticipate the singers being at, this is no time to be shy. While doing this, watch the PEAK light which is located just under your Gain knob on your particular board. It is OK for the light to flash on occasionally on the very loudest of sounds, but you don't want it to stay on as this indicates distortion. If the light never comes on that would indicate you are not fully utilizing your system to it maximum performance. Once your happy with your GAIN then adjust the rest of your system, AMP inputs should be turned up fully, MAIN faders should be set to around "0" (Unity). Once you have these set, now adjust the fader on the individual channels to achieve the volume you need. Your board also has an 80 Hz cut switch, it is a good idea to engage this on vocal channels to help eliminate rumble. I don't know any vocalists that can actually hit an 80Hz note. I personally never use the "Gain" knob to adjust volume, I only use it to prevent over driving the channel input. Your board wants as much signal as it can get to perform its tasks, if your input gain is to low your whole system will under perform and more than likely have unwanted noise when you try to compensate for a low input signal by raising your output signal.

_________________
Quickness of mind will deceive the eye

Gain on our board is generally around 10:00 for our 2 singer SM58 mics. Some singers are so dreadfully quiet that they have to be tuned up. Others require dropping the level. I would imagine this is minimally board specific as well....without being too technical about this, which I believe the original poster was asking, faders to U (unity, or whatever the symbol might be at about 1" from the top of the fader), and adjust volumes on mics with the gain/trim button. BTW, with this method I have NEVER had feedback, the mix is simple to do, nobody complains about not being able to hear themselves or have to sing 'over' the music. KISS is my motto.

k

Thank you for all of your replies. All gave some good info for me to work with.

_________________
~ D.J. ~
Dothan, AL 36301

My Rig:

- Shure PGX/SM58 Wireless mics (4)
- Yamaha MG-16 6 FX Mixer
- Behringer EP2500 Power Amp
- DBX 266XL Comp/Gate
- JBL MPro 15" Speakers (x2)
- Behringer 15" Powered monitor
- Compaq Laptop
- Furman Rack light
- Furman Power Conditioner

My amp self limits, so I run it up til it squeals, and back it off..

(Yamaha)