Karaoke Forums

My best Karaoke singing buddy bought a PA last Christmas. I don't know all of the specs. The system came with two microphones with cables and stands, two two-way 15" Yamaha speakers on stands and a Behringer PMP 2000 powered mixer. The whole system cost around $750.00. I am new to mixers and PA systems. The problem with my friends PA is that it sounds very tinny. No warmth to the sound. My question is, what are some basic guidelines for setting-up the mixer? I am considering buying a Lexicon MX 400 for myself for Christmas. I love to bring it over to my friend's house to see if I can improve his PA's sound. I went to the Behringer site and looked-up the PMP 2000 and I don't see any inserts.

I don't think better effects can change the sound on that level.

First of all, sound is all about EQ. Is the equalization set up as a "smiley face"? If so, there
is your problem right there. Start with all the eq faders at mid range, and all channels at mid range. Try boosting 400Hz and 2500Hz. Does it seem punchier and warmer?

Second of all, what are the speakers? If they are BR15 they are not *too* bad a match, with the PMP2000 pushing 165W/channel into a requirement of 200.

WRT the Lexicon, I don't see any easy way to use it. No FX send that I see, and no inserts. That is why I dislike those box mixers -- they are always limited compared to the board style. But that isn't the problem anyway.

_________________
[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Last Wednesday The equilizer was set at a slope, with the highest point on the left and the lowest point at the right. The slope was a straight line. It seems as though my friend is just arbitrarily setting the EQ. I will try your suggestions about the EQ.

The way it's set now it is all low end, low mids, with no high end or high mids. But this setting shouldn't sound 'tinny' which is usually a term for alot of mid to high end, if anything it should sound 'muddy' where there is absolutley no clarity or sparkle in the high frequencies. This is the EXACT equivalent of turning a bass knob all the way up & the treble knob all the way down.
First of all FLATLINE the eq at the 0 mark - all of the sliders. 0 out all of the channel eq's as well - low/mid/high pointing straight up (12:00).
Now on the 9 band eq, drop the 250hz slider to one mark below - this is sometimes a muddy frequency.
Also drop the 2K & 8K about the same amount & see what that does. You should now have a nice tight bass response plus a decent sparkle in the high end.
The suggested frequency changes Mickey recommended i'm sorry to say is wrong, mainly since that mixers eq doesn't have either of those frequencies to begin with. The closest would be 500 & 2K.
When eq'ing, you should really never boost a frequency over the 0 mark unless absolutely necessary, make subtle cuts & the sound will go alot further as far as quality. If you need to boost anything at all, I would probably say MAYBE the 63 or 125hz 1 line above the middle but if it's just the music that seems lacking there, then boost the lows on that channel eq - once the 9 band is set & sounding good for most (music primarliy), then leave it set & adjust the rest from the channel eq's in both music & vocals, again, not 'boosting' if not necessary.

As far as connecting the Lexicon, it really can't be connected to that system properly the way it's intended, and being it's primarily only an effects processor, it's not going to have a real affect on the overall sound. But try setting the eq properly first, then there are other options that CAN be added to that mixer.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Listen to Lonman, not me. The important thing is to flatten your eq to begin with, that will get you a lot closer than any slope or curve. 80% of the equalizers I see set at karaoke shows seem to be smiley faces or slopes, and it is almost always wrong.

I start with flat eq and then nudge above and below center just a tad until it sounds good to me, but won't claim I have a golden ear. Actually I am lazy now, I use the DriveRack PA and it's auto-EQ wizard mostly.

_________________
[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.