New mixer - confused

Someone7272 · 11:53 PM

I'm hoping somebody here knows a thing or two about mixers, sorry about this guys, I don't know a thing about mixers. I've scoured the internet and I could not find info on this particular mixer.
I recently acquired a new mixer from my dads work (they were gonna chuck it anyway so thought I'd save it) it's a really old and rare Studiomaster Diamond 12-3. I have tested it and it does power up. Now what I'm confused about are the outputs. In the top left corner there are the 'main outputs' and they use XLR connectors.

What I'm worried about is if this 'main output' is an 8Ohm speaker output or a line level output, I don't want to find it's an 8Ohm output cos then I can't use my amp with the mixer! Also under the outputs, there are AUX SENDS - what are these? Are they line level outputs by any chance? To clarify - these AUX only sends, not returns too!
In short, can I feed the AUX SENDS to my power amplifier? If so, would the signal be dry or would it have the effects such as bass, gain applied?

smartx21 · 13th June 2010, 12:21 AM

I am not the best one to answer your question, but, as far as I know, send and return ports are intended to send signal to an external processor, for future return to mixer to be controlled by tone and volume levers.
So, send output should not be controlled by main volume and tone buttons. Only gain, tone, pan and volume levers for each channel will work, for being located before main mixer.
Only a few mixers have embbeded amplifiers. This seems not to be this case. So, main output is intended to feed amplifiers (through preamps, for instance).
Peace,
Max.

Cal Weldon · 13th June 2010, 12:55 AM

If all else fails you can contact them and ask for a manual.

http://www.studiomaster.com/userguide.htm

Better yet, try here:

http://www.studiomaster.com/help.htm

Steerpike · 13th June 2010, 01:13 AM

Very unlikely the MAIN output is for anything other than a power amplifier, or a 2-track tape recorder.

Aux sends are for two purposes: either effects units - such as reverb for example - if for whatever reason you don't want to use a channel INSERT point. Otherwise - more commonly - sends go to stage monitors or headphones (via a suitable amplifier), so yes they are line level. They can also be used for a mutitrack tape recorder in cases where you have a small mixer in a live setup and want a recording that can be downmixed later.

Some send are pre-eq, and pre-fader, some are post-eq, post-fader. On bigger mixers it selectable; and some have a mixture of the two configs.

Someone7272 · 13th June 2010, 12:17 PM

Thank you for the replies. Unfortunately, they do not have the manual for my particular model.
I think you're right smartx21, as the fuse is only T1A, it probably doesn't have an integrated amplifier.
Annoyingly, the main outputs are XLR connectors and my power amplifier's inputs are RCA or 6.35mm jack! Damn. I'll go shopping next weekend for the connectors. In the meantime, are there any secondary outputs the mixer might have? The guy at my dad's work said there's no output from the left main output.

tonymolinaro · 1st July 2010, 05:51 AM

the main output is balanced out intended for higher impedance low voltage I.E. an amplifier. Not a loudspeaker. If you try to drive a loudspeaker directly with this mixer you will more than likely over draw current from your power supply and let the smoke out!!

the Aux sends you are referring to are for stage monitors or alternate mixes. think of them as another set of faders going to a mono source. Some auxs are used for effects. in which case either it is set up as a send/ret or you may choose any channel as the return effect channel. Example: you send a signal from channel 1 which happens to be a vocal channel to a reverb unit connected to aux 2 send. This signal is varied by the knob marked aux 2 in channel strip 1. Heavy reverb is applied to the signal and the stereo output of the reverb unit is connected to channels 11 and 12. SO you have 3 signals on the input now. Dry vocal signal and "wet" reverb signal L and R.
In a send return scenario you wouldn't have a choice where the return goes. There would be a designated Effect or Aux return level.

Happy Trails

12th June 2010, 11:44 PM	#1
Someone7272 diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2010	New mixer - confused I'm hoping somebody here knows a thing or two about mixers, sorry about this guys, I don't know a thing about mixers. I've scoured the internet and I could not find info on this particular mixer. I recently acquired a new mixer from my dads work (they were gonna chuck it anyway so thought I'd save it) it's a really old and rare Studiomaster Diamond 12-3. I have tested it and it does power up. Now what I'm confused about are the outputs. In the top left corner there are the 'main outputs' and they use XLR connectors. What I'm worried about is if this 'main output' is an 8Ohm speaker output or a line level output, I don't want to find it's an 8Ohm output cos then I can't use my amp with the mixer! Also under the outputs, there are AUX SENDS - what are these? Are they line level outputs by any chance? To clarify - these AUX only sends, not returns too! In short, can I feed the AUX SENDS to my power amplifier? If so, would the signal be dry or would it have the effects such as bass, gain applied? Last edited by Someone7272; 12th June 2010 at 11:53 PM.

13th June 2010, 12:55 AM	#3
Cal Weldon Speakerholic diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: British Columbia	If all else fails you can contact them and ask for a manual. http://www.studiomaster.com/userguide.htm Better yet, try here: http://www.studiomaster.com/help.htm __________________ Next stop: Margaritaville Some of Cal's stuff \| Cal Weldon Consulting

13th June 2010, 01:13 AM	#4
Steerpike diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa	Very unlikely the MAIN output is for anything other than a power amplifier, or a 2-track tape recorder. Aux sends are for two purposes: either effects units - such as reverb for example - if for whatever reason you don't want to use a channel INSERT point. Otherwise - more commonly - sends go to stage monitors or headphones (via a suitable amplifier), so yes they are line level. They can also be used for a mutitrack tape recorder in cases where you have a small mixer in a live setup and want a recording that can be downmixed later. Some send are pre-eq, and pre-fader, some are post-eq, post-fader. On bigger mixers it selectable; and some have a mixture of the two configs. __________________ Steerpike's Toybox

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13th June 2010, 12:21 AM	#2
smartx21 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Santiago, RS/ Brasil	I am not the best one to answer your question, but, as far as I know, send and return ports are intended to send signal to an external processor, for future return to mixer to be controlled by tone and volume levers. So, send output should not be controlled by main volume and tone buttons. Only gain, tone, pan and volume levers for each channel will work, for being located before main mixer. Only a few mixers have embbeded amplifiers. This seems not to be this case. So, main output is intended to feed amplifiers (through preamps, for instance). Peace, Max.

13th June 2010, 12:17 PM	#5
Someone7272 diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2010	Thank you for the replies. Unfortunately, they do not have the manual for my particular model. I think you're right smartx21, as the fuse is only T1A, it probably doesn't have an integrated amplifier. Annoyingly, the main outputs are XLR connectors and my power amplifier's inputs are RCA or 6.35mm jack! Damn. I'll go shopping next weekend for the connectors. In the meantime, are there any secondary outputs the mixer might have? The guy at my dad's work said there's no output from the left main output.

1st July 2010, 05:51 AM	#6
tonymolinaro diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Paul, MN	the main output is balanced out intended for higher impedance low voltage I.E. an amplifier. Not a loudspeaker. If you try to drive a loudspeaker directly with this mixer you will more than likely over draw current from your power supply and let the smoke out!! the Aux sends you are referring to are for stage monitors or alternate mixes. think of them as another set of faders going to a mono source. Some auxs are used for effects. in which case either it is set up as a send/ret or you may choose any channel as the return effect channel. Example: you send a signal from channel 1 which happens to be a vocal channel to a reverb unit connected to aux 2 send. This signal is varied by the knob marked aux 2 in channel strip 1. Heavy reverb is applied to the signal and the stereo output of the reverb unit is connected to channels 11 and 12. SO you have 3 signals on the input now. Dry vocal signal and "wet" reverb signal L and R. In a send return scenario you wouldn't have a choice where the return goes. There would be a designated Effect or Aux return level. Happy Trails

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