Equalizer

[mbandgeek]

I am farmiliar with what an equalizer does, but where does it go in the lineup from the mixing board to the speakers? Is it before or after the preamps?

All of the line up i Know is:

Sound Input-> Mixing Board-> Preamps-> Speakers


Also, How do you hook up an effects processor? I have seen some different setups for this. I have seen it ran as a microphone and i have seen it coming in from the mic itself.

as always I'm just trying to boost my knowledge.

Thanks

[soundman1024]

An equalizer for the system goes after the mixing board before the poweramps.

Input -> Mixer (preamps are on the mixer) -> DSP(Equalizer, Compressor/Limiter, Crossover order may depend on setup), Poweramps, Speakers

On most boards there is an equalizer for every channel. These range from a tilt knob with one side low and one side high to complex 4 band fully parametric equalizer with a high pass filter. Perhaps even more than 4, though I haven't seen more than 4.

Effects are sometimes done in different ways. One way is an "insert" on a single channel. On most soundboards above where the mic plugs in there will be a 1/4in TRS plug that one could put a cord into. It has a send, and a return. This then goes into the processor and is used for one channel only. The other way is to hook the unit up on an AUX output and send it back into an AUX return or another channel. Personally I like the AUX method more as more than one input can use the effects processor at once. The insert is more commonly used for compressors and gates, which I would not consider using an AUX for.

[the_dude]

The preamp is basically what the mic cable plugs into on the back of your console. An amp, or amplifier, is what powers the speakers. An equalizer goes before the amps but after the console. It can either be wired in line, Console output-eq input, eq output-amp input. Or inserted on the main outs using an insert cable or separate sends/returns should your console have them.

I'm kind of confused about the fx question but I'm guessing what you were trying to say was you've seen it on stage with the mic plugged into in it and then the fx unit plugged into your snake, or you've seen it on a fader on the console. Typically (99.5%) an effect being sent from the stage is the bands and they use it to create a very different and unique sound, not always good, but unique. These effects units usually have multiple things going on such as hamonizers, chorus, flangers, phase shift, delays, and other weird goofyness. FOH processing (at the console on a fader) is routine stuff that you would see in any respectable venue/touring rig. Reverbs, delays, gates, and compressors are all very typical. Although any of these can be inserted as well. They can also be used through an aux send. Gates, and comps are usually inserted, Delays and reverbs are usually sent through an aux, as are compressors on occasion.

[mbandgeek]

that actually makes a lot of sense, you wouldn't want to blow out your equalizer by pushing too much power through it. The effects processor was plugged into a snake. I also remeber one of the musicians pedal boards that they ran a mic through, very strange.

[soundman1024]

I understand using pedals, but what exactly did they do? Did they use adaptors out of the snake to go from XLR to 1/4 into the pedal then out of the pedal into a vocal mic with a 1/4 back to XLR?

[mbandgeek]

It was very odd. It made their voice go through the effects processor instead of their guitars. I think it wasn't a professional audio one, but one that you plug a guitar into. It distorted their voice like giving it reverb, and the other various effects. They used an Xlr to 1/4" to get the mic to go into the processor, and then converted it right off the back of the processor using a 1/4" to Xlr converter.

[soundman1024]

That is something that will not work if the mic needs 48v phantom power. It is an interesting idea though. Personally I would rather have the vocal processing in FOH with me rather than at the hands of the person singing it. The vocalist probably would rather have their processing done by them instead of on the booth though.

[AVGuyAndy]

The described setup has lots of problems, phantom power being the least of them.

However, there are lots of pro voice pedalboards out there, like the TC stuff: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...29&src=3WFRWXX
You can program that one to give you a wet and dry output so you can mix them to taste at FOH.

[mbandgeek]

Some how they got it to work, it was very cool sounding though.

[Chris15]

Originally Posted by AVGuyAndy

The described setup has lots of problems, phantom power being the least of them.

Not to shatter anyone's ideas, but it would not be that hard to do. If you have 2 transformer DI boxes, connect one of them to the output of the effects unit and the snake as normal and connect the other one in reverse, with a female to female XLR going from the mic to the DI "out" and connect the DI "in" to the effects unit input. Won't work with an active DI, only with a transformer based unit. Phantom power should not cause any problems. Though giving the talent the ability to alter the sound might be something you want to think about...