Connecting a microphone to a mixer is very simple and easy,
all you need is to make sure you have all the required gadgets like microphone,
cables, mixer , amplifier and speakers.
Connecting you speakers
Make sure your speakers a well-connected and placed in front
of your audience this should be at least five meters away from your audience.
If you are using two speakers place one at the right side of the audience and
the other at the left side of the audience. In the case where you are having
only one speaker,place it at a point where the waves can travel to the hearing
of your audience
Placing your microphone
Place your microphone on a stand or hold it in your hand if
–possible. Make sure the microphone is well fixed and well positioned. Never
place the microphone in front of your speakers this may produce feedback. A
feedback is an unpleasant noise which is irritating to the ear, this noise can cause ear problems and can damage your
equipment permanently .Preferably you
lead microphone should be placed in the middle of the stage, this will prevent feedback and also prevent audience from stretching their necks to see the one
speaking to them. Make sure that your microphone is turned off before it placed
in it stand. The stand should be well adjusted according to the height of the
speaker.
Connecting cable to the microphone
Your cable connectors could either be an XLR[Female] to a
TS jack or XLR[male] to XLR[female] . Connect the female [XLR] side of the
cable to the microphone [the female xlr has three connective holes opposite to
that of the microphone]. Make sure your microphone cable is neat and clean tightly
fitted and well connected. If there are problems with your cable fix it before
you hock it up on the system. Bad and faulty cables produce unwanted noise
which can permanently damage your sound system. This could cause your
microphone to produce a distorted sound or you would have no sound coming from
you microphone
Connecting your cable to the mixer
On the console the are several section, depending on the
type of console being used your microphone or line input could be located at
the real or the top of the console. Connect the other end of your cable[xlr
male or ts jack] to the mixer. This section is indicated MIC.
Before connecting your microphone makes sure you volume
fader is turned down and the mixer turned off. Also make sure your amplifier is
turned off, if you are using powered speakers make they are off.
Powering up the system
Before powering up the system make sure you have checked the
following
You power cables are well fitted or fixed
Check to see if you need an AC power or a DC power. If a Dc
power check volts rating if it either 120V or 220V.
Check to see if you system should run on a stabilizer
Check to see if your ac adapters being used are of the right
voltage and tap up every naked wire if any.
NOTE .Any mistake could cause the system to respond in a
negative manner.
Setting levels
Now that everything is connected we are ready to power up.
Have you mixer turned on while you amplifier is turned off.
Pick your microphone or have someone stand and talk into the
microphone whiles you do the adjustment on the board. Now turn on your
microphone and talk into normally
Raise you volume knob slowly but first have you gain set to
0 and also have you master control set to 0 or unity. Make sure you have enough
sound coming into the mixer to prevent distortion and load.
Have a look at your meter which is a combination of red and
yellow LED with the red being the upper part and the yellow the lower. If you
get into the lower red, trim down you gain setting. Adjust to have a noiseless
and a desirable sound.
Never run you input way down low and master way up high.
This will give a distorted sound due to over load; always remember it is better
to cut than to bust.
Turning on your amplifier.
Once you a proper setting on the mixer you can now turn on
the amplifier. Slowly turn the volume of your amplifier’s control up until you
achieve a good listening volume.
Check to avoid feedback, when you microphone gives
feedback lower your volume or move the microphone further away from the
speakers.
ALWAYS REMEMBER IT BETTER TO CUT THAN TO BUST.
