Samson MPL 1640 - Manuals

Guided Tour - Over view The following illustration shows an overview of the front panel of the MPL 1640: 3 +4 -50 INPUT TRIM 0 -10 -15 +15 HIGH 0 -12 +12 MID 0 -15 +15 LOW 0 +10 AUX 1 0 −∞ +10 AUX 2 0 −∞ +10 AUX 3 0 −∞ PFL BUS ON OFF 3 / 4 L / R 1 - ∞ dB PEAK +4 -50 INPUT TRIM 0 -10 -15 +15 HIGH 0 -...

Guided Tour - Channel Let’s start our guided tour by examining the various controls provided by eachchannel: 1: Input Trim (black) - This knob determines the input level of the connected mic or line signal. Continuously adjustable from +4 dB to -50 dB, the input trim isat unity gain (no boost or cut...

Guided Tour - Channel 6: Bus switch (gray) - When up, the channel’s signal is routed to the Main L/R faders (as described on page 7) and then on to the MPL 1640 Main Mix outputjacks (as described on page 8). When pressed in, the channel’s signal isremoved from the Main L/R output and is instead rout...

Guided Tour - Main Section 1: Meter - This seven-segment bar meter shows the continuous output level of the Main L/R stereo output. For optimum signal-to-noise ratio, try to adjust alllevels so that program material is usually at or around 0 VU, with occasional butnot steady excursions to the red +3...

Guided Tour - Main Section 6: Headphones control (black) - This knob sets the level of the signal sent to the headphone jack (see #7 below). WARNING: To avoid possible damage to connected headphones (or, worse yet, to your ears!), always turn this allthe way off (to the fully counterclockwise “0” po...

Guided Tour - Rear Panel 1: Phantom switch - When this switch is turned on, the MPL 1640 delivers 48 volts of phantom power to pins 2 and 3 of all XLR microphone connectors (channels 1 - 10). WARNING: Only turn this on or off with the MPL 1640 powered down. Before turn- ing phantom power on, be sure...

Guided Tour - Rear Panel 8: Bus Insert - Use these to insert an external in-line effects processor (such as out- board equalizer, compressor/limiter or noise gate) into the Bus 3/4 output in an “effectsloop” configuration. These jacks accept 1/4" TRS plugs, with the ring carrying the sendsignal ...

Connecting The MPL 1640 The actual connections you’ll make to and from the MPL 1640 will vary accord-ing to the environment you use it in and the particular equipment you have. Inthe “Applications” sections at the conclusion of this manual (pages 24 - 27),you’ll find some suggested setups. Here we p...

12 Setting up your MPL 1640 is a simple procedure which takes only a few minutes: 1. Remove all packing materials (save them in case of need for future service) and decide where the unit is to be physically placed—it can be used on atabletop or mounted in any standard 19” rack, requiring 8 rack spac...

13 Setting Up and Using the MPL 1640 f. If any condenser microphones are connected to the MPL 1640, turn on the Phantom switch.* Then turn on the MPL 1640—the Power LED in themeter section will light up. Finally, turn on the power amplifier. g. Play an instrument connected to one of the MPL 1640’s l...

Grounding Techniques Hum and buzz are the biggest enemies you face when interconnecting a largenumber of different pieces of equipment to a central audio mixer. This isbecause each piece of equipment may operate at a marginally different voltage(this difference is called potential ) and, when two de...

Grounding Techniques If you’re using the MPL 1640 in a fixed location such as a recording studio, youmay want to invest the time and money into creating a star ground network . This is by far the best technique for avoiding grounding problems. It involves using aformidable ground source such as a co...

Using Bus 3/4 In addition to the Main Mix stereo output, the MPL 1640 provides two indepen-dent bus outputs (Bus 3/4).* A “bus” is simply a pathway through which a signal can be routed. The provision of these secondary outputs makes it possible foryou to create two mixes simultaneously, so that some...

18 Using Pan The final Main output of the MPL 1640 is stereo—that is, there are two discreteMain Mix output jacks, labeled “left” and “right,” which will normally route signal(via a power amplifier) to two discrete speakers.* Because of this, you will usual-ly be working with a stereo field that ran...

19 Using Equalization One of the most exciting aspects to using a mixer such as the MPL 1640 is hav-ing the ability to shape a sound, using a process called equalization . But there are few areas of sound engineering more misunderstood than equalization, and,just as good EQ can really help a sound, ...

20 Using the Auxiliar y Sends and Returns The MPL 1640’s system of Auxiliary sends allow you to combine the signal frommultiple channels and send the resulting mix to external devices such as effectsprocessors. When an Aux send knob is at the “0” position, the signal is routedwith unity gain (that i...

21 Using Channel Inser ts In addition to using Auxiliary sends and returns to access outboard devices, theMPL 1640 also provides channel inserts for input channels 1 - 12 as well as forthe Main Mix and Bus 3/4 outputs. Channel inserts should be used when you want to affect just one signal, asopposed...

22 Using PFL Solo The MPL 1640 provides PFL (Pre-Fade Listen) solo switches for each of its six-teen input channels. The main function of PFL is to allow you to check that asignal is actually arriving at a particular input. When a PFL(solo) switch ispressed, the pre-fader (but post-EQ) signal of tha...

Changing the MPL 1640 from Rack-mount to Tabletop The diagrams below show the steps required to convert the MPL 1640 from rack-mount to tabletop usage or vice-versa.CAUTION: These servicing instructions are for use by qualified personnel only. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. 23 R...

24 Applications Here are four suggested applications for the MPL 1640; bear in mind that your particular circumstance may dictatechanges in these suggested signal connections and routings. Application 1 - Using the MPL 1640 as a main live mixer The main connections here involve routing the MPL 1640’...

25 Applications Application 2 - Using the MPL 1640 as an onstage monitor mixer Here, the MPL 1640 is receiving signal into its line inputs from the direct channel outputs of a main live mixer. Its MainMix output is connected to an amplifier and onstage monitors, and the Main Mix inserts are connecte...

26 Applications Application 3 - Using the MPL 1640 as a keyboard submixer Here, various keyboards and MIDI tone generators are connected to various line inputs of the MPL 1640. Signal proces-sors are connected to Aux sends and returns and to channel inserts as required. The Main Mix output is routed...

27 Applications Application 4 - Using the MPL 1640 as a recording mixer You can also use the MPL 1640 as a recording mixer when making simple recordings (for example, when recording arehearsal or practice session direct to open-reel two-track, cassette, or DAT recorder). Microphones and line levelsi...

Appendix A: Changing the MPL 1640 Voltage 28 Note that the fuse sled carries two fuses—one for 115 volt operation (actually 105 - 120 volts) and another for 230 voltoperation (actually 220 - 240 volts). The position of the two fuses in the sled as well as the fuse ratings must be maintained for adeq...

Appendix B: Block Diagram 29 PHANTOM POWER MIC INPUT LINE INPUT 3 - BAND EQUALIZER LOW MID HIGH INSERT 1 2 3 PAN CH FADER CLIP LED AUX 3 AUX 2 AUX 1 BUS SELECTOR SW RLY LEVEL BALANCE R L L R R L L OUTPUT R OUTPUT HEADPHONE OUTPUT BALANCED MAIN MIX R OUTPUT BALANCED MAIN MIX L OUTPUT LED LEVEL METER ...

Specifications Normal Limit Frequency Response Mic/Line to Main ± 1 dB 10 Hz - 45 kHz 20 Hz - 20 kHz (Trim @ min, output @ 0 dB, In/Out fader @ center position) Aux Return to Main ± 1 dB 11 Hz - 26 kHz 20 Hz - 20 kHz (Return VR @ “0” position, Main fader @ center position,output @ 0 dB) Total Harmon...

31 Specifications Maximum Input Level (±3 dB) Ch Input Mic +14 dB Ch Input Line +24 dB Channel fader range +15 dB to -80 dB Aux send gain range +10 dB to -75 dB Input Channel Equalization (± 2 dB) High (10 kHz) ± 15 dB Mid (800 Hz) ± 12 dB Low (80 Hz) ± 15 dB Dimensions (W x D x H) 482 x 373 x 112 m...