question about behringer mixer

[mike c]

why is the led meter on the right not equal to the meter on the left ... sometimes.

first pic above, unbalanced L and R meter readings.
second pic, no change in anything but now the same readings.

can someone explain why that is happening?

the mixer is new and the previous mixer did that as well.

 

[Hi Ho]

What are you running through it? Stereo signals will have different levels in the left/right channels and that is normal. If you are running mono then make sure nothing is panned. Other than that, I'm not sure. Your first pic shows nothing on the right channel. Do you have stereo speakers connected? If so, in that situation, is the left playing louder than the right?

 

[mike c]

hi,

thanks for the questions:
1) sources are mics and a keyboard (but for the pictures, it's just the mics, but same situation even if it's the keyboard).
2) yes, stereo speakers connected, i also tried to disconnect the right output cable completely to eliminate suspects i.e. the signal level is irrelevant to whatever's connected to the output edit: oh wait, you mean monitors or headphones ... hmm didn't try that (church uses crappy pc speakers as monitors, and i don't want to wear somebody else's headphones ...)
3) yes in the first pic, it would take 3 bars on the left to 1 bar on the left. second pic, no change in source (just the mics) and the right meter bounced back up
4) i also sit in the AV room and can't really distinguish a change in actual sound output (but the AV room is on the left side of the church).

the mics range from phantom powered pulpit condenser? mics and wireless shure mics.

the mixer is new, cable out from mixer is new, this affects multiple sources so i don't think this is an input cable problem.
manual wasn't much help at all.

 

[jamie2112]

Mike asked me on FB to help out here.I see that when the 48v is on that both signals are even.What are you running in this desk Mike? Do you have any 48v stuff you are powering out of the desk? I can't see but usually there is a 2 track to mix button, is this pressed? What model is it? Ok sounds like you need to listen to the speakers and see if they are both on while the pulpit mic is on.I would guess if you are running program music thru there then possibly one of your mix buttons isn't pressed or you have a bad rca ..when the mic is on is it panned to the left?

 

[mike c]

Mike asked me on FB to help out here.I see that when the 48v is on that both signals are even.What are you running in this desk Mike? Do you have any 48v stuff you are powering out of the desk? I can't see but usually there is a 2 track to mix button, is this pressed? What model is it?

wow, i did not notice the 48v thing. i could have sworn i turned that on for the first pic.
but even when the 48v was off when keyboards and wireless mics were running, it was unequal as well. and i think even with the 48v on, it was unequal as well, will have to reconfirm the latter this sunday.

the other questions flew over my head ...

the 48v thing powers the pulpit mics?

we just get "volunteered" for service ... apparently church people think that when you're into HT, you're supposed to know about pro stuff in fairness, one has to use a cow when there is no horse.

what's a 2 track to mix button?
what's a BH? (btw, a different brand mixer that preceded this one also did the unequal thing)

but the previous mixer, you can hear the difference in sound but is fine in it's new location

 

[jamie2112]

It sounds like you have some things panned wrong.On each channel there is a pan knob usually on the bottom above the fader. Make sure all these are straight up , also make sure you have 48v on if you have keyboards that use 48v. 48v is voltage used to power certain microphones, as well as direct boxes which most keyboards plug into before going to a mixer.I would check it with an ipod or something to see if both L/R are working.Usually the pulpit mic is phantom powered (48v) and I would check the xlr cable there as well....

 

[mike c]

the pan knobs are straight up. because i thought about panning them all right to check if the sound would change.

the keyboard connects via ordinary TRS cable, through female to female wall plates i previously installed.

the pulpit cables seem ancient though ...

thanks for the tips: i guess i bring headphones/ipod and cables this sunday

 

[mike c]

okay. i come in today, everything is fine (in terms of sound and light meters).
i figure i listen to what it sounds like when it's working properly with the headphones, i plug in the headphones, poof, right channel goes bye bye (both sound in headphones and the lights).

i wiggle the headphone connection, sound and light comes right back. i unplug and plug again, same effect. i do it again, sound and lights doesn't go out anymore. it's not repeatable, more than 2-3 times. and what has it got to do with the headphones out!? (i'm pretty sure i avoided contact with all other cables and knobs when i connected the headphones).

more notes: 48v isn't on.

 

[TLS Guy]

okay. i come in today, everything is fine (in terms of sound and light meters).
i figure i listen to what it sounds like when it's working properly with the headphones, i plug in the headphones, poof, right channel goes bye bye (both sound in headphones and the lights).

i wiggle the headphone connection, sound and light comes right back. i unplug and plug again, same effect. i do it again, sound and lights doesn't go out anymore. it's not repeatable, more than 2-3 times. and what has it got to do with the headphones out!? (i'm pretty sure i avoided contact with all other cables and knobs when i connected the headphones).

more notes: 48v isn't on.

What is the model number of that mixer Mike?

I will download the manual. It sounds from your last post that there may be a crack in the circuit board. The sockets in modern low price manufacturing are mounted directly on the boards. In a mixer, were plugs, phones etc are pulled in and out, is it easy for a crack to occur.

My guess is that putting in the pones and wiggly them, breaks and opens a crack is a signal path on the board.

 

[mike c]

i think it's this mixer:
BEHRINGER: SX3282

i hope it's not the mixer, it's new. the old mixer did this as well, and does not in the new location.

could this be some sort of short/ground? if i had to guess, it might not be the wiggle per se, touching/pushing the socket with a finger might work?

 

[TLS Guy]

i think it's this mixer:
BEHRINGER: SX3282

i hope it's not the mixer, it's new. the old mixer did this as well, and does not in the new location.

could this be some sort of short/ground? if i had to guess, it might not be the wiggle per se, touching/pushing the socket with a finger might work?

That piece of information pretty well clinches it as being due to external cabling.

From what you say it is likely on the main out wiring on the affected channel.

I would disconnect those first. From your pictures and the online manual, it looks as if you are using the xlr main outs.

If the main outs were shorted then it probably would kill the meter, as they usually get the feed at the end of the chain for obvious reasons.

I would then disconnect any other outputs on the affected channel and use headphones to see which it is. My guess is you have a short somewhere between the main out and the power amp on the affected channel.

This is something that would be easy if you where there, but tricky at long range.

However I would go for the output connections of the affected channel.

I don't see how it could be on the input side.

 

[mike c]

so our suspect is the XLR cable on the output side to the power amp?
i was not the one who made it, so i will point it out to the person who had that made.

 

[TLS Guy]

so our suspect is the XLR cable on the output side to the power amp?
i was not the one who made it, so i will point it out to the person who had that made.

Yes, but you can confirm it. When that channel is out, listening with headphones, pull that main out and see if the channel comes back. I think it will.

Then open the connectors and see which one you have to resolder.