Recording Advice on how to use monitor

[ArtyLady]

Hi all, complete technophobe looking for advice/clarification!

I have one of these
Behringer EUROLIVE F1320D | DV247 ............so that I can hear myself as I play with some pretty loud bands.

When I got it it wouldn't work so I phoned the shop and they advised me I needed a phantom power supply box which I duly purchased and received the next day along with a short xlr cable. So at home I plugged the mic (shure beta 98hc) into the phantom power box, which I plugged via the short xlr cable into the monitor. All is well and I get sound.

So off I go armed with all of this to a gig saturday and also with my long xlr cable (which I normally use plugged straight in to the mixer to to the PA which has it's own phantom power). Anyway the guys plugged it all in and I have no idea what they did or why, but I ended up with wires everywhere and a jack plug was used to connect the monitor to the PA - I tried to understand as they explained what and why they were doing, but it all went straight over the top of my head - I needed to actually be talked through and plug each thing in my self to really understand (kinaesthetic learner). All was okay and I could hear everything through my PA including the band, vocals etc and I could adjust my monitor volumes etc independently.

So I'm left completely confused as to why they plugged my mic into the short xlr which went into into the phantom power supply box (why didn't the mic go straight into the power box?), then that was plugged via my long xlr into the monitor and then a jack plug from the monitor to the mixer.....I thought that I would just set it up as I did at home and my long xlr would go straight to the desk from the monitor :shrug:

probably sounds really numpty but I need to understand it because.........well I just do 🙂))

regards confused.com

 

[aldevis]

Does the monitor have a "direct out"?
In that case, your (Phantom powered) microphone goes into the monitor and the direct out to the desk.

If not, you need to split the signal somehow (i.e. using a little mixer)

I am assuming that you only want saxophone in your monitor.

 

[ArtyLady]

Hi Aldevis it has a line output (jack and xlr) and a mic line input (jack and xlr) yes I thought the idea was I could just hear the sax but they set it up so I could hear the whole band? (I think) they said if I only heard me then it couldn't go through the PA and no-one but me could hear it? :shrug:

 

[aldevis]

Not sure about the line output: it could be an amplified signal for an extra speaker. It shouldn't, but I wouldn't run the risk.

Try to call these people in Kilburn, they could recommend you the cheapest way of splitting your signal.
But if you want the whole band (needs a long sound check) you definitely need a mixer for yourself.

http://www.studiospares.com

 

[ArtyLady]

Does the monitor have a "direct out"?
In that case, your (Phantom powered) microphone goes into the monitor and the direct out to the desk.

If not, you need to split the signal somehow (i.e. using a little mixer)

I am assuming that you only want saxophone in your monitor.

Not sure about the line output: it could be an amplified signal for an extra speaker. It shouldn't, but I wouldn't run the risk.

Try to call these people in Kilburn, they could recommend you the cheapest way of splitting your signal.
But if you want the whole band (needs a long sound check) you definitely need a mixer for yourself.

http://www.studiospares.com

I don't even know what a split signal is they put a jack lead in the line out and ran it to the mixer desk so I could be heard through the PA.....the rest is total gobbledygook to me, I think I'll just let them sort it out for me

 

[Fraser Jarvis]

Hi Arty, you have the same monitor as me, the way i use it is to plug the mike via a short XLR-XLR or you can use an XLR-TRS lead to the input on the monitor, then have the monitor connected to the desk, again via XLR-XLR or XLR-TRS leads.

Each muso should have their own separate channel on the mixer (as you probably already know) and you should be able to hear yourself and nobody else coming through your monitor....sounds like either the jack was plugged into the wrong side of your mixer channel or (and i'm not shure about this but worth checking out anyway) your jack lead could just be a TS (tip and sleeve) as opposed to a TRS (tip, ring and sleeve) this could be all the problem is but like i said not shure..

Regarding Mic's i use a shure sm 58, not sure if yours needs phantom power though, but most mixers should be able to supply 48v phantom power anyway...

Have you gotten used to lugging the 1320 about yet? it's a bit of a lump isn't it?

 

[dooce]

Sounds a bit odd to me. If you have a powered monitor, you should be able to plug your mic straight into it (via its' dedicated phantom power supply), and then take a line out (unamplified signal) to the desk which is then your feed into the general mix. The only signal the monitor is getting is you and you can then set the volume as you want - subject to the constraints of feedback of course.

I prefer to get a general mix in my monitor and I do like to hear lots of vocals, but as mine is unamplified I have to take whatever is coming out of the desk.

 

[aldevis]

I don't even know what a split signal is they put a jack lead in the line out and ran it to the mixer desk so I could be heard through the PA.....the rest is total gobbledygook to me, I think I'll just let them sort it out for me

Hi Arty, you have the same monitor as me, the way i use it is to plug the mike via a short XLR-XLR or you can use an XLR-TRS lead to the input on the monitor, then have the monitor connected to the desk, again via XLR-XLR or XLR-TRS leads.

Sounds a bit odd to me. If you have a powered monitor, you should be able to plug your mic straight into it (via its' dedicated phantom power supply), and then take a line out (unamplified signal) to the desk which is then your feed into the general mix. The only signal the monitor is getting is you and you can then set the volume as you want - subject to the constraints of feedback of course.

That should be it then. I find odd too that the monitor cannot supply phantom power, but just in case you have the adapter.
I am sure that at the first gig someone will be able to show it more clearly (rule out the drummer, though)

 

[spike]

Okay this is a Behringer F1320D - yes?

I just downloaded the German Manual and had a quick read. You should be able to go into the Behringer with your short XLR and take an XLR (Balanced Output) from the Link Output to the main mix. The Manual clearly states that the "Link Output" is directly connected to the Input and can be used to send an unchanged signal to another device.
Which is what you think and what everybody else on this thread seems to think and what I think as well.
Did you get a manual with this system ? You should have done - I'm looking at page six, points 7 & 8 describe the Link Ouput and points 9 & 10 describe the Mic/Line Input.

Just watch out for the bold print at the bottom - "Don't use the Jack and XLR inputs simultaneously"

P.S. not another edit - I just re-read your post - the sound guys took a jack output to the main mix - that is daft as a brush if you ask me, completely looney. Are they really sound guys?

have fun - gruss spike

 

[ArtyLady]

That should be it then. I find odd too that the monitor cannot supply phantom power, but just in case you have the adapter.
I am sure that at the first gig someone will be able to show it more clearly (rule out the drummer, though)

No it wouldn't work when I just plugged the mic in - I phoned Gear4music and they said that was why it wouldn't work so I bought the adaptor. The guys in the band plugged it all in on Saturday and they kept trying to explain it to me but it just goes over the top of my head

Okay this is a Behringer F1320D - yes?

I just downloaded the German Manual and had a quick read. You should be able to go into the Behringer with your short XLR and take an XLR (Balanced Output) from the Link Output to the main mix. The Manual clearly states that the "Link Output" is directly connected to the Input and can be used to send an unchanged signal to another device.
Which is what you think and what everybody else on this thread seems to think and what I think as well.
Did you get a manual with this system ? You should have done - I'm looking at page six, points 7 & 8 describe the Link Ouput and points 9 & 10 describe the Mic/Line Input.

Just watch out for the bold print at the bottom - "Don't use the Jack and XLR inputs simultaneously"

have fun - gruss spike

Yes the very same one, I don't understand any of that at all.......no manual came with it and if it did I don't think I would understand it 🙁

I now have the urge to sing that song.............The hipbone's connected to the legbone, the legbone's connected to the thighbone, the thighbone's connected to the shinbone.....🙂))

 

[spike]

Here you go I found and downloaded the English Handbook .pdf version and put it up here:
http://www.thesax.de/F1320D_P0AA9_M_EN.pdf
page 6 says it all

 

[AlanSB]

If you connect your mic to the phantom power box and the phantom power box to your monitor, you hear yourself in the monitor and can control your own level. Then connect the link out from the monitor to the mic input of the mixer, you still hear yourself but there is now a feed from you for the mix. Whatever goes on at the desk, your monitor is unchanged. Use xlr leads throughout and all will be well.
It sounds like they were feeding a monitor output from the mixer back into your monitor. Not big or clever and not what you want!

 

[ArtyLady]

Hi Arty, you have the same monitor as me, the way i use it is to plug the mike via a short XLR-XLR or you can use an XLR-TRS lead to the input on the monitor, then have the monitor connected to the desk, again via XLR-XLR or XLR-TRS leads.

Each muso should have their own separate channel on the mixer (as you probably already know) and you should be able to hear yourself and nobody else coming through your monitor....sounds like either the jack was plugged into the wrong side of your mixer channel or (and i'm not shure about this but worth checking out anyway) your jack lead could just be a TS (tip and sleeve) as opposed to a TRS (tip, ring and sleeve) this could be all the problem is but like i said not shure..

Regarding Mic's i use a shure sm 58, not sure if yours needs phantom power though, but most mixers should be able to supply 48v phantom power anyway...

Have you gotten used to lugging the 1320 about yet? it's a bit of a lump isn't it?

Hi Fraser - I got lost at XLR-TRS!.........it's a condenser mic so does need phantom power.

I couldn't even lift it off the floor!! luckily I have a roadie to carry it for me (hubby 🙂)) )

If you connect your mic to the phantom power box and the phantom power box to your monitor, you hear yourself in the monitor and can control your own level. Then connect the link out from the monitor to the mic input of the mixer, you still hear yourself but there is now a feed from you for the mix. Whatever goes on at the desk, your monitor is unchanged. Use xlr leads throughout and all will be well.
It sounds like they were feeding a monitor output from the mixer back into your monitor. Not big or clever and not what you want!

Hi Alan this is exactly what I did at home and how I understood it to work and was all ready to do the same at the gig and use the long XLR to connect to the desk, but they said I couldn't do it like that because if I turned it up I would turn up the PA as well:shocked: I kept trying to get them to explain it to me but it kept going over my head and I was so fed up and confused I nearly threw the thing in the nearest bush...until I remembered how much it cost ;}

 

[ArtyLady]

Here you go I found and downloaded the English Handbook .pdf version and put it up here:
http://www.thesax.de/F1320D_P0AA9_M_EN.pdf
page 6 says it all

Thanks Spike - have printed it off

 

[ArtyLady]

........

P.S. not another edit - I just re-read your post - the sound guys took a jack output to the main mix - that is daft as a brush if you ask me, completely looney. Are they really sound guys?

have fun - gruss spike

Just seen your edit - no not sound guys - just guys in the band, I knew I was right but they wouldn't have any of it!! 🙁

 

[AlanSB]

For info:
XLR is generally used for balanced signals - microphones, professional sound equipment etc. so called after the pin functions
1. Ground X
2. Live L
3. Return R

TRS is a 1/4" jack plug with Tip, Ring and Sleeve connections. An abomination of a connector since it has many functions: balanced tip - live, ring - return, sleeve - screen. Stereo headphones. Guitar leads also fit in the same socket and short out two of the signals - not good.

I'll put my anorak away now!

 

[spike]

For your info - The volume control on the monitor system has no influence on the volume of the Link Output.

 

[aldevis]

For info:
XLR is generally used for balanced signals - microphones, professional sound equipment etc. so called after the pin functions

TRS is a 1/4" jack plug with Tip, Ring and Sleeve connections. An abomination of a connector since it has many functions: balanced tip - live, ring - return, sleeve - screen. Stereo headphones. Guitar leads also fit in the same socket and short out two of the signals - not good.

I'll put my anorak away now!

XLR: Libourne airport, France
TRS: Trieste airport, Italy

For your info - The volume control on the monitor system has no influence on the volume of the Link Output.

This is the essential part. Be aware that there might be a gain control somewhere (I am too lazy to download the manual)

Just seen your edit - no not sound guys - just guys in the band, I knew I was right but they wouldn't have any of it!! 🙁

It sounds like there is a drummer in the company. I warned you.