Sound Equipment

The sound equipment is used to make the announcer and performers heard at meal times and evening activities.

Equipment

Black Yamaha Amplifier

A Yamaha EMX66M Powered Amplifier. This is the main part of the main sound system.

• This is a powerful amplifier. Do not use it while covered with a garbage bag to keep the rain off. It can overheat.
• Do not plug a powered speaker into the back of the amplifier. You can blow something that way.
• When using one speaker or daisy-chaining the speakers together, connect to the "Bridge" connection on the back and set the "Power Amp" switch on the front to "Main Bridge."
• When using plugging both speakers, plug one into "A" and one into "B." Set the "Power Amp" switch on the front to "Main-Main."
• If you don't know how to set the low/mid/high or graphical equalizer, leave them at the middle. You can damage a speaker or even the amplifier if you set them wrong.
• Always zero the gain or level on a channel before connecting or disconnecting a microphone or guitar. The "pop" isn't good for the system. Similarly, turn off the sound system or turn the main volume all the way down before connecting or disconnecting the speakers.
• Each channel can only be used for one input. Don't connect both a microphone and a guitar to a channel.
• The "Pad" button makes that channel much quieter. Don't use it unless you have to.

Brown Amplifier/Speaker

A brown brand name 150 Watt guitar amplifer. It is a combined mixer, amplifier, and speaker.

• There is space to put the power cord and a microphone in the back. Care must be taken when doing this as the speaker is open to the back and the paper speaker cone can get damaged.
• If you don't know how to set the treble/bass, leave them at the zero. You can damage something if you do it wrong.
• Always zero the gain or level on a channel before connecting or disconnecting a microphone or guitar. The "pop" isn't good.

Wireless Microphones

A Shure LX88-II Wireless Microphone System has 2 wireless microphones.

• The microphones use standard 9 Volt batteries. The usage rate is 2-3 batteries per microphone per week in the summer and one battery per microphone on a weekend. A battery's life can be greatly extended if users ensure the wireless microphones are turned off when not in use.
• Remove the batteries before storage.
• If there is a fuzz when the user speaks into the microphone, replace the battery.
• The lights on the wireless microphones are dim. Check the "RF" lights on the wireless receiver to make sure the microphones are off when not in use. The microphones can be on but muted and still drain the battery.
• The two switches on the microphone are power and mute. They must both be on for the microphone to transmit.
• Use the correct microphone stand clips when possible. The wireless microphones are larger and stretch the clip for the regular microphones.

Unpowered Speakers

Two unpowered Peavy TLS 5X 8-Ohm speakers are for use with the black Yamaha amplifier. There are speaker stands to go with the speakers.

Generally, lowering the speakers will produce better sound, while raising the speakers will make the sound travel farther as less is absorbed by the front row of the audience.

Wired Microphones

The main wired microphones are 2 Shure SM58 and 1 Shure SM57. The SM57 should not be used for vocals because it does not have a windscreen.

Microphone stands

There are 3 boom microphone stands. As the stands have been abused over the years, the pivot does not hold its position well on some of the stands. Be sure to tighten the connection, and not to extend the boom all the way (If you do, the weight of the mic will cause it to slowly slip down while someone is speaking).

Connecting a Computer or Phone

There are 2 methods for attaching a laptop or phone to the sound system.

• A converter between 3.5 mm stereo and 2 RCA-style jacks (red and white). There are also yellow RCA jacks on this cable for video which are unused. This can only be used with the Yamaha amplifier. Control volume with the "2 TR IN" knobs. This is typically used for Talent Night.
• A converter between 3.5 mm stereo and 1/4-inch mono phone jack. This is needed to play music through the small brown speaker. This is also useful with the large sound system because there is a 1/4-inch female-female extender, so a laptop can be 15 feet or farther from the amplifier. The extender is typically used for displaying a slideshow.

Usage

General Tips

• Microphones must stay out of the rain.
• If you are using the wireless microphones, always have at least one wired microphone available. While the wireless microphones are easier to use, the wired microphones are more reliable.

Dining Hall

The small brown sound system will spend most of its time on the Dining Hall porch. It is needed to make announcements. Usage is straightforward.

Meadow

The sound system used in the meadow depends on the crowd and the weather.

• If there are about 20 people or less, don't use any sound system.
• If it is drizzling or even misting, use the small brown amplifier and keep it under the tent.
  • If someone insists on using the large sound system, cover the speakers with a garbage bag. DO NOT COVER THE AMPLIFIER as it needs to stay cool. If there is a danger of water getting on the amplifer, don't use the large sound system.
  • The small brown speaker can be shielded on the top and front and still stay reasonably cool. Don't cover the back.
• If there are about 60 people or less, use the small brown sound system.
• For more people in good weather, use the large sound system.

Rec Hall

The Rec Hall uses the large sound system.

1. Close the windows near the amplifier and speakers, just in case it rains.
2. Set up the speakers to the left and right of the stage. The amplifier goes on stage right.
3. The wireless receiver goes on top of the amplifier.
4. Plug the speakers in and set the "Power Amp" mode accordingly. See the amplifier instructions.
5. If you are using the brown speaker as a monitor, use a guitar cable to connect it to the "Monitor" plug on the FRONT of the amp. You can also connect it to the "Main" plug on the front of the amp if you do not feel like controlling the monitor separately.
6. Turn all levels down to zero.
7. Connect an electric piano to channel 5.
8. Connect the first guitar to channel 6.
9. Connect subsequent guitars to channels 1-4.
10. Connect microphones to any available channel.
11. Turn on the amplifier.
12. Turn up the main and monitor to vertical.
13. Slowly turn up the levels on the channels and adjust the main and monitor as needed.
14. You need to be in front of a speaker to check how loud the sound is. This is acheived by:
    1. Using a monitor which is tuned to be as loud as the speakers are to the middle of the room.
    2. Getting up and walking to the back of the room.