Introduction 1 System Features 2 Guided Tour 3 Overview 3 Channels 4 Main Section 5 Rear Panel 7 Connecting The PL 1602 - General Suggestions 9 Setting Up and Using the PL 1602 11 Setting the Correct Gain Structure 12 Grounding Techniques 14 Using the Balance Control 16 Using Equalization 17 Using Aux Sends and Returns 18 Using Channel Inserts 19 Applications Notes 20 Using The PL 1602 As A Main Live Mixer 20 Using The PL 1602 As An Onstage Monitor Mixer 21 Using The PL 1602 As A Keyboard Submixer 22 Link
Introduction Congratulations on purchasing the Samson PL 1602 stereo mixer! Although this unit is designed for easy operation, we suggest you first take some time to go through these pages so you can fully understand how we’ve implemented a number of unique features. In this manual, we’ll provide you with an overview of the PL 1602 features, followed by a guided tour of its front and rear panels.
System Features “PL” stands for “Program/Line” and the name describes the broad range of signals which can be handled by this powerful stereo mixer. In fact, the compact design of the PL 1602 belies an extraordinary versatility. Add excellent sound quality to the equation, and you’ve got a product which is equally useful as a live performance mixer, onstage monitor mixer, or keyboard submixer (you’ll find descriptions of each of these applications at the conclusion of this manual).
Guided Tour - Overview The following illustration shows an overview of the front panel of the PL 1602: CHANNEL 1/2 CHANNEL 3/4 0 -15 HIGH +15 ∞ +10 AUX 1L -15 HIGH +15 ∞ +10 AUX 1L -15 +15 ∞ +10 LEVEL +15 +10 AUX 2R -15 LOW BALANCE +10 AUX 1L -15 +15 ∞ ∞ +10 LEVEL HIGH +15 +10 AUX 2R -15 LOW BALANCE +10 AUX 1L -15 +15 ∞ ∞ +10 LEVEL HIGH +15 -15 LOW -15 +15 ∞ ∞ +10 LEVEL HIGH +15 +10 AUX 2R -15 LOW BALANCE +10 AUX 1L -15 +15 ∞ ∞ +10 LEVEL HIGH +1
Guided Tour - Channels CHANNEL 1/2 0 0 -15 1 +15 ∞ +15 ∞ +10 AUX 1L 3 0 0 -15 2 HIGH LOW +10 AUX 2R 0 ∞ +10 LEVEL R L BALANCE 4 1: Equalizer (white) - These knobs determine the amount of boost or attenuation in each of two frequency areas. The high and low frequency knobs provide 15 dB of cut or boost at 10 kHz and 100 Hz, respectively, with both utilizing a shelving curve. The EQ setting affects both the odd- and even-numbered channel inputs, although the signals remain separate.
Guided Tour - Main Section 2 AUXILIARY RETURNS SAMSON PL 1602 LINE MIXER 0 ∞ +10 AUX 1/2 RETURN L BALANCE +15 +15 0 0 R 1 5 0 ∞ +10 AUX 3/4 RETURN 3 L BALANCE R ∞ ∞ 0 +10 RIGHT LEFT PHONES POWER 4 6 1: Stereo Auxiliary Return Level (blue) - These knobs determine the input level of signal arriving via the PL 1602’s two stereo Auxiliary returns. The “0” (2 o’clock) position of each knob indicates unity gain (no level attenuation or boost).
Guided Tour - Main Section 4: Headphone jack - Connect any standard stereo headphones to this jack (via a 1/4" TRS plug) for private monitoring of the main stereo output (including all connected Aux returns). The built-in PL 1602 headphone preamp delivers 100 mw at 32 ohms. 5: Main L/R faders These faders determine the final output signal level.
Guided Tour - Rear Panel 3 1 6 4 SAMSON TECHNOLOGIES CORP., NEW YORK, U.S.A. PL 1602 16 CHANNEL LINE MIXER S/N POWER MIC 1 INPUTS BALANCED 10KΩ -30 to +4db TIP + RING - SLEEVE GND. -10 110 2 ON 3 0 OFF -40 1 +4 TRIM 16R 15L 14R 13L 12R 11L 10R 9L 8R 7L 6R 5L 4R 3L 2R 5 1L AVIS: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE NE PAS OUVRIR DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE -10 2 3 0 ~115V(0.3A) 230V(0.
Guided Tour - Rear Panel 5: Mic inputs (channels 1 and 3) - Use these electronically balanced XLR jacks to connect a microphone to channels 1 and/or channel 3. These are intended to accept signal from low-level, low-impedance mics but can also be used for signal from other sources (such as direct injection boxes) if the channel’s Trim control (see #6 below) is turned down.
Connecting The PL 1602 - General Suggestions The actual connections you’ll make to and from the PL 1602 will vary according to the environment you use it in and the particular equipment you have. In the “PL 1602 Applications” sections at the rear of this manual, you’ll find some suggested setups. Here are a few basic rules concerning PL 1602 connections that will apply in most situations: • In general, it’s best to make all connections with the PL 1602 and any connected power amplifiers turned off.
Connecting The PL 1602 - General Suggestions • Matched signals (i.e. the stereo left-right outputs of a keyboard, drum machine, tone generator, effects processor, CD player, or tape recorder), should always be connected to the PL 1602’s paired odd/even channels (i.e. 1L/2R, 3L/4R, etc.). The channel Balance control will allow you to adjust the relative levels of the two inputs, and you can also equalize the stereo signal, with the same EQ settings applied to both inputs.
Setting Up and Using The PL 1602 Setting up your PL 1602 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 mounted in any standard 19" rack, requiring two rack spaces, or used on a tabletop. 2. Before even plugging the unit into an AC socket, begin by connecting the PL 1602 Main outputs into a power amp and the amp into loudspeakers.
Setting the Correct Gain Structure You’re now ready to establish the correct gain structure—the key to getting the best performance from the PL 1602, or from any mixer, for that matter. This is a simple procedure that ensures optimum input and output levels so that no unnecessary noise (caused by too low a signal) or overload distortion (caused by too high a signal) is created. Here’s a step-by-step description of how to do so: a.
Setting the Correct Gain Structure j. If you have any outboard signal processors connected to the Aux send and return jacks on the rear panel, follow this step. Because outboard effects processors can sometimes be quite noisy, it’s particularly important to maximize the amount of signal being sent to them via the PL 1602 Aux sends.
Grounding Techniques Hum and buzz are the biggest enemies you face when interconnecting a large number of different pieces of equipment to a central audio mixer.
Grounding Techniques If you’re using the PL 1602 in a fixed location such as a recording studio, you may 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 a formidable ground source such as a cold water pipe or a copper spike driven into the earth.
Using the Balance Control The final Main output of the PL 1602 is stereo—that is, there are two discrete Main output jacks, labeled “left” and “right,” which will normally be routed to two discrete speakers.* Because of this, you will usually be working with a stereo field that ranges from hard left to hard right. The PL 1602 provides eight stereo channels, each with two inputs—an odd-numbered (left) input and an even-numbered (right) input.
Using Equalization One of the most exciting aspects of using a mixer such as the PL 1602 is 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, bad EQ can really hurt it, so read on... Every naturally occurring sound consists of a broad range of pitches, or frequencies, combined together in a unique way.
Using Aux Sends and Returns The PL 1602’s two Auxiliary sends allow you to combine the signal from multiple channels and send the resulting mix to external devices such as effects processors. When an Aux send knob is at the “0” position, the signal is routed with unity gain (that is, no boost or attenuation). As it is turned clockwise from the 0 position, the signal is boosted; as it is turned counterclockwise from the 0 position, it is attenuated.
Using Channel Inserts In addition to using Auxiliary sends and returns to access outboard devices, the PL 1602 also provides channel inserts for the first six input channels. These should be used when you want to affect just one input signal, as opposed to signal from several inputs—most often, this will be for dynamic processing purposes (such as outboard equalization, compression/limiting, or noise gating).
Applications Here are four suggested applications for the PL 1602; bear in mind that your particular circumstance may dictate changes in these suggested signal connections and routings. Application 1 - Using The PL 1602 As A Main Live Mixer The main connections here involve routing the PL 1602’s Main output to the input of a power amplifier, and, from there, to PA speakers.
Applications Application 2 - Using The PL 1602 As An Onstage Monitor Mixer Here, the PL 1602 is receiving monophonic signal into its line inputs from the direct channel outputs of a main live mixer. Its Main output is connected to an outboard signal processor (typically an equalizer) prior to being routed to an amplifier and onstage monitors. This allows the overall mix to be adjusted in order to eliminate feedback and ringing problems.
Applications Application 3 - Using The PL 1602 As A Keyboard Submixer Here, various keyboards and MIDI tone generators are connected to the channel line inputs of the PL 1602, with stereo signals routed to “matched” consecutive odd- and even-numbered inputs. Signal processors are connected to Aux sends and returns and to channel inserts as required.
Applications Application 4 - Linking The PL 1602 With Other Mixers The provision of rear-panel Bus Inserts makes it easy to link multiple PL 1602s or to link the PL 1602 with other mixers, without the need to use up channel line inputs. As shown in this illustration, simply connect the main output of another mixer to the PL 1602 Bus Inserts.
Appendix A: Block Diagram MIC 1 -50dBu - +4dBu CH 1L -30dBu - +4dBu 10Kohm CH 2R CHANNEL 3/4 CH 5R -30dBu - +4dBu 10Kohm CH 6R CHANNEL 7/8 CH 7L -30dBu - +4dBu 10Kohm CH 8R CHANNEL 9/10 CHANNEL 15/16 CHANNEL 13/14 CHANNEL 11/12 AUX 1 RETURN 10Kohm AUX L +4dBu, AUX R AUX 2 RETURN H.A. H.A. H.A. H.A. H.A. H.A. H.A. + + + + LOW LOW LOW B.A. INSERT 1L HIGH HIGH B.A. INSERT 2R B.A. B.A. INSERT 5L HIGH HIGH HIGH HIGH LOW LOW B.A. B.A. INSERT 6L LOW H.A. H.A.
Appendix B: Changing the PL 1602 Voltage Following are step-by-step instructions for changing the mains voltage of the PL 1602. NOTE: The voltage rating will normally be preset correctly at the factory and will require no adjustment unless you use the PL 1602 in a country other than the one in which you purchased the unit.
Specifications 1. Frequency Response (Unity) 2. THD+N (unity gain, 20 Hz - 20 kHz) 3. Maximum Gain (Mic in to Main Mix out) 20 Hz to 20 kHz ± 1 dB Less than 0.05 % 69 dB 4. Crosstalk (Ch - to - Ch, 1 kHz) -70 dB 5. Residual Noise -85 dB 6. Headphone Output Level 7. Equalizer High Low 100 mW (32 Ω loaded) 10 kHz ± 15 dB 100 Hz ± 15 dB 8. Dimensions 19 in (w) x 9 (d) x 3.5 (h) 482 mm (w) x 230 (d) x 88 (h) 9. Weight 8.
