USER GUIDE Soundcraft Notepad User Guide 1
IMPORTANT Please read this manual carefully before using your mixer for the first time. This equipment complies with the EMC Directive 2004/108/EC and LVD 2006/95/EC soundcraft@harman.com © Harman International Industries Ltd. 2009 All rights reserved Parts of the design of this product may be protected by worldwide patents. Part No. BD10.534000 Issue 0809 Soundcraft is a trading division of Harman International Industries Ltd.
Contents IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS SAFETY SYMBOL GUIDE INTRODUCTION THE 60-SECOND GUIDE WIRING UP BLOCK DIAGRAMS MONO INPUT CHANNELS STEREO INPUT CHANNELS MASTER SECTION FX PROCESSOR OVERVIEW FX OPERATION REVERBS DELAYS MODULATED EFFECTS EFFECTS DATA CHART USING YOUR NOTEPAD 124/124FX CONSOLE MARK-UP SHEETS DIMENSIONS APPLICATIONS TYPICAL CONNECTING LEADS TYPICAL SPECIFICATIONS WARRANTY GLOSSARY Soundcraft Notepad User Guide 4 5 8 10 12 16 18 20 22 24 25 25 26 26 27 28 30 32 33 34 36 37 38 3
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS Read these instructions. Keep these instructions. Heed all warnings. Follow all instructions. Do not use this apparatus near water. Clean only with a dry cloth. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat. Do not defeat the safety purpose of a polarised or grounding type plug.
For your own safety and to avoid invalidation of the warranty please read this section carefully. SAFETY SYMBOL GUIDE For your own safety and to avoid invalidation of the warranty all text marked with these symbols should be read carefully. WARNINGS The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, is intended to alert the user to the presence of un-insulated ‘dangerous voltage’ within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped. Note: It is recommended that all maintenance and service on the product should be carried out by Soundcraft or its authorised agents.
If any part of the mains cord set is damaged, the complete cord set should be replaced. The following information is for reference only.
INTRODUCTION Thank you for purchasing a Soundcraft Notepad mixer. The Notepad range is a compact mixing solution, bringing you all the features and performance that you expect from a Soundcraft product, at an extraordinarily low price. The packaging in which your Notepad arrived forms part of the product and should be retained for future use.
Advice for those who push the boundaries Although your new console will not output any sound until you feed it signals, it has the capability to produce sounds which when monitored through an amplifier or headphones can damage hearing over time. Please take care when working with your audio - if you are manipulating controls which you don’t understand (which we all do when we are learning), make sure your monitors are turned down.
THE 60-SECOND GUIDE (NOTEPAD 124FX shown) To get you working as fast as possible, this manual begins with a 60-second guide. Here you can find quick information on any feature of the console. u y q 1 r a o 2 3 i 7 0 8 9 5 g s e d f p 6 7 8 9 4 t 1 MIC INPUT (XLR) 2 LINE INPUT (¼” Jack) 3 GAIN CONTROL 4 PEAK LED 5 EQ STAGE 6 HPF 7 FX SEND /AUX SEND 8 PAN or BAL CONTROL 9 INPUT CHANNEL FADER 10 +4/-10 SWITCH 11 MIX OUTPUTS (¼” Jack) 12 MASTER FADER 10 w Connect Microphones here.
13 MAIN METERS These show the level of the mix outputs. This signal is replaced by the FX or 2-Track return signals depending upon the settings of the 2-Track and FX switches. 14 MONITOR OUTPUTS These are used to feed your monitoring system. This can be directly connected to (¼” Jack) powered monitors, or indirectly via an amplifier to standard monitors. 15 MONITOR/PHONES CONTROL This controls the level of the signal sent to your monitoring system and signal sent to the headphones jack socket.
WIRING UP Mic Input The MIC input accepts XLR-type connectors and is designed to suit a wide range of BALANCED or UNBALANCED low-level signals, whether from delicate vocals requiring the best low-noise performance, or drum kits needing maximum headroom. Professional dynamic, condenser or ribbon mics are best because these will be LOW IMPEDANCE.
Mix Outputs The MIX outputs are on 1/4” TRS jacks, wired as shown, and incorporate impedance balancing, allowing long cable runs to balanced amplifiers and other equipment. From Impedance-Balanced Output Balanced Connection Signal + Screen From Impedance-Balanced Output To External Device Signal - Unbalanced Connection Signal + Screen To External Device Signal Experience has shown that sometimes it is better not to connect screen at external device end.
Polarity (Phase) You will probably be familiar with the concept of polarity in electrical signals and this is of particular importance to balanced audio signals. Just as a balanced signal is highly effective at cancelling out unwanted interference, so two microphones picking up the same signal can cancel out, or cause serious degradation of the signal if one of the cables has the +ve and -ve wires reversed.
Warning! Under NO circumstances must the AC power mains earth be disconnected from the mains lead. PROBLEM SOLVING Basic problem solving is within the scope of any user if a few basic rules are followed. • Get to know the Block Diagram of your console (see page 14). • Get to know what all controls and/or connections in the system are supposed to do. • Learn where to look for common trouble spots.
3 2 100Hz HPF HIGH PASS R(6/8/10/12) L(5/7/9/11) +4/-10 STEREO CHANNELS 5 -12 GAIN Global +48V NOTEPAD 124FX BLOCK DIAGRAM MONO CHANNELS 1~4 LINE IN 1 MIC IN +48V LOW LEVEL LEVEL LEVEL PROGRAM DIGITAL FX PROCESSOR HIGH MID EQ PEAK R L FX TO MAIN FX PAN (BALANACE) FX PAN FX TO MON 2-TRK TO MAIN FX MIX MAIN MIX MON/PHONES R METER L METER 2T TO MON MAIN FADER - - FX SEND MAIN R MAIN L PHONES MON R MON L 2T RTN R 2T RTN L REC OUT R REC OUT L BLOCK DIAGRAM
Soundcraft Notepad User Guide 3 2 100Hz HPF HIGH PASS R(6/8/10/12) L(5/7/9/11) +4/-10 STEREO CHANNELS 5 -12 GAIN Global +48V NOTEPAD 124 BLOCK DIAGRAM MONO CHANNELS 1~4 LINE IN 1 MIC IN +48V HIGH MID EQ LEVEL LEVEL LOW PEAK LEVEL AUX PAN (BALANACE) AUX PAN MAIN FADER AUX TO MON 2-TRK TO MAIN MON/PHONES R METER L METER 2T TO MON AUX MIX AUX MASTER MAIN MIX - - AUX SEND MAIN R MAIN L PHONES MON R MON L 2T RTN R 2T RTN L REC OUT R REC OUT L BLOCK DIAGRAM - NOTEPA
MONO INPUT CHANNELS 1 2 1 Mic Input The MIC input accepts XLR-type connectors and is designed to suit a wide range of BALANCED or UNBALANCED signals. Professional dynamic, condenser or ribbon mics are best because these will be LOW IMPEDANCE. You can use low-cost HIGH IMPEDANCE mics, but the level of background noise will be higher. If you turn the PHANTOM POWER on (right-hand side of the mixer) the socket provides a suitable powering voltage for professional condenser mics.
HF EQ Turn to the right to boost high (treble) frequencies above 10kHz by up to 15dB, adding crispness to cymbals, vocals and electronic instruments. Turn to the left to cut by up to 15dB, reducing hiss or excessive sibilance which can occur with certain types of microphone. Set the knob in the centre-detented position when not required.
STEREO INPUT CHANNELS There are four stereo inputs available. 1 1 STEREO INPUTS These inputs accept 3-pole 6.35mm (1/4”) jacks. Use these inputs for sources such as keyboards, drum machines, synths, tape machines or processing units. The inputs are BALANCED for low noise and top quality from professional equipment, but you can use UNBALANCED sources by wiring up the jacks as shown in the ‘Wiring Up’ section earlier in this manual, although you should then keep cable lengths as short as possible.
Soundcraft Notepad User Guide 21
MASTER SECTION q 8 e 7 1 POWER INDICATOR This LED lights to show when power is connected to the console. 0 2 PHANTOM POWER Many professional condenser mics need PHANTOM POWER, which is a method of sending a powering voltage down the same wires as the mic signal. Press the switch to enable the +48V power to all of the MIC inputs. The adjacent LED illuminates when the power is active. 3 WARNING: TAKE CARE when using unbalanced mics which may be damaged by the phantom power voltage.
7 MONITOR OUTPUTS The Monitor Outputs are on 3-pole 6.35mm (1/4”) jacks and are impedance balanced. 8 HEADPHONES SOCKET The PHONES output is a 3-pole 6.35mm (1/4”) jack, wired as a stereo output, ideally for headphones of 32Ω or greater. 8Ω headphones are not recommended.
FX PROCESSOR OVERVIEW (NOTEPAD 124FX ONLY) 1 2 3 1. Digital Effect Display This 2-digital numeric display shows the program number that is currently applied. Rotating the Program control will scroll through different program numbers, pressing the PROGRAM control (3) will select the effect. The display will revert back to the original program if a new program is not selected within fifteen seconds. For a list of available effects, please refer to the Effects Data Chart Table. 2.
FX OPERATION Select and Load a Program Turn the PROGRAM control to choose a program and press down to select the effect. Set Audio Levels 1. Set the gain on the input channel appropriate to the source (vocal microphone, guitar, keyboard, etc.). 2. Set the FX send on the input channel to the 12 o’clock position. 3. Set the FX Master level to the 12 o’clock position. 4. Provide source signal (by speaking or singing into the microphone, playing guitar, keyboard, etc.) on the selected channel. 5.
music, mellowing and thickening the initial sound. Plate reverbs are often used to enhance popular music, particularly percussion. Reverse Reverb Reverse reverb works in the opposite fashion from normal reverb. Whereas a normal reverb has the loudest series of reflections heard first that then become quieter over time, the Reverse reverb has the softest reflections (essentially the tail of the reverb) heard first, and then grows louder over time until they abruptly cut off.
EFFECTS DATA CHART NO 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 PROGRAM NAME ROOM COMPACT ROOM 1 COMPACT ROOM 2 SMALL ROOM 1 SMALL ROOM 2 MID ROOM 1 MID ROOM 2 BIG ROOM 1 TUNNEL HALL JAZZ CLUB SMALL HALL 1 SMALL HALL 2 SPRING HALL MID HALL 1 MID HALL 2 RECITAL HALL BIG HALL 2 PLATE SMALL PLATE TAIL PLATE MID PLATE 1 MID PLATE 2 REVERSE PLATE LONG PLATE 1 LONG PLATE 2 LONG PLATE 3 DE
USING YOUR NOTEPAD 124/124FX CONSOLE The final output from your sound system can only ever be as good as the weakest link in the chain, and especially important is the quality of the source signal because this is the starting point of the chain. Just as you need to become familiar with the control functions of your mixer, so you must recognise the importance of correct choice of inputs, microphone placement and input channel settings.
• • Repeat this procedure on other channels as required. As more channels are added to the mix, the meters may move into the red section. Adjust the overall level using the Master Faders if necessary. Listen carefully for the characteristic sound of “feedback”. If you cannot achieve satisfactory input level setting without feedback, check microphone and speaker placement and repeat the exercise.
MARK-UP SHEETS 30 You may freely copy these pages, and use them to record the settings used for particular applications/gigs.
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DIMENSIONS 242mm/9.53” 220mm 8.66” 45mm 1.77” 37mm 1.46” 220mm/8.
APPLICATIONS Application EXAMPLE - LIVE SOUND REINFORCEMENT Using Notepad 124 model Soundcraft Notepad User Guide 33
TYPICAL CONNECTING LEADS 34 Soundcraft Notepad User Guide
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NOTEPAD 124/124FX TYPICAL SPECIFICATIONS Frequency Response Mic / Line Input to any Output ...........................................+1/-1.5dB, 20Hz – 20kHz T.H.D. Mic Sensitivity -30dBu, +10dBu @ Mix output, 22Hz-22kHz.......................< 0.005% @ 1kHz Noise Mic Input E.I.N. (maximum gain) ............................………..-128.5dBm (150Ω source) Aux, Mix and Masters (@ 0dB, at unity)...........................................………< -85dBu Crosstalk (@ 1kHz) Channel Faders cut............................
WARRANTY 1 Soundcraft is a trading division of Harman International Industries Ltd . End User means the person who first puts the equipment into regular operation. Dealer means the person other than Soundcraft (if any) from whom the End User purchased the Equipment, provided such a person is authorised for this purpose by Soundcraft or its accredited Distributor. Equipment means the equipment supplied with this manual.
GLOSSARY AFL After-fade listen: a function that allows the operator to monitor the post-fade signal in a channel independently of the main mix. Auxiliary send An output from the console comprising a mix of signals from channels derived independently of the main stereo mix. Balance The relative levels of the left and right channels of a stereo signal. Balanced A method of audio connection which ‘balances’ the signal between two wires, these wires also have a screen which carries no signal.
Pre-fade Rolloff Shelving Spill Transient Unbalanced +48V The point in the signal path before a fader, and therefore unaffected by the fader position. A fall in gain at the extremes of the frequency response. An equaliser response affecting all frequencies above or below the break frequency i.e. a highpass or lowpass derived response. Acoustic interference from other sources. A momentary rise in the signal level.
Soundcraft Notepad User Guide
