Introduction, General mixing console functions

XENYX 1622FX/1832FX/2222FX/2442FX

1. INTRODUCTION

Congratulations! In purchasing the BEHRINGER XENYX you have acquired a mixer whose small size belies its incredible versatility and audio performance.

The XENYX Series represents a milestone in the development of mixing console technology. With the new XENYX microphone preamps including phantom power as an option, balanced line inputs and a powerful effects section, the mixing consoles in the XENYX Series are optimally equipped for live and studio applications. Owing to state-of-the-art circuitry your XENYX console produces a warm analog sound that is unrivalled. With the addition of the latest digital technology these best-in-class consoles combine the advantages of both analog and digital technology.

XENYX Mic Preamp

The microphone channels feature high-end XENYX Mic Preamps that compare well with costly outboard preamps in terms of sound quality and dynamics and boast the following features:

s130 dB dynamic range for an incredible amount of headroom

sA bandwidth ranging from below 10 Hz to over 200 kHz for crystal-clear reproduction of even the finest nuances

sThe extremely low-noise and distortion-free circuitry guarantees absolutely natural and transparent signal reproduction

sThey are perfectly matched to every conceivable microphone with up to 60 dB gain and +48 volt phantom power supply

sThey enable you to use the greatly extended dynamic range of your 24-bit/192-kHz HD recorder to the full, thereby maintaining optimal audio quality

„British EQ“

The equalizers used for the XENYX Series are based on the legendary circuitry of top-notch consoles made in Britain, which are renowned throughout the world for their incredibly warm and musical sound character. Even with extreme gain settings these equalizers ensure outstanding audio properties.

Multi-effects processor

Additionally, your XENYX mixing console has an effects processor with 24-bit A/D and D/A converters included, which gives you 100 presets producing first-class reverb, delay and modulation effects plus

numerous multi-effects in excellent audio quality.

The XENYX mixing consoles are equipped with a state-of-the-art switched-mode power supply (SMPS). Unlike conventional circuitry an SMPS provides an optimum supply current regardless of the input voltage. And thanks to its considerably

higher efficiency a switched-mode power supply uses less energy than conventional power supplies.

FBQ Feedback Detection System

The FBQ Feedback Detection System integrated into the graphic EQ of your 1832FX is one of this mixer’s most outstanding features.

This ingenious circuitry lets you immediately recognize and eliminate feedback frequencies. The FBQ Feedback Detection System uses the LEDs in the frequency band faders of the graphic EQ to indicate the critical frequencies. This way, what once used to be a labor-intensive search for feedback frequencies is now an activity that even a child could master.

Voice Canceller

We have added another useful feature to the XENYX 1832FX: the Voice Canceller.

The Voice Canceller is a filter circuitry that filters out vocal portions from a track. Therefore, this mixing console is

ideally suited for use as a karaoke machine. This feature is also an optimal solution for singers who need accompanying music for their rehearsals.

USB/Audio interface

The USB interface supplied with the unit is a perfect match for the XENYX Series and serves as a powerful recording interface to your PC or MAC®. It supports the digital transmission of signals on up to four channels with max. 48 kHz and extremely low latency. When wired to the CD/TAPE INPUT and OUTPUT connectors, the interface transfers the stereo mix from the console directly to a computer. Both the recording signal and the playback signal from the computer can be monitored at the same time. In this way, you can use several recording runs to produce complete multi-track recordings.

CAUTION!

+We should like to draw your attention to the fact that extreme volumes may damage your hearing and/or your headphones or loudspeakers. Turn the MAIN MIX faders and phones control in the main section fully down before you switch on the unit. Always be careful to set the appropriate volume.

1.1 General mixing console functions

A mixing console fulfils three main functions:

sSignal processing:

Preamplification

Microphones convert sound waves into voltage that has to be amplified several-fold; then, this voltage is turned into sound that is reproduced in a loudspeaker. Because micro- phone capsules are very delicate in their construction, output voltage is very low and therefore susceptible to interference. Therefore, mic signal voltage is amplified directly at the mixer input to a higher signal level that is less prone to interference. This higher, interference-safe signal level has to be achieved through amplification using an amplifier of the highest quality in order to amplify the signal and add as little noise to it as possible. The XENYX Mic Preamp performs this role beautifully, leaving no traces of noise or sound coloration. Interference that could take place at the preamplification level could affect signal quality and purity, and would then be passed on to all other devices, resulting in inaccurate sounding program during recording or playback.

Level-setting

Signals fed into the mixer using a DI-box (Direct Injection) or the output of a sound card or a keyboard, often have to be adjusted to the operating level of your mixing console.

Frequency response correction

Using the equalizers found in each channel strip, you can simply, quickly and effectively adjust the way a signal sounds.

Effects mixing

In addition to the effects processor contained in your mixer, using the insert connectors on the mono channels and both aux busses lets you insert additional signal processors into your signal path.

sSignal distribution:

Individual signals adjusted at each channel strip are laid out at the aux sends and returns, and are either fed into external effects processors or fed back to the internal effects processor. Then, the signals are brought back into the main mix either via the aux return connectors or via direct internal wiring. The mix for the on-stage musicians is also created using the aux sends (monitor mix). Similarly, for example, signals for recording equipment, power ampli- fiers, headphones and 2-track outputs can also be taken.

4	1. INTRODUCTION