Help with Panning

drummerdoug86 · #1 07-11-2002

I just bought a new Behringer mixer (my first mixer) and I had a question about panning the sound left, right, and center. I can only seem to pan the sound when it is on the "Solo" mode. Is this the mode that the mixer is always supposed to be on? When it is on PFL mode, I can't seem to pan the sound. Thanks.

TexRoadkill · #2 07-12-2002

PFL stands for Pre Fader Level. Sometimes that just refers to the level meters though. Is there a PFL switch for every channel? If there is than no panning would be possible because you are monitoring the signal before it hits the fader and pan knob.

There should be a neutral setting that is not PFL, Solo or Mute.

drummerdoug86 · #3 07-12-2002

Yeah, there is a PFL/Solo switch for every channel. So do I just keep it on solo mode if I want to pan the sound? I thought solo mode was used if you wanted to lower the other channels of sound while one is performing a solo? I don't know, I'm new at this stuff.

TexRoadkill · #4 07-12-2002

Post a link to the mixer that you have an I will look at it a little more. Compact mixers do some screwy things to save on space.

What output do you have your monitors hooked up to? If they are hooked up to the main outs as opposed to the monitor outs you won't hear everything that the buttons do.

The Solo switch should mute everthing except the channel being Solo'd. That is so you can quickly check just that channel without having to mute all the other channels. It is only for monitoring purposes and not really used as a mixing tool.

MISTERQCUE · #5 07-12-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by drummerdoug86
I just bought a new Behringer mixer (my first mixer)

Bad choice for your 1st mixer.

TexRoadkill · #6 07-12-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by MISTERQCUE

Bad choice for your 1st mixer.

I figured I wouldn't go there. I spend too many karma points bashing behringer enough as it is.

drummerdoug86 · #7 07-12-2002

Here's the link

http://www.zzounds.com/love.music?p=...=1428632676730

So far I am only using headphones to hear the sound, I'm kind of broke at the moment. No monitors yet.

Why was this a bad choice for my first mixer? I have read nothing but good reviews for Behringers.

drummerdoug86 · #8 07-12-2002

Quote:

I figured I wouldn't go there. I spend too many karma points bashing behringer enough as it is.

I guess Behringer isn't as popular as I thought.

Here is another link directly to Behringer with PDF and all that stuff if you wish to look furthur into it.

http://www.behringer.com/02_products...2642A&lang=eng

TexRoadkill · #9 07-12-2002

I think I see what is going on. The Solo/PFL switch is not either solo or PFL. It is either neutral in the up position or it is set to solo and PFL when pressed. Don't press it and you should be okay with panning. Does that work right?

You would use the PFL/solo button for setting your levels. When you need to set the gain on a mic hit that button and adjust the pot at the top of the channel until you are getting a good signal right around 0db on the meter.

Then deactivate the PFL button and the meter will show you the audio level after the fader. From that point you adjust the fader level until you get the volume you want and the meters will be showing you that level. That is how you set up the Gain Stage for the best signal to noise ratio.

Behringer stuff has it's uses but they are generally at the bottom of the list for sound and build quality. But obviously their rock bottom price makes them good learning tools.

drummerdoug86 · #10 07-12-2002

Thanks for the help TexRoadkill, you've really helped a lot and cleared this up.

drummerdoug86 · #11 07-12-2002

Ok, so here is the follow up. I went down to my mixer and tried to follow your directions.

Quote:

The Solo/PFL switch is not either solo or PFL. It is either neutral in the up position or it is set to solo and PFL when pressed. Don't press it and you should be okay with panning. Does that work right?

Well not exactly. Actually quite the opposite. When I do press that button in to turn on solo/PFL mode that is the only way I can get sound to come out. When that button is up, or in neutral, I can't get any sound out of the mixer. But back to solo/pfl mode, after you do press that button in, you get to choose either Solo or PFL which is on another button near the sound meter. Now, I can get sound out of both PFL and Solo mode, but in order to pan I have put it in solo mode. So, I don't know what's up. Maybe you can explain more of this to me.

MISTERQCUE · #12 07-12-2002

Froim what i remember of that horrid line of mixers, depressing SOLO will allow for panning, however if U depress SOLO on only 1 channel, it will negate signals going thru the other channels unless yu depress each "SOLO" button on each chann. If you have decided to use solo to hear your mix, depress "SOLO" in the monitor section of the mixer(rite hand side) pull the l/r faders up to unity and increase the "SOLO" volume pot so you can then hear what is coming thru the channels.

TexRoadkill · #13 07-12-2002

Jeez, Q, those Behringers are more evil than I thought. I hope that works for you Doug because at this point I am stumped.

drummerdoug86 · #14 07-12-2002

I guess I will just use solo for each channel unless I find a different way of doing it.

lorez · #15 07-12-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by drummerdoug86
......
Well not exactly. Actually quite the opposite. When I do press that button in to turn on solo/PFL mode that is the only way I can get sound to come out. When that button is up, or in neutral, I can't get any sound out of the mixer.

Make sure all PFL/SOLO buttons are in the UP position. Find the button marked "Main Mix" and press it down, it should have an arrow pointing at your headphone volume knob. Now you should be able to hear your mix, in stereo, but only if you have nothing solo'd.

Quote:

But back to solo/pfl mode, after you do press that button in, you get to choose either Solo or PFL which is on another button near the sound meter. Now, I can get sound out of both PFL and Solo mode, but in order to pan I have put it in solo mode. So, I don't know what's up. Maybe you can explain more of this to me.

PFL (pre-fader-listen) is used for setting up your basic levels, like making sure that kick drum isnt overloading your preamps. Solo will let you hear a channel by itself along with any eq/panning you have applied. Either mode will override the headphone output, but will leave the full mix to the 2-track and main outs.
Remember, if you want to hear the main mix through the headphones, you'll need to press the "Main Mix" button, otherwise the only sound you'll hear will be pfl/solo'd channels

-lorez
Bald Nob

MISTERQCUE · #16 07-13-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by TexRoadkill
Jeez, Q, those Behringers are more evil than I thought.

Amen Tex! Anutha' reason amongst many why I truly hate Behrgr
Mixrs; Lack of separate Monitoring function and "MON" pot panning and gain pr channel! Sheesh, at least the Al S-24 has those basic features!

camn · #17 07-13-2002

ey, they arent that bad.. They have all that stuff.

anyhoo... did the lorez getcha drummer? Hes on the right track there.. and knows what a pfl is, too.

Are you listening to headphones, btw?? or hooked to a stereo. If hooked.. what outs are you hooked by??

xoox

drummerdoug86 · #18 07-13-2002

Yeah, thanks to lorez I finally figured it out.

I am listening in headphones, no monitors yet.

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