Just picked up an old Peavey mixer

[antispatula]

A waste of 100 bucks?

Before I start, know that even if you answer ONE of these Q's, I'll really apreciate it.

So I just picked up this old 16 channel mixer

http://www.triplerguitar.com/used/pics/peavey_md2b_16x2mixer_2.jpg

(not that one, but same model)

for 100 bucks. All SEEMS to work fine, but I have little expirience with mixers. Here are a few questions.

1. At first, there was a high humming when I used the stereo out, but now it's gone. Why? What should I do to make sure it doesn't happen again.

2. The monitor out and the master out are mono. Are they supposed to be?

3. There is a RIGHT out and a LEFT out. Is this to send to the monitors, or to send to the 2 track to master?(I'm analog)

4. And I have no idea how quiet or loud all the channels etc are supposed to be, you know, the white noise of mild distortion you hear when nothing is being played or sung. I noticed that if I am not playing anything at all, and I turn up all the faders to all the channels, the white noise or distortion increases. Is this normal? What should I do it it's not?

5. And one more thing. This thing is really dusty. Is it safe to take off the front panel to clean it? If not, what should I do? Are those air/lube cans good to use? What do I use them on exactly.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[JosephCampbell]

To clean it you should use a vacuum with a brush attacthment, don't touch the inside if you do open it. On most Peavys they have a mono master out AND a left and right out. You can use the left and right for the master sends or for a two track recorder. You can simotaniuosly use the mono out for whatever or nothing. I've used the same board and found that it was very noisey, I was not too fond of it. However, make good use of it and make sure its grounded, that will most likely take away any buzz( although the buzz may be comeing from a bad channel)
-Joe-

 

[Track Rat]

Looks like an MD16. I still have one molding in the basement somewhere. The buzz could possibly been a ground loop, depending on how you had the power connected to the mixer and the your power amp. If they were on different circuits that would explain that. The left/right output is obviously the mains stereo out. The mono out is just that and would be used in many live situations (that's what this board was designed for). The monitor out is just another AUX send (and should be mono) that is pre fader/EQ and can be used as an effects send in a recording situation along with the existing effects send (which is post fader/EQ). This is an old live mixer and wasn't too bad in its day but that day was a LONG TIME AGO. It's gouing to be noisy compared with most newer boards of its kind. That said, I used mine with a Tascam 238 about a hundred years ago to record a CD with the band I was in at the time and it was OK. At least it has inserts and mic preamps on all the channels which is real handy.