Mixer with 2+ Mics into the vocal channel of Acoustic Amp

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aznricey

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I'm looking into buying a Fender Acoustasonic Jr. It's got a vocal channel to plug in microphones with (not surprising)

However, can you put in a mixer's output with it in that channel especially when you have 2 or more microphones plugged into the amp? Would something burn out or break?

Thanks in advance,
Jonny

Here are the specs for this amp : http://www.fender.com/en-GB/products/search.php/?partno=2213200010 (Power Handling: 40 Watts Per Channel (Stereo))
SCHEMATICS: http://support.fender.com/schematics/guitar_amplifiers/Acoustasonic_Jr_Schematic_-11x17.pdf
 
Well that input on the amp I believe all ready is a micpre so ................................. maybe something like a XLR Y jack would be better except you would only have one control over two mics going into the amp.
 
Thinking now you could get away with a small mixer if your mindful of your gain structure all of the way into the amp.
 
If you're using a mixer, you want to use an amp that has a LINE IN input, or the danger of blowing out the amp's preamp stage is pretty good.
 
Thanks for the quick reply! If you don't mind asking how you come up with weather its safe to plug something into something else?
 
aznricey said:
Thanks for the quick reply! If you don't mind asking how you come up with weather its safe to plug something into something else?
Click to expand...

Ignoring digital stuff for a moment, there are two broad classes of analogue audio signal: Mic level and line level. Mic level is exactly what it sounds like--the output of microphones. Line level is the output of powered devices like mixers, CD players, etc. etc. Microphones output the tiny amount of electricity you can generate from the sound vibrations in the air--and this means that these levels tend to be something like 60dB lower than line levels. This is why you use a microphone pre-amp--to bring the low level from the mic up to a reasonable level to process. This is also why plugging line level into a mic pre is a bad idea. Adding another 60dB to something that's already be amplified to line level is known technically as "a bad thing".

So, to answer your question, mic out to mic in is fine, line out to line in is fine but you can't mix the two. Mic out to line in will be way too quiet and line out to mic in will be way too loud.

Hope this helps.

Bob
 
Thanks bob that definitely helps! So in another words I shouldn't be amplifying something that is already amplified(put into my own words here).

Now, I own a Beringer Xenyx X1222 USB mixer. There are many different output methods, even RCA. Would there be a possibility that I can disable the mixer's preamp function and use the mixer as a 2-3 microphone splitter(or whatever you call those things)?

Alternatively, wouldn't lowering the gain of the microphone wayyyy down to the bottom help the situation? Or is that still not recommended?

Here are some info on the mixer. Sorry I can't find a way to shrink the picture of the mixer, but you can get a clearer view anyways :rolleyes:

THANKS in advance =)

X1222USB_P0A0I_FIG2_XL.png
X1222USB_P0A0I_Top_XXL.png
 
Not really. Your Behringer mixer needs to amplify the microphone sound in order to mix it...the mic pre-amps are the very first thing in the chain when you plug a mic into the XLR. Not bringing the signal up to line level would add a lot of noise when the signals are passing through the innards of the mixer.

You COULD at a pinch run the mixer with the main mix faders really low (down at -50 or -60) which, in effect, lowers the output back down to mic level. (I must admit I've done that a few times in dire emergencies). However, that's a real risk because bumping the faders up even slightly will quickly bring the levels up to an unacceptable level--look at the scale by the faders to see how fast things change down at those levels.

I suppose you could hunt electronics shops for a 50 or 60 dB in line pad as well...that would at least be safer.

However, any of these solutions is really a pretty nasty "kludge".

Bob
 
I see, thanks so much for your help! Moresound spoke about a "XLR Y jack", upon some research i'm assuming it is a splitter jack. Would getting one of these help with the situation? Would it sacrifice the tone?

Y-C1.jpg
< I'm guessing i would need one of these?
 
That splitter is exactly the opposite of what you want: 2 x XLR-F to 1 x XLR-M, but that's a lame way to get two mics into one input.

Channel 2 of the Acoustasonic has a Inst/Line input. Go from the RCA output of your mixer to that Inst/Line input and you should be fine with a bit of careful level setting.
 
The Behringer's mic preamps already add a ton of noise ... (judging by the X1622 I bought last weekend and returned 2 days later!!)
 
You're right! According to the manual the inst/line "is suited for line-level equipment such as high-impedance microphones, keyboards and drum machines. It accepts both balanced and unbalanced inputs." So i guess plugging in a beringer mixer in shouldn't be a problem!
http://support.fender.com/manuals/guitar_amplifiers/Acoustasonic_Junior.pdf

I have one more question. I was told that the line out is meant to be the "FX send" in this unit. I have attached a picture of the manual on the 4 jacks. Would someone care to explain what the RETURN and INSTRUMENT INSERT thing do? The manual wasn't being very clear, at least to me...

unledu.png



And yes you're right, those beringer mixers are quite noisy, but o well, all my cheap equipments are for my own learning, not like i'll go big anyways lol

Thanks! =)
 
The Master Effects Loop and the Instrument Insert do basically the same thing except the Loop is probably later in the signal path. The Insert is mono and probably not too far after the input. The Loop is stereo and probably right before the output. The Insert may be more suited to guitar pedal effects and the Loop may be optimized for line level effects. I'd probably put compressors and distortion effects on the Insert and delays and reverbs on the Loop.
 
aznricey said:
I'm looking into buying a Fender Acoustasonic Jr. It's got a vocal channel to plug in microphones with (not surprising)

However, can you put in a mixer's output with it in that channel especially when you have 2 or more microphones plugged into the amp? Would something burn out or break?

Thanks in advance,
Jonny

Here are the specs for this amp : http://www.fender.com/en-GB/products/search.php/?partno=2213200010 (Power Handling: 40 Watts Per Channel (Stereo))
SCHEMATICS: http://support.fender.com/schematics/guitar_amplifiers/Acoustasonic_Jr_Schematic_-11x17.pdf
Click to expand...
I'm thinking that you don't want to be using the line out from the mixer into the line in of the amp while also using the mic input on that same channel. I would try inserting the output of the mixer into the return of the effects loop.
 
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