Setting volume for PA

[Mr. C]

I have a Mackie FR800 to power my mixer for PA use. Reading the manual it says the volume controls on the Mackie should be set to max. Two paragraphs down it says set the controls for the mixer where you want them, then adjust the volume using the Mackie. I'm confused. What is the recommended practice? Do I set the Mackie volumes to max and adjust using the mixer, or ....???? Help please!

 

[Seafroggys]

It depends on a lot of factors.

I use my Firestudio as a mixer.....since its an A/D/A setup, I have to be very careful with levels, meaning I have to set my preamps with plenty of headroom. Meaning that my full volume control is with my poweramp.

 

[gecko zzed]

I have a Mackie FR800 to power my mixer for PA use. Reading the manual it says the volume controls on the Mackie should be set to max. Two paragraphs down it says set the controls for the mixer where you want them, then adjust the volume using the Mackie. I'm confused. What is the recommended practice? Do I set the Mackie volumes to max and adjust using the mixer, or ....???? Help please!

A common practice is to:

1 Set power amp controls to max.
2 Adjust each channel's input gaiin to give you reasonable level control (channel faders somewhere around unity)
3 Bring up master fader to the desired level.

 

[Lt. Bob]

A common practice is to:

1 Set power amp controls to max.
2 Adjust each channel's input gaiin to give you reasonable level control (channel faders somewhere around unity)
3 Bring up master fader to the desired level.

ditto ..... leave the power amp wide open, once you have the channels where you want them, control the overall output with the master slider.