QR PA Help | bally-studios

Hi there,

Usually we'd be super happy to help you set up the PA system, but what with Social Distancing and what-not, we've prepared a guide for you to help you get the most out of your PA.

Troubleshooting:

1) No Sound coming out of the PA?

a) Is the PA switched on?
Here is the order that you should turn the PA system on:
i) Make sure that mixing desk is switched on, (there should be some lights lighting up).
iii) Is the power amplifier on at it's on/off switch. You should be able to hear a cooling fan.

b) Is the Microphone switched on?
Check that the switch is properly switched all of the way across, and not in a halfway position.

c) Microphone working?
We keep our microphones in good condition, but they don't last forever. The best way to check this is to swap a couple of the microphones in the rooms over. If the problem moves, then you have found the problem. Message us to let us know, and we'll drop a new Microphone into you.

d) Are the individual and master faders on the mixing desk all of the way up?
If they're not up, no sound is coming out.

e) Are the individual channels on, and umuted?
Some mixing desks will have “on/off” switches, so that the channel needs to be turned on before it works, whereas for other desks they are turned on by default, and so need to be “muted” to turn them off. Make sure that these buttons are in the correct position, that an on/off switch is turned on, and that the mute is turned off.

f) Is the microphone cable working, and plugged in properly?
Again, swap it with another microphone, and see if that solves the problem. If so, please let us know, we can bring you a new one. Make sure it 'clicks' into place.

g) A faulty individual channel in the desk?
Switch the microphone to a different channel, in case a particular channel has developed a problem.

h) Nothing plugged into the Direct I/O jack?
Each channel has a jack input that is labelled like this, but it is NOT where you plug stuff in, but it is where you send signal to a compressor/EQ, etc. Make sure that nothing else is plugged into this jack, or it will stop the sound coming through.

2) Sound doesn't sound good?

a) Sounds a bit bassy?
Roll off a bit of the bass on the EQ for that channel.

b) Sounds a little muffled?
Boost the treble of the EQ by a little bit.

c) Sounds VERY muffled?
The tweeter may have blown. Please let the staff member in the office know, and they will bring you a spare pair of speakers, and give you instructions as to how to change them over. Remember, when swapping the speakers over, turn off the power amplifier and wait AT LEAST A MINUTE for the power to drain out of them. The power amplifier can keep hold of power for up to a minute, so please, be patient and protect yourself.

d) Sounds VERY tinny and VERY quiet?
The main driver speaker may have blown.  Again, please let the staff member in the office know, and they will bring you a spare pair of speakers, and give you instructions as to how to change them over.

e) Singing doesn't sound in tune?
Sorry, that one's on you...... ;-)

3) Effects not working?

Make sure that the Master effect knob is up to about 90% level, and that the individual effect knob is up at least 50%. There should be labels on the desk that show where these are.   Make sure that you're turning it up on the correct channel.

4) Not loud enough?

Check that the master faders are all of the way up, then turn the individual fader all of the way up too, then slowly turn the gain knob at the top of the channel that your microphone is plugged into to the point that it starts to feedback a little bit, and then back off a touch. Also make sure that you are singing clearly into the microphone as well. It's also worth remembering that while shouting/screaming into the microphone can make it a bit louder, as well turning the gain up, doing either will also turn up the amount of distortion within the channel, meaning it will cut through the mix a lot less, so you're actually better off easing off on the gain/screaming a bit. A slighly lower volume signal that is clean/less distorted will usually cut through a lot better.

Any other problems? Please let us know in the office, and we will be happy to help you out.

Many thanks! :-)
The Team - Bally Studios