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-- So i'm a little confused with my mixer.. (Vestax pcv275)

So i'm a little confused with my mixer.. (Vestax pcv275)

Hello there,

I'm just wondering lads, i've recently acquired a vestax pcv275. It's a beauty and i'm really pleased with it. But i've got two questions for you guys.

First of all, I've always read on here that you should try and keep your tracks bouncing on the 0db mark on the db level meter (which is on the top right side of the vestax mixer)..

The thing is, even if i play over this 0db level the music still sounds perfect. Granted, go that little bit too far and it will distort. But if i do keep to the 0 db recommendation the music is kind of quiet Just wondering if you guys go with what sounds good or what the mixer is telling you.

And secondly, my headphones. For some reason i can only hear the cue'd track on one ear. Even if i turn the split cue on nothing happens. I've tested the earphones on another source and they work fine.. Is there anything i'm missing? Or is this right? I'm using a 3.5mm adaptor to increase the size of the headphones jack. I've tested two of these (neither were new), again might these be at fault?

Apologies for the long post..

Cheers in advance..
nelly

I find that the 275 sounds warmer at about +3 - +5 on the output. Although when i record i try to keep everything at 0db at then amplify the recording.

As for your headphones, no idea mate. Have you tried both headphone jacks on the mixer (the one on the top and the one on the front)? If that doesnt solve anything I think you might be looking at having to send it to get repaired.

its not a digital mixer- no need to keep it at 0dB- will probably sound better by going over it.

As for the headphones:
Is the channel panned?
Check split cue pan
Balance between program/cue
Is the mini jack plug mono???

quote:

Originally posted by djdk I find that the 275 sounds warmer at about +3 - +5 on the output. Although when i record i try to keep everything at 0db at then amplify the recording. As for your headphones, no idea mate. Have you tried both headphone jacks on the mixer (the one on the top and the one on the front)? If that doesnt solve anything I think you might be looking at having to send it to get repaired.

That would be hilarious if i had to send it to get it repaired...Seeing as i just bought it last thursday.

Anyway cheers for the info on the db meter. I was just a bit confused as i was frequently not looking at it and just going with what sounded good rather then looking at the meters.

Just out of curiosity, there aren't any switches or buttons which would keep the audio from going to both ears on the headphones are there?

Thanks for the speedy reply again,

nelly

quote:

Originally posted by Freak its not a digital mixer- no need to keep it at 0dB- will probably sound better by going over it. As for the headphones: Is the channel panned? Check split cue pan Balance between program/cue Is the mini jack plug mono???

Again nice to know. Thanks a mill.

As for the other questions.

The channel is not panned.
Split cue has been switched both on and off with no difference.
Balance between program and cue is set up correctly from what i can tell.

And finally, the one thing i'm slightly weary about is the mini jack being fooked. Then again it would be a nice waste of money to buy another one with 2 already lying around.

Only one way to find out i suppose.

I was expecting to come back here to find a single post 2 hours later This is a nice surprise..

nelly

I had a problem with my monitor output from my EFX 500.. it was in mono, but it was a stereo plug adapter i was using so i was a but concerned/confused

Turns out it was the plug adapter: It had a stereo output, but was a mono input.

quote:

Originally posted by n3lly Anyway cheers for the info on the db meter. I was just a bit confused as i was frequently not looking at it and just going with what sounded good rather then looking at the meters.

My mixer is arsey like that - it just depends if im in a loud mood to whether i pay any attention to it

quote:

Originally posted by Freak its not a digital mixer- no need to keep it at 0dB- will probably sound better by going over it.

can you give some examples of digital mixers? the djm500 is not a digital mixer right?

Thanks!

Numark are making alot of digital mixers now. PPD mixers, DXM mixers and their was some other numark usb mixer that juz came out i think

don't know if you solved this problem yet, but there is a cue on/off switch for each of the channels below the effect switch, which is below the eq knobs, try those

hey guys, i just saw someone say that "its not digital so u dont have to stay on 0db" thats a rule ive been going by myself on my xone 92... but i dont think thats a digital mixer, and i did notice myself like this guy with his 275 that when i go over 0 the music still sounds good, no clipping or distortion.... does that mean i can go a little more ape shit on levels?

quote:

Originally posted by ESMdjm600 hey guys, i just saw someone say that "its not digital so u dont have to stay on 0db" thats a rule ive been going by myself on my xone 92... but i dont think thats a digital mixer, and i did notice myself like this guy with his 275 that when i go over 0 the music still sounds good, no clipping or distortion.... does that mean i can go a little more ape shit on levels?

yes the xone 92 is an analog mixer, and yes you can definitely go over 0db and still get great sound quality. if youre recording i would recommend not going over at all, but for normal mixing/listening it may sound better a few dbs over.

razzi.

From reading many posts i think its the slight imperfections in sound quality that people love. Eg vinyl over high quality cds/dvds and just analog to digital in general. Im not saying its a bad thing because i prefere analog to digital myself. Please... dont let this start a analog vs digital theirs enough of em goen around!

If you do not get enough speaker output at 0db then, either:

a) Your speaker amp requires more input than your mixer is giving.
b) you need to crank up your speaker amp and not the mixer.

Compensating by cranking up the mixer is only a patch. You need to match your inputs correctly.
What are you feeding your mixer output to?

You can run a mixer slightly above 0dB without noticable distortion because mixers are designed with some headroom, that is, they allocate some of their dynamic range for input levels slightly above line level. Furthermore, it is possible that the mixer is distorting, but in a way that's pleasing to the ear. If you read the user's manual for the Xone:V6, it mentions that valve amplifiers actually have a strong 2nd-harmonic distortion which is responsible to the "warm" sound of a valve amplifier. That said, it's still better to run a mixer at 0dB because that's the level that all the downstream components (amp and speakers) are designed to work at. Thus if 0dB sounds soft, you should correct for it by turning up your amp, not by turning up your mixer.

quote:

Originally posted by Freak its not a digital mixer- no need to keep it at 0dB- will probably sound better by going over it.

if the mixer is designed to clip @ 0dB then one should peak around -3dB to prevent random peaks from clipping the mixer, like wise if the mixer is designed to clip @ +3dB then one should peak around 0dB.

there is no need to introduce added distortion to the signal. it will only make things sound worse.
if you have problems with the volume coming out of your mixer then turn up your amp/speakers/etc as high as they can go with enough headroom to avoid clipping.
if the volume cannot go high enough for your pleasure, then it is up to you to buy new equipment fit for the job. too many times have i seen djs clipping everything trying so hard to achieve a "louder" signal but the outcome always only results in deteriorated muddied sound.

correct me if i'm wrong, but wouldn't there be no use for compressors or limiters in the signal chain if djs knew how to correctly operate their equipment?

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