Help Why would one channel of the mixer be quieter than the other?

[editor]

So, I was using this mixer last night, with two XLR outouts going to 2x Mackie Thump powered speakers.

For some reason the left hand channel was much, much quieter than the other. At first I thought the DJ animals in the venue had managed to blow yet another speaker, but after swapping the leads/speakers around, the problem remained with the right output.

In the end I had to do a right old botch, running the LH channel off the XLR and the right hand off the Aux out and balancing the levels.

But was there something I missed that caused the RH channel to be so quiet? I zeroed everything, put the pan to the middle but stil got nowhere. But now, in the cold light of day, I was wondering if XFade knob could have been the problem (although I tried turning the XFade off and moving the crossfader around to no avail).

Any ideas anyone? beesonthewhatnow

 

[editor]

 

[Treacle Toes]

Is there a gain dial or something similar?

 

[editor]

Is there a gain dial or something similar?

I appreciate your keenness to type up any random thoughts but I'm really looking for some rather more informed feedback on this.

 

[ddraig]

Is there a gain dial or something similar?

this is what I was going to post
and/or are there switches on the back where the leads go in? something like phono/line?
that's what sometimes happens on my numark

 

[ddraig]

I appreciate your keenness to type up any random thoughts but I'm really looking for some rather more informed feedback on this.

if you were using 3 and 4 in that pic then the gain on 4 is lower

 

[editor]

this is what I was going to post
and/or are there switches on the back where the leads go in? something like phono/line?
that's what sometimes happens on my numark

Checked all those and swapped inputs but the problem was consistent across all channels/inputs.

 

[editor]

if you were using 3 and 4 in that pic then the gain on 4 is lower

That's an illustration from their website but it wouldn't make any difference because the gain controls L and R channels at the same time. It's a DJ mixer not a band mixer, so each channel is stereo.

 

[Treacle Toes]

I appreciate your keenness to type up any random thoughts but I'm really looking for some rather more informed feedback on this.

Eh? It was a serious question as I use the gain dual to deal with diiferenc in levels on my mixer.

But hey a jolly fucking good day to you too!

 

[ddraig]

presumably checked any controls on the back of the speakers too?

 

[editor]

presumably checked any controls on the back of the speakers too?

As I said in the OP, I swapped the speakers and cable over and the problem was consistent from the right channel.

 

[Treacle Toes]

this is what I was going to post
and/or are there switches on the back where the leads go in? something like phono/line?
that's what sometimes happens on my numark

In your keenness to post up any random thoughts? Be careful Ed's feeling ungrateful today.

 

[Santino]

Probably carbon on the valves.

 

[editor]

In your keenness to post up any random thoughts? Be careful Ed's feeling ungrateful today.

No, stop this now. You fucked around in the last thread where I asked a question and refused to add anything useful and I'm not in the mood for any more. No more posts please.

 

[danski]

Does the reduced level show up on the meter?
Are any pots crackly?
Have you tried swapping your inputs (decks?) over?

 

[danski]

Also, wouldn’t any reduction due to xfader result in both channels being lower as it should affect the stereo pair?
Cables from decks?

 

[Ted Striker]

Did the DJ before or after you mention anything?

I have this mixer, and had a suspiciously similar problem. In fact, it might have been this exact problem . I was only ever at home so just ran the outputs out of the phono out iirc. It was about 7 years ago and i gave up in the interim (as CBA'd to service it).

 

[Ted Striker]

Also, next time, take pics of the deck (and rear if poss) for knob layout settings etc. Helps with the post mortem, just in case the pissed/picnicking brain doesn't get to the solution in the moment

 

[Baronage-Phase]

Could it be the resistors?
Right channel louder than the left. Need help! - Gearslutz
See post #16

"Fixed and variable resistors have tolerances in the 5-20% area, it's a miracle any (inexpensive) analog gear gives any semblance of a reliable response across channels. There's nothing "magic" about the center position on a knob, if you look inside it just has a little detent that makes it feel "sticky" in that center position. Electrically, that center position will be as much as 20% off from the true center.
What's to be done about it? Eventually, buy better gear with (possibly) tighter manufacturing tolerances, but this is just a reality of (analog) audio equipment. You can just get used to setting things centered or balanced by ear, and/or learn how to calibrate the level with a signal generator. This is precisely one good reason why most mastering gear has stepped, rather than continuously-variable controls; coupled with 1% resistors they can get pretty damn close."

 

[High Voltage]

For some totally unknown reason I'm really interested in the solution to this

 

[newbie]

Could it be the resistors?
Right channel louder than the left. Need help! - Gearslutz
See post #16

"Fixed and variable resistors have tolerances in the 5-20% area, it's a miracle any (inexpensive) analog gear gives any semblance of a reliable response across channels. There's nothing "magic" about the center position on a knob, if you look inside it just has a little detent that makes it feel "sticky" in that center position. Electrically, that center position will be as much as 20% off from the true center.
What's to be done about it? Eventually, buy better gear with (possibly) tighter manufacturing tolerances, but this is just a reality of (analog) audio equipment. You can just get used to setting things centered or balanced by ear, and/or learn how to calibrate the level with a signal generator. This is precisely one good reason why most mastering gear has stepped, rather than continuously-variable controls; coupled with 1% resistors they can get pretty damn close."

there's far too much fud in that. Unless this particular mixer has always had its channels misaligned, 'the resistors' are unlikely to be an issue. danski is asking the right questions. e2a to ask if the editor checked whether either the headphone or aux outputs were properly aligned? Also, - because tbh something in the output being unbalanced seems like the most plausible answer- whether the XLR sockets felt at all loose?

 

[Supine]

It's often a turntable connection or the head of the cartridge.

 

[SpookyFrank]

I appreciate your keenness to type up any random thoughts but I'm really looking for some rather more informed feedback on this.

Read the fucking manual then.

Rude mate, that was just rude. If you don't know how to do your job that's a grand total of one person's fault and that person ain't Rutita1

 

[editor]

Does the reduced level show up on the meter?
Are any pots crackly?
Have you tried swapping your inputs (decks?) over?

Tried swapping cables, inputs and speakers. Same result across all. I've chatted to beesonthewhatnow and he concurred it looks like there's a problem with the mixer.

 

[editor]

Read the fucking manual then.

Rude mate, that was just rude. If you don't know how to do your job that's a grand total of one person's fault and that person ain't Rutita1

Thanks for your valuable input although I don't believe it was my fault in this case. My tardiness with Rutita1 was a result of another infuriating thread but you're right, I should not have responded. Apologies.

there's far too much fud in that. Unless this particular mixer has always had its channels misaligned, 'the resistors' are unlikely to be an issue. danski is asking the right questions. e2a to ask if the editor checked whether either the headphone or aux outputs were properly aligned? Also, - because tbh something in the output being unbalanced seems like the most plausible answer- whether the XLR sockets felt at all loose?

Headphones worked fine as did the aux outputs. It was just the one channel that was way quieter than the other. The mixer was already suffering from quite serious cross-fader interference (i.e. when one channel was set at zero you could still here it coming through quietly), so maybe it is in the last stages of packing up.

I'm going to go up in a day or two and test it all out again when the place is empty as it's quite stressful trying to get things working when you've got a crowd in the place.

 

[newbie]

Thanks for your valuable input although I don't believe it was my fault in this case. My tardiness with Rutita1 was a result of another infuriating thread but you're right, I should not have responded. Apologies.

Headphones worked fine as did the aux outputs. It was just the one channel that was way quieter than the other. The mixer was already suffering from quite serious cross-fader interference (i.e. when one channel was set at zero you could still here it coming through quietly), so maybe it is in the last stages of packing up.

there are lots of reasons why crosstalk between sources can occur, it may or may not have much bearing on your problem.

I'm going to go up in a day or two and test it all out again when the place is empty as it's quite stressful trying to get things working when you've got a crowd in the place.

good plan, if systematic substitution doesn't reveal anything new the mixer is probably faulty. Or maybe you could save yourself that step by persuading whoever owns it to get the crosstalk fixed and the mixer fully lined up, that'll reveal any output faults. whatever, best of luck.

 

[editor]

there are lots of reasons why crosstalk between sources can occur, it may or may not have much bearing on your problem.

good plan, if systematic substitution doesn't reveal anything new the mixer is probably faulty. Or maybe you could save yourself that step by persuading whoever owns it to get the crosstalk fixed and the mixer fully lined up, that'll reveal any output faults. whatever, best of luck.

Thanks but this is definitely a DIY kind of set up which is constantly being borked by some of their DJs who presumably thinks the mixer and speakers look nice when the pretty little red lights are on all the time

 

[danski]

Is there a possibility of spilt drinks? That would pretty much give these symptoms.

 

[editor]

Is there a possibility of spilt drinks? That would pretty much give these symptoms.

There was no obvious signs but anything is possible with the DJs they have there. beesonthewhatnow helped me set it all up a few months ago but within 7 days they'd blown the main two speakers.

 

[danski]

Doh.