POWERED MIXER
POWERED MIXER
Owner’s Manual
Owner’s Manual
EN
Making the Most of Your Mixer
Pages 12 to 18
Quick Guide
Pages 7 to 11
2
EMX5014C Owner’s Manual
The above warning is located on the rear of the unit.
Explanation of Graphical Symbols
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol
within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert
the user to the presence of uninsulated
“dangerous voltage” within the product’s
enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to
constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral
triangle is intended to alert the user to the
presence of important operating and
maintenance (servicing) instructions in the
literature accompanying the product.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
1 Read these instructions.
2Keep these instructions.
3 Heed all warnings.
4 Follow all instructions.
5 Do not use this apparatus near water.
6 Clean only with dry cloth.
7 Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in
accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
8 Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators,
heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including
amplifiers) that produce heat.
9 Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or
grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades
with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug
has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide
blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If
the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult
an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10 Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched
particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the
point where they exit from the apparatus.
11 Only use attachments/accessories specified by the
manufacturer.
12 Use only with the cart, stand,
tripod, bracket, or table specified
by the manufacturer, or sold with
the apparatus. When a cart is
used, use caution when moving
the cart/apparatus combination
to avoid injury from tip-over.
13 Unplug this apparatus during
lightning storms or when unused for long periods of
time.
14 Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
Servicing is required when the apparatus has been
damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug
is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have
fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been
exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally,
or has been dropped.
(98-6500)
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF
ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE
COVER (OR BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE
PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO
QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
WARNING
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
IMPORTANT
Please record the serial number of this unit in the space below.
Model:
Serial No.:
The serial number is located on the bottom or rear of the unit.
Retain this Owner’s Manual in a safe place for future reference.
EMX5014C Owner’s Manual
3
(5)-4
PRECAUTIONS
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING
* Please keep this manual in a safe place for future reference.
WARNING
Always follow the basic precautions listed below to avoid the possibility of serious injury or even death from electrical
shock, short-circuiting, damages, fire or other hazards. These precautions include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Only use the voltage specified as correct for the device. The required voltage is
printed on the name plate of the device.
• Use only the included power cord.
• Do not place the power cord near heat sources such as heaters or radiators, and do
not excessively bend or otherwise damage the cord, place heavy objects on it, or
place it in a position where anyone could walk on, trip over, or roll anything over it.
• Be sure to connect to an appropriate outlet with a protective grounding
connection. Improper grounding can result in electrical shock.
• Do not open the device or attempt to disassemble the internal parts or modify
them in any way. The device contains no user-serviceable parts. If it should
appear to be malfunctioning, discontinue use immediately and have it inspected
by qualified Yamaha service personnel.
• Do not expose the device to rain, use it near water or in damp or wet conditions,
or place containers on it containing liquids which might spill into any openings.
• Never insert or remove an electric plug with wet hands.
• If the power cord or plug becomes frayed or damaged, or if there is a sudden
loss of sound during use of the device, or if any unusual smells or smoke
should appear to be caused by it, immediately turn off the power switch,
disconnect the electric plug from the outlet, and have the device inspected by
qualified Yamaha service personnel.
• If this device should be dropped or damaged, immediately turn off the power
switch, disconnect the electric plug from the outlet, and have the device
inspected by qualified Yamaha service personnel.
CAUTION
Always follow the basic precautions listed below to avoid the possibility of physical injury to you or others, or damage
to the device or other property. These precautions include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Remove the electric plug from the outlet when the device is not to be used for
extended periods of time, or during electrical storms.
• When removing the electric plug from the device or an outlet, always hold the
plug itself and not the cord. Pulling by the cord can damage it.
• Before moving the device, remove all connected cables.
• When setting up the product, make sure that the AC outlet you are using is
easily accessible. If some trouble or malfunction occurs, immediately turn off
the power switch and disconnect the plug from the outlet. Even when the power
switch is turned off, electricity is still flowing to the product at the minimum
level. When you are not using the product for a long time, make sure to unplug
the power cord from the wall AC outlet.
• If this device is to be mounted in an EIA-standard rack, leave the back of the rack
open and make sure that it is at least 10 cm away from walls or surfaces. Also, if
this device is to be mounted with devices that tend to generate heat, such as
power amplifiers, be sure to keep an adequate gap between this device and the
heat-generating devices or install ventilation panels to prevent high
temperatures from developing inside this device.
Inadequate ventilation can result in overheating, possibly causing damage to
the device(s), or even fire.
•Avoid setting all equalizer controls and faders to their maximum. Depending on
the condition of the connected devices, doing so may cause feedback and may
damage the speakers.
• Do not expose the device to excessive dust or vibrations, or extreme cold or heat
(such as in direct sunlight, near a heater, or in a car during the day) to prevent the
possibility of panel disfiguration or damage to the internal components.
• Do not place the device in an unstable position where it might accidentally fall over.
• Do not block the vents. This device has ventilation holes at the front and rear to
prevent the internal temperature from becoming too high. In particular, do not
place the device on its side or upside down. Inadequate ventilation can result in
overheating, possibly causing damage to the device(s), or even fire.
• Do not use the device in the vicinity of a TV, radio, stereo equipment, mobile
phone, or other electric devices. Doing so may result in noise, both in the
device itself and in the TV or radio next to it.
• Before connecting the device to other devices, turn off the power for all devices.
Before turning the power on or off for all devices, set all volume levels to
minimum.
• Use only speaker cables for connecting speakers to the speaker jacks. Use of
other types of cables may result in fire.
• Do not use speaker cables with a metal-housing connector. Doing so may result
in electrical shock due to differences in voltage. Use speaker cables with a non-
metal-housing connector, or with a insulated-housing connector.
• When turning on the AC power in your audio system, always turn on the device
or external power amplifiers LAST, to avoid speaker damage. When turning the
power off, the device or external power amplifiers should be turned off FIRST for
the same reason.
• Do not insert your fingers or hands in any gaps or openings on the device
(vents, etc.).
•Avoid inserting or dropping foreign objects (paper, plastic, metal, etc.) into any
gaps or openings on the device (vents, etc.) If this happens, turn off the power
immediately and unplug the power cord from the AC outlet. Then have the
device inspected by qualified Yamaha service personnel.
• Do not use the speakers or headphones for a long period of time at a high or
uncomfortable volume level, since this can cause permanent hearing loss. If you
experience any hearing loss or ringing in the ears, consult a physician.
• Do not rest your weight on the device or place heavy objects on it, and avoid use
excessive force on the buttons, switches or connectors.
Power supply/Power cord
Do not open
Water warning
If you notice any abnormality
Power supply/Power cord
Location
Connections
Handling caution
4
EMX5014C Owner’s Manual
Always turn the power off when the device is not in use.
The performance of components with moving contacts, such as switches, volume controls, and connectors, deteriorates over time. Consult qualified Yamaha service
personnel about replacing defective components.
About this Manual
This manual is divided into two main sections, as follows.
■ Mixer Basics (starts on page 7)
Presents a general explanation of mixers and mixer concepts. Includes a Quick Guide that will help beginners get up to speed very quickly.
■ Reference (starts on page 19)
Provides detailed information about the EMX. Introduces the EMX features, identifies and explains the controls, indicators, and connec-
tors; and explains how to set up the equipment.
* Within this manual, the term “EMX” refers to model EMX5014C.
* Illustrations herein are for explanatory purposes only, and may not match actual appearance during operation.
* Company names and product names herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Specifications and descriptions in this owner’s manual are for information purposes only. Yamaha Corp. reserves the right to change or modify products or specifications at any
time without prior notice. Since specifications, equipment or options may not be the same in every locale, please check with your Yamaha dealer.
XLR-type connectors are wired as follows (IEC60268 standard): pin 1: ground, pin 2: hot (+), and pin 3: cold (-).
Use only Neutrik plugs (NL4) for connecting Speakon connectors.
Insert TRS phone jacks are wired as follows: sleeve: ground, tip:send, and ring:return.
Yamaha cannot be held responsible for damage caused by improper use or modifications to the device.
Copying of commercially available music or other audio data for purposes other than personal use is strictly prohibited by copyright law. Please respect all
copyrights, and consult with a copyright specialist if you are in doubt about permissible use.
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM
Connecting the Plug and Cord
WARNING: THIS APPARATUS MUST BE EARTHED
IMPORTANT. The wires in this mains lead are coloured in accordance with the following code:
GREEN-AND-YELLOW : EARTH
BLUE : NEUTRAL
BROWN : LIVE
As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of this apparatus may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying the termi-
nals in your plug proceed as follows:
The wire which is coloured GREEN-and-YELLOW must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked by the letter E or by
the safety earth symbol or coloured GREEN or GREEN-and-YELLOW.
The wire which is coloured BLUE must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter N or coloured BLACK.
The wire which is coloured BROWN must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter L or coloured RED.
• This applies only to products distributed by Yamaha-Kemble Music (U.K.) Ltd. (3 wires)
1. IMPORTANT NOTICE: DO NOT MODIFY THIS UNIT!
This product, when installed as indicated in the instructions con-
tained in this manual, meets FCC requirements. Modifications not
expressly approved by Yamaha may void your authority, granted by
the FCC, to use the product.
2. IMPORTANT: When connecting this product to accessories and/
or another product use only high quality shielded cables. Cable/s
supplied with this product MUST be used. Follow all installation
instructions. Failure to follow instructions could void your FCC
authorization to use this product in the USA.
3. NOTE: This product has been tested and found to comply with the
requirements listed in FCC Regulations, Part 15 for Class “B” digi-
tal devices. Compliance with these requirements provides a rea-
sonable level of assurance that your use of this product in a
residential environment will not result in harmful interference with
other electronic devices. This equipment generates/uses radio fre-
quencies and, if not installed and used according to the instruc-
tions found in the users manual, may cause interference harmful to
the operation of other electronic devices. Compliance with FCC
* This applies only to products distributed by YAMAHA CORPORATION OF AMERICA. (class B)
regulations does not guarantee that interference will not occur in all
installations. If this product is found to be the source of interfer-
ence, which can be determined by turning the unit “OFF” and “ON”,
please try to eliminate the problem by using one of the following
measures:
Relocate either this product or the device that is being affected by
the interference.
Utilize power outlets that are on different branch (circuit breaker or
fuse) circuits or install AC line filter/s.
In the case of radio or TV interference, relocate/reorient the
antenna. If the antenna lead-in is 300 ohm ribbon lead, change the
lead-in to co-axial type cable.
If these corrective measures do not produce satisfactory results,
please contact the local retailer authorized to distribute this type of
product. If you can not locate the appropriate retailer, please con-
tact Yamaha Corporation of America, Electronic Service Division,
6600 Orangethorpe Ave, Buena Park, CA90620
The above statements apply ONLY to those products distributed by
Yamaha Corporation of America or its subsidiaries.
FCC INFORMATION (U.S.A.)
EMX5014C Owner’s Manual
5
Thank you for your purchase of this Yamaha EMX5014C powered mixer. Please read through this man-
ual carefully before beginning use, so that you will be able to take full advantage of your mixer’s super-
lative features and enjoy trouble-free operation for years to come. After reading the manual, please
store it in a safe place.
Features...............................................................................................................................................6
Before Turning On the Mixer................................................................................................................ 6
■ Mixer Basics
Quick Guide ......................................................................................................7
Getting Sound to the Speakers............................................................................................................ 7
Adding Some Reverb.........................................................................................................................10
Using the Compressors to Enhance Vocals ......................................................................................11
Making the Most of Your Mixer .....................................................................12
A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place ............................................................................12
A Plethora of Connectors—What Goes Where?........................................................................ 12
Balanced, Unbalanced—What’s the Difference?...............................................................................13
How Do Balanced Lines Reject Noise? .............................................................................................13
A balanced cable has three conductors:............................................................................................ 14
Signal Levels and the Decibel............................................................................................................ 14
Making Better Mixes...........................................................................................................................15
Approaching the Mix—Where Do You Start?.............................................................................15
To EQ or Not to EQ.................................................................................................................... 16
Ambience ...................................................................................................................................17
The Modulation Effects: Phasing, Chorus, and Flanging...........................................................17
Compression..............................................................................................................................18
■ Reference
Front & Rear Panels.......................................................................................19
Controls on Each Channel .................................................................................................................19
Digital Effects Section ........................................................................................................................22
Master Section ...................................................................................................................................24
Rear Panel .........................................................................................................................................27
Speaker Connections ....................................................................................28
2-channel connection.................................................................................................................28
2-channel parallel connection ....................................................................................................28
Rack Mounting ...............................................................................................29
Setup ...............................................................................................................30
Troubleshooting.............................................................................................31
Specifications.................................................................................................32
Contents
6
EMX5014C Owner’s Manual
Features
Input Channels ................................................................................................ page 19
The EMX offers eight monaural mic/line input channels (1 to 9/10) and four stereo
input channel pairs (7/8 to 13/14), allowing you to freely mix inputs from micro-
phones, line-level devices, and stereo devices. For example, you can mix six micro-
phones with four stereo devices, or eight microphones with two stereo synthesizers.
Phantom Power (+48V) ................................................................................... page 25
A single switch turns phantom power on to all mic inputs. Use this feature to provide
power to condenser microphones.
High-Quality Digital Effects............................................................................page 22
The mixer’s internal effector is in the same league as our SPX effector series, allow-
ing you to create a rich range of variations with no external help. But of course you
are also free to use the SEND EFFECT jack to connect to an external effector of
your choice.
Compressors................................................................................................... page 18
Compressors on channels 1 to 6 can be used to squeeze the dynamic range of
inputs such as microphones and acoustic guitars, attenuating the signal peak levels
and bringing out the lower levels. This feature helps reduce distortion and allows
overall volume to be set higher, resulting in a stronger and more impressive sound.
Rack Mounting ............................................................................................... page 29
To prepare the unit for rack mounting, use the (separately sold) RK5014 rack mount
kit.
Internal Power Amp ........................................................................................ page 25
The internal amp makes it possible to connect the SPEAKERS jacks directly to non-
powered speakers, with no need for an external amplifier in between. The rear panel
offers two types of speaker connectors: phone jacks and Neutrik Speakon jacks.
Before Turning On the Mixer
■
Connecting to Power
1
Be sure that the POWER switch is in the OFF position.
2
Connect the included power cord to the AC IN connector on the rear panel.
3
Plug the power cord into a standard power outlet.
■
Turning the Unit On and Off
NOTE
•To prevent an unpleasant burst of noise from the speakers, you should power up the sound sources first, and then the other devices in order of their
distance from the source (starting with the closest).
For example:
Sound source (external device)
→
EMX unit
→
Amps (Powered speakers)
When turning power off, proceed in the opposite order.
• Before turning power on, make sure that the channel faders, ST master fader, AUX1/2 faders, ST SUB OUT control are all the way down.
• Rapidly turning the unit ON and OFF in succession can cause it to malfunction. After turning the unit OFF, wait for about 10 seconds before turning it
ON again.
Push the POWER switch in to turn the power ON.
The power lamp lights up to indicate that power is on. To turn the power off, push the switch again, so that it pops
out.
EMX5014C Owner’s Manual
7
Mixer Basics
Quick Guide
We begin by connecting up two speakers and generating some stereo output. Note that opera-
tions and procedures will vary somewhat according to the input devices you are using.
1 Connect up the speakers and your input devices
(microphones, instruments, etc.).
Use non-powered speakers and dedicated speaker cable. Connect
one speaker to SPEAKERS jack A (A1 or A2), and the other to jack B
(B1 or B2). Then connect your input devices (microphones, guitar,
etc.) to the appropriate input jacks on the top panel. For details, see
page 30.
NOTE
We recommend that you avoid connecting electric instruments (such as elec-
tric guitars and basses) directly to the EMX. Instead, these instruments
should be connected through an intermediary device such as a direct box, a
preamp (guitar amp), or an amp simulator.
Getting Sound to the Speakers
1
1
RIGHT
WRONG!!
• Before connecting input devices to the EMX, be sure that all of these
devices (including microphones) are powered off. And before turning
the power to any device on or off, be sure to turn the volume of that
device all the way down.
•Never connect both A and B jacks to a single speaker. Connection of
both jacks to the same speaker may result in damage to the mixer.
8
EMX5014C Owner’s Manual
Quick Guide
Mixer Basics
2 Turn the Channel faders and the ST Master fader all
the way down.
3 Set the POWER AMP switch to its upper position (to
L-R).
For information about this switch, see page 25.
4 If you have connected input devices to channels 1
to 6, set the [26dB] switch ON ( ) or OFF ( ) on
each channel accordingly.
If you have connected a line-level device, such as a keyboard or
audio device, set the channel’s switch to the ON ( ). If you have
connected a microphone or other mic-level device, set the switch to
the OFF ( ).
5 If you are using one or more condenser micro-
phones for your inputs, set the PHANTOM switch to
the ON position ( ).
2
2
3
5
8,10
2,10
4
9,11
2
3
5
6
7
7
8
• Be sure to leave this switch off if you do not need phantom power.
• When using phantom power, do not connect any devices other than
condenser microphones to the XLR input jacks. Other devices may be
damaged if connected to phantom power. This precaution does not
apply to balanced dynamic microphones, however, as these will not be
affected by phantom power.
•To protect your speakers and ears: Before turning the PHANTOM
switch ON or OFF, be sure to turn off the power to the mixer and to all
other devices having internal amplifiers. We also recommend that you
turn all output controls (Channel faders, ST Master fader, etc.) to mini-
mum settings before operating the switch, to avoid risk of loud noises
that could cause hearing loss or device damage.
Quick Guide
Mixer Basics
EMX5014C Owner’s Manual
9
6 Turn on the power.
First turn on the power to all connected devices other than powered
speakers and amp, and then turn on the EMX itself. If using powered
speakers or amps, turn these on last.
NOTE
To prevent an unpleasant burst of noise from the speakers, you should power
up the sound sources first, and then the other devices in order of their dis-
tance from the source (starting with the closest).
For example: Sound source (external device)
→
EMX unit
→
Amps (Pow-
ered speakers)
7 Adjust the GAIN control for each channel you are
using so that the PEAK indicator comes on only at
about maximum input level.
NOTE
To use the LEVEL meter to get an accurate reading of the incoming signal
level: Set the ST/AFL-PFL switch to AFL-PFL( ) and turn on the PFL
switch for each channel you are using. Adjust the GAIN controls so that
LEVEL meter indication occasionally rises above the “” (0) level. Note that
the PHONES jack outputs the pre-faded signal from all channels whose PFL
switch is ON, so that you can monitor these signals through the headphones.
8 Turn the ON switch on.
9 Set the ST Master fader to the “0” position.
10 Adjust the channel faders on all occupied channels.
Adjust the faders while listening to the output from the speakers.
NOTE
•To use the LEVEL meter to view the level being input to the internal amp:
Set the ST/AFL-PFL switch to ST( ).
• Use the LIMITER lamps to check for clipping of the signal from the SPEAK-
ERS jacks. Note that the LIMITER lamps will come on earlier than the level
meter's PEAK indicators come on.
11 Adjust the overall volume of the ST Master fader.
It is acceptable for the LIMITER lamps to flash on briefly at times, but if
they remain lit continuously then there is risk of damage to your speakers
or to the internal amp. Reduce the ST master fader setting so that these
lamps do not stay on.
10
EMX5014C Owner’s Manual
Quick Guide
Mixer Basics
You can use the reverb effect to simulate the sound of a concert hall or jazz club.
1 Turn the PROGRAM dial to select the desired effect type.
To select a reverb effect, turn the dial to any value from 1 to 7.
2 To turn on the effector, set the EFFECT ON
switch to its ON position ( ).
The switch lights up when turned on. As an alternative to the ON
switch, you can use a separately sold FC5 foot switch to toggle the
effector on and off.
3 Set the EFFECT RTN fader to the “0” position.
4 Use the channel EFFECT knobs to adjust the
effect depth for each channel.
5 Use the EFFECT RTN fader to adjust the overall
effect depth.
Note that you can use the PARAMETER knob to adjust the charac-
teristic sound of the selected effect. If you have selected a reverb
effect, the knob adjusts the reverb time.
1
REVERB HALL 1
55
55
REVERB STAGE 1
9
KARAOKE ECHO
CC
CC
FLANGER
2
REVERB HALL 2
66
66
REVERB STAGE 2
0
VOCAL ECHO
DD
DD
PHASER
3
REVERB ROOM 1
77
77
REVERB PLATE
A
CHORUS 1
EE
EE
AUTO WAH
4
REVERB ROOM 2
88
88
DRUM AMBIENCE
B
CHORUS 2
FF
FF
DISTORTION
Adding Some Reverb
3,5
1
4
2
Quick Guide
Mixer Basics
EMX5014C Owner’s Manual
11
The compressor evens out the input level, reducing the level of loud passages and bringing up
softer passages. The result is a cleaner sound where nuances remain audible and the lyrics are
easier to hear.
1 Adjust the COMP knobs on the relevant channels.
Turn the knob clockwise to increase the compression. Avoid setting the value too high, as too much compres-
sion may result in howling. For more information about the compressors, see page 18.
Using the Compressors to Enhance Vocals
1
12
EMX5014C Owner’s Manual
Mixer Basics
Making the Most of Your Mixer
An Introduction
A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place
A Plethora of Connectors—What Goes Where?
Questions you’re likely to encounter when setting up a system for the first time might include “Why all these
different types of connectors on the back of my mixer?” and “What’s the difference?”.
Let’s start by taking a look at the most common connector types.
The Venerable RCA Pin Jack
This is the “consumer connector,” and the one that has been most
commonly used on home audio gear for many years. Also known as
“phono” jacks (short for “phonogram”), but the term isn’t used much
these days—besides, it’s too easily confusable with “phone” jacks,
below. RCA pin jacks are always unbalanced, and generally carry a line-
level signal at –10 dB, nominal. You’re most likely to use this type of
connector when connecting a CD player or other home audio type
source to your mixer, or when connecting the output of your mixer to a
cassette recorder or similar gear.
The Versatile Phone Jack
The name “phone jack” arose simply because this configuration was first
used in telephone switchboards. Phone jacks can be tricky because you
can’t always tell what type of signal they’re designed to handle just by
looking at them. It could be unbalanced mono, unbalanced stereo,
balanced mono, or an insert patch point. The connector’s label will
usually tell you what type of signal it handles, as will the owner’s manual
(you do keep your manuals in a safe place, don’t you?). A phone jack
that is set up to handle balanced signals is also often referred to as a
“TRS” phone jack. “TRS” stands for Tip-Ring-Sleeve, which describes
the configuration of the phone plug used.
The Sturdy XLR
This type of connector is generally referred to as “XLR-type,” and almost
always carries a balanced signal. If the corresponding circuitry is
designed properly, however, XLR-type connectors will also handle
unbalanced signals with no problem. Microphone cables usually have
this type of connector, as do the inputs and outputs of most professional
audio gear.
You’ve got yourself a mixer and now you’re ready to use it.
Just plug everything in, twiddle the controls, and away you go … right?
Well, if you’ve done this before you won’t have any problems, but if this is the first time
you’ve ever used a mixer you might want to read through this little tutorial and pick up a
few basics that will help you get better performance and make better mixes.
Stereo/TRS phone plug
Mono phone plug
Sleeve
Ring
Tip
Male
Female
Making the Most of Your Mixer
EMX5014C Owner’s Manual
13
Mixer Basics
Balanced, Unbalanced—What’s the Difference?
In a word: “noise.” The whole point of balanced lines is noise
rejection, and it’s something they’re very good at. Any length of wire
will act as an antenna to pick up the random electromagnetic
radiation we’re constantly surrounded by: radio and TV signals as
well as spurious electromagnetic noise generated by power lines,
motors, electric appliances, computer monitors, and a variety of other
sources. The longer the wire, the more noise it is likely to pick up.
That’s why balanced lines are the best choice for long cable runs. If
your “studio” is basically confined to your desktop and all connections
are no more than a meter or two in length, then unbalanced lines are
fine—unless you’re surrounded by extremely high levels of
electromagnetic noise. Another place balanced lines are almost
always used is in microphone cables. The reason for this is that the
output signal from most microphones is very small, so even a tiny
amount of noise will be relatively large, and will be amplified to an
alarming degree in the mixer’s high-gain head amplifier.
How Do Balanced Lines Reject Noise?
** Skip this section if technical details make you queasy. **
Balanced lines work on the principle of “phase cancellation”: if you add two identical signals out of phase (i.e.
one signal is inverted so its peaks coincide with the troughs in the other signal), the result is … nothing. A flat
line. The signals cancel each other out.
While the desired audio signals in the hot and cold conductors are out of phase, any noise induced in the line
will be exactly the same in both conductors, and thus in phase. The trick is that the phase of one signal is
reversed at the receiving end of the line so that the desired audio signals become in-phase, and the induced
noise suddenly finds itself out of phase. The out-of-phase noise signal is effectively canceled while the audio
signal is left intact. Clever, eh?
To summarize
Microphones: Use balanced lines.
Short line-level
runs:
Unbalanced lines
are fine if you’re in a
relatively noise-free
environment.
Long line-level
runs:
The ambient
electromagnetic
noise level will be
the ultimate
deciding factor, but
balanced is best.
Hot (+)
Cold (–)
Ground
Balanced noise cancellation
Unbalanced noise
Noise
Source Cable Receiving device
Source Cable
Phase
inversion
Noise
Noise-free
signal
Phase
inversion
Receiving device
Receiving device
Noise cancelled
14
EMX5014C Owner’s Manual
Making the Most of Your Mixer
Mixer Basics
A balanced cable has three conductors:
1) A ground conductor which carries no signal, just the “ground” or “0”
reference against which the signal in the other conductors fluctuates.
2) A “hot” or “+” conductor which carries the normal-phase audio signal.
3) A “cold” or “–” conductor which carries the reverse-phase audio signal.
Signal Levels and the Decibel
Let’s take a look at one of the most commonly used units in audio: the decibel (dB). If the smallest sound that
can be heard by the human ear is given an arbitrary value of 1, then the loudest sound that can be heard is
approximately 1,000,000 (one million) times louder. That’s too many digits to deal with for practical calculations,
and so the more appropriate “decibel” (dB) unit was created for sound-related measurements. In this system
the difference between the softest and loudest sounds that can be heard is 120 dB. This is a non-linear scale,
and a difference of 3 dB actually results in a doubling or halving of the loudness.
You might encounter a number of different varieties of the dB: dBu, dBV, dBM and others, but the dBu is the
basic decibel unit. In the case of dBu, “0 dBu” is specified as a signal level of 0.775 volts. For example, if a
microphone’s output level is –40 dBu (0.00775 V), then to raise that level to 0 dBu (0.775 V) in the mixer’s
preamp stage requires that the signal be amplified by 100 times.
A mixer may be required to handle signals at a wide range of levels, and it is necessary match input and output
levels as closely as possible. In most cases the “nominal” level for a mixer’s input and outputs is marked on the
panel or listed in the owner’s manual.
Hot
Cold
Shield
(Ground)
Outer
Insulation
Balanced Unbalanced
+ 20 dBu
0 dBu
0.775 V
-
20 dBu
-
40 dBu
-
60 dBu
The inputs and outputs on home-use audio gear
usually have a nominal level of –10 dBu.
Most professional mixers, power amplifiers, and other
types of equipment have inputs and outputs with a
nominal level of +4 dBu.
Microphone signal levels vary over a wide range
depending on the type of microphone and the source.
Average speech is about –30 dBu, but the twittering of
a bird might be lower than –50 dBu while a solid bass
drum beat might produce a level as high as 0 dBu.
Making the Most of Your Mixer
EMX5014C Owner’s Manual
15
Mixer Basics
Making Better Mixes
Approaching the Mix—Where Do You Start?
Mixing is easy, right? Just move the faders around until it sounds right? Well, you can do it that way, but a more
systematic approach that is suited to the material you’re mixing will produce much better results, and faster.
There are no rules, and you’ll probably end up developing a system that works best for you. But the key is to
develop a system rather than working haphazardly. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Faders Down
It might sound overly simple, but it is usually a good idea to start with all channel faders off—all the way down.
It’s also possible to start with all faders at their nominal settings, but it’s too easy to lose perspective with this
approach. Start with all faders down, then bring them up one by one to fill out the mix. But which channel
should you start with?
Example1: Vocal Ballad Backed by Piano Trio
What are you mixing? Is it a song in which the vocals are the most
important element?
If so you might want to build the mix around the vocals. This means
bringing the vocal channel up to nominal first (if your level setup
procedure has been done properly this will be a good starting point),
and then adding the other instruments.
What you add next will depend on the type of material you are
working with and your approach to it. If the vocals are backed by a
piano trio and the song is a ballad, for example, you might want to
bring in the piano next and get the vocal/piano relationship just right,
then bring in the bass and drums to support the overall sound.
Example2: Funky R&B Groove
The approach will be totally different if you’re mixing a funky R&B
number that centers on the groove. In this case most engineers will
start with the drums, and then add the bass. The relationship between
the drums and bass is extremely important to achieve the “drive” or
groove the music rides on. Pay particular attention to how the bass
works with the kick (bass drum).
They should almost sound like a single instrument—with the kick
supplying the punch and the bass supplying the pitch. Once again,
there are no rules, but these are concepts that have been proven to
work well.
16
EMX5014C Owner’s Manual
Making the Most of Your Mixer
Mixer Basics
To EQ or Not to EQ
In general: less is better. There are many situations in which you’ll need to cut certain frequency ranges, but
use boost sparingly, and with caution. Proper use of EQ can eliminate interference between instruments in a
mix and give the overall sound better definition. Bad EQ—and most commonly bad boost—just sounds terrible.
Cut for a Cleaner Mix
For example: cymbals have a lot of energy in
the mid and low frequency ranges that you
don’t really perceive as musical sound, but
which can interfere with the clarity of other
instruments in these ranges. You can basically
turn the low EQ on cymbal channels all the
way down without changing the way they
sound in the mix. You’ll hear the difference,
however, in the way the mix sounds more
“spacious,” and instruments in the lower
ranges will have better definition. Surprisingly
enough, piano also has an incredibly powerful
low end that can benefit from a bit of low-
frequency roll-off to let other instruments—
notably drums and bass—do their jobs more
effectively. Naturally you won’t want to do this if
the piano is playing solo.
The reverse applies to kick drums and bass guitars: you can often roll off the high end to create more space in
the mix without compromising the character of the instruments. You’ll have to use your ears, though, because
each instrument is different and sometimes you’ll want the “snap” of a bass guitar, for example, to come
through.
Boost with Caution
If you’re trying to create special or unusual
effects, go ahead and boost away as much as
you like. But if you’re just trying to achieve a
good-sounding mix, boost only in very small
increments. A tiny boost in the midrange can
give vocals more presence, or a touch of high
boost can give certain instruments more “air.”
Listen, and if things don’t sound clear and
clean try using cut to remove frequencies that
are cluttering up the mix rather than trying to
boost the mix into clarity.
One of the biggest problems with too much
boost is that it adds gain to the signal,
increasing noise and potentially overloading
the subsequent circuitry.
Some Frequency Facts
The lowest and highest frequencies than can be heard by the human ear are generally considered to be around 20 Hz
and 20,000 Hz, respectively. Average conversation occurs in the range from about 300 Hz to about 3,000 Hz. The
frequency of a standard pitchfork used to tune guitars and other instruments is 440 Hz (this corresponds to the “A3”
key on a piano tuned to concert pitch). Double this frequency to 880 Hz and you have a pitch one octave higher (i.e.
“A4” on the piano keyboard). In the same way you can halve the frequency to 220 Hz to produce “A2” an octave lower.
20 50 100 200 500 1 k 2 k 5 k 10 k 20 k
(
Hz
)
Piano
Bass Drum
Snare Drum
Bass
Guitar
Trombone
Tr umpet
Cymba
l
Fundamental: The frequency that determines the basic musical pitch.
The fundamental and harmonic frequency ranges of some
musical instruments.
Harmonics: Multiples of the fundamental frequency that play a role
in determining the timbre of the instrument.
Signal
Level (dB)
Frequency (Hz)
LOW Boost
LOW Flat
LOW Cut
MID Boost
MID Flat
HIGH Boost
HIGH Flat
HIGH Cut
MID Cut
Making the Most of Your Mixer
EMX5014C Owner’s Manual
17
Mixer Basics
Ambience
Your mixes can be further refined by adding
ambience effects such as reverb or delay. On the
EMX mixers these effects are built in. The internal
DSP (Digital Signal Processor) can be used to add
reverb or delay to individual channels in the same
way as external effects processors, with the extra
connections required by, or the loss in sound quality
often caused by external processing. (Refer to
page 22).
You need to be careful not to overdo effects,
however, because going to far can undermine the
clarity and quality of your mix. Use your ambience
effects just enough to create the required feeling of
depth, but no more than is necessary to keep your
sound clean.
Reverb and Delay Time
A variety of reverb and delay effect programs are
provided, and nearly all of then have a reverb/delay
time parameter than can be adjusted via the panel
PARAMETER control.
Small adjustments to the reverb/delay time can
actually have a significant effect on the sound. The
optimum reverb time for a piece of music will depend
on the music’s demo and density, but as a general
rule longer reverb times are good for ballads, while
shorter reverb times are more suited to up-tempo
tunes. Delay times can be adjusted to create a wide
variety of “grooves”, and you need to select the time
that best suits the music. When adding delay to a
vocal, for example, try setting the delay time to
dotted eighth notes corresponding to the tune’s
tempo.
Reverb Tone
Different reverb programs will have different “reverb
tone” due to differences in the reverb time of the high
or low frequencies, or differences in the overall
frequency response of the reverb sound. Always be
careful not apply too much reverb, particularly in the
high frequencies. In addition to resulting in unnatural
sound, excessive high-frequency reverb can interfere
with the high frequencies in other parts of the mix. If
you can hear more reverb than direct sound in the
upper frequency range, try selecting a different effect
program. It’s always a good idea to choose a reverb
program that gives you the depth you want without
detracting from the clarity of the mix.
Reverb Level
It’s amazing how quickly your ears can lose
perspective and fool you into believing that a totally
washed-out mix sounds perfectly fine. To avoid
falling into this trap start with reverb level all the way
down, then gradually bring the reverb into the mix
until you can just hear the difference. Any more than
this normally becomes a “special effect.” You don’t
want reverb to dominate the mix unless you are
trying to create the effect of a band in a cave—which
is a perfectly legitimate creative goal if that’s the sort
of thing you’re aiming for.
The Modulation Effects: Phasing,
Chorus, and Flanging
All of these effects work on basically the same
principle: a portion of the audio signal is “time-
shifted” and then mixed back with the direct signal.
The amount of time shift is controlled, or
“modulated”, by an LFO (Low-frequency Oscillator).
When we say “time shift,” however, we’re not talking
in terms of minutes or even seconds.
For phasing effects the shift is very small indeed – a
difference measured in degrees of phase shift rather
than time units. The phase difference between the
modulated and direct signals causes cancellation at
some frequencies and reinforces the signal at others
– a “comb filter” effect – and this causes the
shimmering sound we hear. Phasing is the subtlest
of all these effects, producing a gentle shimmer that
can add life to a wide range of sources without being
too obtrusive.
For chorus and flanging the signal is actually delayed
by several milliseconds (a millisecond is a
thousandth of a second), with the delay time
modulated by an LFO, and recombined with the
direct signal. In addition to the comb-filter effect
described above, the delay modulation in these
effects causes a perceived pitch shift which, when
mixed with the direct signal, results in a harmonically
rich swirling or swishing sound. The difference
between chorus and flanging effects is primarily in
the amount of delay time and feedback used –
flanging uses longer delay times than chorus,
whereas chorus generally uses a more complex
delay structure. Chorus is most often used to thicken
the sound of an instrument, while flanging is usually
used as an outright “special effect” to produce other-
worldly sonic swoops.
18
EMX5014C Owner’s Manual
Making the Most of Your Mixer
Mixer Basics
Compression
Have you ever wondered why professionally produced recordings sound so different from your own? There are
numerous reasons, of course, but one important factor is the judicious use of compression.
One form of compression known as “limiting” can,
when properly used, produce a smooth, unified
sound with no excessive peaks or distortion.
Compression can also be used within a mix to
make a voice or instrument seem to come
forward, or simply to even out level differences.
Compression can be used to make a mix seem
bigger and louder by producing a more “saturated”
sound. Professional compressors have numerous
parameters that need to be carefully adjusted:
attack, release, threshold, level, and sometimes
more. A professional sound engineer might need
to spend a considerable amount of time, based on
a considerable amount of experience, to set each
of these parameters to achieve the desired sound.
The EMX compressor makes achieving great
sound much easier. All you need to do is set a
single “compression” control and all of the pertinent
parameters are automatically adjusted for you.
The engineers who designed this fine compressor paid careful attention to achieving the best sound quality
possible so that you can quickly achieve pro-quality compression without having to worry about a confusing
multitude of settings.
A common example of the use of compression is to “tame” a vocal that has a wide dynamic range in order to
tighten up the mix. With the right amount of compression you’ll be able to clearly hear whispered passages
while passionate shouts are still well balanced in the mix. Compression can also be valuable on bass guitar,
producing a smooth bass sound that stays solid through the tune. Compression can also be applied to guitar
tracks to add extra sustain. Too much compression can be a cause of feedback, however, so use it sparingly.
Music First—Then Mix
In any case, the music comes first. Think about the music and let it guide the mix, rather than trying to do things
the other way around. What is the music saying and what instrument or technique is being used to drive the
message? That’s where the focus of your mix should be. You’re using a high-tech tool to do the mixing, but the
mix itself is as much art as the music. Approach it that way and your mixes will become a vital part of the music.
OUTPUT
INPUT
(Min)
(Max)
EMX5014C Owner’s Manual
19
Reference
Front & Rear Panels
Controls on Each Channel
1 INPUT A and INPUT B jacks (Channels 1
to 6)
You can connect an input source to either jack. Be sure
to set the [26 dB] switch 4 to match the type of device
you are connecting.
INPUT A: A balanced XLR-type microphone input
jack (1:Ground; 2:Hot; 3:Cold).
If you are connecting a condenser micro-
phone, be sure to turn the PHANTOM
switch \ to its ON position.
INPUT B: A TRS phone-type balanced line input
jack (T: hot, R: cold, S: ground). Accepts
both balanced and unbalanced line input.
When using phantom power, do not connect any
devices other than condenser microphones to the
XLR input jacks. Other devices may be damaged if
connected to phantom power. This precaution does
not apply to balanced dynamic microphones, how-
ever, as these will not be affected by phantom power.
On any given channel, you may use either INPUT A
or INPUT B, but not both. Please connect to only of
these jacks on each channel.
2 LINE/MIC Jacks
These jacks accept stereo inputs. Use these to connect
up stereo output devices, such as stereo synthesizers
and CD players.
LINE jacks: Unbalanced stereo inputs. On channel
pairs 7/8 and 13/14 these are phone
jacks; on channel pairs 11/12 and 13/14
they are RCA pin jacks.
MIC jack: XLR balanced stereo mic-level input
jack. If you are connecting a condenser
microphone, be sure to turn the PHAN-
TOM switch \ to its ON position.
When using phantom power, do not connect any
devices other than condenser microphones to the
XLR input jacks. Other devices may be damaged if
connected to phantom power. This precaution does
not apply to balanced dynamic microphones, how-
ever, as these will not be affected by phantom power.
If you wish, you may use the channel pair’s LINE and
MIC jacks together at the same time. But note that the
levels cannot be adjusted independently.
Channels
7/8 and 9/10
(Stereo)
Channels
11/12 and 13/14
(Stereo)
Channels
1 to 6
(Monaural)
1
2
Cold (–)
Ground Hot (+)
R: Cold (–)
S: Ground T: Hot (+)
NOTE
NOTE
20
EMX5014C Owner’s Manual
Front & Rear Panels
Reference
3 INSERT I/O Jack (Channels 1 to 6)
Each of these jacks is positioned between the equalizer
and fader of the corresponding input channel (1 to 6).
You can use these jacks to connect channels to devices
such as graphic equalizers, compressors, and noise fil-
ters. These are TRS (tip, ring, sleeve) phone jacks that
support bidirectional operation.
Connection to an INSERT I/O jack requires a special
separately-sold insertion cable—such as the Yamaha
YIC025, YIC050, or YIC070—as shown below.
4 [26 dB] Switch (Channels 1 to 6)
Pressing this button turns on the attenuator for each
channel, attenuating the input signal level by 26 dB.
If you have connected a line-level device, such as a
keyboard or audio device, set the channel’s switch to
ON ( ). If you have connected a microphone or
other mic-level device, set the switch to OFF ( ).
5 GAIN Control
Adjusts the gain applied to the input signal level. To
get the best balance between the S/N ratio and the
dynamic range, adjust the gain so that the PEAK indi-
cator E comes on only at about maximum input level.
The –60 to –16 scale indicates the MIC input adjust-
ment level. The –34 to 10 scale indicates the LINE
input adjustment level.
6 (High Pass Filter) Switch (Channels 1
to 9/10)
Switches the high pass filter on/off. To turn the HPF
on, press this switch in. The HPF cuts frequencies
below 80 Hz. (But note that regardless of the switch
setting, the mixer does not apply this HPF to the line
inputs of stereo input channels.)
7 COMP knob (Channels 1 to 6)
This knob adjusts the level of compression applied to
the channel. As the knob is turned to the right, the
mixer automatically raises the compression ratio while
adjusting the output gain accordingly. The result is a
narrower, more even dynamic range, as louder signals
are softened while the overall level is boosted. Avoid
setting the knob too high, however, as excess compres-
sion may lead to howling.
Channels
7/8 and 9/10
(Stereo)
Channels
11/12 and 13/14
(Stereo)
Channels
1 to 6
(Monaural)
H
3
A
7
9
0
4
6
B
5 5 5
8 8
A A
B B
C C C
D D D
F
G
E
F
G
E
F
G
E
NOTE
To the input jack of the
external processor
To the output jack of the
external processor
Sleeve (Ground)
Tip:OUT
Tip:IN
To the INSERT I/O jack
Sleeve (Ground)
Sleeve (Ground)
Ring :IN
Tip:OUT
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