Mackie FRS-2800 Owner's Manual - Page 5

Owner's Manual Getting Started The following steps will help you set up your amplifier, and get the levels just right. Settings: 1. Be sure the amplifier's power switch is off. 2. Turn down both level controls. 3. On the rear panel, set the subsonic filter switch off and the clip limit switch on. 4. Determine which amp mode is best for your application: Stereo mode is the typical setup for amplifying stereo signals. Input 1 is routed to channel 1 output, and input 2 is routed to channel 2 output. Mono mode is used for sending a mono signal to both outputs, with separately adjustable level controls. Input 1 is used in mono mode (leave input 2 disconnected). Bridge mode uses both amplifier channels to power one speaker (or set of speakers). Input 1 is used in bridge mode (leave input 2 disconnected and its level control turned down). Note: 4 ohms is the minimum speaker impedance you should connect to the amplifier in bridge mode. 5. Set the amp mode switch according to your application and delicate sensibilities. Connections: • The binding post connectors are wired as follows: Red = hot (+ speaker terminal) Black = cold (- speaker terminal) • The speakon connectors are wired as follows: 1+ = hot (+ speaker terminal) 1- = cold (- speaker terminal). 5. In bridge mode, if using the binding post outputs: Ch 1 red post = hot (+ speaker terminal) Ch 2 red post = cold (- speaker terminal) Do not use the black terminals. If using a speakon, connect it to the center bridged speakon connector. This is wired as follows: 1+ = hot (+ speaker terminal) 2+ = cold (- speaker terminal) 6. Plug all the sound system components into suitable AC outlets, properly grounded and capable of delivering adequate current. 7. Make sure your signal source is powered up and delivering signal to the amplifier. 8. Turn the power amplifier's switch on. Verify that the power LED lights. 9. Slowly turn up both level controls on the amplifier. You should hear music and see the meters and sig LEDs flashing. If the OL (overload) LEDs are flashing, turn down either the level controls on the amp or the source signal's output level controls (i.e., master faders), until the OL LEDs either blink occasionally or not at all. 1. Using balanced cables, make connections from your mixer (or other signal source) main out to your amplifier's inputs. 2. In stereo mode, connect the cables from your 10. For quieter listening, it is preferable to adjust the amp's level controls rather than the source signal's output level (unless you have the source's control all the way up!). signal source to the amplifier's combo input jacks, either XLR or 1/4" TRS. The XLR and TRS Things to remember: inputs for each channel are wired in parallel. • The balanced XLR inputs are wired as follows: Pin 1 = shield (ground) Pin 2 = hot (+) Pin 3 = cold (-) • The 1/4" TRS inputs are wired as follows: Tip = hot (+) Ring = cold (-) Sleeve = shield (ground) • Never plug amplifier outputs into anything except speakers (unless you have an outboard box specifically designed to handle speakerlevel signals). Pumpkins are right out. • Before making connections to an amp or reconfiguring an amp's routing, turn the amp's level controls down, turn the power off, make the changes, turn the power back on, and then turn the level controls back up. 3. In mono mode and bridge mode, connect one cable from the input source to input 1, and connect nothing to input 2. • If you shut down your equipment, turn off the amplifiers first. When powering up, turn on the amplifiers last. 4. In stereo and mono modes, connect speaker cables to the speaker outputs, either the bind- ing posts or the Speakon connectors. Owner's Manual