Using a Mixing Console in the Radio Shack
Вставка
- Опубліковано 28 лип 2024
- A detailed look at using the Behringer Xenyx Q802 USB mixing console with four receivers into a pair of powered speakers. We cover how the mixer is connected to the radios and the speakers, explain the various controls available to the shortwave radio listener and amateur radio operator, advantages of using this system in the radio shack, and some tips when buying a mixing console such as this Behringer unit.
This video was prepared after a large response from viewers wishing to know more about the mixer as it was used in a recent UA-cam video entitled:
"Experiments in Audio Adjustment of a Shortwave Signal"
That video can be viewed at • Experiments in Audio A...
For more information about these videos and shortwave radio, go to the Mount Evelyn DX Report:
www.medxr.blogspot.com.au
Thanks for watching!
This is, by far, the best introduction to pro-audio for amateur radio applications I’ve found so far.
Scott Pastor - Thanks for your feedback, Scott. Much appreciated. Best 73, Rob
A trick: you can watch movies on flixzone. Been using it for watching loads of movies recently.
@Muhammad Jayce yea, I've been using Flixzone} for years myself =)
Very nice vid , I just bought one and can’t wait to play
ROB, Thanks for the excellent mixer instructions... Please post more videos. TNX
Thanks for watching, Chuck.
I was hoping for more details on how it all connected. Any more videos?
Nice way to tie in all your received audio Rob (creative solution), reminds me of when I was using a car graphic equalizer in the late 80's to improve the sound out of the Pearce Simpson Super Tomcat I was using during that period (native audio was particularly poor on that radio).
Interesting! I vaguely remember the Super Tomcat. Never owned one, probably because I'd moved off into the amateur bands by that time. Audio on some of those CB radios seemed to be better than others. I have a stereo graphic equaliser here, and tried implementing it into the system into the radio shack. But it was not successful, so I pulled it out again. I think there might be a fault with it somewhere. Will have to check it out again one day.
Just got back into Amateur radio and was exploring this. I am a musician and use pro audio gear every show. Never thought of adding some of my sidelined gear to my ham rig. Microphones yes, but didn't think about receive. I have a virtual twin of that Behringer sitting on a shelf collecting dust from my old keyboard rig. Combined with a nice set of powered JBL PC speakers I have, I should be able to hear pretty good. Thanks for the information. W0ABN , 73's to you and yours.
Hi Kevin Woodyard - Great to hear you are back into AR! Since I made this video a while back, the Behringer here is still going. All the best, mate! Rob VK3BVW
TNX Rob. CE6SAY from Traiguén, mid south of Chile. 73
sorted the mixer on my 3 radio,s so your vidio was a great help rob keep up the good work. i subscribed to your channal but havnt heard you since hope everythinks fine 73 rob to one ham to another enjoy your radio 73 aste liverpool
The Xenyx802 is a great little board. I just picked up a used one for cheap and I'm amazed at how much you get and the quality you get from a little discount mixer.
Yep. They are great value if you buy them new...even better value if you can catch a used one in good condition. Good luck with it. Rob.
Brilliant content new subscriber!
hello I have a behringer xenyx q802 console I would like to know how to launch the audio loud and clear to my radio or what is the ideal configuration of a radio console
but in addition to mixing multiple radio to speaker monitors, I'd like to use a single mic and also be able to mix and adjst eq to multiple radios... I would also like be able to connect my computer so I can send audio from the computer to any radios and also send the radio audio to the pc... that would require a more advanced board I guess...
hi, how did you connect the radio to the mixer to use a condenser mic? thanks.
Rob, what name brand studio speaker are you using?
Gee, Chuck, I don't remember off hand (not in the shack right now). They were a $250 pair of an unheard of brand (to me!). Nothing fancy. Not studio reference quality or anything. But they do have a reasonable frequency response without being stunning! For shortwave, you don't need to pay $600+ for speakers. Just something that can handle a range of frequencies without distortion, that has a reasonably compact sound.
Rob: you mentioned no RFI from the mixer's switching power supply, which is great. How about RFI when using this device to mix audio from a computer and receiver? When connected to a computer via USB, along with your tabletop receiver, do you notice any RFI creeping into your receiver from the computer? How's the RF isolation between the inputs?
KILOKAT7 - I have not experienced any problem with RFI by connecting the USB cable between the laptop and the mixer. Any noise being picked up by the radio is due to the location of the laptop to the radio and not related to the mixer or the USB connection.
Thanks for the confirmation, Rob. I just ordered one to try out here!
Can you tell us about the speakers you use, and what to look for when shopping for speakers to achieve similar results?
Scott, the speakers I use were a relatively cheap pair (about A$300) of powered speakers. They are certainly nothing fancy. I first purchased them back in about 2008 for other projects. Then they got put away and not used for some years....until I bought the mixer. They have proved ideal for the job. Of course, they are no longer available now. Here's a link to an old review I found from TechCrunch: techcrunch.com/2008/06/03/review-cygnett-unison-i-x5-ipod-speaker-system/ However, if you looked around for something similar, or if the budget can stretch it, a pair of bookshelf JBL speakers (such as the Studio 220) could work very nicely indeed! Powered speakers are a better option rather than passive - see my comments below to Gordon Zimmerman. I hope that helps! - Rob
Rob, can you talk a little about RF shielding on this setup? I tried this, but my TX audio keeps getting into the speakers.
Hi Scott. Are you using ferrite chokes on the speaker leads? These are an absolute MUST to avoid any stray RF out of the txer getting into the speakers. I have the clip-on types on my speakers and this helps heaps. Get a big enough clip-on for each lead so that you can wrap the leads through the clip-on multiple times. The more times you wrap around, the higher the choking impedance and so the greater the effectiveness in reducing RFI. Check out my video on this topic at: ua-cam.com/video/J_1jRfnvp4g/v-deo.html That should fix it! Good luck! Rob
Rob Wagner thanks Rob. I’ve tried a few toroids and clips with varying results. What mix do you use on the speaker leads?
Hello Rob. Thank you for the video. Could you tell us more about connecting your transceivers to the mixer. What plugs did you use? The signal was taken from the telephone output of the transceiver or linear? How did you connect the microphone? Did you use a microphone preamp or not? Do you work with one microphone with all transceivers or does everyone have their own complete one? Good luck and keep in touch!
Hi Rob thanks for sharing your video´s. Maybe a stupid question but do you need to use mono or stereo plugs for the mixer? Thinking about purchase one. Thanks in advance. 73 and good DX, Dirk PA2C
DirkPA2C Mono plugs, Dirk. Thanks for watching! Best 73.
Rob Wagner Thanks Rob. 73.
The first two channels only accept mono input but channels three and four can accept stereo if you wish.
Hi Rob just got my behringer mixer same as yours it's feeding a spare onkyo amp I had also I've purchased some jbl control one speakers.What are your Rx audio settings from your ftdx3000? I have the same radio.Im glad I went down this route instead of buying an overpriced extension speaker as I have more settings to tinker with and a better quality speaker.Only bug bear is with mixer no on/off switch :( grrr de 2e0utb 73
Mr Mc - I’m on holidays this week, so not near the radio. I’ll check up and get back to you next week. 73, Rob
Dear Rob, what Rode microphone is that? It sounds fantastic! 73, Jarrad VK3BL :)
It's a RODE Video Mic Pro. Of course, it is designed to sit on the camera (I use a Nikon D800), but I have it strapped to a boom stand. My mic is a few years old now, but I believe that have made slight readjustments to the current version. They even have a Video Mic Pro+ model but I don't know much about that. I have a videographer friend who has worked internationally, who insists on only using the RODE mics. And of course, they are a great Aussie company! Keeping the audio into the camera down lower and letting the +20dB preamp in the mic is a big help in getting a better sound. Here's a link for further info: en.rode.com/microphones/videomicpro
Cheers, Rob VK3BVW
I actually use this very same mic along the 7300 connected to zoom H5. The best you can get in the budget. I get lots of compliments on my audio.
Bob Heil in a video that linked to this one stressed taking the audio output from the accessory plug in the back of a radio and running it into a mixer. He didn't even mention the external speaker jacks. What do you suppose was his reasoning? I'm of course going to go back and ask the question on his channel, but I'm curious what you might think as well. 73!
BTW here's the video in question: ua-cam.com/video/BlmgC75SuSo/v-deo.html. The first part of the video is about why mixers are pretty useless on the transmitting end, for the similar reasons to those you mention plus a review of the frequency spectrum they cover. The second part, however, gets into using a mixer to fine tune radio outputs, and that's where he speaks exclusively of the accessory jack.
@@RickRose Hi Rick! Bob Heil is saying that by taking the audio out of the accessory socket, you are going to get a better audio feed quality than if you take it out of the extension speaker socket. This is because you are bypassing additional audio filtering and colouring of the sound that’s inserted before the audio reaches the internal speaker.
Because the purpose of the radio is as a communications tool rather than for hi-fi quality listening, he is saying that the final AF circuits and filters in transceivers are designed for the best sound from the internal speaker (which is usually narrower and a more punchy lo-fi quality). He’s right!
However, in my situation, I’m connecting two shortwave receivers that do not have acc. sockets, just an external speaker socket. For simplicity’s sake (and because I was in a hurry to try the new mixer at the time), I just took lines straight out of the transceivers ext speaker sockets as well. My two transceivers do have acc sockets, so I will try Bob’s suggestion and see if it makes as big a difference as he says.
Thanks for the question, Rick, and for taking the time to watch the video. 73 de Rob VK3BVW
Do you have any problems using speaker level input from the radios instead of line level. Isn’t speaker level much higher than line level?
Not at all, Gordon. Audio output from each radio is up about one-third volume, and channel levels are generally at around 1/3rd also, and final output to the monitors are about 1/3rd also.
Rob, does the speaker have to be a powered speaker?
Gordon, strictly speaking, no. This setup can work with just passive speakers. But there may be a little insertion loss resulting in somewhat reduced volume output. That can be overcome by cranking up the volume considerably on each radio. But then you may find slight distortion creeping into the speakers if the output amp on the radio is driven too hard. One of the benefits of powered speakers is that you can have a lower or more moderate volume set on the radios, and then let the powered speakers do the work of amplifying clean audio to a comfortable room level volume.
Is the mixer being recognised on a PC like standard USB sound card? Or must use software provided by the manufacturer? I don't use Windows nor Mac OS, so I wonder if I will use USB port anyways. I am looking at a 502 or 802 model (w/o the USB), to connect PC's sound card, FT-891, external PC speakers, headphones and mic. I am not sure if all that will work fine. Thnx.
Hi Thomas. As I show in the video, I am only using the mixer connected to audio output jacks on the various receivers/transceivers. There is no connection or interface with a PC. So I cannot advise on the setup you describe as I have had no experience with using it that way. Sorry I cannot be of more help. 73, de Rob VK3BVW
could i do what you have done putting a eurorackub502 on my icom 756 pro just bought one can you help please
Yes, Steven. It's a smaller mixer than mine, but if you are not trying to connect up lots of radios, it will work fine. Follow the diagram in the video for connections. Good luck. Rob VK3BVW
@@RobVK3BVW arr thanx alot rob i ordered the wrong plugs but i went through your vids and im waiting on my new plugs arr thanks alot keep up the good work and have subscibed to your channel think its great im from liverpool by the way lol anyway thanxs rob 73
@@RobVK3BVW oh and its only for 3 radios two icoms 756 720 and a vhs kenwood
Where and how do you plug a ptt switch? Is the ptt switch go into a separate box?
I use the mixer for improving the sound on receive mode. I don't use the mixer for transmitting, so no PTT switch.
@@RobVK3BVW where does the ptt button go to the radio?
Suffered loads of RFI with that setup. Went down the viritual mixer route. ua-cam.com/video/j_fk5SqktJg/v-deo.html 73's and thanks Rob for your videos.
Hi John. Thanks for your comments. I have never had a problem with RFI from this mixer. As I said on the video, I am only using the mixer for received audio. All cables have ferrite. And I don't run a Windows system in the shack. It's Mac OS here, so the program you use wouldn't work for me, although there are Apple equivalents. Best wishes for 2022. Rob VK3BVW
1:44 "I don't do any transmitting these days" and that right there is the often talked about problem that is constantly noticed by new hams. Lack of activity on SSB. These are licensed hams that simply hardly get on the air anymore. What is going on? It wasn't like that in the 90's and before. What is this aversion to getting on the air? And it's more and common. You can have reasons, but the sad part is that collectively more and more hams are not getting on the air. You can see it on QRZ where nearly 80% of those commenting readily admit they don't use their radios for transmitting. If anything, THAT is what's going to spell the end of the hobby.
Otherwise fantastic video on wiring up a mixer for receive only,
Whoa!! This video is more than four years old. Clearly, you haven't checked my QRZ page recently. I'm pretty active these days, where you will find me on FT8, WSPR, and occasionally out in the field on SSB. I am not sure how you derived the 80% figure of inactive hams listed on QRZ. Indeed the ham bands have been increasingly active since COVID has been around. People at home were looking for something to do and rediscovered their love of ham radio. You may not find them so much on the voice modes but the digital modes are extremely busy. And CW is making a big comeback since the code testing requirements were withdrawn (how's that for irony!!). There are lots of reasons why there is less activity than in the 70s-90s, but that topic is too long to discuss here! :-) Anyway, thanks for your comments and taking the time to watch the video. Have a great 2022! - Rob VK3BVW
@@RobVK3BVW I'm aware of the date of the video and appreciate your comment even more so. I'm glad you're active now. But I did specifically mention SSB. And I didn't say that 80% of listed hams on QRZ are inactive. I referred to the commenters on the QRZ forum. And "NEARLY" 80% of them readily admit they are inactive. Again. Why? I'm talking about voice as I was in the original comment. Theories, there are many. Society changed/MIllenials and Zoomers (in America) are shy and are used to texting/etc. etc. but the fact is that people your age, my age, and older have stopped "talking" on the radio.
And great for FT8 and D-STAR etc. But the fact is that you tune in 40 meters late at night and it's become a barren wasteland. It really wasn't like that even as recent as 2005. So there IS a problem. And you don't get on voice, so that's part of the problem. I fail to see what is wrong with talking to others with a like minded interest. But I'm glad that CW is active and it's a goal I aspire to myself.
But yes, if people don't get on the air (you should read the comments on QRZ. They have brand new commercial radios and don't use them) that is indeed the death of human voice contact on amateur radio. Is that the way it should be? Should that not be changed if there is a genuine love of radio ways and how your voice travels through the air to reach other distant locations based on your aerial setup?
And you're 100 percent correct that after Covid there was a renewed interest worldwide. But is it enough really? Thanks again I do appreciate the comment!