American Audio 19MXR

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jtnichol

jtnichol

KCDJ
Oct 25, 2006
4,963
208
47
Leavenworth KS
www.jfproductions.biz
http://www.adjaudio.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ItemNumber=1490&Category=Mixers

First off I LOVE this mixer. Seamless with Virtual DJ Pro. Problem is that I get a hissy noise sound from the mic channels whenever I enable REGARDLESS if any mic is connected.
It's not happening every time I turn it on either but I'm having a hard time recreating it from venue to venue.

I've updated the firmware of the unit and check my card settings in VDJPRO...

What would cause this? I'm thinking it might be something in the driver not communicating perfectly with the laptop or something. The manual is crap.

I'm thinking of getting a Denon MC6000 and just keep this as a backup.

Ideas to fix?
Ideas to Persuade? I like the 19" stuff due to my new setup situation
 
The mic channels shouldn't have any connection to USB (except maybe for recording out), so I doubt the issue lies with the laptop, unless there is an internal grounding issue. More likely, it's just a weak mic preamp section which is picking up noise from the power line (which might explain why it is venue dependent).
 
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steve149 said:
The mic channels shouldn't have any connection to USB (except maybe for recording out), so I doubt the issue lies with the laptop, unless there is an internal grounding issue. More likely, it's just a weak mic preamp section which is picking up noise from the power line (which might explain why it is venue dependent).
Click to expand...

Yeah...wierd though...music isn't affected. The unit sounds great musically from venue to venue. But...Pre-amps might be meh...sucks too because I really like having a mixer with XLR. But I have to have something that's kind of a swiss army knife.
 
jtnichol said:
Yeah...wierd though...music isn't affected. The unit sounds great musically from venue to venue. But...Pre-amps might be meh...sucks too because I really like having a mixer with XLR. But I have to have something that's kind of a swiss army knife.
Click to expand...

Line inputs don't need to be amplified to the same level as mic inputs, so the noise floor will tend to be higher.

Also make sure you check the reverb .., I find on some of the lower end units, it's the digital effects that are the noisy parts.
 
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>>>>More likely, it's just a weak mic preamp section which is picking up noise from the power line (which might explain why it is venue dependent).<<<<

Unfortunately, probably this^^.

I can't see the picture very well (and it's refusing to enlarge for me). Is that an input gain and 2-band EQ at the top? Sometimes the pres are just noise-y on some of these units, sometimes it's the EQ section (or as Steve said, the FX). Have you tried randomly twisting dials other than the gain setting, to see if you can mitigate the issue? Have you tried another unit (the same mixer, maybe in-store) with headphones to see if it's a model-based issue or just your unit?

If you could isolate the problem, you might be able to get someone to do an inexpensive mod for you. I guess you could add a small inexpensive external mike pre, if you wanted to complicate things.
Maybe one of the ART units (TubeMP)...

GJ
 
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steve149 said:
Line inputs don't need to be amplified to the same level as mic inputs, so the noise floor will tend to be higher.

Also make sure you check the reverb .., I find on some of the lower end units, it's the digital effects that are the noisy parts.
Click to expand...
OK I will check. Also remember the hiss comes in by pushing down on the Mic 1 Mic 2 or Mic 3 buttons. The hiss is there when the gain is a "0" even when nothing is plugged in...Sometimes the hiss isn't there...I'm wondering if I have a larger grounding issue with it. I'm using a Juice Goose low end power conditioner....Not sure what it's conditioning...lol

rickryan.com said:
The MC6000 doesn't have a bunch of headroom on it. That Denon X500 that Steve has for sale is a much better mixer.
Click to expand...
Yes I like the Denon X500 but I don't think it's mapped for VDJ in a way that I can hit "play" or "cue" on it.

rhythmgj said:
>>>>More likely, it's just a weak mic preamp section which is picking up noise from the power line (which might explain why it is venue dependent).<<<<

Unfortunately, probably this^^.

I can't see the picture very well (and it's refusing to enlarge for me). Is that an input gain and 2-band EQ at the top? Sometimes the pres are just noise-y on some of these units, sometimes it's the EQ section (or as Steve said, the FX). Have you tried randomly twisting dials other than the gain setting, to see if you can mitigate the issue? Have you tried another unit (the same mixer, maybe in-store) with headphones to see if it's a model-based issue or just your unit?

If you could isolate the problem, you might be able to get someone to do an inexpensive mod for you. I guess you could add a small inexpensive external mike pre, if you wanted to complicate things.
Maybe one of the ART units (TubeMP)...

GJ
Click to expand...

Yes it is Gain, Treble, Bass, Reverb on all 3 mic channels. I do need to try to twist all the knobs in the section to see if I can get the hiss to quite. No I haven't tried another unit anywhere. I either want to fix/find the issue with the micpre on this unit or go to another controller of some kind with a real mic pre AND is MIDI capable....I just want to hot cue and file browse and maybe due some FX reliably. I'm going to do what you said though...Makes sense...Something tells me it has something to do with the drivers even though it shouldn't!


I have heard the mic pre on the DDJ stuff is actually not that strong either....I'm just trying to stay inside one rack at my small shows...
 
jtnichol said:
Yes I like the Denon X500 but I don't think it's mapped for VDJ in a way that I can hit "play" or "cue" on it..
Click to expand...

The X500 doesn't have play buttons on it. It's a mixer-only but the preamp section on it is MILES better than even the MC6000 and I'm fairly certain the MC6000 is miles cleaner than the American Audio unit.
 
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rickryan.com said:
The X500 doesn't have play buttons on it. It's a mixer-only but the preamp section on it is MILES better than even the MC6000 and I'm fairly certain the MC6000 is miles cleaner than the American Audio unit.
Click to expand...
I have no doubt about that. I knew going into this unit that at its pricepoint I shouldn't expect much.
What blows me away is just HOW GOOD music sounds through this and how I've NEVER had any lag whatsoever when triggering stuff on it. It's really stunning as far as build quality too...If I didn't need the mic...well I'd be set. The problem is though that I'm God's gift to MC's...I should've hosted Family Fued...but instead they gave that gig to an amateur...lol April Fools
 
dunlopj said:
So the built-in sound card sound is better than what you were using previously?

What were you using?
Click to expand...

Well....Numark. There I said it.....Numark USB Mixer. Pick one...DXM01, X1USB, and some other 3rd mixer. All of them had 2 USB inputs and the absolute WORST sounding mic inputs invented...I've used em all....

The MXR in all fairness at its pricepoint has had some really good reviews on it sound quality. BUT...I realize it's not high end gear. I'm already considering this to be a backup mixer only if I can get the mic issue figured out. Once that is done...I may just buy a second one.... Still on a quest for 19" slat top mixer with good mic pres and midi integration...Hard to get all 3.

American Audio had me call them and they want me to re flash the firmware and try the mic channels with no USB or mics attached and work from there. Then try the mics, THEN try the USB and Mics... The rep couldn't definitively answer about the possible relationship between the firmware/software and the mics and left that part open for debate after testing. He said with this unit because of its design integration he couldn't be sure that SOME part of the signal structure wouldn't be tied into the mic pres...

This is interesting. I'll report back when I get a chance to test this weekend.
 
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Ok. I tested the mixer. With no mic attached I get a hiss when I activate any mic channel. One thing though is the hiss is completely tied to the treble knob. Turn the treble all the way down and the gain all the way up: NO HISS.

SO...I'm gonna relay that info back to the VERY helpful staff at American Audio and see what they say.
 
djsarge said:
I really want to like this mixer.
Click to expand...

The American Audio rep that has been helping told me to give him the serial number off of the mixer for the purposes of warranty repair despite the fact I bought it used off ebay.

Now THAT is pretty darn cool. I might just buy a second one or another one of their products just for that gesture alone....
 
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I haven't been a fan of American Audio but, recently it seems they've brought up their game and are an alternative for people with smaller budgets. That's a good thing.
 
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jtnichol said:
UPDATE: I still use the mixer even though it has a bad mic hiss. I just don't use it for microphones.

BUT I decided to buy another one brand new. Same thing. Bad Mic Hiss. All of the hiss is tied to the treble knob on both mic channels.

ADJ contacted....still no word.
Click to expand...
Jeremiah, its always best to use Mics on Live Mixers even the small ones. You can control the Mics independently of the Music Program. This way you get to "ring" out the Mics at the beginning of your show.
 
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ahoustondj said:
Jeremiah, its always best to use Mics on Live Mixers even the small ones. You can control the Mics independently of the Music Program. This way you get to "ring" out the Mics at the beginning of your show.
Click to expand...

I don't follow you....I have a DJ mixer with two balanced XLR inputs for mics. With bass/treble along with independent gain. The whole point of this mixer was to avoid a separate outboard mixer....

But alas....since the mic channel sucks I happened to find myself acquiring a 19" strip channel Behringer to do the job.

No more rolling racks for me...just a nice table top setup with 2 mixers...but I sure wish it only had to be one mixer.

If you listen to this identical hiss coming equally out of both mic channels AND coupled with the fact it's happening identically on 2 mixers has me believing ADJ has a problem they need to address. It's truly noticeably unbearable and outright unusable.
 
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