Mackie Mix Series Mix8 8-Channel Mixer

I think there might be a problem somewhere in the chain or a bad mixer I've used the mix 8 and had none of those issues...

That being said the Yamaha MG10 or the ProFX8 from Mackie are both good and not much more money

Are you going to bring your own mixer or ask the sound company to get another new one?

How many channels do you need (XLR and line level), do you need any effects or simple mixing?

CurtissTheDJ said:

The photo shows how this is setup. Is your Mix8 setup differently than this?

This Mix8 is located on the 2nd Deck of the 3 Deck Vessel.
There are 3 different Amps (located in the Captain's Wheelhouse to control which powers the 11 Small JBL Speakers (4 each on the 1st and 2nd Deck), and 3 speakers are on the 3rd.

In the photo the 1 RCA Plug is connected to my Mixer down below.

After Dinner, when it becomes Dance Party Time, I turn up the Volumes on the Mixer, as well as the Volume on my Laptop. After around 1 Hour of being in the sound becomes distorted/sounding awful.

This is the setup connected by the Company's equipment guy, (before I arrived) who stated that the 2nd RCA (gray) was not needed.

This setup seems odd. How did you connect your Mix8 to receive quality sound?

Please advise.

Click to expand...

Not sure where the cables go, but that CR Out cable (the lower red/white pair) with the Tip and Ring labels ISN'T a balanced cable .. that's an insert cable, so if they are running that any distance, it will likely pick up hum.

CurtissTheDJ said:

The photo shows how this is setup. Is your Mix8 setup differently than this?

This Mix8 is located on the 2nd Deck of the 3 Deck Vessel.
There are 3 different Amps (located in the Captain's Wheelhouse to control which powers the 11 Small JBL Speakers (4 each on the 1st and 2nd Deck), and 3 speakers are on the 3rd.

In the photo the 1 RCA Plug is connected to my Mixer down below.

After Dinner, when it becomes Dance Party Time, I turn up the Volumes on the Mixer, as well as the Volume on my Laptop. After around 1 Hour of being in the sound becomes distorted/sounding awful.

This is the setup connected by the Company's equipment guy, (before I arrived) who stated that the 2nd RCA (gray) was not needed.

This setup seems odd. How did you connect your Mix8 to receive quality sound?

Please advise.

Click to expand...

I've never owned a Mix 8 I just have used one on a few occasions...

Without being there and from looking at the pic I would say the same as Steve it could be a cabling issue. The cables aren't exactly top of the line and they aren't balanced and they are running a distance BUT I think the question is why is it happening after an hour and not right away?

You don't have this problem elsewhere with other gear obviously so we can eliminate the laptop.

From past experience Mixer problems usually aren't intermittent and not on schedule they work or they don't. Not saying it couldn't happen but I don't find that to be likely. Mixers are generally stationary so you aren't shaking something loose.

Is there any processing? EQ, Gate/Limiter, Crossover in the chain?

Could it be a gain problem? You turn it up and drive the amps that are turned down that could cause bad sound. The amps aren't in your view is someone messing with them when you get loud?

It could be the amps running hotter than the speakers can handle. If you have 11/ 100 watt 8 ohm speakers and the amps are putting out 500@8 ohms each you just brought them down to a little over 3 Ohms and likely more than doubled the output power (I could be corrected on this I did the math quick in my head but you get the idea). At some point there would be real ugly sound

Looks like the main L/R is also an insert cable, so that one is also NOT balanced and could pick up a hum or noise. And if it's happening after a period of time, maybe the cables are running past something that gets turned on after 30 min .. an oven, a washer ...