Well...it finally happened to me....

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TwinSpinDJ

TwinSpinDJ

Up-lighting
ODJT Supporter
Jan 21, 2010
2,862
2,272
West Melbourne, Florida 32904
www.twinspindj.com
My seconday system crashed on me tonight...15 minutes before start time!:trimad: [Primrary System doesn't go to dusty/outdoor events.]

For years I've been bringing a back up combination mixer/CD player with me in case of technical malfunction. First time I had to use it in an emergency. Not bad...but not the greatest substitute. The only issue with the backup was with microphone...I couldn't get it to work. I'll need to delve into the Mic issue later this weekend.

I was doing a Summer Camp weekly Thursday party. Lights and computer were just setup and then I was going to check the speakers and I noticed that neither the CD Player or Mixer had power...the electrical power distributor was working as the pull out lights were on. I pulled and plugged in both the CD player and mixer. Even moved them to different sockets...no power. It was now 10 minutes to "show time."

I always set my Laptop on top of the backup road case that has the Mixer/CD player (CD-Mix II). I took the top off and moved it to the top of the Road Case that croaked.
Quickly plugged in speaker XLR, RCA Cord to the Aux jack, and powered it up. No problem. Except...I had to find the 1/4 Jack - XLR cable for the mic line. Found it. Plugged it in to Mic 1. The plugged the Goose Neck Mic inito the XLR (female). Tested...no sound. I then pulled out my EV Mic and plugged it into the XLR (female). No Sound. Screw it! I'm going without audio...and did just fine. Kids don't need much coaxing by Mic, so I was fine.

The real life saver is the fact that I have all Active Speakers and Subs.

By the way, I was 5 minutes late starting...it so happens the kids were 30 minutes late from the Dining Hall. (First week issues). I gave them an extra half-hour on the back end. Great reviews from kids and Staff. I've been doing this gig now for over three years.

Saved by common sense...make sure you have a backup system of some kind...and be sure you can change over quickly. :triwink:
 
Just be aware that some people here think you're an unprofessional putz for having a system die like that. Somehow it's your fault, and you get no props for being set with the back up thingy.

At least that was how I was responded to recently.

As for me, I salute your being ready to rock!!!
 
So Cal Hugh said:
Just be aware that some people here think you're an unprofessional putz for having a system die like that. Somehow it's your fault, and you get no props for being set with the back up thingy.

At least that was how I was responded to recently.

As for me, I salute your being ready to rock!!!
Click to expand...


You are absolutely correct...check out equipment before you load up. But, since it was already in the trailer from a gig 2 weeks ago and it was working just fine when the gig was over, one would not expect it to malfunction. Here-to-fore it had not given me any problems. I'm checking it out today!

I'll be sure to bring the backup with me to ALL gigs...and will check out the Mic problem today, too.
 
TwinSpinDJ said:
My seconday system crashed on me tonight...15 minutes before start time!:trimad: [Primrary System doesn't go to dusty/outdoor events.]

For years I've been bringing a back up combination mixer/CD player with me in case of technical malfunction. First time I had to use it in an emergency. Not bad...but not the greatest substitute. The only issue with the backup was with microphone...I couldn't get it to work. I'll need to delve into the Mic issue later this weekend.

I was doing a Summer Camp weekly Thursday party. Lights and computer were just setup and then I was going to check the speakers and I noticed that neither the CD Player or Mixer had power...the electrical power distributor was working as the pull out lights were on. I pulled and plugged in both the CD player and mixer. Even moved them to different sockets...no power. It was now 10 minutes to "show time."

I always set my Laptop on top of the backup road case that has the Mixer/CD player (CD-Mix II). I took the top off and moved it to the top of the Road Case that croaked.
Quickly plugged in speaker XLR, RCA Cord to the Aux jack, and powered it up. No problem. Except...I had to find the 1/4 Jack - XLR cable for the mic line. Found it. Plugged it in to Mic 1. The plugged the Goose Neck Mic inito the XLR (female). Tested...no sound. I then pulled out my EV Mic and plugged it into the XLR (female). No Sound. Screw it! I'm going without audio...and did just fine. Kids don't need much coaxing by Mic, so I was fine.

The real life saver is the fact that I have all Active Speakers and Subs.

By the way, I was 5 minutes late starting...it so happens the kids were 30 minutes late from the Dining Hall. (First week issues). I gave them an extra half-hour on the back end. Great reviews from kids and Staff. I've been doing this gig now for over three years.

Saved by common sense...make sure you have a backup system of some kind...and be sure you can change over quickly. :triwink:
Click to expand...
The way my system is integrated all I have to do is change the configuration or bypass an offending component. My only fear will be when I am using the 3 way system. If the crossover fails I will have to switch to a 2 way configuration. If the tweeters or midranges boxes fail then I can always substitute with the Bose 802s. My Bass Speakers are all 16ohms each so its easy to use two or even three if one of them fails (When using four).
 
Thanks, Art. It can get scary when the rig isn't working at the last moment.

The veterans in this biz won't flame you or anyone else for this. It's happened at one time or other to us all. Anyone can say he loads backup gear to a show... it's the professional who knows how to get it connected up and working in a pinch. :)
 
OK...I've really got egg on my face!!! Are you ready for this...laugh if you must :yoDur:yo:Annoyed::yoBow: .... the POWER switch to the ETA wasn't on. LOL
I must have turned it off in error last gig. Oh well...sheet does happen even to the best of us. :triwink:

Regarding the other issue, Mic wouldn't work on Ch 1 of the Numark CD-Mix-II. I have always used wireless mic system with the CD-MIX II. Both Mic Inputs are 1/4 inch. I'm wondering if I the 3-ft 1/4 to XLR cord wasn't good enough. Any thoughts!

I'm wondering if a 1/4 to XLR female jack would have worked. Plug a normal XLR cord into the 1/4 - XLR jack...and then Mic into XLR?

Even though I will use the Seconday System again next week, I do want to make sure that for emergency I have the correct Mic/cord setup for the CD-Mix II.
 
TwinSpinDJ said:
OK...I've really got egg on my face!!! Are you ready for this...laugh if you must :yoDur:yo:Annoyed::yoBow: .... the POWER switch to the ETA wasn't on. LOL
I must have turned it off in error last gig. Oh well...sheet does happen even to the best of us. :triwink:

Regarding the other issue, Mic wouldn't work on Ch 1 of the Numark CD-Mix-II. I have always used wireless mic system with the CD-MIX II. Both Mic Inputs are 1/4 inch. I'm wondering if I the 3-ft 1/4 to XLR cord wasn't good enough. Any thoughts!

I'm wondering if a 1/4 to XLR female jack would have worked. Plug a normal XLR cord into the 1/4 - XLR jack...and then Mic into XLR?

Even though I will use the Seconday System again next week, I do want to make sure that for emergency I have the correct Mic/cord setup for the CD-Mix II.
Click to expand...

Damn Rookie!!!!:yowigglyeyes2::yowigglyeyes2:
 
I learned about the importance of backup gear on this forum and others and thankfully I took heed. I have been saved more than once by having backup gear with me. Last year my New Years gig would have been ruined if I didn't have multiple redundancies.

My old laptop crashed a couple of months ago as I was starting a gig at one of the local ELKS clubs. I went out to my van and brought in my new laptop and it was on with the show. I started a little late but made up for it by doing a great show and giving them an extra half hour.

If you don't have backup gear you'replaying with fire.
 
Thanks, Art.

You should have no issues with a TRS (1/4" 3-conductor plug or jack to XLR. The folks at NLFX can fix you up with any cables you may need.

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger. We set up for a show and I had no AC power from the Furman conditioner. While I'm rooting around in the rack case, trying to hook up all the AC plugs to a power strip, Shirl asked if the conditioner was powered up.

Well sure it is, I replied. It just ain't working for some reason.

To make a long story short, it wasn't. I took photos during the show from behind the console... and the camera doesn't lie. The main breaker on the conditioner was clearly in the off position. Boy did I feel like an idiot. Shirl really bent me over the desk on that one. :D

Set up for a wedding in Virginia back years ago. One side of the system was dead. The B&G had moved the start time back an hour (without telling us) and we just got set up in time. We limped through the formals on one channel then when dinner started, I got the flashlight and went rooting through the racks.

Came to find a TRS plug had jiggled loose from the rear of one of the processors. I stuck it back in and we were back in business. I blamed that damn DC Beltway; full of potholes. :)
 
Fred, thanks for sharing. I would venture a guess that most all of us have had an "issue" similar to mine and yours. LOL! I'm man enough to own up to "stupidity"...ignorance is another deep subject, however.

I have several 1/4 to XLR cables (less than 4-ft), perhaps I got one that was no longer good...or not 3-wired. It's hot and humid today, I believe it was at least 96 F., but next week Tues thru Thurs we're looking at 100 F w/high humidity. Based on my inital posting I was at the summer camp in 89 F. but lower humidity. Good thing I switched to LED lighting. :) Would be even hotter!

Thanks for the tip.
 
The Wizard Of OZ said:
I learned about the importance of backup gear on this forum and others and thankfully I took heed. I have been saved more than once by having backup gear with me. Last year my New Years gig would have been ruined if I didn't have multiple redundancies.

My old laptop crashed a couple of months ago as I was starting a gig at one of the local ELKS clubs. I went out to my van and brought in my new laptop and it was on with the show. I started a little late but made up for it by doing a great show and giving them an extra half hour.

If you don't have backup gear you'replaying with fire.
Click to expand...

In the words of one of our fellow ODJT'ers - 'A failure to plan is a plan to fail'.
 
I am always prepared (like a boy scout)

even my article online about always having backups here

soon i'll do what else is on my plate and update and slightly rewrite a few articles online

http://spraci.trebleclefdj.com.au (more articles here)

http://mc.trebleclefdj.com.au

http://djadvantage.trebleclefdj.com.au (now you can choose what to read!)


new site coming soon on weddings - http://weddings.trebleclefdj.com.au TBA
or http://www.weddingdjswa.com (new under construction)

so always have backups no matter what ideas you have as they still need to be handy
 
My biggest gotchya was forgetting to turn the volume up on my pc going to my usb mixer. Fifteen minutes of panic and terror before a wedding checking cables, amp, etc..... The software volume sliders were up, but not the usb output in the master audio control panel. Glad that was the only problem.... that day.
 
Ive redone my rack a couple times, once having the juice strip being turned around, thus having the power on switch to have to reach in thru the middle and flip on, well after a NYE gig, and probably 4 to 6 weeks til my next gig, I had actually forgotten they changed this deal around, and wondered why it wouldnt power up,, "reach in turn it on d---b a---s" hey I admit Im dumb a lot
 
Regarding the other issue, Mic wouldn't work on Ch 1 of the Numark CD-Mix-II. I have always used wireless mic system with the CD-MIX II. Both Mic Inputs are 1/4 inch. I'm wondering if I the 3-ft 1/4 to XLR cord wasn't good enough. Any thoughts!

I'm wondering if a 1/4 to XLR female jack would have worked. Plug a normal XLR cord into the 1/4 - XLR jack...and then Mic into XLR?
Click to expand...

Low-Z balanced mics don't work with Hi-Z unbalanced inputs and vice versa, you need to put an impedance matching transformer inline with the cable. ("Z" = impedance measured in Ohms or KOhms)

If you have a Low-Z balanced mic like a standard SM-58 and attach a 1/4" cable to it - it likely won't work when you plug it into a 1/4" Hi-Z mic jack unless you insert a IMT. It MUST feed a balanced TRS or XLR Low-Z input.

The reverse is also true. A Hi-Z SM-48 which usually terminates in a 1/4" TS plug won't work in a Low-Z XLR input without a matching IMT.

Inline IMTs look like 1/4" to XLR adapters but, are somewhat larger because they also contain an internal Z matching transformer.

To add more confusion, there is some DJ class and semi-pro equipment that uses "pseudo-balanced" inputs which resolve this issue without the IMT by simply sacrificing certain acceptable aspects of the gain structure or sound quality. This makes it possible for someone to carry on for years without actually being aware of this technical difference in microphones and mic wiring.

Check your mic specifications to see what kind of mic your are using. Mics that use a cable that terminates at a 1/4" TS plug are almost always Hi-Z unblanced mics.

Also, the wiring convention for XLR-1/4" unbalanced cables was standardized about 20 years ago but, if you ever run into 25 year old mics or mic cables you'll find some products including names like SHURE that can't operate with ANY input without a matching custom wired H-Z cable! In earlier years, the assignments of Pin 2 and Pin 3 were kind of up for grabs between manufactuers and manufacturing countries.
 
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