STEP 1.

PUT ALL PA COMPONENTS IN POSITION

You will always need: In some cases you may also need:

Mixing Desk Foldback speakers

Front of House Speakers
(Faced towards audience)
 Try to setup near power
points where possible
 Ensure the mixing desk has
good line of sight with the
stage
(Faced towards the Multicore (to run
musicians) cables between stage
and mixing desk
External signal processing
Poweramp—To power pas-
equipment (FX units /
sive speakers which do not
Graphic Equalisers)
have own power source

STEP 2. RUN POWER TO ALL COMPONENTS

 Most audio components are powered by jug plugs
 Use a combination of extension cords and powerboards to
reach all components which require power
 Be efficient and safe with cables, by running along the same
path minimising trip hazards where possible

STEP 3. PUT ALL MICROPHONES AND DI BOXES IN POSITION

 DI Boxes are used to send unbalanced instruments to PA (Acoustic guitar,
keyboard, Bass)
 Find out who is performing and how many mics / DIs will be needed (e.g 2
singers, 2 acoustic guitars = 2 Mics & 2 DIs)
 STEP 4. LINK ALL AUDIO COMPONENTS AND MICROPHONES
 Most audio components are connected by XLR Cables
 XLR Cables can be linked together if more length is needed
 The Multicore sends sound signal to and from the stage
 Mixing desks can receive multiple microphones and DI boxes. Each microphone and DI Box is
sent to a CHANNEL

SPEAKER
CHANNEL INPUTS
MAIN INPUTS
FOLDBACK
OUT
OUT

MULTICORE

OUTPUTS

MULTICORE INPUTS

STEP 5. SWITCH ON SYSTEM IN CORRECT SEQUENCE

START UP -> Turn down master levels, channel levels and foldback sends -> Mixer Power On -> Speaker Power On
(turn up speakers to ‘12 o’clock’)

SHUT DOWN -> Turn down levels -> Speaker Power off & volume down -> Mixer Power Off
STEP 6. CARRY OUT A LINE CHECK TO TEST SYSTEM
1. Set Main and foldback master volumes to
UNITY (0db)

2. Select a channel to test and click PFL button

(solo on some desks)

3. Get someone to check microphone by

speaking/playing into it loudly. Set the in-
put sensitivity with the GAIN knob—the
indicator lights should show you how much
signal is coming into the desk—ensure the
lights do not reach the red indicators

4. Raise the channel level to pass sound into

the front of house speakers

5. Raise the channel foldback send to pass

sound into foldback speakers

Repeat these steps for all other channels