SOUND SYSTEMS
From Fender Pro Audio
Fender knows the importance of sound reinforcement. From the simple box-top mixer
to today's professional touring concert systems, the need to communicate, to make the
connection between the performer and the audience is foremost in Fender's mind.
Perhaps no other single piece of gear can make or break your band's sound. You see,
your sound system is more than just a combination of dials, wires and speakers. It is
an integral part of the audio chain and should be treated with special care and attention
to detail.
At Fender, we know what building quality musical instruments and sound reinforcement
equipment is all about. In fact, many of the world's best sounding electric musical
instruments and sound reinforcement equipment proudly wear the Fender name.
Whether you need a simple box top powered mixer for your Saturday afternoon jam, or
a professional full-size concert system, Fender has the sound reinforcement equipment
to meet your needs.
Bill Schultz
Bill Schultz
Chairman
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
TABLE OF CONTENTS
System Components:
The Passport System Contains:
250 Watts of Clear Stereo Sound Thank you for your purchase of a Fender Passport,
the world’s first fully self-contained, portable audio
Built-in Digital Reverb system. Your Passport includes everything you will
need for great sound… Anywhere.
VIP™ (Vocal Input Priority) Automatically
Lowers Background Music When Carry your Passport as you would a large sized suit
Speaking Speaking into Mic 1 Input case. Flip open the two latches, and you’ll discover
two full-range speaker cabinets, a powered mixer,
3-Pin XLR, 1/4 inch TRS and Stereo RCA two dynamic microphones, and all the cables you
Input Jacks Accommodate Almost Any need to get started. Use your Passport to amplify
Input Connection voices, musical instruments, CD’s, tape playback and
more. Passport’s quick and easy set-up, its ability to
Individual Controls On Each Channel cover large audiences and simple operation are the
hallmarks of this new and innovative product.
Patch Point for Outboard Gear
Switchable Line Voltage For Easy Use The Passport’s control panel features 4 stereo
channels with 8 inputs (4 XLR, & 4 line input) and left
Anywhere In The World
and right RCA input jacks to allow for music playback
Switchable Main/Monitor Operation from a CD or cassette player. Moreover, four 6.5”
speakers in each cabinet work together to deliver
Everything You Need To Get Started: clean full range coverage, while the self-powered
Passport Mixer Amplifier mixer provides 250 watts of clear stereo sound.
Two Microphones
When speaking to the masses, the Passport’s VIP
Two Microphone Cables (Vocal Input Priority) feature can be used to reduce or
Two Speaker Cables “duck” the background music level as you begin to
Power Cable speak and then restores it when you have finished
Two High Sensitivity, Full-Range speaking. Experiment with the tone controls, digital
Speaker Enclosures reverb, speaker placement and discover the
Passport’s incredible versatility.
WARNING:
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POWER HANDLING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Power Requirements
The Fender Passport sound system is supplied with
AC Power: a detachable power cable with an IEC female
100 volts to 240 volts, 50-60 Hz. connector and a male AC connector. Depending on
the territory in which the Passport system is
DC Operation (with optional converter): purchased, the power cable will be supplied with one
For any situation where AC power may not be readily of a number of male AC connectors to accommodate
available, such as outdoor sports events, rodeos, the different safety and code requirements of specific
political rallies, and even emergency public address, countries. All AC cables supplied with Passport
the Passport system can be powered from a 12 volt products are three pin grounded types.
DC car-type battery. For these applications you
must use the Fender Passport DC-DC Under no circumstances should the ground
converter/adapter (optional). To maximize the (earth) pin be disconnected or removed.
amount of time the Passport will function on a
standard car battery, however, its power section has Your Passport System features a Switch-Mode-
been designed to operate at slightly reduced Power-Supply designed to operate on any AC voltage
maximum levels during this application. This and line frequency to convert AC power with
reduction in peak output will be unnoticeable in all but maximum efficiency.
the most demanding continuous high output
applications. When traveling abroad with the Passport system, as
a standard precaution, always check the local voltage
and set the voltage selector switch located adjacent
to the power input socket on the rear of the mixer /
amplifier to the appropriate operating range. This
check must be performed before connecting the
power cable. The Fender Passport has two range
settings: 115v or 230v.
5
Warning TRANSPORTATION LATCHES
Under no circumstances should the ground pin on
the Passport or on any of your electrical equipment To open and close your Passport system, simply
be lifted. It is possible that under certain follow these guidelines:
circumstances a combination of different types of
ungrounded equipment can create a life threatening 1. Place your finger tip under the safety latch and
shock hazard. Microphones have metal cases and gently lift. When the safety latch has disengaged, lift
are connected through the mic cable to the mixer’s the main latch to remove the speaker.
chassis. Your Passport mixer may be correctly
grounded if the building’s wiring is to code and the Safety Latch
ground pin on the A/C plug is properly connected. Main Latch
However if for any reason external A/C powered
equipment with ungrounded A/C connections are
used in conjunction with the Passport system (e.g. an
ungrounded music amplifier), there may be a
difference in potential to the microphone case. With
this combination a performer holding a (grounded)
microphone coming into contact with an ungrounded
item of powered equipment may be subject to
dangerous electrical shocks.
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SET-UP AND CONNECTIONS
Before turning on the Power, read the safety 5. Connect all sources such as microphones,
warnings on pages 3 and 4. keyboards etc., into the appropriate inputs. (For more
details see page 12, Input / Output Connections).
It is wise to establish a routine for connecting and Stereo Cassette RECORD LEVEL L R
TA P E S E L E C T
RECORD 0 1
P L AY 1
0 1 1
NORMAL
POWER 2 2 2 2
3 Cr O 2
FF 3
Volume Value
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Yes
Value Value Value Value Value Value Value Value
No
10
MASTER CONTROLS
A. Master Output Level Controls, Left/Main, Now a separate mix can be created by using the
Right/Monitor ∆ REV/AUX send controls on each channel. Set up
For the majority of applications the Passport system your house mix first. The monitor mix level is created
has been balanced to operate with these controls at from the channel REV/AUX send control, and then
their notched 12 o’clock positions. In situations routed directly to the Right Master Level Control.
where more “gain” is required, for example where a Reverb is not returned to this “Monitor” mix. Reverb
microphone (s) is at some distance from the user and is available to the house (Main) mix bus only, however
more volume is required than can be reached with the reverb level sends are also controlled from the
the input channel level controls, the master controls channel REV/AUX level controls. Reverb level to the
give an additional 6 dB of gain. Set the system up in Left Master, now the house mix, is as normal,
the normal manner and adjust levels as necessary. controlled from the Reverb Master.
Should more overall sensitivity be required the master
controls can be raised. Care should be taken to Connect the House speakers to the Left-Main
avoid feedback, or howling. The Master controls speaker connectors and the Monitor speakers to the
feature notched position indicators. Right-Monitor connectors.
If possible always operate the Master controls in their
C. Master - Reverb
notched position. Should the overall mix level need
The Reverb Master controls the overall amount of
to be increased or reduced when the system is set up
signal that is returned from the digital reverb
and balanced, the Masters can be rotated to any
processor section to the Left and Right mix busses.
position that work under the circumstances.
(Note: see Mode Switch operation)
B. Mode Select Switch & Function
The Mode switch enables the Passport System to be The Passport Sound System features an 8 bit digital
re-configured for stage monitor applications. With reverb, intended to provide enhancement for vocals
the Mode switch in its upper position operation is and musical instruments. This reverb system has
normal - L-R Stereo. (This configuration covers 90% been optimized for use across a wide variety of
of normal use.). With the switch in its lower position applications. Relative mix levels to the reverb
the Passport functions as a mono “house” (audience) processor are adjusted at the individual input channel
mixer, with a separate monitor mix. The mono/house Rev/Aux Send controls. The overall mix sent to the
mix is derived from the channel sends, the Pan and digital reverb section is processed and returned to the
balance controls becoming inoperative, and the Left Reverb Master control and after its level is set to the
Master becomes the mono - House Master control. main mix busses.
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Tape Out The Left and Right line level mix busses are routed to
The Tape Out RCA jacks provide a mix the internal power amplifiers through the Send and
output that is independent of the Master “normalled” Return connectors. When a connector is
Level Controls. Connect these to the inserted into the Send the connection is routed in
inputs of a recording device, such as a parallel to the internal amplifier and to the external
cassette or DAT recorder, to record your connection(s). When a connector is inserted into the
event. Changes made during the performance, to Return, the internal signal path (normal) is
the input level controls, channel EQ, and reverb automatically broken, allowing the external device to
controls will be heard in the Tape Out mix, changes drive the amplifier directly.
made to the master level controls will not effect the
level of the recording. Adjust recording levels The signal at the Send output is unprocessed, and
according to the instructions on your recording before the onboard System EQ and processing.
device. Should insufficient level be available at the Passport’s internal amplifiers have onboard
recorder with its input levels fully open, simply raise processing designed to optimize the system
the Passport input channel control levels. To monitor performance. Although this processing is subtle, its
the mix sent to the recorder, simply use the recorder’s effect is bypassed if the send outputs are used to
headphone output to a pair of good quality drive external amplifiers. Equally, the Passport
headphones. system processing is available at the amplifier output
connectors. When used with speakers other than
Rev/Aux Send those supplied with the system, the processing will
The Reverb/Auxiliary bus mono mix is be apparent. This may, or may not be desirable,
routed to the Rev/Aux Send output jack, depending on the characteristics of speaker systems
at pre-master fader bus level. See External used.
Reverb connection and operation on page 10.
Amplifier Outputs
Aux Return Stereo The Passport’s
The external reverb or effects return two internal
signal connected to the Aux Return is power amplifiers
routed directly to the Left and Right busses. See are each designed to drive one or two Passport
External Reverb connection and operation on page 10. speaker systems. Power into 8Ω and 4Ω is 125
Watts continuous average power, per channel.
Foot Switch
The Footswitch connector allows the A fast acting protection system is incorporated into
internal reverb return to be muted, or shut the Passport System which senses abnormal and
off, through the use of a simple foot potentially damaging conditions and shuts down
operated switch. The footswitch should be wired to both amplifiers. The Protect LED will illuminate when
connect the tip to sleeve for Off and requires a protection is triggered.
standard speaker or instrument cable.
Should longer speaker cables be required make sure
Amplifier Send & Return to use cables with sufficient conductor size. Use
The Left and Right Send/Return good quality cables, your performance depends on it!
connectors allow the
interconnection of an external
device such as a graphic equalizer to be inserted
directly between the mixer output and the power
amplifier(s). The signal present at these connectors
is at 0 dBu level and unity gain. Take care to
maintain unity of levels between the input and output
of an external device, to avoid overloading the inputs.
13
TYPICAL SET-UP APPLICATION
LEFT
9 0 2
O 1 3
1 2 4 RIGHT
TA P E S E L E C T
RECORD 0 1
P L AY 1 0 1 1
NORMAL
POWER 2 2 2 2
3 Cr O 2
PA U S E STOP REW FF 3
4
4 M E TA L
-5
-5
Volume Value
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Yes
Value Value Value Value Value Value Value Value
No
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SPECIFICATIONS
A PRODUCT OF:
FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS CORP.
CORONA, CA 91720 USA
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