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Sound System Training

 Sound System Basics
Key Terms

+ Source – anything that plays the source material (i.e. Profusion, LE, SR, etc.)
+ Mixers (pre-amplification) – prepares signals to be amplified (not required
depending on system setup).
- Example: for live music, the mixer take the different components (instruments and
voices), and adjusts the volume, bass and treble.
- In business applications, mixers serve a similar purpose, but only when two sources
are being used at the same time (i.e. music player and microphone).
+ Amplifier – takes the signal that is sent from the source and makes it bigger.
One amplifier is needed for each source of music.
- Most of the time commercial amplifiers have mixers built-in, so a separate mixer is not
necessary.
+ Speakers
+ Additional (optional) Components
- Volume Controls
- Paging components such as microphones or paging phones.

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 Amplifiers

+ 70 Volt Mixer-Amplifiers – these amplifiers have a mixer built in – most

common in a business setting. These allow customers to have two sources in
use at the same time (most commonly, music source + paging microphone).
- Example brands: TOA, PASO
- Modular – Modular amplifiers are designed to be flexible- the back of the amplifier can
have modules attached to incorporate various functions such as paging, microphone
inputs, etc.
- Non-modular – these do not have modular capabilities. All inputs and features are pre-
set.
+ 70V High Powered Amplifiers – these amplifiers do no have a mixer built-in, so
they will require an additional mixer to prepare the audio to be amplified.
- Typically used in systems which require more power than a mixer-amplifier can
provide.
- Example brands: QSC, Bose

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 Power & Watts, Volts & Ohms
+ Power and Watts
- Watts is the unit used to
measure how powerful an
amplifier is.
- Wattage can vary. Common
amounts are 15, 30, 60, 120.
- Think of a Watt as a unit of
sound.
+ A 30-Watt amp has 30 units of
sound available to use, so in
this scenario the speaker
system should be designed to
need no more than 30 watts.
+ Ideally, not all units of power
should be used.
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+ 70 Volt and 8 Ohm
- Ohms and Volts are used to
measure electricity.
- 70Volt systems are designed to
string a large number of
speakers together and deliver
the sound evenly to all
speakers; 8 ohm systems are
designed for fewer speakers.
- Most commercial audio systems
are 70 volt systems.
 Inputs vs. Outputs
+ Inputs
- On an amplifier, the input is the
connection on the back of the
amplifier which the source
should be connected to.
- Inputs RECEIVE a signal.
- Inputs can be RCA connected
or bare wire connected.
- Each source needs it’s own
input – the music player and the
microphone cannot be
connected to the same input.
- Example names of inputs:
+ AUX (1, 2, etc.)
+ Mic
+ Tel
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+ Outputs
- The output is what is sending
the signal out to the speakers.
- The speaker wires will always
be connected to the output on
the amplifier.
- Each amplifier will have it’s out
speaker output. If multiple
zones are required, multiple
amplifiers are required.
- Speaker wires will ALWAYS be
connected to COM (far left) and
70V (far right) on a 70 Volt
amplifier.
 General Setup – 70V Mixer/Amp (non-
+
modular)
Aux connections
can use both
RCA or just one
(if using mono
RCA)
+ Microphones
should connect
to Mic or Tel.
Sometimes this
input is
combined (i.e.
TOA amps).
- RED in HOT,
BLACK (or
other color) in
COM
+ Speakers
should ALWAYS
be connected to
COM (black)
and 70V (red)

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 Sample Paso Wiring – Music, On-Hold,
Paging

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 Basic Amplifier TS – No music
+ First step – verify issue (are all areas or all speakers affected? Or just one or a
few of them?)
+ 2nd Step– rule out the source. Always, always, always start with the source to
see if that is the problem.
+ If you can confirm the source is working, check connections.
- Is the amp on? What lights are lit?
- POWER CYCLE. Power off and unplug for 30 seconds. Plug in and power back on.
- Trace the RCA cable from the source to the amplifier. Is it connected? Take note of
where it is connected.
+ Not connected? Determine the type of connection (RCA or bare wire) and reconnect it!
- Is the corresponding volume control for that input turned up? Is there an aux attenuator
or mute/sense knob on the back of the amp? If so make sure it’s turned half way up.
- Are there any wall volume controls? Make sure they are adjusted.
- Can you try another input? If the amp has two AUX inputs, move the RCA cable from
one AUX input to another. Make sure when doing this you also adjust the
corresponding volume knob for that input.
- Are the speaker wires connected? Are any disconnected slightly or frayed? Only
disconnect completely if you need to re-connect any wires. Otherwise, don’t touch!

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 Common Issues – LED Light Indicators
+ Protect Mode
- Some amplifiers have a ‘Protect’ light which will light up when there is too much power
going into this amplifier. This can sometimes be due to a break in the speaker line.
- Usually we can’t fix this.
- Power off amp, disconnect power, input and output cables/wires. Wait 5-10 mins and
re-connect everything. If the Protect light is on, a replacement amp should be ordered
for TECH INSTALL.
- Always encourage tech installs for amps (don’t offer self install) – especially if the
Protect light is on – that means something else is wrong with the system.
+ Peak Light
- The Peak LED will light up when an amplifier approaches clipping level (overload). If
constantly lit, turn down the volume knob for the music input until the Peak light flashes
only intermittently. The Peak light SHOULD occasionally flash.
+ Signal
- The signal indicator light should be on or flashing when music is playing.
- Remember: all these bulbs could go out, so just because the signal light is off, does not
mean the amp is not working.

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 Common Issues and Fixes
+ No music in some areas.
- Typically a wiring or speaker issue. Verify all connections to amplifier and volume
controls are up. If yes, send a tech.
+ No power
- Verify the amplifier is connected to a working outlet.
- Never have the source player plugged into the outlet on the rear panel of the amp (if
there is one).
- If available, press the reset button on the back (not all amps have this).
- If still no power, and the outlet is working, order a replacement amp for TECH
INSTALL.
+ Static
- Usually a wiring issue. Is the static in all speakers or just one or a few? If only one or a
few, it’s probably a speaker issue.
- Power cycle all equipment.
- Verify connections on amplifier (is anything loose?). Try another input on the amplifier.
- Make sure the aux attenuator or mute/sense knob is only half way.
- Ensure volume controls are not turned too high.

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 Paging Issues – Music not cutting out during
pages or no paging
+ Step one: verify the make and model of amp and microphone.
+ Does the amplifier have dip switches?
- If yes, make sure that the MUTE RECEIVE switch for the music input is on and the
MUTE SEND switch is up for the mic input!
+ No dip switches? See pic below!
- Most amplifiers will automatically mute any input whenever the Mic input is activated.
- Verify the SENS (may be VOX SENS, MUTE/SENSE) is turned halfway. Adjust slightly
and try paging again.
- If there is a Mute Delay knob, lower this level (this is the amount of time the machine
will delay muting the music.

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 Dipswitch Paging Example

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 Important Notes to Remember
+ Not all amplifiers look the same on the back.
- Obtain the make and model from the customer and go to Google Image or use
documentation on Mood Connect!
+ Always start with the source. Don’t waste time with the amp until you have
confirmed the source works.
+ A lot of times the fix is simple- something is disconnected, volume is down, amp
is off, etc.
+ Use TS Guides on Mood Connect for Paso and TOA amps!

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