Peavey Pv10 Mixer

How to Set Up a Peavey Pv10 Mixer

Peavey's PV10 is one of a number of inexpensive compact audio mixers that have become popular in recent years, especially for small home recording projects. Compact audio mixers are usually small enough to rest securely on a desktop and can be connected to a computer or other external recording device. However, they're also versatile enough to use in smaller live audio situations, like solo coffee house gigs, making them popular among musicians on a limited budget.

Instructions

• Place the PV10 in a convenient location, such as on your desktop or near the recording device that you plan to use. Connect the AC adapter to the proper connector on the back of the PV10, then plug it into an electrical outlet.
   
• Connect the mixer's "Tape Out" jacks to the input of your external recording device via RCA cable in order to send the audio signal from the mixer to the recorder. If you want to listen to playback from the recording device through monitors or headphones connected to the PV10, connect the recording device's output to the PV10's "Tape In" jacks and depress the "Tape to CTRL/HP" switch. If you are connecting the PV10 to a computer's sound card, note that most sound cards not designed for pro-audio applications have one-eighth inch input and output jacks rather than RCA. You can purchase an RCA to one-eighth inch cable, but sound cards with RCA inputs and outputs generally provide better sound quality.
  
  
• Connect your studio monitors to the mixer. There are two ways to do this. If your monitors only have one-quarter inch TRS inputs, connect the left and right "Control Room" outputs to the left and right monitors, respectively. If your monitors have XLR inputs, you also can use the PV10's left and right XLR outputs. Note that the "Control Room" output volume is controlled by the headphone volume knob, while the left and right XLR output volume is controlled by the master level faders.
  
• Connect the microphones or instruments that you plan to use to the PV10's six mono microphone inputs or two sets of stereo line inputs. The six mono channels each have an XLR and a one-quarter inch input. Professional quality microphones require an XLR cable, while some instrument amplifiers have a one-quarter inch output, which allows them to be connected directly to a mixing board. If you want to record a keyboard or effects processor with stereo one-quarter inch outputs, connect them to one of the two stereo inputs. If you connect microphones or instruments directly to the PV10 with no external amplification, you will need to switch on the PV10's phantom power in order to get a signal from them.
  
• Set the gain, EQ, effects, pan and volume levels for each channel to which you connected a microphone or instrument. This is largely a matter of personal preference, but there are some tips to keep in mind. Start with the master volume slider for each channel turned all the way down, then turn it up gradually while playing the instrument or checking the microphone. This minimizes the possibility of speaker (and hearing) damage. Second, use EQ and effects as necessary, but sparingly, to avoid making a recording that sounds muddy.
  
• Make a short test recording to ensure that you have set the levels and effects the way you want them. Keep in mind that both the mixer and the recording device that you are using will have their own master volume controls, and neither should be set too loud or too quiet. A good rule of thumb is to watch the level indicators on both devices and try to set each so that the loudest sounds stop just short of triggering the peak indicator. You want to avoid peaks because they will cause the recording to distort, but you also should be sure not to go too far in the opposite direction.