Karaoke Forums

Hey guys, seems like you guys are having fun here, I am new to this place. Anyway, I recently purchased a mackie cfx12 off ebay, and finally it has arrived, but here are some of my queries.

1) I Live in New Zealand where the voltage is 240V, I was told that these mixers have a power supply built in, and so I can plug it straight into the mains? But i have seen on the manual it says ~120V 60hz, .85A
FUSE 1.25A, 250V SLOW.... BUT on the mixer itself it jsut says ~120VAC, 50/60 Hz, 35 watt. SO, do I need an external transformer or not? (Sorry, I am useless in regards to eletronics stuff)

2) I have read some posts here, and people are very against using them on home theatre speakers. Before I bought this Mackie, I used to run karaoke over this pioneer "karaoke" mixer (it was an old thing about 10 years old now) through my receiver and to my home theatre speakers. (I just do home karaoke, playing Karaoke VCDs and DVDs outta the dvd machine, or use a VOD system on the computer to output into the mixer than into receiver and speakers, this seems like the way that everyone does home karaoke around the place i originally came from ) Now, I was wondering... How exactly do u intergrate the mackie into a home theatre? as in the cables and connections? and if I was to purchase some speakers just for karaoke? Is there any recommendation on some good but not overly expensive speakers?

Thanks in advance

My advice to you is to contact Mackie itself and ask their technicians. This way if you do as they instruct you and you have a problem, you will have grounds for repair or refund.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Being you bought it on E-Bay, you won't be entitled to a refund most likely.

If you do get the power converter (there has to be one out there somewhere), hook your players & mics into the CFX & the main outputs of it to your receiver. Once you get to that point, we'll tell you how to set it up for proper levels.

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I have a techie friend which claims that its possible to temper with the inbuilt power supply so I don't have to purchase an external transformer. Guess i'll let him look at that. Now i suppose to hook my players onto it, I use the tape in? how about outputing the mains to receiver? Do I just use the tape out into the receiver? Or do i have to use the main out be it TRS or XLR, then make my own leads or find some converter plus from 1/4" to RCA(Yes the receiver takes RCAs)?

I am no expert but I have been reading the manual for the cfx12 because that is the mixer I will be buying in the next month. You need to input you player into channels 9 & 10 or 11 & 12. And yes use the xlr or 1/4 main outs to go to your amp. Please forgive me if I am not exactly correct, I know lowman is the one who should be able to give detailed answers.

Yes, you need to use the stereo channel inputs to connect your player. You should easily find 1/4" to RCA cables at your local music supply store. You would also use the same cabling from your main out to your amplifier. Do not use the tape or cd in jacks on the board. The whole purpose of the board is to get the best possible mix, and you must use the channel strips in order to sufficiently tweak and adjust your sound.

Cheers

Right, but I have heard some ppl saying that the level of output from the mixer is different compared to what an AV receiver would take hence might fry the amps input, is that true?

I've never had a problem hooking my mixer into any home receiver i've owned. As long as you aren't cranking up the main fader on the mixer but leave it a level that is equivalent to any other source in your system, you aren't going to have any problems.

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I would say that if the label or markings by the mixer's power input socket state 120v, then that is what the built in transformer is set up to handle. In which case, you WILL require an external "Step Down" transformer to convert 240v ac to 120v ac.

Also, you may already know this but it won't hurt to say it anyway.....

As a rule of thumb, you should always turn the volume controls to silent on both the mixer and amplifier before you power-up the system. In addition, the amp should be the LAST thing you switch on, and the FIRST thing you switch off.

Keep an eye on any peak level indicators after power-up, and make sure that nothing is ever constantly showing red. The occasional red blip is generally ok.

Stick to this procedure and you will never fry the amp input, or pop either the speakers or tweeters.

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CyprusSam
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