The American-European Conversion!

Errrr the American system is 60 Hz?

Do you mean the UK system of 50 Hz?

As its a mixing desk I'm sure its powered from a dc power supply, so if the power supply can cope with the different frequencies there should be no problem surely?

Unless there are filters inside to filter out mains frequencies, in which case there's not a lot that can be done, but as they're microprocessor controlled I guess they can be purchased as 50 or 60 Hz types..... or maybe they have dual filters at 50 and 60 Hz....To minimise the mains frequencies etc...

John.

Mr. Truman Brain,

As far as I know, "American" power is supplied at 110 volts AC, with a frequency of 60 hertz, not 50.

Furthermore, I believe that the electricity supply in most of Spain is 220 volts AC with a frequency of 50 hertz.

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Just my $0.02...

My mistake, got the 50 and 60 round the wrong way! Anyway, so if I can change the transformer, do you think the electronics will be ok with the 50Hz? I don't know how frequency affects the internal workings of the processor and any information is better than plugging it in blind just to blow the thing up!

It would help to know the make and model. In general the mains frequency has no bearing on the internal workings of an audio mixer other than in the power supply itself. Mixers don't have filters for mains frequencies as the audio path has to have a flat response to 20Hz and below and nothing else will be locked to mains frequency.

As electroman has said mixers run on dc, however even a very basic mixer usually has 3 different rails and more complex ones may have 8 or more rails. Mixer power supplies tend to be complex due to the need for low noise, correct sequencing and starting into highly capacitive loads.

I am assuming you have dealt with the 230V to 110V conversion. The ability to reduce the supply frequency of a mains power supply unit depends on how much margin was built into the original design. The saturation voltage of a 60Hz transformer is reduced by 5/6th on 50Hz. Reservoir capacitors may be too small. Some mixers may use a voltage multiplier circuit to derive the +48V phantom supply from a lower voltage tap on the transformer so the maximum load on the supply may be reduced. Apart from the size of reservoir capacitors, this won't apply to switch mode supplies.

In general equipment built for the UK market has had a rather larger safety margin in its power supplies that that built for the US market. This means that a 60Hz only psu is likely to be marginal on 50Hz and have a somewhat shorter life. That said, I have had to adapt 60Hz equipment in the past and have usually got away with it.

Cheers, Chankley. Nice bit of info! You seem to be up on your desks so I have another quick question if that's ok!

Many years ago, the boss of the company and I installed the original electrics for RAI 2 (a live recording studio) in Italy. We did it all apart from the music side, i.e. patching through from the control room to the live room, the desk to the various rack mounts and processors, all of that was left up to the 'specialists!' Now for 30odd years, I've dabbled in home music recording, I've had the odd 8track, effects, a little mixing desk, drum machines, guitars, mics etc. etc. All connected together with the same old favorite guitar leads, long ones, short ones, even ones that had to be doubled over and stuck to the table to make them work type of guitar lead! My question is, what is so 'special' about the cables they use, and could we get away with using long or short good quality guitar leads?

Sounds like your still partying. America is 60 Hz and Europe is 50 Hz. Check the transformer may have taps for both markets. If not you will need a converter.

Cheers ozzb, the party never stops here! Always some excuse to strut your funky stuff!

Like "Electroman", I am going to state the obvious in that you should have a good look at the manual (or at least the specs available on the Internet) for the music mixing desk. Many electronic devices now days are capable of running off a wide input voltage and frequency range (hooray for advances in switch-mode power supplies). Check this first as you may be trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill.

Yes I know, but sometimes people will just plain miss the obvious.

Without knowing the internal circuitry, I can only guess.

A lot of electronics convert AC to DC, which is what the circuit needs, so using 50Hz vs 60Hz might not matter since it's all converted to DC anyway.

However, some electronics use the AC supply for either synchronizing or timing, such as some digital clocks. My boss once bought a digital clock in Europe and was dismayed to find that the clock always ran fast when he brought it back to our 60Hz country.

I don't know if your mixer needs the AC for the same purpose. If the mixer's designer was smart, he'd generate his own clock signals so that the mixer can be used anywhere in the world.

I have never seen an audio mixer that uses the ac supply as a timing or synchronising reference.

Neither have I but, then again, I don't know everything .

Maybe after reading this, someone will think of doing it .

you neednit worry about it, very most of the mix console can adopt either 50/60hz and suitable to 110/220v convert.

attention to back of the instument, there is a jump line to convert 110.220v power.

set them correctly.

btw, what console are you using?

digital or analog? ?in/?out? channels?

I like dicuss them.

I shall let you know! A friend of mine is setting up a comercial studio and he went and ordered all the stuff on the internet only to find out that it was all for the American market! I have yet to see the stuff so I want to be prepared for all circumstances! From what I've been told, It's a 32 track 8-4-2 Analog/digital input/output with phantom power and onboard digital effects! But that might be wrong also! As I said, I'll let you know!

There should be a placard on the back where the power goes into the board. On the placard will be the electical requirments, and there may be a switch to select either 50 or 60 Hz...

The mixers I have used were AC powered not DC.

I think I'm in the dark until I can actually have a good look at the thing! Any advice on the cables? I suppose in time, they can be upgraded but will the benefits of very expensive cables be over-kill for every cable?

IMHO, as long as the cables don't have shorts, and if you are not going to move them around much, and if there is not much RFI in the area, then high quality cables are probably overkill, and standard guitar cords are fine...

You need high quality cables if:

You are building up and taking down the rig often (mechanical damage)

You are moving the cable a lot ( a guitar player who is all over the stage)

There is significant RFI in the area (need a well shielded cable)

The main issue with cables is that the connectors break internally due to constantly building up and taking down the rig, or getting stepped on...

Sounds like sound advice! Cheers Steve S.

I've just been told it's a Mackie 328! But from what I gather, it is totally analogue! He has some other stuff as well that is digital so I will have to post a full list for those of you who are interested! Cheers all!