MACKIE M3000 - Manual (Page 13)

13
Owner’s Manual
Owner’
s Manual
See “Output Wiring” on page 18 for more info on mak-
ing the speaker output connections.
8. AMP MODE
This three-way switch, along with the X-OVER
switches, determines what kind of amplifier you want
the M-Series amplifier to be (or not to be — what was
the question?).
The AMP MODE switch determines the input signal
routing within the amplifier. Shipped from the factory,
the switch is set to STEREO. This is correct for about
90% of the applications using an amp like this. But you
may be in the 10% bracket, requiring special input rout-
ing within the amp.
The AMP MODE should be configured before opera-
tion — if you must change it during performance, turn
down the Gain controls as a precaution to protect the
speakers from any inadvertent pops or thumps.
STEREO mode (separate left and right inputs,
separate left and right outputs) is the typical setup for
amplifying stereo signals.
MONO mode (sometimes called Dual-Mono – one
mono input, two mono outputs) is for sending a mono
signal to two different speaker sets, with separately-
adjustable Gain controls.
BRIDGE mode (sometimes called Bridged-Mono – one
mono input, one mono output) uses both sides of the
amp to double the power to one speaker set. With two
M-Series power amplifiers, each set to BRIDGE mode,
you can deliver as much as 4000 watts per amplifier for
the M•4000 (2000 watts for the M•2000 and 3000 watts
for the M•3000).
If you set the AMP MODE switch to MONO or
BRIDGE, normally you would use just the Channel 1
input. You can connect a stereo input to Channels 1 and
2, but the M-Series amplifier sums the two inputs and
delivers a mono signal to the amplifier stage.
9. INPUTS
The M-Series amplifiers give you a choice — it has
combination XLR and 1/4" inputs, as well as screw
terminal balanced input connectors. Sonically (and
electrically) they’re identical. Since these inputs are
all in parallel (the Thru jacks are in parallel with the
inputs as well), you shouldn’t connect more than one
source to the INPUT connectors. Each can be used with
either balanced or unbalanced signals. See “Input Wir-
ing” on page 17 for more information about making the
input connections.
The M-Series amplifier expects to see a nominal sig-
nal level anywhere between the –10dBV “semipro” and
+4 dBu “pro” standards, meaning almost any line-level
mixer or other device can be plugged into the amp’s
INPUTs. Use the Gain controls to adjust the gain of the
amplifier to match the signal level you’re using.
10. Thru Connectors
Someday you’ll do a show and realize that one M-Series
amplifier is just not going to do the job — you’ll need a
six-foot-high rack full of ’em. That’s what the Thru jack
is for. Simply plug the signal source outputs into the
first amp’s INPUTs, patch from that amp’s Thru jacks
to the next amp’s INPUTs, and so on, daisy-chaining as
many amps as you can afford (assuming your console has
low-impedance outputs).
A general rule of thumb is to maintain a load imped-
ance 10 times or more than the source impedance to
prevent excessive loading. If your console has an output
impedance of 100 ohms, then you can daisy-chain up to
twenty-four M-Series amplifiers, which presents a load
of 1000 ohms to the console (input impedance of 24
kohms divided by 24 amplifiers = 1000 ohms).
The Thru jacks can also be used to relay the signal on
to other devices such as a DAT or cassette recorder, en-
abling you to record exactly what the audience is hear-
M
.
4000
AC LINE
BREAKER
(PUSH TO RESET)
SERIAL / DATE CODE
BRIDGE
+
+ +
1 2 BRIDGE
PIN 1 = CH1
PIN 2 = CH2
PIN 1 = BRIDGE
PIN 2 = UNUSED
PIN 1 = CH2
PIN 2 = UNUSED
LETHAL
VOLTAGES
MAY APPEAR
AT OUTPUT
TERMINALS.
CLASS 3 WIRING
IS REQUIRED.
SPEAKER OUTPUTS
1 2
ON/
TYPICAL
LIMIT
OFF
STEREO
AMP
MODE
MONO
BRIDGE
CAUTION GND
CHANNEL 1
GND
CHANNEL 2
ON/
TYPICAL
LIMIT
OFF
DESIGNED BY MACKOIDS IN WOODINVILLE, WA, USA
MANUFACTURED IN CHINA • FABRIQUE EN CHINE
©2005 LOUD TECHNOLOGIES INC. • “MACKIE” AND
THE “RUNNING MAN” FIGURE ARE REGISTERED
TRADEMARKS OF LOUD TECHNOLOGIES INC.
1300W / CH
4Ω LOAD MIN
2600W BRIDGE
8Ω LOAD MIN
~120VAC 60Hz 1600W
INPUT INPUT
LPF
HPF
FULL
LPF
HPF
FULL
150Hz
X-OVER
150Hz
X-OVER
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK • DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION
HIGH EFFICIENCY POWER AMPLIFIER