Johnnys Tip of the day:
Troubleshooting audio issues
When ever you get a hum, weak signal or just something not right.
If it's only one side of a stereo set up start swapping cables starting and the speakers and working backwards. When you find the point were the issue doesn't switch channels you've found your bad cable or device.
This works real well on a PA system. By swapping I mean using the same cables but change from left to right.
In a mono audio signal path we swap out cables and devices working backwards. But in a stereo audio path swapping channels speeds up the process.
No sound from Left speaker:
1. Swap speaker wires at speaker and issue swaps= Speakers OK move to #3
Note: now our right speaker is dead
2. Swap the speaker wire at speaker & issues doesn't swap = L Speaker faulty
3. Swap speaker wire at power amp and the issue swaps= Speaker wires OK
Note: now our Left speaker is dead. Move to # 5
4. Swap speaker wire at power amp and the issue stays= Speaker wire faulty
5. Swap input cable at the power amp & issues swaps = power amp OK
Note: now our Right speaker is dead. Move to # 7
6. Swap input cable at power amp and issue stays = Power amp faulty
7. Swap output cable at mixer & issues swaps = Cable OK
Note : we are now back at Left speaker dead..no need to move any cables.
Mixer is source of issue check mixer settings.
8. Swap output cable at mixer & issue stays = Cable faulty
One thing comes to mind is how using Powered speakers eliminates 2 places where the system can fail, the power amp and the speaker cable are eliminated. Downside is when the combined unit fails (both speaker and power amp) you have lost one side.
Above method can also be used when troubleshooting a home studio system. Always work backwards from the speakers. Difference will be at the audio interface we then have a USB cable, then possibly a USB Hub, then USB ports to contend with. But the logic is the same. Work backwards and don't rule out anything.
This also works from the input side of trouble shooting too. Keep working towards the source.
Take the above situation where no sound was coming from the left one step further and all checked out back to the mixer. Well the example is not good because any idiot could have told you the left meter wasn't moving so all the above was pointless. But that said if the left meter was moving and everything else checked out you have a faulty output jack or Left fader.
But anyhow- lets say all mixer settings are correct but no sound from the left.
Your input was an MP3 player to test.
Swap the red /white RCA inputs and the issue moves = cable is OK etc
post edited by johnnyV - 2014/12/10 12:41:52