Mic-driven speaker muting - Behringer DX2000 USB 

MIchael, I tapped off either side of the LED to another relay. It's all good! Thanks for helping me complete something from my bucket list. Check out: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZSBcnCaChOg.html

First, make sure that it is indeed the fader which is the problem, because pressing down on the fader will slightly flex the circuit board it's attached to, which may push a loose contact in a next door component (e.g. a ribbon cable back into place). A good clue that it's the fader is if you hear crackling noise when you gently push the fader with minimal force. Assuming you're confident that the fader is the problem, try giving the fader track a good spray with a "compressed air" can, which may dislodge some fibres that are keeping the contact from the track. If that doesn't work, open the mixer. If it's the channel faders that are playing up, these are connected to the PCB indirectly via flyleads. Check the flylead connectors (you'll have to carefully power the mixer open and probe the connectors with an insulating stick of some sort). If it's the master faders, then these are directly soldered to the PCB, so check the legs for dry joints. See my other video for the mixer anatomy: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-skWTiC18KsM.html If the connections are not the problem then you will need to replace the affected faders. Both ALPS and Panasonic make compatible faders: - Channel 1 and 2 are Mono logarithmic 10k 100mm potentiometers (www.theaudioguyuk.com/product/behringer-panasonic-fader-100mm-10kd-mono-slim/9) - Channels 3-7 are stereo logarithmic 10k 100mm (www.theaudioguyuk.com/product/behringer-fader-100mm-10kd-stereo/101) - Master faders are stereo logarithmic 10k 60mm (www.theaudioguyuk.com/product/behringer-mackie-channel-fader-60mm-10kd-stereo/836)

If you've tapped the 12V lamp feed for the power source, it provides about 5 watts max. Check you've got the light level knob turned all the way up on the mixer. The relays will typically use about half a watt each max, leaving 4 watts spare. That'll be enough to run several large LEDs. If you're trying to power a much larger on-air light or long strip of LEDs you will probably need more power and you'll need a separate external power supply rather than tapping the mixer 12V line.

It depends on what your intended audio source is for the streaming content. If you're intending to play audio on a computer and then also stream it out to the world from the same computer, you can probably avoid having a hardware mixer altogether and do this all in a software mixer. If you wanted speech you could use something like the AT2020 USB microphone which connects directly to your computer. Play around with something like Mixxx to see if it does the job for you. If you're intending to add audio in from two mics and/or other devices, then you'll probably want a hardware mixer. This DX2000 is a very good mixer for radio/streaming because it has five stereo channels and two mic channels. Most mixers don't have very many stereo channels. You'll want a multichannel soundcard. I've found the ESI Maya44USB+ a pretty good soundcard, and you can add in the ESI Gigaport HD if you need more outputs. You'd then set it up so that your mixer output goes into the Maya44 inputs 1 (L) and 2 (R), then you can have various software players playing audio out via the Maya44 outputs, and the Gigaport HD outputs, which you'd then connect into the mixer channels as stereo pairs (e.g. Maya44 output 1 and output 2 into the L+R for mixer channel 3, Maya44 output 3 and output 4 into the L+R for mixer channel 4, Gigaport output 1 and output 2 into the L+R for mixer channel 5... and so on). Years ago I used to use the M-Audio Delta 1010LT soundcard, but that's not compatible with most modern motherboards nowadays. When you're looping audio out from the computer to a mixer, then out from a mixer back to the computer is is ESSENTIAL you have the computer's inputs not playing back via the outputs (e.g. muted) else you'll get feedback!

I've added a parts list to the video description. I buy my components directly from China via AliExpress. They usually take 3 weeks to deliver so order early.

@@MichaelBrooksDr oh many many thanks :)

Sure, I'll try to get onto this this weekend.

@@MichaelBrooksDr it's Ok! I've done it! Just gotta do the micro switches inside now. But I'm gonna run the box straight out of the 12 lamp connection so we don't have to make any more holes in the mixer casing... it will also me the on air lights will work directly from the lamp socket on Mic up XD

Sort of. You can use the FX send and return. Press the FX button on the mic fader channel. You can then pipe the post-fader output from the mixer's FX Send jack socket to a compressor. You then connect the output from the compressor to the mixer's FX return. Adjust the FX Return knob (top right at the front) so that the levels are correct. You'll probably want to have the main mic gain fairly low and apply additional gain at the compressor, such that your dry mic signal won't be louder than the FX return (compressed signal).

The mic channels have Inserts (prefader send & returns) just for that purpose. Go old-school {no Apps) and get a MDX4600 w/gate & insert cables.

I've put a diagram and parts list in the video description. Diagram: twitter.com/michaeljtbrooks/status/1363490490532921349 Microswitch: www.aliexpress.com/item/33008141110.html

@MichaelBrooksDr Hi Michael I need your help with a auto mute for my studio mixer can you please help me with this thanks

What a superb suggestion! Absolutely, yes it could. You could either energise a third relay which can switch a "Mics live" light, or the 12V lamp supply line I tapped for this can supply about 415mA (5 watts at 12V), so you could run a 12v red LED strip / LED cluster light directly off it.

Yeah sorry about that, I filmed it on a DSLR which didn't pick up the dark bits very well. I've just put a diagram on Twitter which may help: twitter.com/michaeljtbrooks/status/1363490490532921349?s=20

It's a custom modification but is relatively easy to do. I'm not selling any myself because I've not got the time to produce them.

@@MichaelBrooksDr lol any box available yet ?

I've not got much free time nowadays, so it'd take me months to get round to doing it!

@@MichaelBrooksDr I understand. I bought the parts last night anyway, gonna give it a go in about 7 years when all the parts arrive from ali express lol. Thanks anyway. And truly thank you for the video it's saving us thousands of pounds 👍🏼

I'm pretty short on time nowadays. Try sending this video to a friend who tinkers with electronics, see if they would be happy to have a go.

If you wanted I can make a box for you and then you would just need to add your switch to your mixer. Box is externally powered on my version.

@@darrensmith2903 So all I have to do is plug and play right I don't have to take the mixer apart because I don't know what im doing that's why I say I will pay you for everything if you do it for me I trust you I will pay to ship it to you and pay you for doing it and pay to have it ship back

@@darrensmith2903 Hi there, I will be equally interested in availing your help too. I quite appreciate your knowledge and expertise and if more requests would make it a worthwhile effort for you, I will be happy to pay to have one made for me too. I will like to control the studios on-light with it if possible. Cheers

Google electrician and then consult , worth doing I think this mixer is fab