Sound Like a Pro on the AIR - Mixers & Mics 

Really good video guys. I think this is the types of subjects that need to be addressed. I dont mean this in a bad way but the new hams today are not as electronically savvy as they were in Kevin's generation. I know some new Generals that have never used a soldering iron. After showing him how to solder, he was amazed at how simple it is. Keep 'em coming.

You all inspire me to get my amateur license. Thank you

Thank you for the informative video!

Out of all of the videos out here you hit on the one thing 90% out there struggle with the need for a DI box for ham radio!!!!! Very few have had success without a DI box as radios are looking for mic level audio and rack gear introduced line level into our radios. 3 years on and off of getting noise on key up on the radios a simple DI box can solve this issue for most More DI box for ham radio videos need to be made.

I am sorry that COVID 19 has closed Kevin's business. Hope he bounces back. 73, W4TUP.

You can use a CW key in place of the Heil Pistol Grip or like I did, wire a Computer Mouse to key (PTT) the radio.

Nice video guys, I got a question, why not feed the output of the mixer, to the accessory port of any radio, usually labeled as "MOD IN"? That way we bypass all pre-amp circuits that are used for the microphone at the front, that have to do with gain equalization and so on? All the rest of the connections we need, like AF out (to send receiver audio back to the mixer) and PTT are there as well.

Great job, I appreciate you guys!

They no longer make the ROLLS DIRECT BOX DB225 please recomend an alternative Thank you Nick

I gave you a thumbs up, the only trouble is some hams have voices for print

I have a Weymic Professional Mixer | 7-Channel 2-Bus Mixer with a CZE-7C FM transmitter. How do I connect a microphone to the mixer so that when I am talking, I can hear myself on the radio? I am currently using my computer to play music and I was able to connect the transmitter and computer to play music. Music can be heard on the radio. The only problem I am having is connecting a microphone to the mixer so when I speak, I can hear myself on the radio. I have Pyler wired microphones with the XLR hooked up to the microphone itself and a 1/4 inch jack on the other end. Any assistance will be appreciated.

Thanks for a good video, perhaps you could do a follow up video on how to send the mic audio to several radios, 73 Dave G0MLC

I am only now watching your video about the use of a mixer in the world of HAM-Radio, very nice to try this out. And the shown easy-RJ45 connectors I have not seen before. That is quite an improvement, because I always have problems getting the wires in the right place. So I'm going to see where I can order these and the wire cutter. Thank you very much for the valuable video and keep it up, I will certainly be watching you more often. I wish everyone a healthy and merry Christmas and hope we can be successful in closing and left behind Covid-19 in the year 2022. Good luck in the new year 2022. Kind regards, Danny Branderhorst Callsign: PD2DSB QTH: Kerk Avezaath Netherlands

I used to be a mobile DJ, and used to fiddle with Radios, and both combined. 1 rule to remember Kids, is the more cables, gear, and accessories hooked up to a radio, the more your station is susceptible to RFI. Why? Because the cables, gear, and accessories ALL act as an Antenna. Keep cables as short as possible, keep SWR low, keep power low, or keep gear as far from Antenna as possible!!!

You can always use a Heil AD-1 for your specific radio if you aren't comfortable building your own cable.

Really an outstanding video on this subject! Thanks for taking the time to make it. Well done! 73, George K2WO

are you still making cables? Sorry just found this and subscribed! thanks!

Hello, do I really need a DI BOX? If so, where can I find your di dox to purchase? Thanks

How do I contact you for help and information? Kenin and/or Jason.

I would like to connect 1 mic into two different radios. I have a dual band 2m/70cm radio and a icom 706. Tnx 73

For RJ45, and no crimper needed: use a low cost Ethernet cable and cut in half, end off etc?

info-mercial O-Rama! LOL

Excelent tutorial, the PDB helped me a lot with unwanted noise from mic to radio. Now I'm struggling with RFI in my mixer during transmission. Do you think a RF chocke near to my antenna will handle it?

great video ive got it bookmarked. nothing like this ive seen on the internet. ive been buying my cables pre made for yaesu and icom to mixer but there is very good information here about using the mixer for everything. thanks. KM4BDK

Hello I have a question about PTT. Why is the cable going inside the XLR? Where do I need to plug the PTT cable into the XLR connector?

I am hoping to connect a behringer eurorack mx802a to my yaesu ft1000mp..I dont know how to connect the mixer to my computer. Can you please help with the connections required? what cables etc do I need and what are the connection points? thanks 73 Ted VE3SS

having 3 radios, I'd like to share all radios the same mic but I also would like to get the audio from each radio to the same stereo speakers... that requires a quite complicated cosole with many bus, there you can route the audio from any devices to any devices, you can even send the audio from one radio to another one (no real use but just saying the routing capabilities) now that requires a way more bigger and complex console than what is shown here...

Where are the videos on the speakers and setting it up with a radio I can’t find them?

Great video and very informative, thank you from VK. Two aspects have me confused. 1) Do you need a pad to pull down the line level voltage before feeding into the mic pre-amp of the radio? 2) Where the radio has a much higher input impedance of say 2kohms what effect will the impedance mismatch to the di output of 600ohm have?

Hey guys, great video, but I’m a bit confused about the XLR. Are we leaving pin one disconnected or shorting it to pin 3 and just not grounding it? Also should I connect the shield to the connector shells? I have an FT-890,(8 pin round), and would like to utilize the external studio mic as well as keep the up down and fast button functionality. I have an 8 conductor shielded coiled cable that I intend to make the di box to radio connection and will add an additional pigtail with an rj45 that will eventually plug into a 3D printed box with the up, down, fast, and PTT buttons. Any clarification and or input is greatly appreciated Thx, 73 Howard KI7TKS

Hi guys I'm looking for help setting up my icom 756 pro2 to a mixer and di box

Can you use a non-powered speaker from the mixer to receive audio from your radio? Or must it be a powered speaker? I have ordered a pair of Klipsch speakers, will they work?

Hi a really interesting video I’m playing with audio at the moment and found this video so helpful but just a quick question on my Icom with the 8 pin round pin 1 microphone input has 8 volts on it and I want to add a dynamic microphone so I’m thinking of adding a 1uf cap in the feed line before the di box I’d be interested in your comments ?

How do you keep the condensor mic from picking up every audio in your shack?

Thanks for a great video, however I have one question, not sure if your mixer has balanced or unbalanced output, but its seems that you used a balanced output from the DI box (XLR) to radio mic input, should this not be the other way around. Thanks

Hey guys, just came across the video and it’s awesome!! Full of great information. I have a question. I’m looking at doing this for my 11meter cobra 29 since I don’t have my Ham license yet. I understand the parts on how to wire the mic and the PTT for my radio. Normally when the PTT is pushed, the receive control (which is normally going to ground) gets disconnected when in transmit. My question is how would I make that happen doing it the way you guys have it set up? Thanks for your help.

Can I add VOX to my VHF using the mixing board? I have an Icom ID-880H.

Probably a stupid question, but if my mixer already has two 3 pin XLR balanced outputs, do I still need to use a direct box before the audio goes into the radio? I'm thinking not as they are 600 ohm.

Was the setup video with the radio and mixer ever made if so where can I find it?

Anyone with a FTDX3000 you can Use a Heil Sound Headset Adapter Cables AD-1-Y for your 8pin round and PTT Adapter. and The FT991 is a Heil Sound Headset Adapter Cables AD-1-YM. I had A HEIL Proset Elite 6 and just used those Adapters instead of Making the ends Up.. Made the Rest of the Cables and Everything seems to be working good with the HEIL Foot Switch. One thing I don't like is you cant mute the Control or Monitor Speakers when plugging in a Headphone. Will rig up a Power Switch and a Relay Bord to switch between Rigs without un Plug and switching PTT Footpedal.. I use a relay and a toggle SW to switch between Rigs.. At least got the Desk mics off the desk and ran the audio out and more than pleased.. Using a Berringer USB1204.. Good Overall Video.. Keep it Up KU0D

Great video! Have you ever connected this up to a IC-7300? If so, did you use the acc connector on the rear, or the mic connector on the front? Thanks W5CIB

how does it wire to icom 7300

When is the setup video with the radio going to be out I cant find it?

I have an FT 991A I use mostly for VHF/UHF/C4FM and an IC-7300 for things HF. Is it possible to buy the whole solution as a package? I could buy the crimper/connectors etc yada, yada but it would all be ,for the most part, a one off. Thanks. Skip, W5UTW

I have the Behringer Xeny Q802USB but my FX SEND don't send the signal to my powered speakers. Any thoughts?

You can put a EV RE 20 thru a mixer but SSB is only 3kHz wide. Not really worth it

Excellent video. Does this same principle apply to VHF radios? I have a podcast studio set up and I'd like to run my b2pro from my behringer mixer to my yeasu ft2900. I'd like to build a cable someday possibly but is there a place I could purchase one for now to get on the air. I'd like to support you guys. I subbed also.

Would i do the same thing to run it a mixer on my galaxy cb

so as i re=visit this segment as far as a mobile goes how would you go about setting two mics up and key one at a time? and the mystery would be like we mentioned on messenger if we find away to key one xlr mic at a time and not have both mics active like a pod cast where would you place the di box? in between the mic and mixer or between the radio and mixer? i am intrigued to find this out when i get the mobile install going.

I have a passive DI box,will it work as well?

Does mixer work icom 7000 .& are mixers pre-amped ?

No one is posting DIY content. This adapter circuit connection is ICOM-YAESU-KENW. how should it be? No one giving information !!!

I wanted to look at your website but keep getting the following error... Fatal error: The file /home4/kenspros/public_html/libsecure.php was encoded by the ionCube Encoder for PHP 5.6 and cannot run under PHP 7.1 or later. Please ask the provider of the script to provide a version encoded with the ionCube Encoder for PHP 7.1. in Unknown on line 0

Great Video. One question... I have a Yaesu FT 8800, dual band VHF/UHF. For a dinamyc mic that are connected to my mixer, i need a DI box between my radio and the mixer, right? Thanks!

Hi I saw your other video about this. You mentioned there that the DI Box comes in between the Mic and the Mixer. Here in this video, it actually is between the Mixer and the Radio. So which is which?

i even use my guitars through my mixer oh mines a berringer 502

JMHO, but I dislike long drawn out live discussions covering something that can be covered in 10 minutes max. Time is our most precious commodity. We are talking mono communications frequency spectrums which are tiny and mostly simply compared to hi-fi or RF spectrums. I mean we are basically talking 5K or less spectrums. I guess YT pays more for long drawn out videos?

Akg make great mics. AT2020s. Nah. I run a aphex 204 with optical big bottom and a good parametric eq. And a -10db pad. Of course I have a tube preamp for phantom pwr. And a decent compressor with noise gates ;)

Connected all using this video to my 991. I make alot of noice. In USB I see my ALC meter react without speaking in the mic. When monitoring I hear something that sounds like the ocean. Anyone??

totally confusing when you discuss the wiring of the PTT

buy good shielded cables and good speakers do it once not twice

is it not possible to connect the mic to the rear of the radio

Doesn’t get much sillier than this. Amateur radio is a communications medium. If someone wants to play junior broadcaster, take it somewhere else.

Radio transmit bandwidth is very important here, you are not going to get anything decent from a rig pushing 1900 or 2200 audio bandwidth you at least need 2900 or higher

Ken's Pro Audio website is kaput.

Too complex......why not just use a phone jack from mixer to radio.....and a mic to key the radio?

if you have the proper pin out, your IT guy at the office can crimp the RJ45 for you

It’s pronounced Ben-knee-sha.

This is Very helpful to me!!! I have a Very old RCA ribbon microphone. Thank you! KN4UXO

SOoooo....I guess one buys various mics, runs it into the mixer (variious choices), and decides 'Me LIKIE!" ..and this makes him sound like a PRO. OK...so we have the 'same ole' "It's YOUR call...whatever sounds good to you!" But there is so much more to 'sounding like a pro'. How might we reduce background noise (fan, CPU, etc)? Echo? How about EQ? All this 'kinda sorta' thing is realized in 'Pod Casting' for sure. Heck...i have recently been bugged by high level fan noise from a new LIN YAR! I've resorted to an external EQ with noise gate to eliminate this noise during the NO TALK of my QSO. No magic...except this can sound UNATURAL! And...when my voice does 'break' the noise gate threshold, of course the fan noise is an ARITFACT masked by my voice. What also helps is the right mic: A DYNAMIC in this case, being less surround sound sensitive, really is necessary (for myself). The RE320 is my 'choice' (and this winner required my testing several mics....fodder for Ebay sale??). Remotely locating the new amp is not one of my options...really. Ham radio JPGS don't do well (IMO) in dealing with NOISE, BROADCAST QUALITY AUDIO, etc. No surprise: Most hams plug in a mic and have fun! But I want the BROADCAST QUALITY AUDIO, partly a goal in my occasionally running AM (ARRG!!! Did I say AM!?!!! But think you for this video!! 73's WV6PBJ

you joke at the beginning about the audio sucking or not in a ham video on audio quality. BUTTTTT You would be surprised how many bad audio ham radio RU-vid videos are out there. Or they don't speak at all and just video something. Im thinking you're a ham and you aren't talking in your video why not LOL :) So there are lots of poor quality audio in RU-vid videos by hams.