Hi all,

We have an intermittent fault thats really strange and bugging me, no not the kids at our gigs.....

We set up and sound check, all is fine sounds good etc. we then dip the sound using the fader on the mixing desk, and when we brinmg sound back in one of the speakers has no sound. We swap the speaker cables over and we have sound.

A faulty cabel you say, could be but we have used four different cabels in rotation and I have colour coded the cables in an attempt to ID the dodgy one/s and the speaker isnt the same one each time either.

any ideas?

Thanks

Hi

Yes, that is very strange - I'm just trying to think why that would be.

Its as if a *channel* (whatever that may be) requires constant sound to keep active, otherwise it will drop out.

Things to try (don't think these will help but you have nothing to loose):

*** Different fader on mixer (unless you are referring to a master fader when you dip the sound)

*** Spare/different amp

*** Don't suppose you have a couple of spare speakers?

Sounds like one channel of the fader track dropping out. This happens when the fader track becomes worn or clogged with dust. Try gently rocking the fader from side to side to see if it instigates the fault, there may also be a 'dead' spot on the fader track, so try slowly moving the fader from bottom to full travel to see if there is any point where the channel 'drops'

If it is only happening on one input channel then if you have a spare channel then plug into that

if it is happening on the cross fader then you'll usually be able to order a new one and replace it yourself,

if it is the master fader then take it to a repair shop and have it replaced.

Good advice - by the way, I found faults on ALL my speaker cables marked WARRIOR this weekend, the grub screws were loose inside the (Neutrik copy) speakons connectors.

Open you connectors and inspect them anyway.

Another lesson learnt Brian.................Alway buy Neutrik

Are they powered speakers CK?

Any futher with this problem CK ?

Hi all,

Thanks for the tips, will try them out, we are using the same channel, but will try another to see if it solves the problem, its tyotally intermittent and random, the speakers are not powered, what I dont understand is the complete random nature, the cables are rotated and I even note which cable and which speaker every time we set up to see if theres a comon denominator, and there isnt.

Just as a matter of interest, how long should speakers last?

Ours are Lee 400`s, we have been using them for 3 years, sound is still good so wouldnt want to change them, but what sort of life would you expect/

They get used on average twice a week for the average gig 4 hrs or so.

I take it that the speakon connectors do wear, so would it be a good idea to replace the cables and connectors in the speaker end, although I dont see hwy when we dip the fader on the channel, i.e. not the master we loase sound from one speaker....

If we replace speakers any tips on good buys, one for you Chris....

I agree it sounds like a fader fault, esp. if they're VCA faders. A dodgy track will in that case not cause crackling but will cause the VCA chip to 'float' with strange, lasting, and annoying intermittent faults when the fader is moved.

I've had a similar fault to the one described also, when the DC protection circuit on the amp is playing up. It sees small signals from the mixer as DC and opens the relay, whereas large signals satisfy it. To be fair that's just been a problem with the Audio Managment DNA amps but could happen to others.