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This month's product review is of the new Carvin PA 1200 Powered
Mixer. My good friends at Carvin were considerate enough to send
me a unit to check out, so check it out we did! Utilized this bad
boy at an acoustic gig. I have been shopping and comparing for the
last month for a powered mixer to upgrade my current system for
acoustic shows, so the Carvin arrives just in time for consideration.
The Inspect:
As I unpack the PA 1200 and lift it out of the box, I am very surprised
at how compact this mixer is. For some reason, at least to me, it
appeared much larger in the catalog photos. This I consider to be
a good thing for I do not prefer to haul around a big bulky mixer.
Especially when space can be in short supply at acoustic jobs, where
often we find ourselves nestled into a corner between the dart board
and the foosball table! This model is equipped with the "Road
Warrior" Anvil style road case (way cool) with removable front
and back lids. At first view, the PA 1200 is a compact, professional
looking mixer, that is portable and most importantly only 28lbs.
so it's a breeze to transport.
Features:
Front panel layout of the PA 1200 is user friendly and logical.
Channels 1-12 feature a three-band EQ, effects 1 & 2, pan, monitor,
main level, gain switch, all in a color coded sensible design. Each
channel features a balanced XLR input as well as a standard 1/4"
unbalanced input.
Master section includes dual nine-band eq's (stereo mains or selectable
main/monitor), (2) 24 bit effects processors that are fully adjustable,
main output, monitor main output, tape input master level control,
master effects return control, phantom power switch supplying phantom
power to all 12 channels for direct boxes and condenser microphones.
Routing options include both balanced and unbalanced output connectors
for utilizing outboard power amps, external effects, send with stereo
returns, (2) pre-EQ insert jacks, RCA tape inputs and outputs and
effects footswitch jack to be used with optional FS 22 footswitch,
to select between the effects processors and to bypass effects.
Led's are supplied phantom power, three segment leds for each of
the three internal power amps, effects peak, yellow protect to activate
speakers saving compression and main green power led. Rear panel
routing includes separate dual speaker outputs for each of the 333w
internal power amps, rocker style on-off power switch, power cord
input and fan cooling. For a compact mixer, the PA 1200 has all
the bells and whistles and ample routing flexibility. But now comes
the real test.
Sound check:
Fortunately I received the PA-1200 two days before an acoustic show,
so I had time to thoroughly check out all the bells and whistles
this bad boy has to offer. I initially test with 2 Community Sx-35
15" two way monitors. With a variety of ways you can utilize
the three internal power amps (all with dual outputs per amp), I
set up this gig in stereo, by using the two main power amps, each
running one speaker. I plug a headset microphone, a Crown CM-311
into channel one, setting the three band EQ pretty much flat. I
adjust the main nine-band graphic EQ to conservative smiley face
setting, but generally flat with small boosts in the low and high
registers, and dipping the mids. My initial voice test is done dry.
I set the master output at three and the channel output at five.
Pan is set to the middle (0) position. The initial sound I get is
great, punchy and clean even at conservative EQ curves and modest
output settings. I further tweak the main EQ to boost a bit more
low end in the 60, 125 and 250 range, as well as modest boosts in
the highs 4K, 8K and 16K to add some high-end sparkle. Channel EQ
is still primarily flat. High end at +3, mids at 0 and bass at +3.
I increase the channel level to six and there it is! Full, rich
sound with plenty of punch. I roll off the high end a tad to overcome
a hint of feedback and I'm there!
Effects:
My next step is to dial in a short delay from one of the two 24
bit internal processors. Now this is where it can get a little cheesy
with lower grade heads, but I'm tellin ya, not with the Carvin.
The main send is set to six and on the channel you can pan right
or left to select processor one or two, as well as controlling the
dry to wet mix. I pan left for processor #1 and set the mix level
at +9. I then adjust the parameters. Set to echo for FX selection.
This rotary knob selects the decay or repeats of the echo. I then
adjust the parameter to about six, this controls the
delay time. What I am after here is a slap back echo around 160ms
with just one repeat. Not only do I find this setting, I find it
quickly. That's what I want, and that's what I found. I experiment
with different wet to dry settings but at the end of it all this
is as good as many rack processors that I've heard.
My next step is to plug my acoustic directly into channel II. With
the EQ set flat, adjust the channel output to six and I'm up and
running with thick rich acoustic tone. Again a small adjust in the
EQ.hi +3, mids -3 and bass +3. This is where the way cool "Gain"
switch is an awesome feature. I punch in the gain switch and this
gives me an instant 20 db boost in input gain. I back the output
level down to 2 and this allows for me to increase headroom without
adding distortion. Now my quest is to dial in verb for the guitar.
For this I experiment with processor #2 so that I do not have to
sacrifice my vocal delay that I've dialed in. So I'm looking for
a larger hall type of reverb that will hopefully add depth to my
acoustic sound but does not wash it out. Guess what? I found it!
By tweaking with the decay I achieve this quickly and without scrolling
through endless presets and parameters.
The Gig:
Obviously this is where the "Rubber Hits The Road". Our
gig is on a patio bar overlooking a river, so we have cold beer,
hot summer weather and good friends to assist with our mission.
"The Mission".A two man acoustic show consisting of two
vocal mic's, two acoustic guitar inputs and an input for a CD player.
With being outside, we are able to turn the PA 1200 up a bit, so
I run the main at five. The Carvin has a couple very cool features
that I am utilizing live that I did not experiment in my earlier
test. One being, Phantom power. A master switch to supply phantom
power to our LR Baggs acoustic Direct Boxes, and also useful if
you are using condenser mics that require Phantom a power. Two being,
pre-EQ insert inputs. I am using this feature to insert a 31 band
EQ for a bit more EQ functionality. By simply using a stereo ring
tip sleeve "Y" cord, I insert the 31 band EQ. Both of
these features are very useful and not often found on compact mixers
and especially not in this price range. Also I am utilizing the
two nine-band graphics on the head, one set flat for mains since
I am using the 31 band, the other for monitors. By simply pushing
a switch, you can route the two eq's to run stereo mains (R &
L) or main-mono and monitors. Needless to say, the gig was a major
success thanks to a great sound we were able to achieve by using
the PA 1200.
Simply put, this head kicks ass! A problem with powered heads of
the past is that they lacked enough power to retain ample headroom.
Not so with the Carvin. Thanks to two outputs per channel, you can
produce full power at 4 ohms. And it is clean power, supplying enough
headroom that your sound doesn't mush. Pristine effects supplied
by two internal 24-bit processors, tons of routing capabilities,
makes the Carvin damn near impossible to beat on the value scale.
For a very reasonable $49.99, the PA 1200 can be protected with
the "Road Warrior" case with removable front and back
panels; personally I highly recommend this option. Available in
8 or 12 channel models, and direct from Carvin at a price point
that can't be beat when you consider all the bells and whistles
this little powerhouse packs into its chassis. The PA 1200 could
possibly be the best buy in powered mixers.
Direct From Carvin Pricing:
8 Channel $669
12 Channel $769
Road Warrior Case $49.99
Information:
Carvin Corp
12340 World Trade
San Diego, CA 92128
858-487-1600
www.carvin.com
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