Mackie FreePlay Owner's manual

Mackie FreePlay Owner's manual

Personal PA

O W N E R ’ S M A N U A L

PORTABLE CART
WARNING
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Important Safety Instructions

1.Read these instructions.  

2.Keep these instructions.

3.Heed all warnings.

4.Follow all instructions.

5.Do not use this apparatus near water.

6.Clean only with a dry cloth.

7.Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

8.Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.

9.Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.

10.Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.

11. Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/ apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.

12. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.

13.Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is

required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

14.This apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing, and no object filled with liquids, such as vases or beer glasses, shall be placed on the

apparatus.

15.Do not overload wall outlets and extension cords as this can result in a risk of fire or electric shock.

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK! DO NOT OPEN!

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.

REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the prescence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage”

within the product’s enclosure, that may be of significant magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user of the prescence of important operating and maintaining (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.

16.NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio

frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is

no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.

Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

CAUTION: Changes or modifications to this device not expressly approved by LOUD Technologies Inc. could void the user's authority to operate the equipment under FCC rules.

17.This device complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. This device should be installed and operated with minimum distance 20cm between the radiator & your body.

18.This apparatus does not exceed the Class A/Class B (whichever is applicable) limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus as set out in the radio interference regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.

ATTENTION Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant las limites applicables aux appareils numériques de class A/de class B (selon le cas) prescrites dans le réglement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicté par les ministere des communications du Canada.

19.This device complies with Industry Canada licence-exempt RSS standard(s). Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

(1)this device may not cause interference, and

(2)this device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

Le présent appareil est conforme aux CNR d’Industrie Canada applicables aux appareils radio exempts de licence. L’exploitation est autorisée aux deux conditions suivantes :

(1)l’appareil ne doit pas produire de brouillage, et

(2)l’utilisateur de l’appareil doit accepter tout brouillage radioélectrique subi, même si le brouillage est susceptible d’en compromettre le fonctionnement.

20.Exposure to extremely high noise levels may cause permanent hearing loss. Individuals vary considerably in susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss, but nearly everyone will lose some hearing if exposed to sufficiently intense

noise for a period of time. The U.S. Government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has specified the permissible noise level exposures shown in the following chart.

According to OSHA, any exposure in excess of these permissible limits could result in some hearing loss. To ensure against potentially dangerous exposure to high sound pressure levels, it is recommended that all persons exposed to equipment capable of producing high sound pressure levels use hearing protectors while

the equipment is in operation. Ear plugs or protectors in the ear canals or over the ears must be worn when operating the equipment in order to prevent permanent hearing loss if exposure is in excess of the limits set forth here:

Duration, per

Sound Level dBA,

Typical Example

day in hours

Slow Response

 

 

 

8

90

Duo in small club

6

92

 

4

95

Subway Train

3

97

 

2

100

Very loud classical music

1.5

102

 

1

105

Greg screaming at Troy about deadlines

0.5

110

 

0.25 or less

115

Loudest parts at a rock concert

WARNING — To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.

WARNING — The battery (battery or batteries or battery pack) shall not be exposed to excessive heat such as sunshine, fire or the like.

CAUTION — Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced. Replace only with the same or equivalent type.

Laite on liitettävä suojakoskettimilla varustettuun pistorasiaan.

Apparatet må tilkoples jordet stikkontakt.

Apparaten skall anslutas till jordat uttag.

Correct Disposal of this product: This symbol indicates that this product should not be disposed of with your household waste, according to the WEEE Directive (2012/19/EU) and your national law. This product should be handed over to an authorized collection site for recycling waste electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). Improper handling of this type of waste could have a possible negative impact on the environment and human health due to potentially hazardous substances that are generally associated with EEE. At the same time, your cooperation in the correct disposal of this product will contribute to the effective usage of natural resources. For more information about where you can drop off your waste equipment for recycling, please contact your local city office, waste authority, or your household waste disposal service.

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FreePlay Personal PA

Contents

Important Safety Instructions...................................

2

Contents.................................................................

3

Features..................................................................

3

Introduction.............................................................

4

How To Use This Manual..........................................

4

Things To Remember................................................

4

Getting Started.......................................................

4

Hookup Diagrams....................................................

5

FreePlay Connect App..............................................

7

FreePlay: Rear Panel Features..................................

7

1.

Power Connector...........................................

7

2.

Power Switch................................................

7

3.

XLR and 1/4” Combo Inputs..........................

7

4.

OL LEDs........................................................

8

5.

Bluetooth / Aux In........................................

8

6.

Mon Out.......................................................

8

7.

Channel 1 and 2 Buttons................................

8

8.

BT / Aux......................................................

9

9.

Main Button..................................................

9

10.

Running Man Logo On / Off.........................

9

11.

Check Battery..............................................

9

12.

Level..........................................................

9

13.

Meters........................................................

9

14.

FX............................................................

10

15.

Feedback desTROYer..................................

10

16.

EQ Mode...................................................

10

17.

Battery Compartment (Bottom Panel).........

10

Kickstand / Pole Mount.........................................

11

Factory Reset [aka Vulcan Mind Meld]....................

11

AC Power..............................................................

11

Care and Maintenance............................................

11

Appendix A: Service Information.............................

12

Appendix B: Technical Information...........................

14

FreePlay Dimensions........................................

16

FreePlay Block Diagram...................................

17

Appendix C: Table of Effects Presets.......................

18

Limited Warranty...................................................

19

Features

The Ultimate All-In-One Personal PA

Full-range stereo system with high-output 8" woofer for unmatched bass response

Built-in 4-channel digital mixer perfect

for connecting vocal mics, guitars and more

Stream your music from any smartphone, tablet or other Bluetooth® enabled device

Flexible choice of AC or battery power, perfect for mobile applications

o Optional Lithium-ion battery pack delivers up to 10 hours of continuous performance1

o Can also be powered with standard batteries (8 x D cell)

Easy-to-use, built-in controls plus option for complete wireless operation

Pocketable Control On The Go

FreePlay Connectapp available for iPhone® and iPod® touch2

Delivers total mobile control over your mix, from input levels and EQ to built-in vocal and instrument effects

Attach your phone to a mic stand for easy mixing while performing or discretely control levels from a podium

Built For Professional Performance

Built-in feedback destroyer for fearless performance with no unexpected, distracting noise

16 great-sounding digital effects like vocal reverbs and delays

Complete control over channel levels, including per channel EQ and effects levels

Choice of speaker modes ensures amazing sound for any application with the touch of a button

Available Accessories

Tilt your FreePlay back or mount it on a standard speaker pole with the Kickstand / Pole Mount accessory

Always have the power you need with the FreePlay Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery

Durable FreePlay Carry Bag with pockets for storing mics, cables and more

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Watch our dang videos

Part No. SW1094 Rev. C 05/15

©2015 LOUD Technologies Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1Your mileage may vary. Battery life is dependent on sustained volume levels.

2Requires iOS 8 or later. Supports iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5, iPhone 4S and iPod touch (5th generation).

iPhone and iPod are registered trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

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Owner’s Manual

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Introduction

FreePlayis the ultimate all-in-one stereo PA solution. With a portable, battery-powerable design, FreePlay delivers powerful, full-range sound anytime, anywhere.

FreePlay features Bluetooth® technology for music streaming from any mobile device that can be mixed with vocal mics, guitars and more.

Plus, with the FreePlay Connectapp, you get mobile freedom to control everything from levels and EQ to sound-enhancing tools like a feedback destroyer for amazing sound in any situation.

From the stage to the boardroom to the backyard, FreePlay delivers powerful, rich sound that inspires. Be you and be heard with FreePlay.

How to Use This Manual:

After this introduction, a getting started guide will help you get things set up fast. The hookup diagrams show some typical setups, while the remaining sections provide details of FreePlay.

This icon marks information that is critically

important or unique to FreePlay. For your own

good, read and remember them.

This icon leads you to in-depth explanations

of features and practical tips. They usually

have some valuable nuggets of information.

This icon draws attention to certain features and functions relating to the usage of FreePlay.

Getting Started

The following steps will help you set up FreePlay quickly.

These startup instructions are intended for the hardware only. Once proven that FreePlay performs as desired, then pair it with a smart phone and control it via the FreePlay Connect app (as detailed on page 8).

1.Make all initial connections with the power switch OFF.

2.Plug signal sources into FreePlay, such as:

Microphones plugged into the mic inputs.

Instrument level sources, such as acoustic guitars w/ active pickups into the instrument inputs

Line-level sources such as keyboards, drum machines, or MP3 players plugged into the line-level inputs.

Smartphone paired and connected via Bluetooth.

3.Connect the power adapter connector of the Power Block to FreePlay. Push the line cord securely into the Power Block and plug the other end into a grounded AC outlet.

4.Turn FreePlay on.

5.Be sure that the volume of the input is the same as it would be during normal use by selecting the input channel on the rear panel and turning the encoder to the right.

6.Slowly bring up the main output level to a comfortable listening level by selecting the main output on the rear panel and slowly turning the encoder to the right.

 

7. Read the rest of this manual and the FreePlay

Things to Remember:

Connect app manual for more details!

Never listen to loud music for prolonged periods. Please see the Safety Instructions on page 2 for information on hearing protection.

Save the shipping box and packing materials! You may need them someday. Besides, the cats will love playing in them and jumping out at you unexpectedly. Remember to pretend like you are surprised!

Save your sales receipt in a safe place.

FreePlay Personal PA

Hookup Diagrams

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FreePlay is the perfect tool for singer-songwriters busking at the local hot spots or touring the world on the highly coveted coffee shop tour.

Along with FreePlay, bring your favorite axe and mic, cables and power cords. And your smart phone, too...don’t forget that! With it, you’re able to announce tour dates via social media. More importantly, you can connect to FreePlay via Bluetooth (or 1/8" input) and jam along to the backing tracks you added to your smart phone.

In this example, a mic is connected to the channel 1 input. Adjust the level as described on pages 8-9. Now grab your guitar and plug it directly into the channel 2 input. Adjust the level for the guitar now.

For the output, you will want to set an EQ mode, described in detail on page 10. For this type of setup, soloist mode works well. It has a nice low cut and a brilliant high end. Additionally, you can utilize the FreePlay’s feedback destroyer [page 10] so it automatically kills any feedback while playing.

Café Setup

Owner’s Manual

5

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Hookup Diagrams continued...

FreePlay may be used for presentations and karoke, too...and the setup can remain as-is for both!

In this example, mics are connected to the channel 1 and channel 2 input jacks and a smart phone is connected via Bluetooth (or 1/8” input). Setting levels is described on pages 8-9.

For the output, you will want to set an EQ mode, described in detail on page 10. For this type of setup, two EQ modes may be utilized: voice EQ mode and DJ EQ mode.

For starters, the voice EQ mode works well. It has a significant low frequency roll-off and adds crisp mid-range and high end. The presenter’s introductory speech will be easy to hear and understand with clear, precise intelligibility. Well, at least it will unless they’re talking with marbles in their mouth...

Let’s get the party started! Once the speech(es) are over, switch FreePlay over to DJ EQ mode, add some reverb and load up your favorite karaoke app on your smart phone. Perhaps we can perform

a duet together?

Don’t forget to utilize FreePlay’s feedback destroyer [page 10] to automatically kill any feedback.

Presentation / Karaoke Setup

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FreePlay Personal PA

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