Mackie FreePlay Owner's manual

Personal PA

OWNER’S MANUAL

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.

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/

FreePlay Personal PA

PORTABLE CART

WARNING

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 interference regulations of the Canadian Department

ATTENTION —

Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques

set out in the radio

of Communications.

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 confor

me 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 day in hours

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.

Sound Level dBA, Slow Response

Typical Example

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.

FreePlay Personal PA

Contents Features

Owner’s Manual

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

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 performance

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 Connect

and iPod

touch

app available for iPhone®

• 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

Like us Follow us Watch our dang videos

Part No. SW1094 Rev. C 05/15

Your mileage may vary. Battery life is dependent on

sustained volume levels.

Requires 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.

Owner’s Manual

Introduction

Getting Started

FreePlay™ is 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 streaming from any mobile device that can be mixed with vocal mics, guitars and more.

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

FreePlay Personal PA

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

technology for music

™

app, you get mobile

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.

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.

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.

Things to Remember:

• 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!

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 Connect app manual for more details!

• Save your sales receipt in a safe place.

FreePlay Personal PA

Hookup Diagrams

Owner’s Manual

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

Hookup Diagrams continued...

FreePlay Personal PA

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

FreePlay Personal PA

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