Peavey X-Four User Manual

owners manual

X-Four mixing console

X-Four owner’s manual

block diagram

Σ

OFF

Ø

R

L

1 3

SOLO

OFF

SOLO

AUDIO

ON

MONITOR OUT

SOURCE SELECT

POST / PRE FADER

LR

LR

FROM

SOLO

LOGIC

SCL+

HP

LEVEL

X-Four Block Diagram

SCL-

+10

+10

PEAK

LO MID

Σ

Σ

Σ

Σ

Σ

Σ

Σ

Σ

NO

+10

L

R

2

4

4

1

3

1
2

3
4
5

group p. 41

master p. 57

power supply p. 81

stereo inputs p. 25

mono inputs p. 7

table of contents

X-Four owner’s manual

how to use this manual

conventions

terms

indicators or controls employed on the X-Four console
will appear as:

TERMS

tasks

are broken down into steps

1

2

3

warnings

indicators

tips

see

see—references other sections of the manual containing

supplementary information on the current topic or a related issue

Prefered methods.

Helpful hints.

Feature insights.

+

Procedures not to attempt.

Issues or hazards to keep
in mind when operating
the equipment.

a

What to look
for on-screen.

Alerts, indicators, or
prompts that may appear.

®

p. 6

X-Four owner’s manual

mono input module

module

panel

legend

block diagram

1

p. 7

mono input module

features

phantom power—+48V

48 volts DC is applied to pins 2 and 3 on the mic-input XLR con­nector. This option is used with condenser microphones and active direct
boxes that require an external DC voltage (phantom power) in order to
operate.

pad

The mic-input signal is attenuated by 15dB to prevent some signals
(e.g. kick drum or lead vocal) from overloading the preamp stage.The pad
is used to bring a hot mic-input signal down to a controllable level.The
15dB pad is not functional when the

LINE switch is depressed.

line

The input preamp circuit is set up to accept a mic-level signal. This
signal is brought in via the XLR mic-input connector located on the rear
panel.The 1/4" TRS input jack is disabled.

The input preamp circuit is set up to accept a line-level signal from
either the XLR mic-input connector or the 1/4" TRS input jack, both locat­ed on the rear panel.

When a plug is inserted into the 1/4" TRS input jack, the XLR mic-input
connector is disabled.

polarity reverse—ø

This feature is used for correcting or minimizing polarity and phase relat­ed errors. For example, occasionally a balanced input connection is
reverse-wired before it gets to the mixing console. This can happen in
microphones, or in snake line interfaces. By using the polarity reverse fea­ture, this type of error can be corrected.

polarity inverted

polarity not inverted

If the channel peak
LED is illuminated,
first try lowering
the input gain control.

Only when this method is
unsuccessful should the pad
switch be engaged.

+

If the 48V phantom
power switch is
engaged, depressing this
switch disconnects phantom
power from the mic input
XLR.

+

1

When similar signals
from different chan­nels are combined, phase
cancellations can occur.

Reversing the polarity of an
input signal often corrects
such phasing errors.

+

The 48V switch should
not be engaged when
using standard (dynamic)
microphones, or other
sources that do not use
phantom power.

a

p. 8

X-Four owner’s manual

mono input module

module

panel

legend

block diagram

1

p. 9

mono input module

features

gain

The Input gain control range is closely related to the status of the

PAD

switch and the LINE switch. In order to establish proper gain structure in
the console, input gain settings must be set correctly.

LINE—switch-up PA D —switch-up

15 to 75dB of gain can be added the mic-input signal.

The impedance at the input XLR is 4kΩ.

LINE—switch-up PA D —switch-down

-5 to 55dB of gain can be added to the mic-input signal.
The impedance at the input XLR is 4kΩ.

LINE—switch-down PA D —switch-up or -down

-10 to 45dB of gain can be added the line-input signal.
The impedance at the input XLR and input 1/4" TRS is 20kΩ.

high-pass filter—HPF

Proper use of the high-pass filter reduces or eliminates unwanted low fre­quencies without substantially affecting the program material. Quite often
such unwanted low frequencies are included with in-coming mic- or line­input signals. For example, stage rumble or wind can be picked up through
vocal mics.The slope of the high-pass filter is 12dB per octave.

HPF

High-pass filter is on @ 80 Hz, 12 dB/octave

1

If the channel peak
LED is illuminated,
first try lowering
the input gain control.

Only when this method is
unsuccessful should the pad
switch be engaged.

+

1

p. 10

X-Four owner’s manual

mono input module

module

legend

block diagram

panel

p. 11

mono input module

EQ features

Many audio signals coming into the console require some degree of cor­rective eq in order to be part of a good sounding mix.

The input eq consists of four-bands: high, high-mid, low-mid and low.
The high and low bands have fixed frequencies while the high-mid and low­mid bands are sweepable, with their higher and lower frequencies over­lapping adjacent bands.

high frequency—HF

15dB boost and cut at 12kHz.
The boost response is bell-shaped and the cut response is shelving.

high-mid frequency—HM

15dB boost and cut.
Selectable frequency range of 400Hz to 8 kHz.
The response is bell shaped with a fixed Q of 1.5

low-mid frequency—LM

15dB boost and cut
Selectable frequency range of 80Hz to 2 kHz.
The response is bell shaped with a fixed Q of 1.5

low frequency—LF

15dB boost and cut at 80Hz.
The boost response is bell-shaped and the cut response is shelving.

eq on

Equalizer is on. This switch can be used to make A/B comparisons
between "flat" and eq'd signals.

1

1

p. 12

X-Four owner’s manual

mono input module

module

panel

block diagram

p. 13

mono input module

aux send features

Six auxiliary AUX SENDS

are available for creating individual output mixes.
These mixes can be used for driving effects processors, providing monitor
mixes, creating broadcast or alternate sound reinforcement mixes, or
other special requirements.

aux sends 1–6

These knobs adjust the amount of signal sent to the AUX buses.

Unity gain occurs at the zero setting.

AUX 6 and 8 controls pan function

when selected for stereo operation.

aux 1–4, 5/6 pre-fader—PRE

The default signal source for the AUX SENDS is post-fader. These switches
are used for selecting the pre-fader signal for their respective auxes.The
pre-fader signal is derived post-mute and post-eq.

see—internal jumper options

AUX SENDS

are post-eq, post-mute, and post-fader.

AUX SENDS

are post-eq, post-mute, and pre-fader.

aux stereo 5/6

The default configuration for AUX

5, and 6, are mono, as with AUX 1–4.

In situations where stereo-aux signals are required (such as driving stereo
in-ear monitors or effects processors), this switch reconfigures the

AUX

SENDS

to operate in stereo by changing the functions of the potentiometers.

AUXES

are configured as individual mono sends.

AUXES are configured as level and pan for stereo operation.

1

1

p. 14

X-Four owner’s manual

mono input module

module

panel

block diagram

p. 15

mono input module

bus assignment features

The Input bus assignment section offers considerable flexibility for creat­ing what eventually becomes the main output mix. Such features as

LCR,

GROUP PAN ON

and eight-individual group assignments allow several
approaches to building the desired mix.All assignments are derived post­fader, post-eq,and post-mute.

left-center-right—LCR

This feature is used to precisely position a signal in a sound system with a
center speaker cluster in addition to left and right clusters.The

PAN control

becomes an integral part of how the input-signal is sent to the

LEFT, CEN-

TER, and RIGHT outputs.

The post-fader signal is assigned to the

LEFT

, RIGHT, and MONO/CENTER
buses. Relative amounts of the signal fed to each bus is determined by the
position of the

PAN control.

pan control

The pan control positions the signal within the stereo left/right field,
(or between left/center or center/right in

LCR mode).The signal must be

assigned as stereo in order for the pan control to have any affect.

see—left-center-right

mute

The Mute switch mutes the channel as well as both pre- and post-

fader

AUX SENDS.

write-in label

This label may be written on with a grease-marker, and later wiped clean
with a cloth moistened with isopropyl/rubbing alcohol. Masking tape may
also be placed on this surface, if desired.

1

An internal jumper
can be used to defeat
pre-fader muting.

+

1

p. 16

X-Four owner’s manual

mono input module

module

panel

block diagram

p. 17

mono input module

bus assignment features

mute

The Mute switch mutes the channel as well as both pre- and post-

fader

AUX SENDS

.

write-in label

This label may be written on with a grease-marker, and later wiped clean
with a cloth moistened with isopropyl/rubbing alcohol. Masking tape may
also be placed on this surface, if desired.

1

1

p. 18

X-Four owner’s manual

mono input module

module

panel

block diagram

p. 19

mono input module

level meter features

level meter

Each input includes a five-segment

LED meter

for visually monitoring signal levels.This is essential for setting up and main­taining proper gain structure.

peak indicator—PK

The input signal is monitored at several points throughout the chan­nel.These points are the mic preamp, the EQ stage and the fader stage.
Overloads at any of these stages will cause the red peak-

LED to light.

Then the channel gain should reduced.

signal level LED’s

These three LED's light up at +8—yellow, 0—green, and -6 dB—
green. This level range -6 to +8 is the optimum operating range.

Compressed or relatively constant signals should remain close to 0.

signal present indicator—SIG

This green-LED varies in brightness in response to signal levels
between -40 dB and -6 dB.

LED

LED

LED

LED

LED

LED

LED

LED

Occasional flashing of the
peak LED is acceptable,
but frequent flashes indi­cate that channel levels
must be lowered.

®

1

If the channel peak
LED is illuminated,
first try lowering
the input gain control.

Only when this method is
unsuccessful should the pad
switch be engaged.

+

1

p. 20

X-Four owner’s manual

mono input module

module

panel

block diagram

p. 21

mono input module

bus assignment features

mono assignment—M

The signal is assigned to the discrete mono bus.
When the

LCR button is depressed, this switch is bypassed.

left / right assignment—L-R

The Group signal is assigned to the main Left and Right output buses,
deriving its signal after the channels pan system.When the LCR button is
depressed, this switch is bypassed.

pan on—groups—BAL ON

The four GROUP assignment switches assign the input signal in mono,
independent of the pan pot.

The four

GROUP assignment switches assign signals as four stereo-

pairs.The

PAN

control governs the stereo placement of the four stereo-

pairs, which are now configured as odd–left / even–right.

For example:

GROUP 1—left,GROUP 2—right, GROUP 3—left,GROUP 4—right.

group 1–4 assignment

The input channel's post-fader signal is assigned to the correspond­ing

GROUP bus(es).

see—pan on—groups

input fader

The input fader is the primary level control for signals being sent to any of
the console's mix buses.The only signals not affected are

AUX sends select-

ed to be pre-fader. The fader offers greater than 80db of attenuation and
up to 10db of boost. Normal operation is between -10 and 0.

pre-fader listen—

PFL

Pressing this switch will include (illuminated) or exclude (not-illumi­nated) the input channel.

see—master module

Always turn off and
disconnect the amplifi­er from mains voltage
before making audio
connections.

As an extra precaution, have
the attenuators turned down
during power-up.

+

1

1

p. 22

X-Four owner’s manual

mono input module

module

panel

block diagram

p. 23

mono input module

rear panel features

direct out

1/4" TRS jack

The input channel's signal is available at this output jack.The
default signal routing is derived post-fader, post-eq and post-mute.This
output jack is ground-compensated.

insert points

Separate 1/4" TRS jacks provide the facilities for inserting an external sig­nal processor into the signal path of the input channel.

insert send

This jack serves as an output for connection to the input of a
signal processor. The signal is derived after the mic preamp and

HPF but

before the eq section.Plugging a

1/4" TRS plug into this jack does not break

the signal flow of the channel.This output jack is ground-compensated.

insert return

The output of a signal processor is fed to this jack.It can accept
a balanced or unbalanced signal and is located pre-eq.

balanced line-in jack—Bal Line In

Line-level signals, balanced or unbalanced, may be brought into
the input channel through this jack.The

LINE

switch must be depressed for

this jack to be active.

balanced mic-in xlr connector—Bal Mic In

This balanced female XLR accepts a low-impedance microphone

signal, or a line-level signal, depending on position of the

LINE switch on

the front panel.

see—mono input module, phantom power, line

F

In situations where
the preamp circuitry is
not needed, the Insert
Return can be used as the
channel’s input.

For example, when using an
expensive tube mic preamp.

+

The insert send can
also be used as an
additional channel output
when s pre-EQ signal is
needed.

+

1

p. 24

X-Four owner’s manual

stereo input module

module

panel

legend

block diagram

Ø

R

L

1 3

+10

L

R

NO

2

p. 25

stereo input module

features

The stereo input module can be configured to operate as either stereo or
mono.When configured to operate in mono, many features are identical
to those of the mono input module.

line select—Line 2

This switch determines selection of input signals from the three sets of
rear panel connectors.

The channel is in LINE 1 MODE. The signals are brought in via the left

and right line-input

XLRs located on the rear panel.

The channel is in

LINE 2 MODE.The signals are brought in via the RCA

line-input connectors which are normalled through the 1/4" TRS line-input
jacks. Insertion of a plug into the

1/4"

jack disconnects the RCA jacks.

left and right mono-switches

These switches provide several options for configuring the stereo line­input module as a mono line-input module.

left right
Signals brought into the left and right inputs are treated as stereo
throughout the module.

left right
Signals brought into the left and right inputs are summed together imme­diately before the

GAIN control.The summed signal is treated as mono

throughout the rest of the module.

left right
The signal fed to the left input is treated as a mono signal throughout the
module. No signal from the right input is used.

left right
The signal fed to the right input is treated as a mono signal throughout
the module. No signal from the left input is used.

2

To avoid redundancy,
mono features will refer
back to corresponding sec­tions on the Mono module.

Descriptions given here are
specifically for the default
Stereo configuration.

+

p. 26

X-Four owner’s manual

stereo input module

module

panel

legend

block diagram

Ø

R

L

1 3

+10

L

R

NO

2