Soundcraft MH4 BROCHURE

LIVE PERFORMANCE CONSOLE

Soundcraft Registered Community Trade Mark/RTM No. 000557827

SOUNDCRAFT

HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES LTD
CRANBORNE HOUSE, CRANBORNE ROAD
POTTERS BAR, HERTS, EN6 3JN, UK
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
EMAIL: [e-mail]

SOUNDCRAFT USA

8500 BALBOA BLVD.,
NORTHRIDGE, CA 91329, USA
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
EMAIL: [e-mail]

www.soundcraft.com

Soundcraft reserves the right to improve or otherwise alter any
information supplied in this document or any other documentation
supplied hereafter. E&OE 01/04
This equipment complies with the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC

Part No: ZL0604

TYPICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Frequency Response XLR Input to any Output........................................ +0/-0.5dB, 20Hz – 20kHz

T.H.D. and Noise All measurements at +10dBu............................................ <0.006% @ 1kHz

XLR In to Direct Out ........................................................... <0.01% @ 10kHz

XLR In to Mix Out............................................................... <0.006% @ 1kHz

......................................................................................... <0.01% @ 10kHz

Mic Input E.I.N. 22Hz-22kHz bandwidth, unweighted .................... <-128dBu (150Ω source)

Residual Noise Mix Output; no inputs routed, Mix fader @ 0dB ................................... -90dB

Bus Noise Mix Output; 48 channels routed,

input faders @ -∞, Mix fader 0dB ................................................... <-84dBu

Grp Output; 48 channels routed,

input faders @ -∞, Grp fader 0dB................................................... <-84dBu

Aux Output; 48 channels routed,

input sends @ -∞, Grp fader 0dB.................................................... <-85dBu

Crosstalk 1kHz, +20dBu input signals

Input Channel muting...................................................................... >102dB

Input fader cutoff ............................................................................ >100dB

Input pan pot isolation ...................................................................... >60dB

Mix routing isolation ........................................................................ >102dB

Group routing isolation ...................................................................... >88dB

Group-group crosstalk...................................................................... <-90dB

Group-Mix crosstalk ......................................................................... <-90dB

Mix-group crosstalk .......................................................................... <-95dB

Aux send off..................................................................................... <-93dB

CMRR Mono input ............................................................................ -85dB @ 1kHz

Input & Output Mic Input ................................................................................ +26dBu max.

Levels Balanced Inputs...................................................................... +21dBu max.

Balanced Outputs ................................................................... +21dBu max.

Nominal Operating Level...................................................................... 0dBu

Input & Output Mic Input .............................................................................................. 2kΩ

Impedances All other Inputs................................................................................. >10kΩ

Headphone Output............................................................................... 50Ω

All other Outputs ................................................................................ <75Ω

Oscillator 63Hz to 10kHz/Pink Noise, variable level

HP Filter (Mono Input)

30-400Hz, 12dB/octave

EQ (Mono Input) HF ............................................................. 1.2kHz - 20kHz, ±15dB, shelving

Hi-Mid.................................................. 750Hz - 12kHz, ±15dB, Q=0.5 - 3.0

Lo-Mid................................................... 75Hz - 1.2kHz, ±15dB, Q=0.5 - 3.0

LF ................................................................ 35Hz - 550Hz, ±15dB, shelving

Metering Overbridge, 8 VU Meters monitoring Group/Aux/Matrix,

+ 3 VU Meters monitoring Left Mix/AFL/PFL, Right Mix/AFL/PFL
& Mono (centre) Mix
Each meter has a peak LED set to 3dB below clipping
Mono & Stereo Inputs, 12-LED bargraph + Peak LED

Power Consumption 48 Ch Console, each 17V rail takes 6.5A (nominal)(measured

without Littlites connected)
The 8V rail takes 0.5A (nominal)

Operating Temperature Range............................................................. -10ºC to +30ºC

conditions Relative Humidity........................................................................ 0% to 80%

Note: These figures are typical of performance in a normal electromagnetic environment. Performance may be degraded in severe
conditions. All measurements refer to electronically balanced inputs and outputs with VCAs enabled. Input and output transformers may
affect these specifications.

Dual-purpose.

Totally modular.

And equipped to handle

16 separate monitor mixes.

In the modern world, live sound mixing

demands a level of versatility way beyond

anything previously imagined. Sound

contractors and venues alike must maximise

their inventory investments to accommodate

a wide variety of different events. However

mixing consoles designed for use in both

Front-of-house and Monitor positions have

always been a compromise, with the all-

important Group and Auxiliary bus structures

presenting a daunting learning curve.

The Soundcraft MH4 changes all that.

With external styling every bit as

innovative as its internal design, the MH4

delivers an intuitive, uncomplicated and

sonically superior mixing solution for

engineers working on concert tours, the

performing arts, theatre productions and

corporate events.

In short, the Soundcraft MH4 is ready for

anything.

Key Features

•

Dual-purpose live console: FOH, Monitors,

or Monitors from FOH

•

Totally modular for flexible layouts

•

Frame sizes 24 mono/4 stereo,

32 mono/4 stereo, 40 mono/4 stereo,

48 mono/4 stereo, 56 mono/4 stereo

•

Completely flexible Auxiliary Bus structure

with up to four stereo sends for in-ear

monitoring

Dual-purpose. Totally modular.
And equipped to handle 16
separate monitor mixes.

•

8 group busses and 12 aux busses in FOH

mode

•

16 monitor busses (configurable as 16

mono, 12 mono/2 stereo, 8 mono/4

stereo) in Monitor mode

•

All Aux outputs under fader control

•

Integral 20x8 matrix

•

Semi-parametric EQ on stereo aux outputs

•

Integral Clearcom™ compatible talkback

system

•

New Mic Amp design with high headroom

and outstanding CMRR

•

New EQ design with focused response

•

LCR panning on inputs

•

8 VCA groups and 8 Mute

groups with snapshot

automation and MIDI control

•

Passive mic splitter outputs from

each channel

•

Integrated control of BSS Audio

Varicurve™ and dbx DriveRack™

•

Optional bargraph output meterbridge

Ready to go anywhere

As part of a complete system upgrade, Ideal Productions
have supplied Chicago’s Cubby Bear club with two MH4
consoles to handle front-of-house and monitor mixing.

“Intuitive ease of use was the first thing that attracted us to
the MH4. It’s well laid out and elegant in its simplicity. It’s
also very flexible, admirably functioning as either a front-of­house console or dedicated monitor board offering eight
separate wedge mixes plus four stereo in-ear mixes.”

Todd Petersen, Owner - Ideal Productions

CLUB: Cubby Bear Club, USA

South London-based Gighire are now into their third MH4
desk - part of a systematic upgrade programme.

“As a mid-sized company we implement an ongoing
programme of stock replacement,” said Jon Pickett, partner
at Gighire. “The MH4’s versatility was important to us. In
addition, it represents exceptional value and build quality ­and it also sounds absolutely great. The EQ has the familiar
feel of Soundcraft, and the meters are really accurate.”

Jon Pickett, Partner, Gighire

RENTAL: Gighire, UK

Khabarovsk City in Siberia has opened the Palladium
Palace, a substantial entertainment centre which doubles
as an ice-rink stadium and a concert hall. In ice-rink mode,
the Palace is used for competitions, training, and social ice
skating activities. With a few modifications, the venue can
be turned into a 7,000-capacity concert hall.

For the main events, when the Palladium Palace is turned
into a sizeable concert venue, PAL Systems has provided a
portable control system, consisting of a Soundcraft MH4 at
front-of-house, a Soundcraft MH3 on monitors, and mobile
racks of amplifiers.

INSTALLATION: Palladium Palace, Russia

When Pacific West Sound commenced work on a complete
re-structure of the audio system at Canyon Hills Assembly
of God Church in Bakersfield, they turned to Soundcraft for
a comprehensive mixing solution.

“The MH4 sounds great. Its mic pres are warm and the
British EQ is very pleasing to the ear. Console layout is
extremely straightforward and after a minimum of training,
everyone in the church’s audio department was able to
capably use the desk. The modular design was another big
plus, as was its dual functionality as a front-of-house and
monitor mixer. 16 aux’s eliminate the need for a dedicated
monitor board. All in all, the MH4 is a very cool console.”

Brent Milton, PWS

CHURCH: Canyon Hills, USA

Music Bank, London’s premier rehearsal facility, has
undertaken a major expansion programme resulting in new
East and West studios. Designed to attract medium-sized live
bands, both studios boast a 40-channel MH4.

“We’ve got Soundcraft desks (SM20 and SM24) in the South
and North Studios,” explained Music Bank’s Nunu Whiting,
“and we’ve always found them to be very acceptable to the
professional engineers.” It was this popularity that convinced
Music Bank to invest in the MH4 consoles.

Nunu Whiting, Music Bank

INSTALLATION: Music Bank, UK

A revival of Cole Porter’s Broadway hit Anything Goes at the
Musical Festival at Bruck has proved extremely popular.
Eventtechnik provided sound reinforcement and invested in
a 48-channel MH4 for front-of-house.

Erich Kulicska recalls, “We immediately loved the MH4. It’s
extremely good value for money and offers all the features
and sound quality expected of high-end pro-audio.”

Erich Kulicska, Manager, Eventtechnik

FESTIVAL: Bruck Music, Germany

Horizon Christian Fellowship recently finished a complete
upgrade of its sanctuary sound system, which is now
capped off with the installation of a Soundcraft MH4
mixing console which provides both front-of-house and
monitor mixes for the 700-seat room.

“The MH4 is very intuitive and simple to operate, which is
important in an environment like this where volunteers
often have to run it. When you mute a channel, everything’s
muted - you don’t have to worry about double-checking
your auxes, and the board is also nice and quiet, not to
mention very forgiving.”

Michael Mendoza, Head Audio Engineer, Horizon

INSTALLATION: Horizon, USA

An MH4 console performed front-of-house duties at the
Montreux Jazz Festival in 2002, and again in 2003.

FESTIVAL: Montreux Jazz, Switzerland