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I know in the vacuum tube (valve) days this was a no-no, but solid state doesn't have output transformers to fry (I think).
So can I run a preamp/mixer like a Samson MPL1204 with a powered speaker on one channel and no load on the other without harming the Samson?
I'm figure someone around her must know.
Thanks,
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Sure. The output of that is line level, with a balanced line as an option. About 1 volt.
What you are probably thinking of is a power amp with no load, and yes, that’s trouble. But a signal only on one side of a mixer is fine. It’s normal for mono-only.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Thanks.
We got some gigs doing realtor sales parties in model homes. They want quiet music and they love us. The models will be furnished so we will have to be compact. One less speaker is a good thing.
The parties are only 2 hours, and they pay well, even after agent commission. I'll probably leave the guitar at home and cover those parts on the wind synth.
And yes, I might be thinking power amp, and back in the vacuum tube days when there was a giant transformer to heat up. It's been a long, long time since I took those electronics classes, and just about everything has changed since then - mostly for the better.
Back in the old days, we either had a sound man, or someone else in the group ran the sound. I was lucky and had chord and harmony skills. Now that I'm in a duo, I have to learn to do everybody's job. But that's OK. Little by little I get smarter and smarter about different aspects of this making music business.
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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I have some experience with doing it wrong. I had a Peavey power amp, modest with only 200 watts per channel. I only needed one channel / one speaker. Ok, so why not just connect an 8 ohm, 2 watt resistor across the other side speaker terminal to balance the load?
After about two seconds at zero volume, that resistor lit up like an incandescent bulb! I switched off the power as the smell began to reach my nose.
I’m still not sure why it didn’t work, but hey.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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I have some experience with doing it wrong. I had a Peavey power amp, modest with only 200 watts per channel. I only needed one channel / one speaker. Ok, so why not just connect an 8 ohm, 2 watt resistor across the other side speaker terminal to balance the load?
After about two seconds at zero volume, that resistor lit up like an incandescent bulb! I switched off the power as the smell began to reach my nose.
I’m still not sure why it didn’t work, but hey. You would need a thumping big resistor to take up the power (wire wound) There are devices made to pad out the speakers. (These are not all that expensive). They essentially look like 8 ohm or whatever speakers to the power amp. It seems the go is non-inductive wire wound resistors to the correct wattage and impedance. Edited to talk about pads and resistor type. Removed a link that probably makes little sense in this context. Tony
Last edited by Teunis; 05/15/19 06:20 PM.
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Yes, thanks. This was 30 years ago, long before the powered speakers and iPad-controlled mixers I use now.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Things have changed since I started gigging. I remember tube PA amps, 'voice of the theater' speaker cabinets (didn't they weigh 2 tons each?), tape echo on the PA, B-3 organs (didn't they weigh 3 tons each?), and no stage monitors. Times have gotten better for musicians who have to set up their own gear. But there were good things about those days. Every hotel from a Holiday in up, every singles club, and every medium to upscale lounge had a live band playing at least 6 nights a week. It was easy for young musicians who hadn't quite cut their musical teeth yet to get gigs. Today's musicians don't have the opportunities that we had. I got an e-mail back from my repair-guy, who took a week off for fishing, and he confirmed that I don't need a load. He said power amps still need a load, but not preamps. Since my power amps are in my speaker cabinets, I have nothing to worry about. You all are as good as my repair-guy, and much quicker  Thanks again. We had a gig in a realtor party in model home grand opening yesterday. The builder hosted it, and real estate salesmen and saleswomen from about 30 to 70 years old crammed the place for the free food and a chance to win a few prizes. We were stuffed in a corner of the 'great room' and heard the "You guys are awesome" dozens of times, and when it was over, the same comment from the person who hired us (through an agency). They asked us to conserve space, so we left the guitars home, covered those parts on synthesizers and only brought one speaker. It was for only 2 hours so we could pick and choose which songs we could cover those parts with, and it paid more than our normal Saturday night rate, so we wen't home happy. They said they will ask for us on the next party. Still livin' the dream Insights and incites by Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Glad to hear it, Notes .. you've worked hard for it, though it probably doesn't seem like work. That's the real goal; do what you love (and make $$) and it doesn't feel like work. Sounds like you got there long ago.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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