Subgrouping on an Allen & Heath GL2400 32 channel

[Robert12838]

Hello.

Is there a good tips manual for setting up subgroups?

I have the Allen & Heath GL2400 manual, but I need more than just reading about a button or whatever - I need more configuration and understanding.
Or if you could tell me how to set up subgroups on this mixer than would be nice too.
I basically have the subgrouping set up for the guitars, but want the subgroup fader to control the sound for alll four of the guitars in the group, which I've set to #1 in the subgroup.
When I adjust the subgroup fader all the way I can still hear the guitars.
What am I doing wrong?

Is there a good overall how to run a mixer manual with great tips and stuff for Allen & Heath brand mixers?

[Josh Scott]

If you want to use the groups only assign the channel to that group, not the LR. You will also have to assign the group to the LR.

[waynehoskins]

Bingo. And when using groups, the pan control is an odd/even pan rather than a left/right pan. If you want to route the guitars through audio group 1, you'd unroute them from L/R, route them to 1/2, and pan the channels left (odd). Then you'd make sure that audio group 1 is routed to L/R, panned as desired, unmuted and turned up.

As to how to organize grouping, it's whatever works well for you. I did a musical the other month where the four groups were male vocals, female vocals, and stereo orchestra (which was submixed on a sidecar, but that's beside the point). You can use as many or as few groups as you like.

We have a 40-frame GL3300 with 8 groups at my church, and technically we use all 8 groups, but we don't actually do group mixing, if that makes any sense; they're just there for matrixing. We have three stereo group pairs: drums/bass, (other) instruments, and vocals, the last two groups being wireless and a recording-only group, since we drive recorders off the matrixes.

[Tim Padrick]

On a contemporary show: Vocals, Drums, and whatever makes your mixing easier.

[daver2]

As Wayne has already stated - you need to route the desired input channels through the (sub)group that you wish to control the instruments through and unroute them from (a) the other (sub)groups and (b) the main LR outputs. The (sub)group output then needs to be routed to the main LR outputs to hear anything at all!

You should find a block diagram of the signal routing for the desk in your user manual. Get to know how to read and interpret this diagram as it will help to undertsand how the audio signal "flows" through the mixer desk.

We have the following subgroups set up:

1)

[daver2]

Whoops - don't press the wrong key on the keyboard before you have finished the post!

We have the the following subgroups defined on our mixer:

1) Drums.
2) Remaining instruments.
3) Vocalists (dry).
4) Vocalists (wet - with some effects).
5) Preachers/Leaders/Readers (i.e. speech microphones).
6) Congregation microphones.

I have seen instruments grouped up in loads of different ways depending upon what works for a particular individual under the circumstances in which they find themselves. There is no fixed rule and it is whatever you find works for you.

Dave

[Josh Scott]

Drums
Guitares
Keys
Horns
Piano
Lead vocals
Back vocals

[Robert12838]

hey everyone - thanks for your information.
i'll take a look-see at the schematics.
i understand what you're saying but translating what you're saying into the buttons to push and the trimpots to turn is where the disconnect is with me.

--> unroute them from L/R, route them to 1/2, and pan the channels left (odd)
how does the above translate into what buttons to push and trimpots to turn? =)

--> only assign the channel to that group, not the LR. You will also have to assign the group to the LR.
what does this mean in terms of what buttons to push and what trimpots to turn?

that is where i'm discombobulated. =(

[JoshGuerette]

Originally Posted by Robert12838

--> unroute them from L/R, route them to 1/2, and pan the channels left (odd)
how does the above translate into what buttons to push and trimpots to turn? =)

There are buttons next to the fader. The top one is marked L/R, the one below that is marked 1/2, the next 3/4, etc. You'll want to make sure the L/R button is not pressed, as you don't want to send the signal to the mains as that defeats the purpose of putting them in a subgroup.

Next, you'll want to add the channel to one of your subgroups. For example, if the channel is a drum mic, and your first subgroup is the drum mix, that's where you'll want to send the signal. Press the 1/2 button (as you want to send the signal to subgroup 1) and then look just above the fader.

You'll find a knob with a L on the bottom left and a R on the bottom right. Because you want to send the signal to group 1 (the button you pressed allows you to send it to 1 or 2), turn it the left, or the odd side. This will send the signal to subgroup 1.

Originally Posted by Robert12838

--> only assign the channel to that group, not the LR. You will also have to assign the group to the LR.
what does this mean in terms of what buttons to push and what trimpots to turn?

The subgroups are the red faders. Since in the example above, you're looking to control subgroup 1, the first red fader (the one on the left) is the one you want. Look above the fader where there's a button, marked GRP 1 to LR. Make sure that's pushed down and you're good to go.

I would advise you take a look at the manual and learn more about the board, it's available on A&H website.

[Josh Scott]

I attached a picture hopefully that will help.

On the channel strip, blue fader in the picture, the routing buttons assign the signal to a bus, L/R is the stereo bus, 1-2 is group 1 and 2, 3-4 is group 3 and four.

We will start with L/R if you push that button in the channel will goto the both the left and right output. If you turn the pan knob all the way to the left the signal will only go to the left output, hard right it will only goto the right output.

The same goes for groups 1-2 and 3-4. If you push in the 1-2 group button and turn the pan knob hard left it will only goto group 1, hard right group 2.

What you are doing is assigning the input to both a group and the mains so when you turn the group fader off it is still going to the mains.

You will also have to sent the groups to the mains using the group to LR buttons.

If you are running mono leave the pan knobs center on the groups, if you are using stereo lets us know and we can try and tell you what to do. Your best option read the manual they are better with words.

[Robert12838]

ahhh i see.
so i had already got the subgroup to work, but what wasn't working was when i turned the subgroup fader down the channels assigned to the subgroup could still be heard.
so that L/R button seems to be what i need to check out.
that is what i was looking for.
i'll check the schematics more closely and while i've read some of the user manual i've not read it all yet so of course will do that.
thanks much everyone...

[Rockwoodbass]

1) I'm a newby
2) I didn't wire our system.
3) L R Outs feed one amplifier and set of speakers; Mono Outs feed another amplifier and set of speakers.

I followed the steps outlined. I can get subgroups to feed the L R Outs but I can't figure out how to route the subgroups to Mono. Is it possible to do? What else do you need to know?