JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques General Technical Forum I need help... re: problems with my Yamaha Stagepas mixer

Greetings Fellow Musicians!

I use a Yamaha Stagepas 300 for gigs here in Sarasota. I've been using the system for over 2 years with zero problems... until now. Gig sizes are the same, in small to medium size venues. I run a laptop with RCA jacks into the mixer... many of my gigs use one vocal mic only. Some gigs I also add a second vocal mic and plug in an electric guitar.

Here's what's been happening (over the last month or so): Whether 15 minutes into a gigs or 2 hours into a gig, the output simply stops. All power is still on, and LED lights are still lit up, but output just stops. Output on ALL sound stops, not just the backing tracks. Having changed out cables... problem is still happening. It doesn't seem to be a heat issue, because it will occur after hardly being on. In most cases, I can turn off the power and back on again... and it will continue to work... but many times it will still go out again.

I've taken my mixer in to 2 shops so far (the current is a Yamaha repair dealer)... and so far they say there is nothing wrong with it. Neither shop has gotten the unit to fail. I'm literally going CRAZY! While mine has been in the shop, I'm using a 35lb Peavey powered mixer... it's ok, but not preferable. And just this week, I borrowed my friends stagepas 300 mixer just for this week's 4 gigs. For three of those gigs (2 different venues) his mixer performed perfectly... then on the 4th day (at one of the same venues)... his ALSO did it!!! He has also had the same exact problem on another of his stagepas 300's.

I'm not crazy.... something is wrong. Is there anyone out there who might have some insight? I would just like to know if it's just a defect that is unrepairable, or if there is anything that can be done to actually fix the problem.

Items of possible concern:
- the laptop... although, I've been using this laptop for almost a year. Does this sound like it might be a faulty output jack (I run the sound out of the headphone jack using an rca cable)? Could it possibly be a sudden sound card issue?
- could the mixer have a "shutoff" when the limiter is reached... when sound volumes are too high? This doesn't necessarily make full sense though... because it has shut the output down only 15 minutes into a gig while singing a jazz standard at a fairly low volume. I noticed that just last night when output stopped... it was about 2 hours into my gig... volume levels had increased some, but certainly not near capacity (I've only put the mains up to about 7/8 out of 10). I played the track "lady is a tramp" this track has a low volume with loud horns. So I generally let the intro do it's thing, and then greatly increase the volume - although the horns are still really loud here & there. Well, although I've used this same tracks dozens of times... It dead stopped (I noticed the LED's were lit, and would occasionally reach the top.) I stopped that track, turned the unit off and back on and it worked again (I didn't continue with Lady is a Tramp). It worked fine until I played "Rocky Top"... again the volume was up a bit and output stopped. Off and on again. Later on, I started to play "Black Horse & Cherry Tree" - again output stopped... Now this particular track has seemed to often cause the mixer to stop the output.... no clue as to why 'cause I've been using that same track for 2 years.

PLEASE HELP!!! I'm really at my wits end with this thing. If this continues to be an undiagnosed problem, it will simply be too unreliable and I will be forced to get new equipment. I had really loved this mixer - it's perfect for me - and is (probably) under 10lbs as opposed to 35lbs. If there is ANYONE OUT THERE who has some insights, I am begging for your help.

Many thanks and cheers to all,
Janine Elise Scott

If the issue is always in the same venue have them check their electrical system. There may be an issue there, with ground faults, fluctuating voltage, low voltage & etc.
Make sure your loudspeakers are correct for that unit and there have been some problems I've read about regarding non-stock cables, where the unit works fine with stock cables but will fail with other cables, even ones known to be good on other systems.
Make sure all vents are clear with no obstructions and check whether or not any cables have been yanked or pulled and damaged the inserts.Are all heat sinks clean and clear?
Seems there are numerous similar problems with the Stagepass 300.
There is an internal thermal limiter and it may be failing.

It may be as simple as cleaning the cable ends. Try un plugging and pluging the connectors back in. Take some acholol (Missspelled) and clean the connectors.

Hi Janine

Welcome to JPF

As I told you-its a great site.........I see you have gotten a couple of good inputs already as to whats possibly going on to cause your mixer problems......I myself cant help-not knowing a mixer from a blender-but I hope these other technical wizards can solve your mixer mystery.....again-glad to have you here on JPF

ENJOY!


Tom

I do not use Yamaha gear but offer the following suggestions.....It is unlikely to be laptop.....as other stuff is not working as well...laptop is only sending a signal so check that signal is present.....check mixer for input and output signals....it could be a prob with internal amp cutting out...or speakers cutting out...some speakers and amps have clipping limiters and cut out when output peaks above recommended level to stop them from blowing....possibly GAIN is set too powerful for mixer or speakers...It could be dodgy leads from mixer to speakers. Tip do not run mixer at full power this could be the cause. red lights indicating clipping are a no no.

It is just a process of elimination....if you have checked that laptop is working and sending out signal through phone socket and mic is working etc....the problem must be down to mixer/amp or speakers. check all leads connections and inputs and output levels...if all else fails try a decent sound system (LOL)
I use Mackie....it will run all day and night on full power and sound fantastic...never had a problem.