Shure AMS4000 User manual

SHURE AUTOMATIC MICROPHONE SYSTEM
222 HARTREY AVENUE
SMUi;UEB EVANSTON. lLLlNols 60202-3896 U.6.A
THE SOUND OF THE PROCESS-0 \VORlAWOE
MICROPHONES AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
DATA SHEET
AMS4000 AND AMS8000
The Shure Automatic Microphone System consists of the
AMS8000 [or AMS4000J Mixer used with Shure AMS
Microphones. This system's excellent performance, ver-
satility, and ease of use make itan idealchoice for multiple-
microphone public-address and recording systems such as
used in conference rooms, legislatures, churches, court-
rooms, broadcast studios, teleconferences, and panel
discussions.
The Shure Automatic Microphone System solves many
problemsassociatedwith multiple-microphone installations,
such as boomy or muddy sound, insufficient sound level
because of feedback [howling), and operator errors.
It does
this by turningononly those microphonesinuse, thus keep-
ingthe number of "on" microphonestoaminimum.Whena
personspeaks infront of hismicrophone[within60° of each
side of the front), the microphoneturns on. Sounds origina-
tingatthe sides or rearof the microphonewill notturniton.
In addition, the system automaticallyreduces itsvolume as
the number of "on" microphones increases, thereby
preventingfeedback.
The Shure AMS also solves problems encountered with
other automatic mixers such as complicatedsetup adjust-
ments, unreliable turn-an, and choppy sound. The micro-
phones turn on smoothly and dependably, free of pops or
clicks, and virtually independent of talker loudness or
distance.
You'll find the Shure Automatic MicrophoneSystem simple
to install and operate, requiringlittle more adjustmentthan
an ordinary PA system. However, the system canalso per-
form a varietyof sophisticatedfunctions. ModelAMS8000
has eight microphone inputs; Model AMS4000 has four
microphone inputs.
b
IMPORTANT
ShureAMS4000 and AMS8000 Mixersaredesignedfor useonly with ShureAMSCondenser Microphones.Con-
ventional condenser or other microphones will not operate properly with the AMS4000 and AMS8000.
Copyright 1991,Shure Brothers Inc
27A8272 [KJ)
Printedin U.S.A.
U.S. Patent 4,489,442; other patents pending

BASICSETUP: THE AMS BACK PANEL
I PLAYER I
Thefollowinginstructionsarefor typical applications, installations and operation. Refertothe
Installers Manualfor further information.
TYPICAL CONNECTIONS
Ll NE
IN
WHAT TO DO
HOW TO DO IT
POWER
AMPL
1. Connect the power cord. 1.Makesure the front panelpower switch isoff.The unit is
factory-wired for operation at 120
Vac, 50160 Hz.
LINE
2. Connect the AMS microphones.
IN AMS MIXER
2. Use only Shure AMS Microphones. When extension
cables areneeded, use conventional2conductor shielded
microphone cables.
OUT
AUX
3. Set the HoldTime switch.
3. Use the 0.5-second positionfor most applications.
4. Connectthe LinelMic or Aux Outputtothe PA amplifier,
4. Use the Mixer Aux Output for connecting to phone or
tape recorder, or other system. phonojack aux or line inputs. Usethe LineIMicOutputfor
connectingto3-pin professionalbalanced inputs; set the
MicILineswitch as required.
OUT
5. Set the Off-Attenuationswitch. 5. Use the
-1 5 positionfor most applications.
REAR
PANEL
AUX -
TAPE
I TAPE 1 IN
RECORDER

BASIC SETUP: THE MICROPHONES
AMS26
@ $I MICROPHONE
WHAT TO DO
LECTERN
-
MICROPHONE
HOW TO DO IT
6. Ingeneral, placethe talker within thefront acceptance
angle of the microphone.
6. Sound sources outside the shaded acceptance angle
will not turn on the microphone. See diagrams 6A
through 6D.
7A. If the chairs are
3 feet or less from each other, use
one microphone betweeneach pair of seats.
76. Ifchairsaremorethan 3 feetfromeachother, useone
microphone per seat.
8. Remove any objects immediately behind the
microphones that may reflect sound.
7A. Placeeach microphone afoot and a half fromthetable
edge, halfway betweenthe two seats [diagram 7A].
78. Placeeach microphone afoot and ahalf from the table
edge, directly in front of the talker [diagram 781.
8. The grille of anAMS26 [probe] or AMS24[gooseneck]
microphoneshouldbe atleast
8 inchesabove any table-
top. [The A26X ExtensionTube inserted between the
swiveladapter and desk stand
will raisethe AMS26 an
additional
3" .] Removeobjects behindAMS22 micro-
phones.
@
b3ORMORE

OPERATION: ON THE FRONT PANEL
WHAT TO W
HOW TO W IT
9. Turn the Master volume control down.
9. Turn it fully counterclockwise.
1 0. Turn onthe power.
10. Push in the AMS Power switch.
1 1 . Adjust volume controls. 11. Set the individual volume controls to "5" for each
channelused. Set all unusedchannels tothe
"0" posi-
tion.
1 2. Check each microphone channel. 12. Each channel's yellow indicator will light during speech
to show that the microphone turns on.
13. Set the Master volume control. 13. Turnupthe Masteruntiltheyellow Normallightflickers
during speech. If the red Overload light flashes, turn
down the Master untilthe redlight is out.
14. Turn on the power amplifier, tape recorder, or other 14. Whileapersonistalkinginfront of themicrophone,set
system. the volume of the amp, etc., for the desiredresult. In
PA use, adjust for desiredloudness without feedback.
Some tape recordersrequirelower than normalAMS
Master settings toavoid distortion.
15. Make microphone levels equal. 15. Havesomeonetalk infront of each microphone. Adjust
the individualchannel controls for output equal tothat
of the first microphone, or for the desired loudness
without feedback.
FRONT PANEL
oq C ' E @I '@@pa 'E 'f PHONES ON 0
0
\ /
L MASTER
0

OPERATION: ADDITIONAL OPTIONS
OPTION HOW TO DO IT
Adding pre-recordedmaterialtothe AMS output.. Connectthe aux [line] outputof the player
t~ the Auxiliary
input [front or rear panel] of the AMS. Controlrecorder
volume with the Auxiliary control.
Recordingthe AMS output. Connectthe AMSAuxiliary output [front or rearpanel]to
a tape recorder aux or line input.
Recordingan individualchannel output. Connect the Direct Out from the desiredchannel to the
microphone input of a tape recorder. The Direct Out is
alwayson and isnotaffectedby any AMS Mixercontrols.
Listeningto the AMS output with headphones. Connect a mono or stereo headphone plug tothe Phones
jack.
TROUBLESHOOTING
NO SOUND: Check that the microphonesarepluggedinandthat the Masterand individualcontrols areturned up.
Sound from headphonespluggedintothe Phones jack indicatesthe problem is not in the AMS.
MICROPHONETURNS Check that the talker iswithin the
1 20° acceptanceangle of the microphone [diagram 61. Remove
ON ERRATICALLY OR any reflecting objects behind the microphone.AMS26 [probe] or AMS24 [gooseneck] only: Make
NOT AT ALL: sure that the microphone grille is at least
8 inches above the surface.
MICROPHONETURNS Move unwantedsource outside microphone acceptanceangle.
ON FOR UNWANT-
ED SOURCES:
DISTORTEDSOUND: If the red Overloadlight is flashing, turn down the Master untilthe light goes out. If loud talkers are
close to their microphones, turn their channel controls down. In general, the channel controls for
AMS22 [low-profile]microphonesshould be set lowerthanthosefor AMS26 [probe] microphonesin
order to obtain the same output volume. Some tape recorders may require lower AMS Master
settings to prevent distortion.
OTHER: If none of the above solutions solves your problem, consult your AMS sound installer or the
Troubleshooting sectionof the InstallersManual.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROMYOUR AUTOMATIC MICROPHONE SYSTEM
Microphoneturn-on will be reliable, fast, and smwth.There will be no clicks or clippedwords.
After long pauses inspeech, the microphones will smoothly fade toa lower volume level.
Whenthe first microphoneturns on, there will be a perceptiblerise in rwmnoise. There will be no further increasewhen
additionalmicrophonesturn on.
In many seating arrangements, several people will be within the acceptance angle of a microphone, so all will turn it on.
Papersrustlingmay also turna microphoneon; this will not affect the system's clarity becauseof the subtle way inwhich it
operates.
A personwithinthe acceptance angles of several microphoneswillturnthemall on. Again, this will notseriouslydegradethe
clarity of the system.
Innoisy or highly reverberant rooms, the acceptance angle will narrow slightly.For reliableturn-on inthesecircumstances,
talkers should be closer totheir microphones.
The Shure AMS will sound muchclearerthan a conventionalmulti-microphonesystem.
SOUND OF THE PROFESSIONALSm.. . WORLDWIDE