Sound Projections Freedom FR-4 User manual

User Guide
Freedom FR-4
Warranty statement.
Sound Projections Six Year Limited Warranty.
The Freedom FR-4 is warranted to be free of defects in materials and workman-
ship for a period of 6 years from the date of original purchase, subject to the fol-
lowing conditions:
• This warranty excludes defects caused by normal wear, abuse, shipping
damage or failure to use product in accordance with instructions. All
warranty service must be performed or authorized by Sound Projections.
Any service or modifications performed without authorization from Sound
Projections may void this warranty.
• The lead acid rechargeable battery in the FR-4 model is warranted for a
period of 2 years.
• Wireless microphone and CD/MP3 player options are warranted for a
period of two years.
• Prior to returning your system for repair and/or warranty service, please
contact our customer service department at the address below for a
Return Authorization (RA) number.
Sound Projections
1815 W. 205th Street, Suite 103
Torrance, California 90501
[phone]
www.soundprojections.com 560-0034 Rev A, FR-4, 08/14

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Welcome
Congratulations on purchasing a portable sound system from Sound Projections.
Our products combine superior design with quality components and rugged
construction. We’re proud of the products we manufacture, and appreciate the
confidence you’ve shown by choosing us.
Please take a few of minutes to read this user guide. Our products incorporate
many unique features, and your knowledge of them will enhance the performance
of your system.
John Munroe, President
and the entire staff at Sound Projections
Unpacking
System inspection and inventory.
Check the unit carefully for damage which may have occurred during transit, and
contact the freight carrier immediately should you find damage.
Save the shipping carton and packing materials.
The shipping box was designed to ship your unit safely.
Contents
Safeguards 3
Getting started 4
Charging the battery 5
Choosing an input 6
Wireless system operation 8
Changing wireless channels 10
Using talkover 12
Setting the tone controls 12
CD operation (see separate instructions)
Changing the fuse 13
Specifications 14
Warranty Statement 16

14
Specifications for FR-4.
Rated power output................................................100 watts
Max SPL.................................................................123 dB ‘loud’ mode
................................................................................115 dB ‘normal’ mode
Frequency response...............................................70 Hz - 15 kHz
Wireless system (optional).....................................Shure 123 channel auto-scan
Battery life...............................................................4-8 hours typical
Power requirements...............................................110/240 VAC - 50/60 Hz, 120 watts max
Dimensions (HWD).................................................23 x 15 x 13”
Weight....................................................................36 pounds
Inputs......................................................................(2) mic level, balanced, XLR
................................................................................(1) line level, 1/4” phone
................................................................................(1) tape/CD level, dual RCA
Outputs...................................................................(1) line level, 1/4” phone
................................................................................(1) tape/CD level, dual RCA
................................................................................(1) speaker output
Specifications and models subject to change without notice
3
Important safeguards
CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove the cover. No user-
serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified personnel.
ATTENTION: Pour eviter les risques de choc électrique, ne pas enlever le
couvercle. Aucun entretien de pièces intérieures par l’usager. Confier l’entretien
au personnel qualifié.
WARNING: To prevent fire or electric shock, do not expose this equipment to rain
or moisture.
AVIS: Pour eviter les risques d’incendie ou d’électrocution, n’exposez pas cet
article à la pluie ou a l’humidité.
Explanation of graphical symbols.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle,
is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous
voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magni-
tude to constitute a risk of electric shock to humans.
The exclamation point, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert
the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing)
instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.
Explication des symboles graphiques.
Le symbole éclair avec point de flèche à l’intérieur d’un triangle équila-
téral est utilisé pour alerter l’utilisateur de la presence à l’intérieur du
coffret de “voltage dangereux” non isolé d’ampleur suffisante pour con-
stituer un risque d’elétrocution.
Le point d’exclamation à l’intérieur d’un triangle équilatéral est employé
pour alerter les utilisateurs de la présence d’instructions importantes
pour la fonctionnement et l’entretien (service) dans le livret d’instruction
accompagnant l’appareil.
CAUTION AVIS
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE
NE PAS OUVRIR

13
Replacing the fuse.
Warning! Replace fuse with same type and
rating as indicated on panel.
1. Remove power cord plug from panel
mounted AC receptacle
2. Pry fuse carrier away from receptacle
with small screwdriver
3. Remove fuse to be replaced.
4. Install new fuse
5. Insert fuse carrier with new fuse back into receptacle
6. Plug power cord back into AC receptacle
4
Getting started.
Whether you’re a first-time user or an experienced presentation profes-
sional, the Freedom FR-4 was designed with you in mind. Easy to use
and loaded with features, you’ll need only a few minutes to set up and
begin operation. This user guide is full of valuable information — please
read it!
!! Charge the battery!
The FR-4 is shipped with the battery fully charged. If stored for more than two
weeks before use, plug it in to top off the battery. See “Charging the battery” on
page 5.
1. Set up the sound system in front of your audience.
Proper set-up is important. For best sound distribution, put the unit on a
speaker stand or table so the sound projects over the audience.
Connecting an FR-4C Companion
Speaker.
For expanded crowd coverage, connect unpowered
companion speaker FR-4C to the speaker
out jack on the panel of the Freedom.
Note: The speaker output is designed specifically for use with the
Freedom FR-4C companion speaker and SC50-4W or SC100-4W
cable —
DO NOT use other type external speakers or damage may result!
2. Plug a microphone or audio source
into an input jack.
Connect a microphone, tape player or other
source to the matching input jack; turn down the
corresponding volume knob before turning on the
FR-4. (See “Choosing an Input” on pages 6-7 for
more information on input selection.)
If using the optional wireless microphone system, use the corresponding knob
to control the volume.
speaker out
use FR-4C
bi-wired
companion
speaker
input
L
R
tape/cd
mic 1 mic 2 / line
install
fuse

5
Note: See separate instructions for operation of the
CD/MP3 player.
3. Turn the power switch ON
(plug in power cord for AC operation).
Observe LED indicators to confirm
battery level and power.
Battery Power: The green light indicates the battery is at or near full
charge and ready to use. The yellow light means 30-60% usage remains, and
red means less than 30% remains and that the battery should be charged
before use (see “Charging the battery.” )
AC Power: When plugged into an AC power outlet, the green LED will stay
on constantly as the system is being powered from the AC line (not the bat-
tery). Occasionally, when playing loudly, the LED’s may flicker between green
and yellow - this is normal.
4. Adjust the volume level and sound quality.
Increase the volume of the input being used to desired level (be sure the
microphone or input source is turned on!) Adjust base and treble controls and
set voice switch as necessary (see page 12 for more details).
Charging the battery.
!! For maximum operating time, charge the battery after
EVERY use.
The performance of the built-in battery will be greatly improved if the system is
charged completely after each use — storing the unit in a partially-discharged
condition will reduce the service life of the battery. (The Freedom may be left
plugged into an AC outlet during storage for optimum results.)
Charging the battery.
Turn the power switch “off”, then plug the cord into a standard
AC outlet to charge the Freedom battery. The unit automatically
begins charging, indicated by the yellow “charging” LED.
When the green “full” LED lights steady, the battery is 90% charged and
may be used immediately or left plugged in another 1-2 hours to top-off the
battery before use or storage.
power
on
off
charging
full
12
Using talkover.
Press the red button to use the “talkover” feature, which automatically lowers the vol-
ume of all other inputs (including optional CD) when speaking on the microphone.
When to use talkover.
Use talkover when making voice announcements over music or
other program material being played through the sound system
(without having to manually adjust the other volume controls).
When you stop speaking into the microphone, the volume on
other inputs smoothly returns to normal in 3 seconds.
Note: The talkover feature is assigned to optional wireless mic
1 if installed; otherwise, it is assigned to the mic 1 XLR input.)
Setting the tone controls.
Use the treble and bass controls to adjust for best sound quality and clarity. The
top-center mark indicates a ‘flat’ response.
For outdoor / voice applications:
Set the voice switch to “loud” for outdoor
and other applications where powerful voice
projection is needed.
Turn the bass control to the 9 o’clock posi-
tion for maximum voice clarity (reducing the
bass level will also increase battery life).
For indoor / music playback:
Set the tone controls to the flat (12 o’clock)
position, then adjust for desired sound qual-
ity (be sure the voice switch is in the “normal” position).
Set the voice switch to the “normal” position when playing music and for most
indoor applications.
CD/MP3 player operation.
See separate instructions for operation and features of the CD/MP3 player.
voice
loud
norm
bass
treble
talkover

116
Choosing an input.
mic 1 mic 2 / line
Plug a microphone with an
XLR connector into mic input
one or two. The knob above
the jack controls the volume
level.
The mic inputs are balanced and
low impedance, and supply phantom
power (10 volts) for condenser type
microphones.
When using long mic cables, use a
balanced microphone to help prevent
hum and interference.
Plug any line-level source
with a 1/4” phone plug (tape
player, music instrument,
etc) into the line input. The
knob above the jack controls
the volume level.
The line input is an unbalanced line
level input.
Use shielded cable to avoid hum or
interference.
To daisy-chain two sound systems
together for greater crowd coverage,
connect the line output from one sys-
tem into the line input of the other.
Wireless system set-up.
Each transmitter and receiver pair must be the same channel. The Shure wireless
system uses transmitter setup to synchronize the transmitter and receiver channels.
Note: transmitting devices such as cellular phones may interfere
with wireless audio transmissions. Keep transmitters and receiv-
ers away from these and other potential sources of interference.
Single wireless system set-up.
1. Automatic Channel Scan: Press and release the group button on the
receiver. This scans for a clear channel and sets the receiver to that
channel.
2. Transmitter Setup: Transmitter group and channel must be manually set to
match the receiver.
After manual setup, the transmitter alternately displays the group and
channel setting for about two seconds.
Transmitter Locking Feature
Turn the transmitter on. Hold the group button, then press the channel
button for approximately 2 seconds. The LED indicator rapidly flashes
red when locked. Repeat to unlock. This feature keeps users from
changing the channel accidentally.
1. Press and release the group button to activiate
the display. Press the group button again and
the display flahes.
Group (letter)
If channel needs to be changed, follow the same
procedure using the channel button instead of the
group button.
2. While the display is flashing, press the group
button again to advance to the desired group set-
ting.
Channel (number)

710
input output
L
R
L
R
tape/cd tape
line out
Plug the outputs from
a tape player or exter-
nal CD player with RCA
jacks into the tape/cd
input. The knob above
the jacks controls the
volume level.
The tape/cd input is a line
level input.
This is a summing input,
meaning the left and right
channels will combine for a
mono input signal.
Connect the RCA
outputs to a tape
player’s input to
record the sound
system.
The tape output is a
line-level, summed and
composite signal of the
sound system inputs.
Connect line output
to the line input of
another Freedom to
daisy-chain systems
together.
The line output is an
unbalanced, line-level and
composite signal of the
sound system inputs.
Operating the body-pack mic/transmitter.
Indicator LED for Power and battery status
Power switch: Toggles power on or off.
4-Pin Microphone Input Jack.
Group Button: Changes group Setting
LED Display: Displays group and channel setting.
Channel Button: Changes channel setting.
Audio Gain Adjustment: Rotate to increase or decrease microphone gain.
Changing batteries.
Install 2 new AA alkaline batteries in the transmitter for
best results; expected life is approximately 14 hours.
When the transmitter light
1
glows red, replace the
batteries.
Adjust Gain Settings:
Rotate the audio gain adjustment to increase (+) or decrease
(-) the gain until desired level is reached.
For instruments or line input, turn gain to minimum setting.
For headsets, adjust gain until audio indicator on the receiver
flashes red when speaking loudly.
1
2
3
4
5
5
4
3
2
16
7
6
7

98
Operating the handheld wireless mic/transmitter.
Indicator LED for Power and battery status
Power Button: Press and hold for 2 seconds to turn “on” (LED green), press
and hold again to turn “off.”
Group Button: Changes group setting.
Channel Button: Changes channel and microphone gain setting.
LED Display: Displays group and channel setting
Battery Compartment
Changing batteries.
Install 2 new AA alkaline batteries in the transmitter for best
results; expected battery life is approximately 14 hours.
When the transmitter light
1
glows red, replace the batteries.
Adjusting Gain Settings.
Hold the channel button for 5 seconds. A dot appears on the lower
right-hand corner of the LED display, which indicates -10db (lower) gain
setting has been activated.
To change back, hold channel button again for 5 seconds until dot
disapears.
1
2
3
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4
5
6
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1Wireless system operation.
The Freedom FR-4 is available with single or dual
built-in Shure wireless receivers. The instructions
on the following pages describe how to set-up and
operate the receiver units and wireless transmitters.
Operating the optional wireless mic system.
The built-in wireless receiver(s) turn on automatically
when the Freedom is turned “on.” Also, note the location
of the wireless mic volume controls on the Freedom’s rear
panel.
Features and controls of the built-in wireless receiver.
Audio LED: Indicates strength of incoming audio signal:
green for normal, amber for strong, red for peak.
ready LED: Green light indicates wireless system is receiving signal.
Channel number readout: See “Signal System Setup” on page 11.
Group and Channel Buttons
Scan: Push and release Group Button to scan for an open group
and channel.
Manual: Push and hold Group Button to select a group. Push
Channel Button to select a channel in the current group.
12 3
1
2
3
4
wireless mic wireless mic
one two
4