Gear4music HiCAST-S21 SubZero MODULAR PA SYSTEM User Manual

MODULAR PA SYSTEM
HiCAST-S21
USER MANUAL

WARNING!
Do not open cover. No user-serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified service personnel Do not place the product in a location near a heat source such as a radiator, or in an area subject to direct sunlight, excessive dust, mechanical vibration or shock The product must not be exposed to dripping or splashing and no objects filled with liquids, such as vases, shall be placed on the product No naked flame sources, such as lighted candles, should be placed on the product Allow adequate air circulation and avoid obstructing vents (if present) to prevent internal heat build-up. The ventillation must not be impeded by covering the appliance with items such as newspapers, tablecloths, curtains etc.
To prevent injury, this appliance must be securely attached to the floor/wall in accordance with the installation instructions.

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing the SubZero HiCAST S21.
To get the most out of your product, please read this manual carefully.

BOX 1 CONTENTS

• 1 x Subwoofer with built-in mixer.
• 2 x 6.3mm TS Jack cables.
• 1 x User manual.
• 1 x UK power cable.
• 1 x EU power cable.

BOX 2 CONTENTS

• 2 x Satellite speakers.
• 2 x Satellite speaker stands.
• 2 x Satellite speaker mounting brackets.

PRODUCT FEATURES

• Modular PA system featuring stereo PA or column style PA set-ups. · Stereo (2.1) or mono (1.1) configurations.
• Built-In eight channel mixer with individual channel EQs and FX send/return.
• Digital media player with USB, SD and Bluetooth connectivity.
• DSP programming featuring 5 professional presets to tailor the sound to your environment.
• 460W RMS, 650W Peak, 1800W Max output power.
• 12″ subwoofer containing the built-in mixer.
• Two 5″ satellite speakers with stand mounting brackets and stands.
• Powerful Class D amplifier.

OVERVIEW ­ CONTROL PANEL

1. EQ CONTROL (CHANNELS 1 ­ 6)
   Controls the EQ for each channel. HIGH ­ Increase or decrease the high frequencies by -/+10dB. MID Increase or decrease the mid frequencies by -/+10dB. LOW ­ Increase or decrease the low frequencies by -/+10dB.

2. FX CONTROL
   Controls the amount of FX sent (as received from the FX Return input) to each channel.

3. CHANNEL VOLUME CONTROL (CHANNELS 1 ­ 8)
   Controls the volume of each channel.

4. DIGITAL MEDIA PLAYER
   Enables you to play music through the speaker using a variety of platforms. See DIGITAL MEDIA PLAYER section on page 8 for detailed information.

5. LED INDICATORS
   POWER ­ When lit, the power is on. SIG ­ When lit, the speaker is receiving an input signal. CLIP ­ When lit, the input signal level is excessive and should be reduced.

6. DSP SETTING INDICATOR
   Displays the current DSP setting.

7. DSP SETTING SELECTOR
   Selects the desired DSP setting. Use the dial to scroll through the 5 settings. See page 9 for further details.

8. MASTER VOLUME CONTROL
   Increases or decreases the overall output volume for both the subwoofer and speakers.

9. SUB VOLUME CONTROL
   Increases or decreases the output volume of the subwoofer.

10. SATELLITE SPEAKER VOLUME CONTROL
    Increases or decreases the output volume of the satellite speaker(s).

11. BALANCE
    Pans the master output signal left or right.

OVERVIEW ­ CONNECTOR PANEL

1. CH 1 LINE/MIC SWITCH
   Change the input sensitivity to suit either a microphone connection or a line level device connection.

2. CH 1 COMBI INPUT
   Connection for an XLR or 6.3mm TRS Jack cable from a microphone or line level device.

3. CH 2 LINE/MIC SWITCH
   Change the Input sensitivity to suit either a microphone connection or a line level device connection.

4. CH 2 COMBI INPUT
   Connection for an XLR or 6.3mm TRS Jack from a microphone or line level device.

5. CH 3 LINE/INSTRUMENT SWITCH
   Change the input sensitivity to suit either an instrument connection or a line level device connection.

6. CH 3 COMBI INPUT
   Connection for an XLR or 6.3mm TRS Jack from a microphone or line level device.

7. CH 4 LINE/INSTRUMENT SWITCH
   Change the input sensitivity to suit either a microphone connection or a line level device connection.

8. CH 4 COMBI INPUT
   Connection for an XLR or 6.3mm TRS Jack cable from a microphone or line level device.

9. CH 5/6 AUXILIARY INPUT
   Connection for a stereo pair of 6.3mm TS Jack cables.

10. CH 7/8 AUXILIARY / MP3 SWITCH
    Change between the Ch 7/8 Phono Auxiliary Input/3.5mm TRS MiniJack and the Digital Media Player.

11. CH 7/8 AUXILIARY INPUT
    Connection for a pair of Phono cables. (Note – You cannot use this connection in conjunction with the 3.5mm TRS MiniJack connection).

12. 3.5MM JACK MP3 CONNECTION
    Connection for a 3.5mm TRS MiniJack cable. (Note – You cannot use this connection in conjunction with the Phono connection).

13. FX SEND / FOOT SWITCH FX
    Send ­ Sends the effected signal out. Foot Switch ­ Turns the FX send on or off if there is a foot switch inline between the HiCast S21 and an external FX processor.

14. FX RETURN
    Receives the signal from an external FX processor.

15. PRE-AMP OUTPUT
    Connection for external audio devices. Sends out the master stereo signal, bypassing the amplifier.

16. LINK IN/OUT
    Connection to link further HiCAST S21 units.

17. CHANNEL 3-8 MONO/STEREO
    When this switch is pressed in, the outputs for channel 3 to 8 are mono summed together. This is useful when the system is in 1.1 mode.

18. RIGHT CHANNEL MASTER OUTPUT
    Master output for the right channel in stereo mode.

19. LEFT CHANNEL / MONO MASTER OUTPUT
    Master output for the left channel in stereo mode. Main master output in mono mode.

20. TALK-OVER FUNCTION (CH 3-8 ONLY)
    When a microphone or instrument is connected to Ch 1 or Ch 2, and the Talk- Over button is pressed, the level of Ch 3-8 will be lowered when a signal is received.

21. +48V PHANTOM POWER (CH 1 + 2 ONLY)
    Sends 48v to the input to supply power to condenser microphones.

22. CHANNEL 3/4 MONO/STEREO
    When this switch is depressed, the outputs for channel 3 & 4 are summed together. This is useful when the system is in 1.1 mode.

DIGITAL MEDIA PLAYER

FUNCTIONS

1. MODE
   Press this button to scroll between Bluetooth, SD and USB modes.

2. PLAY/PAUSE
   Plays or pauses the selected track.

3. STOP
   Stops the current track.

4. REPEAT
   Press once to repeat the current track. Press twice to repeat all tracks.

5. SKIP TRACK BACKWARDS
   Selects the previous track.

6. SKIP TRACK FORWARDS
   Selects the next track.

7. SD CARD
   Insert SD card here. Formats accepted include MP3, WAV, WMA, AIFF, FLAC.

8. USB
   Insert USB device here. Formats accepted include MP3, WAV, WMA, AIFF, FLAC.

BLUETOOTH CONNECTION
To connect a Bluetooth device to the speakers digital media player, please follow the below steps.

• Ensure that the speaker is powered on and within range of the Bluetooth device.
• Press the MODE button on the speakers digital media player until ‘Bluetooth’ is displayed on the screen.
• Open the Bluetooth settings on the Bluetooth-enabled device.
• Scan for Bluetooth devices and search for ‘SZ-HiCAST-S21’ in the devices list.
• Select ‘SZ-HiCAST-S21’. The Bluetooth enabled device should confirm that it is now connected.
• Play audio from the Bluetooth-enabled device, ensuring that volume is turned up.
• Turn up the CH7/8 / MP3 volume control on the built-in mixer, ensuring the CH7/8 / MP3 button is pressed in.

DIGITAL SOUND PROCESSING

FLAT
Completely neutral. No DSP processing is applied, so you hear everything exactly as it is.
Examples:

• Using an external audio mixer
• Critical listening in situations where you need to hear unprocessed sound

SPEECH
A crisp and clear sound, which aids clarity in presentations and other speech situations.
Examples:

• Presentations in office and classroom environments
• For a public announcement system at an event
• Awards and dinner events
• Amplifying drama and theatre on small stages

MUSIC
Designed to give energy and brightness to pre-recorded music.
Examples:

• House and garden parties
• Casual listening
• Fitness classes

LIVE
Cut through audiences for a pronounced sound, with a slight low-end boost to add 3D depth.
Examples:

• Live gigs, rehearsals and other musical performances
• Singer-songwriters
• Open mic nights

CLUB
Boosts the bass to help drive dance music and enhance your party’s atmosphere. Ideal for larger venues.
Examples:

• Mobile DJs\
• Children’s parties

STEREO (2.1) SET UP GUIDE

This mode is suitable for when you wish to use the HiCast S21 as its own standalone PA system, and where you may require a stereo audio image.

SET UP
To help you set up the system properly for a stereo 2.1 format, follow the guide below.

• Slide each of the two 5″ speakers on to the two included speaker stands, using the plastic speaker bracket located on the top of the pole.
• Connect a speaker jack cable from the “LEFT/ MONO” output on the subwoofer to the jack socket on the base of the speaker bracket situated to the left of the subwoofer.
• Connect a speaker jack cable from the “RIGHT” output on the subwoofer to the jack socket on the base of the speaker bracket situated to the right of the subwoofer.
• Ensure that the “CHANNEL 3-8 MONO/STEREO” switch (fig 17, page 5) is unpressed when using this mode.

USING THE INTERNAL MIXER IN 2.1 MODE

The HiCast S21 internal mixer has been laid out in a very flexible manner, allowing for a full band set up regardless of which device you wish to plug in. Below is a guide for each channel and how best to utilise the system.
Channel 1 and 2 are specifically designed for ‘centre stage’ devices, such as vocal microphones, or instruments requiring line level inputs. These two channels are mono summed, meaning that they will output from both satellite speakers, regardless of your set up. These two channels have +48v phantom power functionality, allowing you to connect condenser microphones straight to the unit.
Channels 3 and 4 are suitable for high-Z instruments (such as keyboards) or line level audio devices. Different to channels 1 and 2, these two channels can be used in stereo (channel 3 outputs to left speaker, channel 4 outputs to right speaker) or can be mono summed (both channels output to both speakers). This allows you to input two different devices (MONO) or left and right inputs from the same device (STEREO). To toggle between mono or stereo options, simply press the CH 3/4 MONO/STEREO button on the connector panel.
Channels 5 to 8 are all stereo channels, meaning that channels 5 and 7 will output to the left speaker and 6 and 8 will output to the right speaker. Should you wish to sum all these channels, this can be done by pressing the CHANNEL 3-8 MONO/ STEREO button. However, do note that this will also override channels 3 and 4, meaning you would lose the stereo image for these two channels.

USING EXTERNAL MIXERS WITH 2.1 MODE
It is strongly advised to use either channels 3 and 4, channels 5 and 6, or channels 7 and 8 (depending on the desired connector) when connecting from
an external mixer. This will enable a left and right stereo image to be presented without any signals being mono summed. When using this feature, ensure that the CH3/4 MONO/STEREO and the CHANNEL 3-8 MONO/STEREO buttons are released, and if using channel 3 and 4, ensure the INSTR/LINE switch is set to LINE.

MONO (1.1) SET UP GUIDE

This mode is suitable when you have limited space or if you would like to use the system as a column PA. This set up only requires one speaker cable connection, allowing for a simpler cable solution. Do note, in 1.1 mode, all output signals to the satellite speakers are mono summed, meaning you will not have a stereo signal.

SETUP
To help you set up the system properly for mono 1.1 format, follow the guide below.

• Remove the pole from one of the speakers stands to reveal a threaded end on the pole. This should be screwed in to the threaded socket on the top of the subwoofer.
• Slide one 5″ speaker on top of the other, using the sliding mechanisms.
• Slide the two 5″ speakers on to the plastic speaker bracket located on the top of the pole.
• Connect a speaker jack cable from the “LEFT/ MONO” output on the subwoofer to the jack socket on the base of the speaker bracket.
• Ensure that the “CHANNEL 3-8 MONO/STEREO” switch (fig 17, page 7) is pressed in when using this mode.

USING THE INTERNAL MIXER IN 1.1 MODE
Connect any combination of microphones, instruments or line level devices in to channels 1 to 8, ensuring that the MIC/LINE and INSTR./LINE switches are set to the appropriate levels, and that the +48v switch is pressed if you are using microphones requiring phantom power.

USING EXTERNAL MIXERS WITH 1.1 MODE
Connect the left and right outputs from the external mixer to any of the inputs on the HiCast S21 (depending on desired connection), however ensure that any MIC/LINE or INSTR/LINE switches are set to “LINE”.

SPECIFICATIONS

Amplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Class D DSP
RMS Power(total) . . . . . . . . . 300W + 80W + 80W
Max Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1200W + 320W + 320W
Subwoofer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1×12″woofer, 2″VC, 80 oz ferrite magnet
Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5″ woofer with 1″ neodymium tweeter
Impedance (total) . . . . . . . . . 4 Ohm
Sensitivity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96dB
Max SPL rating . . . . . . . . . . . 126dB
Frequency response . . . . . . 55Hz­20KHz
Power Consumption . . . . . . 500W
Fuse Type. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.35A (110­120V) /3.15A (220­240V)
AC power input . . . . . . . . . . 110-120V / 220-240V
Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.42kg (speaker) /22.96kg (subwoofer)
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155147270mm(speaker) / 480380450mm (subwoofer)

KETTLESTRING LANE
YORK YO30 4XF UNITED KINGDOM

If you have any more questions about this product, please do not hesitate to contact the Gear4music Customer Service Team on: +44 (0) 330 365 4444 or info@gear4music.com

References

• Gear4music | Musical Instruments, Equipment & Software

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