yes. its not that a switching supply can't make clean power, its that you won't know it until you plug it in :( so a basic transformer type supply is better, with a basic regulator.

Thanks. It's all Greek to me, so I appreciate the guidance. If I didn't mention it before, I'm using the PS21 external power supply so far. . .haven't tried batteries yet . Also, when I do the battery test (again, with external power, but it's supposed to give you a reading on either), which is supposed to tell you whether it's getting adequate power, the needle is right at 0. . .I don't know if Shure means for that to tell me it's too low (technically it's outside the happy power red zone, but just barely).

A friend of mine much more versed in electronics and audio matters took at look at the circuit diagram for the mixer (I guess this ships with the mixer), and tells me that though it can take up to 30 volts, everything is regulated down to 15.

I for one would love to see a circuit diagram of the FP33. are you sure its a 33 ? and not a 32 which is a different beast. AFAIK they have never put out circuit diagrams, certainly not with the unit, but maybe as a service manual. just because there are 7815 regulators doesn't mean its 15V. while thats what the regulator is putting out, op amps require negative voltage to work correctly so the difference between +15 and -15V is 30. knowing those TL082's that shure used, this would be near their max operational voltage.

I'll pass your circuitry question on to my friend. We tried the mixer with a 19v power supply he had, which based on his thoughts, would have provide plenty of juice. I noticed a few things--the little LED that was blinking red when I turned on the power with the PS21 power supply was now blinking green, and when I did the battery check, it was way in the red, instead of at 0, where it was with the PS21. So I guess that's good. I couldn't hear a huge sound difference, but those other signs seem to indicate that it does want a hotter power supply, even if not quite as hot as you state.

Yes, it is "shurely" (heh) an FP33, says so right on the front. I'm sorry, I can't find a tech diagram anywhere online. I have a hard copy, but this thing unfolds like a map, it's huge! It'd be tough to scan. If you want to seek it out, it's called "FP33 Stereo Mixer Technical Information". Maybe they'd send you one if you called.

You probably will get a little better performance using the RCA consumer line inputs, but I don't think it would be worth dealing with an unbalanced signal. I'd put barrel attenuators on the mic inputs and use that, so you can run a true line level signal. It's way safer when working around power cords and other things that can cause interference.

Even using the Beachtek XLR adapter to get the line level? I've tried it, seems to work fine. What kind of pad, for mic level? Where do I get them? How much?

I think using a Beachtek would be really awkward with the XL2. You want the ShureA15LA.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...e_Adapter.html

You may need two of them. Pricey, yes, but from what I understand you can't cheap out on an attenuator. The quality of the transformer can have an impact on the sound.

I usually tape the XLR cable to the handle of the tripod in case somebody trips on it. Because the attenuators are so long, it would be a lot of strain on the inputs if somebody were to jerk at the cable at a 90 degree angle.

Can you clarify, awkward how? Thanks.

Well, the XL2 is already kind of large and unwieldy. Balancing it on top of one of those Beechtek or other XLR adapter isn't something I'd do.

Ah. Well, I've always left the beachtek ok there, regardless of whether it gets used or not.

So, according to my tests, it seems that if I want to get my cam to max out when the mixer does (according to Ty), I actually need to set the tone higher, not lower. So, equating the 0 tone on the mixer to -20 on the cam causes the cam, no matter how loud I get, to max out at about -6; it simply won't go any higher without turning up the cam's pots. If I set 0 tone to -12, though, then the cam maxes out at -2 or so, about where ty said the peaks should be. I guess if I did it between -20 and -12, it would all work out. Or, if instead of setting the mixer's master pot to 0 for tone, I could set that lower as well.