We’ve had a few customers call in recently to report that when they turn off their mixing board or digital control surface it causes a loud “thump” or pop in their studio monitors. Folks, this is not a problem. While it isn’t ideal, it is normal for upstream devices to send out transients upon power up or down. This is why we audio professionals have always followed the golden rule of power sequencing: Power amps (or powered speakers) turn on last and off first. If you follow this rule when powering your studio up or down you will never put your speakers or ears at risk.
If this procedure seems a little too inconvenient to you there are products on the market that will automatically sequence your power for you. If you have several items that need to be turned on or off in a specific order one of these devices – which generally also provide good protection – may be just what you need. Your Sweetwater Sales Engineer can help you with the details.