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DRPA drops one side, cuts in and out

James85James85 Posts: 63
edited October 2009 in PA General Discussion
The last couple of times I set up my PA I have experienced a strange DRPA issue. I use a DRPA on a stereo PA. I have had the PA and DRPA for a number of years. The last two times I set up the system and ran some recorded music through it, one side would either be silent or VERY low compared to the other side. Sometimes the sound, on the \"bad\" side, would fade up or down abruptly (not normally) as I adjusted the channel slider on the MP3 input channel. I checked my cables from the board, into the DRPA. I tried L and R cables out of the mixing board, into the R in on the DRPA. Both cables and mixerL & R out channels worked. Repeated the process with the L in on the DRPA and found the sound level was very low or silent. This leads me to be sure the problem IS with the DRPA. After sweating and fiddling with the board sliders the system \"fixes\" itself. The sound evens out and things run fine all night. The actual show content is vocals and kick and snare. Very loud. No problems with the DRPA all night. It always happens when I first fire up the system. I have seen it happen when I initially check my mics too, not just one channle or MP3s. I did not go into the DRPA settings and make any changes in order to stop the problem. It just cleared up. Could there be something to do with a circuit board flexing as it gets warm? A solder joint that makes contact as the device warms up?

I have read some inconclusive postings about similar-ish DRPA behavior. Frustrating.

Thanks,

Jim

Comments

  • GadgetGadget Posts: 4,915
    I guess it's possible...I think a soft reset should be tried... if it persists a hard reset ... if it's still there contact tech support... the reset procedure (hard only I believe) WILL wipe the user memory's... so make sure to write down your settings so you can re-enter them..
    sorry... :roll:
    G
  • twintentwinten Posts: 50
    I had the same problem. My PA+ would fade in sometimes. Mostly low vol on one side.
    I'm about to decide the PA+ is only good as a xover. The rta does not eq the rooms like other units I have had. Who has feedback on the house.mix ? I never have so the feedback eliminator is useless. The compresser is way to complicated. I will take a 166XL any time. The sync. does nothing to the sound that I can hear. The peq works ok. The geq
    is only 28 band. I can do better with my old 31.
    Sorry DBX. This mouse trap is not much help. Glad I have a 45 day return policy. Come up with a unit that will benefit a weekend band that doesn't cost a arm and leg and I will buy it. Glad I kept my old stuff.
    Oh, by the way, I'm on my 3rd unit. The first two had problems. This one seems to work properly if you have an extra half day to adjust it.
    Just my view. A lot of money for a x over.
  • DraDra Posts: 3,777
    :shock:
    I have a 260, and a DRPA. I love them so much I just bought a 2nd DRPA. I have no experience with the DRPA+, however.
    What is a sync? Did you mean sub-synth? The only difference between a 28 band and a 31 band is the lack of extreme high and low frequencies (that no one can hear or that no system can reproduce).

    DRA
  • James85,

    Double check the output cables as well. Also, take a look at the meters; where does the signal appear to become lower in the chain? If you need to have us take a look at it, fill out the RA request form on our website. However, I wouldn't rule out a cabling or amp quite yet.

    twinten,

    Sorry to hear you had issues with your first two DriveRacks. I recently performed a demo to some sales Guys who were absolutely shocked with the diffrence the PA+ made in the sound system. You see, they had never heard how the product could sound when properly optimized.
    The DriveRack PA+ can help even if you know very little about how the tools work. However, the system can never truly shine unless you understand what is being done behind the scenes and how the tools work.

    I beleive the problems/complaints you have may be due to user error. Many systems actually won't reproduce 20 Hz or 20 kHZ, so the omission of the outer two bands in the GEQ are generally of no real significance.

    The Auto EQ in the PA+ actually uses a new algorithm which better approximates an \"averaged\" EQ setting. If you go into the 260, PA or PX's GEQ, after perfoming the Auto EQ, you may see large amounts of boost and cut in some bands. However, when you do the same thing in the PA+, you will not see these large amounts of boost or cut because the PA+ is \"smarter\" and knows these acoustic issues cannot be fixed with EQ. The end result is a gentler, more natural sound, so it will not sound as dramatic when compared to a DriveRack PA, 260 or PX.

    The Sub-Synth does have two pages, so if you did not go to the second page and adjust the parameters, you will hear no efffect.

    We do have an interactive training guide here:

    http://www.dbxpro.com/training.php

    Also, the FAQ at the below link talks about how to manually configure a \"Custom\" sound system.

    http://www.dbxpro.com/FAQs/index.php?q= ... mit=Search


    Hopefully there will be some training modules in the near future concerning this as I think it would be greatly beneficial to many Driverack users.

    I do understand that different people prefer different tools. That's why the audio market is flooded with so much gear to select from; sometimes it gives me a headache when I'm searching for new gear! Ultimately you should use whatever gives you the workflow and sound which you prefer.

    Hopefuly this helps a little.
    :)

    Best of luck to you.
  • DraDra Posts: 3,777
    mikejoeydbx,
    Any chance on making the 260 \"smarter\" like the PA+ (auto-EQ) in the next update?

    DRA
  • Hey Dra,

    I haven't heard of any plans to change this at this time, but I hope it does happen sometime down the road. I'll send off another request for it. :)

    Thanks!
  • James85James85 Posts: 63
    I figured I'd come back for an update. The loss of signal/sound from one side of the stereo system was due to my early-issue XTI amp. Seems the early runs had a series of problems, including random drop out and fluctuations in output. One of my sides would drop down during set-up and sound checks. Drove me crazy. I got the amps replaced with newer XTIs and they work perfectly.

    Jim
  • DraDra Posts: 3,777
    Thanks for the update.

    DRA
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