How much difference will a DRPA+ make?

NatJag

Hi Guys,
I'd like some input from users.
Obviously the DR can be used as a X over GEQ PEQ etc. Apart from saving rack space, how much would do you think the DR has improved your sound over having these separate units perhaps. Considering the added advantage of speaker tunings. (assuming you have them).

In consider getting a unit mainly as speaker protection, since a recent amp (QSC PLX1802) purchased is slightly higher rated than the speakers (4xRAMSA WA-200 ran at 2 a side usually with a RAMSA 9220 amp). I don't have bass bins (sold them), as the bloke that runs the band doesn't like the look of them (he'd have 60's vox columns if he could) so a X-over wouldn't be of use. Until I can pursued the guy how much better the sound would be. Long story that. We Rarely use out own PA to be honest as mostly it's supplied with a sound engineer of various qualities. But when we do use it, I need our sound to be as good as it can be.

I would use the HPF and slight limiter settings when using the QSC amp. Plus GEQ or PEQ.

I look forward to your input and replies.

Gadget

Without a doubt, the Driverack has made the most difference of anything I have ever bought... hands down! Compared to separates the sound quality alone if not the convenience is a no brainer...
Gadget

NatJag

Thanks for that gadget. It's the sound quality that is the main importance, after all that what sound systems are all about.

Gadget

The REALLY cool feature though is the Auto EQ...Get the mic, and tune your system flat and get benefits you only DREAMED of...Imagine being able to stand right in front of the speakers blasting away... holding a wireless mic, and singing at the top of your lungs... and NO feedback...Playing even those really difficult rooms with minimized interaction, as the system excites the room less because it's properly tuned...

Note that also we have provided a well stocked FAQ section, and a whole lot of info on system setup and tuning...

As for the speaker tunings... who cares! It's simpler to set up a custom one and set your own parameters...besides there are no tunings for passive speakers, fullrange speakers, powered speakers.... See, if the manufacturers admitted that their speakers were somehow flawed and required tuning... how many do you think they would sell? Even speaker systems with subwoofers don't require \"tunings\" but simple HPF for the subs, and crossover from subs to tops and THAT we deal with at great length here...

Speakers that require TUNINGS are PASSIVE design 2 way, 3 way, 4 way...etc that HAVE no passive crossovers, and require some kind of electronic filtering for it's components...

Hope that helps...but think about it this way... all those outboard components... if they are like most users systems.. a hodgepodge of different brands that all have different technologies ... that when patched together with a bunch of questionable cables of various lengths that provide impedance problems...interactions...added noise and humm factors... It's everything you need between your mixer and amps/speakers...

G

Dr. J

Cool! I like that answer G! And to NatJag -- if you do what G says and really learn it -- your system will sound way better than you ever thought. Or at least way better than someone else coming in and trying to tweak it. The biggest compliment we get with our sound is how CLEAR everything is and that is what a fine tuned system will do. Most bands in this area have an incredibly SCOOPED sound because the graphic looks like a \"smiley face\" where all the good musical frequencies have been cut to death to avoid feedback. Get the 260 and be done with it.

NatJag

Cheers for your input guys. Presently I only ever used a crossover (other than when I use subs). I always get compliments about the PA saying how clear it sounds. So should get a better sound still with a DR.

I'll probably post requests for help if I get into difficulties with the unit. Seems simple enough to set up.

djp1997

Just the ability to use the RTA to auto tune your rig to any venue and let you start with a known flat EQ response would be enough to justify acquiring the DRPA in whatever flavor you need. Then, if you play the same rooms on a regular basis, having the luxury of storing your configuration for each room, is a bonus. My sound is clearer, I have greater headroom, greater max volume without clipping and auto feedback suppression all with a unit that is custom configured to my amps and speakers. It's the best investment I have made for my PA that delivers the most bang for a buck. You would have to buy many discreet products to get what is contained in one DRPA.

NatJag

Thanks everyone for your replies. I have eventually received my unit, I opted for the DRPA+. I'm currently running different base set ups for the various configs I'll use my sound system with. Such as tops only, tops plus subs, and one setting for monitors when all I need is a monitor rig, when I hook FOH into another. I wont get to use it for a month as we wont use our own PA til then.
So far it all looks quite simple. Can't wait to get it into action. First use will be monitors, so shall be good to see how the AFS does.

Gadget

Hopefully you have found and read the stuff in the READ ME FIRST BEFORE POSTING section...
viewtopic.php?f=61&t=959
viewforum.php?f=60
These things will help your setups and help you to be able to run monitor, and mains, and mains and monitors together...
Good luck and have fun!
Gadget

Zooberwerx

NatJag wrote:

Thanks everyone for your replies. I have eventually received my unit, I opted for the DRPA+. I'm currently running different base set ups for the various configs I'll use my sound system with. Such as tops only, tops plus subs, and one setting for monitors when all I need is a monitor rig, when I hook FOH into another. I wont get to use it for a month as we wont use our own PA til then.
So far it all looks quite simple. Can't wait to get it into action. First use will be monitors, so shall be good to see how the AFS does.

I'm in the same boat....just got mine and won't be able to put it to the full test until Saturday evening. I strongly suggest you give it a dry run with whatever PA gear you have prior to a live engagement. Here's what I did...

I set up our full PA rig (mixer, BBE SM, DRPA+, two power amps, two passive 3-way mains w/ internal x-over, two 18" subs) in my living room and positioned the RTA mic approx. 15' away....far from ideal but practical in developing a "hands-on" feel for things. I then ran through the Quick-Start auto set-up from start to finish (don't deviate!) and pumped some CD's through the system. I don't know what impressed me more....the DRPA+ or the fact I was able to get it up and running.

I still wasn't fully confident so I dragged the full rack (sans speakers) to a local sound guy for and addt'l tutorial. Four hours for $20; you can't beat that! Turns out I wasn't that far off-track but I still learned a handful of FOH tricks. Example: even if you established a DRPA+ tuned flat response, you can still tweak your tonal balance not by monkeying with the EQ but by manipulating something as simple as the crossover points of your mains and subs.

Once you have the basics down, its just a matter of returning to the dbx website on a regular basis....consider it continuing education. My next assignment: figure how to engineer the PEQ's!

Riis

NatJag

I'd loved to try a dry run, but all my PA gear is elsewhere, apart from the desk, which I've hocked up and ran pink noise and 1khz osc through it, plus some CD's. So I know at least something is going in it, and the levels are where I'd expect them to be.

I had already read the threads mentioned, thanks for reposting the links though. I can either use my rack as FOH stereo or monitors (I have 2 mon mixes), so I can't do both. If I get on with it, I may get a 260 for the mons as the AFS on each input/output will be a huge benefit.

Gadget

No Doubt... but you CAN get yourself familiar with the interface, and navigation. 260 owners have a huge benefit in the GUI but none the less you should be able to navigate using the front panel.. in case of computer failure or even cable trouble...

I also recommend getting your DR set up prior to hooking it up to the system.. here's what I do
1. Set up the system in the wizard... use "custom" if your particular models are not in the menu
2. load the new setup
3. press the [ program] button and you can get out of where ever your at, and will take you to the preset you just set up
4. next press the [xover] button and set up your speakers... if fullrange set the HPF at about the 3db down point with a steep slope like BW18. If your using subs and fullrange tops set the HPF as above, and then determine where you want to set the xover point, A good rule of thumb is if your under powered set a higher xover point, but more than about 100 hz and your going to end up with vocal info in the subs, and the subs start sounding honky above 120 hz...unless you have a pretty compelling reason (like recommendation from the manufactturer of that speaker) don't overlap xover points and stick with the same xover type on adjacent points.. like LPF on the subs...LR24 @100hz, and LR 24 @ 100hz on the tops.
5. look at the sensitivity of the different speakers, for instance if I'm bi-amping a top and the horn is 107db efficient @ 1 meter @ 1 watt and the woofer is 95 db efficient I will lower the horn crossover gain by 7-10 db unless I have a huge amp on the woofer and a small amp on the horn...then I still lower the horn gain but not as much.. and some experimenting is warranted...
**NOTE** moving the xover gain also moves the acoustic xover point, but so does moving the amps attenuator.

Now your pretty much ready to hook up, and set up your gain structure.

Gadget

NatJag

I used my DRPA+ for the first time in a real situation last night. I only used on monitors as we hooked into the theatres system. All I used was the HPF and limiter. I had previously set a PEQ (and GEQ when pinking the monitors indoors) to notch out a known problem feedback frequency and taylor the tone slightly as the desk sends out to monitors output pre eq. I didn't need to use the AFS as the monitors were so loud with just that adjustment. So far very impressed. Not tried on FOH system yet.

Gadget

Cool, thanks for the update...keep us informed!
G