DriveRack PA Custom Setup Help

why767

Hey Everyone,
I'm trying to help at our church with the sound system. We've got the DriveRack PA and it never been properly set up.
We've got a QSC RMX 1850HD amp
Ch.#1 - Subs
Ch.#2 - Tops
Our Speakers are;
Tops (Mono) - JBL's MS28
Subs (Mono) -JBL's JRX118S
Mono In

The Subs are Aprox. 4' further away than the Tops from most seats. How should I set the DriveRack for Input and Output, Crossover, Delays, and any thing else. We have a Mackie24-8 Mixing board and speakers in the wings of the church and monitors that are not connected to the DriveRack. The room acoustics are terrible with feed back and the sound system has high - med hi range mostly. We need a better/richer sound especially for mid range voice.

Thanks in advance,
Why767

Gadget

So tell us what settings the driverack has for crossover points... HPF for the sub, LPF/HPF for the sub tops cross...and include type and slope.

The tops fall off drastically below 80 hz. since they are 8" tops I'd cross closer to 120 hz, LR24.

I'd set the HPF for the sub @ W18 @ 45 hz...
G

Dra

Actually, you could put either the monitors or the wings on the driverack also. Interested?

DRA

why767

Gadget- The crossover points are
HML 35.5
BW 12
-11.0 dB

HML 100 Hz
BW 18

Dra- I think it would be a good idea to put the wings on the DriveRack
Wings Amp
Yamaha P3500S
Speakers (Mono) 2-Martin EM26 , One on each side.

Monitors Amp
QSC MX70
Speakers (Mono) 4- Fender 1270, Two left and two right.

Dra

Gadget can you help him out with the wing set-up when you advice on the main system set-up? I'm crutched for time.
The Martins are rated 125w cont and 70-18K +/-3db.

Thanks,
DRA

Gadget

Thats WAY too low of an HPF for the sub.. I recommend you try the settings we provided...Do you have a measurement mic and if so have you used it?

Yes that would help your monitors greatly but you'd only have 1 mix and the measurement mic is required to get the full benefit of the setup...
G

why767

Yes I have the mic and I've tried to use it. I think I need to get the speaker and amp setting correct first to get the most out of the other. I couldn't find all the speakers and don't fully understand how to set custom speakers exc.

If it is wired mono in "left" and mono out "left" with tops and subs only how should I configure the crossover? I currently have Input Mono and GEQ as Dual Mono.

Would it be better to rewire it as stereo? I could the input fairly easy but the out to the tops would be difficult.

Gadget

Did you read any of the READ ME FIRST BEFORE POSTING section?

Like this thread:
viewtopic.php?f=61&t=959

Or the stuff in the FAQ's?
viewforum.php?f=60

You will find a lot of the info to set up and tune your system...

You need to select Stereo and Dual mono... not necessarily in that order (can't remember) but one way you won't get the "not finished" and move onto the next section to eq...be it mains or monitors...

Two things can bring the "not finished" message when doing auto eq...
1. More than 4 bands fully cut or boosted..in the GEQ after an auto eq run,
2. Waiting for you to auto eq the other channel...

So, when you set up stereo with dual mono then you have as separate a signal path as your going to get in the DRPA. It's important to have the signal path all strait and again it's been a while but I believe I set the left channel as mains and right as monitors, that way your ready when you need to transition the mic for the monitor run...

Mic position is important... and if you have read the FAQ... Auto eq post you know that.. if not... read.

then ask questions.
Gadget

why767

Yes, I've been reading everything that I can but a lot of this is new to me. I've had to spend a lot of just to find out what kind of speakers we have and how they are wired. I think I understand some of the concepts but I also lack the experience to know what works best. I don't know how to take the speakers specifications and set the xover and slope.

I'm assuming that my LPF is @ 35.5 if it's set to HML 35.5? What is HML?
And the slope is BW12 and for the subs it should be BW18?

If I set the tops at 120 hz and the subs at 45 hz doesn't that leave out the sound from 45-120?

What is LR24 I can't find anything on that in the DRPA?

I know this must all be simple stuff for you but it's all new to me and I appreciate all you’re patients and help.
Thanks,
why767

Gadget

LR 24 is a crossover slope...BW 18 is also. We suggest BW 18 @ 45 hz beacuse of the amount of power you have and is designed to protect you subs...The LR 24 is a very musical crossover type . The number is how steep the slope is look a a slope of 6 as the bunny hill @ the local ski resort, and the 48 as the expert hill in steepness...The thing about the steeper slopes is they:
1. In the case of the BW18 protect the sub speaker from damage from too low a frequency
2. In the case of the LR 24 the interaction in the crossover region is minimized

I would suggest this:
HPF (sub) (hipass filter.. the LOWEST frequency you want the speaker to produce) BW18@ 45
again we have chosen 45hz due to the power available
LPF (sub) (lopass filter... the highest point we want the speaker to go) LR24 @120hz
we chose that frequency because of the size of the low frequency speaker in the tops
HPF (MS28) LR24 @120hz
the 120 hz will also help with intelligibility of the MS28's and not get the subs too high in frequency so that they sound honky.

When you select the [xover] by pressing the button with that name on it you will be able to select the type and slope by using the [<prev] [next>] page buttons and the encoder (large wheel)
The HML refers to the Hi, Mid, and LO outputs and the one you are working with is highlighted when selected...

you need to sit down with the unit and find out what EVERY KNOB and dial does. Simply select an unused preset by pressing the [program] button and rotating the data wheel...press the big knob in to load the program. Then play with all the features till you can navigate about the DRPA with confidence. Use the block diagram so you can see what the flow of the device is...If you don't have the manula you can download it here:
http://www.dbxpro.com/Literature.php

You can also download the GUI for the 260 and get an even better idea of how the tools in the driverack work... that is is in the downloads/software firmware

Once you select the xover types and slopes and set up the speakers you will want to save this preset to a location you can find it and name it... that is all in the FAQ section as well...

Gadget