DRPA Rear Panel Connections -- +4/-10db Switch and GLS

twinspindj

:roll: :?: Could somebody explain in (non-technical) terms what the "+4/-10db" button actually does? It is "pushed in" on my unit. May have come this way from factory. What afffect would it have if it were NOT "pushed in"?

What affect does the Ground Lift Switch (GLS) play in this unit?
When GLS is "pushed in"?
When GLS is NOT "pushed in"?

Gadget

-10 consumer gear
+4 professional gear meant to drive signals over long distances with minimal signal degradation...Like the signals sent over a snake hundreds of feet from the mixer to the amps racks. A balanced signal then is a pair of signal wires inside of a shield for noise rejection.

Typical -10 applications.
1.Home theater
2.Consumer level DJ and Karaoke systems with RCA in/outs and some 1/4" unbalanced connections
3.Home stereo systems

Typical -10 operation is said to be "single ended" or unbalanced, look at it this way...there are 2 streams... only one is flowing...
Typical +4 operation is said to be "double ended, or balanced, 2 streams ... both flowing..

The ground lift switch lifts the ground on pin one of the XLR's. this is possible on a balanced line like XLR's where there is a + and - signal on pins 2 and 3 (push pull for over simplification) and a "drain" or "shield" on pin 1 to keep spurious rf and radio/tv signals from interfering with the signal feed. This way, if the chasis of the different pieces of equipment (mixer and Driverack, Driverack and amps...are at different potentials (I'd have to get technical here) we can isolate the chassis and keep their potentials from interacting...

Gadget

dmenace

What's the difference in consumer dj equipment and pro dj eqipment, i guess i have a pro dj mixer when it comes to dj gear.

The dj mixer i have is a digital one with XLR, RCA and Firewire outputs and im able to set the sensitivity on my outputs to 0db, +3db and +6db, but im still not sure if i should apply the +4 or -10 on the driverack :?:

Cheers

twinspindj

Gadget, thanks for the explanation. :idea: Works for me.

Since I have a mix of 1/4" and XLR in my system, connected to DR, I may try the GLS button to see if it resolves and issue that I have been having.

:? Got a wireless (Sure) combo (mic and lavileer). Can never seem to get the background noise from the system when I increase the mixer "mic 1" gain. When I decrease the Mic to "0" no problem with extra noise coming from my speakers. All Speakers are Active vs. passive. But that's for another time. The Sure wireless is entry-level on the low end of the wireless chain. :roll:

Gadget

The idea behind the switch is to allow the use of the driverack with many different platforms, and levels of gear...That is part of the reason that the gain structure is so important.

This would be a good example of a consumer level unbalanced mixer...
http://cgi.ebay.com/RADIO-SHACK-STEREO- ... 335926d133
Note that the outputs are all RCA...

As I said before, the balanced system is designed to drive signals over great distances, and to help keep interference to a minimum.

Perhaps this (rather old water stained) Doc will help you to understand the relationship with gain and different equipment...


In your case, if you have an XLR out you would best be served by using the +4 platform, for many reasons...some but not all have as above...

Gadget

Gadget

:? Got a wireless (Sure) combo (mic and lavileer). Can never seem to get the background noise from the system when I increase the mixer "mic 1" gain. When I decrease the Mic to "0" no problem with extra noise coming from my speakers. All Speakers are Active vs. passive. But that's for another time. The Sure wireless is entry-level on the low end of the wireless chain. :roll:

That is likely the cause of your problem... again perhaps gain structure is PART of the problem here...Lavs are notorious for noise floor problems because the mic element is generally a varying distance form the source. Undoubtedly also a line level device, the SHURE mic should have a gain control? and perhaps a "squelch" or "sensitivity" control accessible only with a small (wooden or plastic ONLY) screwdriver that adjusts the "noise" floor of the device.Try it..

G

twinspindj

I'll try adjusting the inset screw (squelch) located on the underside base of the wireless transmitter. There is also two knobs (Ch 1) and (Ch 2) on the transmitter base. Is this the "gain" you are talking about? The other "gain" is on the Mixer (Mic 1) which has Trebble, Base, Gain knobs. The Mixer (Mic 2) is actualy part of the Mixer Channel 2 (Line/Mic), and has no Trebble or Base knob, only the Gain Slider.

On the Sure transmitter, (Jack A) is designated for Lavleer and (Jack is for Handheld Mic. That's just the way it was manufactured. Because I use the Handheld Wireless Mic most often, I connect it to the Mixer Mic 1 so I can use the Trebble/Base to make the Voice sound better and Lavleer to Mixer Channel 2 (Line/Mic)...even though I'm not using the Lavleer at all.

Do you see anything wrong with the above "hook-up" scenario that might lead to the "background" noise issue I have been having?

Thanks for replying in the KISS method (Keep It Simple for Stupid) :roll: :oops:

Gadget

No I don't see any real problems...just make sure the Shure isn't clipping at the unit... have you tried any other cables from the unit to the mixer? Is there a Mic level our from the Shure?
G

twinspindj

The wireless unit has yellow "on" lights for each Channel (A) and (B). When I turn the wireless channel gain knob clockwise from "0" it turns red when "clipping" occurs. I assume that is what you mean by clipping?

I have not changed cords which are 1/4 RTS both ends, not XLR or RCA. But I don't recall if I had the same problem. I was more concerned at that time of making making certain that the Channel 2 was connected to the Mic 1 Input on the Mixer. The only reason I used different cord was because I forgot the original cords to the Sure. :oops:

I'll let you know once I have the opportunity to check things out.

Thanks for trouble shooting with me.

Gadget

Yea... cables can cause that sort of thing... as can a overly turned up (clipping) mic, or a squelch set to high...but the latter is most likely the culprit... If the squelch is set open then the noise floor will be high...

So how are things down there? I used to live in Elizabeth city...for a time...
G

twinspindj

Gadget...

Believe it or not, last week was a COLD week for this area. Lows were in the teens and highs were low to mid-30's. Had Snow and Ice storm last Friday thru Sunday. Raleigh and areas North and West got 5-8" of snow; between Raleigh and Fayetteville there was a mix if Snow, Sleet and Ice. Predictions for Fayetteville never really materialized--Ice 1/4 to 1/2"--received Sleet and Freezing rain instead. Lucky, no power outages here. Schools were closed from Friday thru Monday in my area due to the Icy roads...they don't have many snow plows for this area. Being from Maine, I thought it was rather comical. What we got was rather normal for Maine and everyone there would have been just like any other day.

DJ business in this area is very competitive...a few large multi-ops, but quite a few "wanna-bees" who maintain low pricing. There is no Guitar Center, Sam Ash, in Fayetteville. Got to go to Raleigh or Charlotte to check out variety of equipment and lighting. However, there is at least one non-national Pro Sound business in the area that caters to DJs and Bands and Churches.

I don't service the Elizabethtown area because of my advertising limitations, but on occasion get a few emails for quotes.

I'll get back to you regarding the "gain" and "background" noise issues regarding the Mic. Perhaps I need to look at a different Mic for use at Weddings (for Toasting). You can tell the person to place the Mic close to their chin, but do they listen? Yes, for a few seconds. Then it's back to their comfort zone for holding the Mic. That's when I get most of the noise, trying to get enough volume for them to be adequately heard. :roll:

Gadget

\"Less Mic, more music for dancing\"

I have found a different path here myself...I have found that any DJ can play music(we'll get to that in a minute) but it's the interaction with the crowd that keeps me in business...It seems every wedding I do the people see me.. even years after and say "Man we had a great time! People that were there are still talking about our wedding"! Yes I play great music, "The greatest songs of our time" but I learned one thing early..."listen with a deaf ear..requests" ESPECIALLY when you get a 5 page list from the B/G :roll: When that happens I say look... why are you hiring "ME"? (I don't advertise... at all) Is it because you want a hick ass party that EVERYONE will remember... or is this about playing your songs for the people... like it or not? My suggestion would be that if you REALLY want to have a great event ... let ME decide what to play, and you just tell me the high points of the evening for you and I'll make those special.

I also ask for any and all information I can get on the people in the wedding party.. parents and guests (especially anniversary's... and birthdays) so I can TARGET these people! Yes TARGET... and the bride and groom are ground zero! Silly games... silly dances...and then there's the garter and bouquet! Lets just say it involves the "stripper" and a "Kodak moment"

Rock through the ages! that's the theme.. something for everyone starting with Glenn Miller and winding them up to a mind blowing crescendo they don't ever forget...
For me it's all about the "show"!

G

twinspindj

What works for you...well...works for you.

My motto, "Less Mic, more music for dancing" is followed pretty close. I don't drag guests on to the dance floor, announce each song as though I were a radio personality, or play games. Oh, don't get me wrong, I DO make comments on the Mic throughout the evening that may have to do with something "funny." We all do the introductions and announcements. My forte is playing music that will keep the B&G and Guests on the dance floor. I do ask for song input from the B&G during the planning stages AND take requests from Guests during the event. Being comfortable in knowing that I have the music that may be "requested" is a good feeling. But yes, the B&G can lead you astray with their music requests so we have to keep the upper hand and take control of the dance floor when necessary.

So you're not a stuffy tech person with lots and lots of electronic/sound knowledge...you have a personality, too! :P

Gadget

Where they talk about "Characters welcome" they're talking about me and yes ... that is what works for me!

I was a radio station engineer/"announcer" (public radio) with a smooth deep DJ voice...I cut my teeth on school dances ( the very first RAVES without the d r u g s and alcohol I actually had school girls swoon...when I walked in the room(back in day... now I'm older than dirt and still crankin out the tunes!


Here it's cookie cutter DJ's with behringer speakers and piss poor <100 bit rate mp3's and a set up on a table...that play what THEY want to hear...not the people. My whole show is designed around keeping the dance floor full for the B/G and Keeping the drinks flowing for the venue... that way the BOTH spread the word...and that's the name of the game...especially when you don't advertise
G

Try and type the word "d r u g s" without the spaces :roll:

Dra

Here in the deep south, wedding receptions are less of a party and more of a meet, greet, and eat. I get everything from... "just background music and our specials (first dance, bride/father, etc)" to "we want to dance, so anything bootyish", and of coarse the in-between. Of coarse the wedding chapel that I sub through has a seating limit of about 150 and most are way under that, so usually very small numbers. Rarely are there adult beverages.
I always ask the bride, since she (or daddy) is paying for it, what she wants. Grooms rarely have a say. 8)

DRA