DriverRack PA with one speaker

Bollen

Hello ! I've been struggling for two weeks now trying to understand how to manually configure my active speaker to work with the DriverRack PA. I've read the manual about 15 times and the FAQs in this website, plus other googled pages... I can't get my head around it.

In a nutshell, I'm trying to configure (or is the term tuning?) the DriverRack to work with a SINGLE RCF art 312-A. I use it to amplify a double bass with a microphone so I only need the EQ, compressor and the feedback suppressor. Basically I loved the idea of having all these things in ONE piece of gear, that's why I bought it.

So far I've set in the system set-up "Custom speaker" and "custom amp", but I don't know where to go from there....? I have all the specs for the RCF, but I just don't understand the rest of the process. Also, should I be plugging the RCF out from LOW L/Mono? Or MID/High?

I'd appreciate any advice!

Thank you!

Gadget

Ok ... this will be so easy you'll wonder how you ever got into such a frump...

The DRPA+ doesn't do dual mono very well so lets just think stereo, and use only one channel.

What you want is a 1X2 and this would be represented by "stereo full range tops"

And as you said a custom amp is fine...load the program... now you have inputs L and R going to the high left and right outputs...

Had you chosen stereo bi-amp tops the high outs and the mid outs would be used, stereo bi-amp tops and mono subs and the high, mid and low outs would be used...got it?

Now, from here (after you load the program) press the [Xover] button...this will show you the HPF and gain on the High outputs (note the upper left corner of the display... it has this 'HML' meaning high out, mid out and low out.. and in this case the 'H' should be highlighted...

The setting of the HPF is for speaker protection from low frequency over excrusion... setting it at the 3db down point of the speaker with a BW 18 filter is a good idea...

Next press the [EQ] button and you can toggle through the 3 PEQ's and the GEQ

Press the [feedback] button and you can set up the AFS I like 6 fixed and 6 live with live lift after 5 sec...

Does that cover it?
G

Bollen

Ah! I see! Thank you very much Gadget! However, mine is not PA+, just PA (plain). Now, you'll think I'm a bit of an idiot, but would it be alright to ask you for a step by step?

1.- I turn it on. I press the wizard button and I select the system setup.
2.- I select input as mono or stereo? I infer from your reply that I should be setting it in stereo yes?
3.- It says select GEQ should it be Dual Mono or Stereo Linked? So far I've set these two options to mono in both cases.
4.- In select main PA: The only two custom options are "custom passive" and "custom BIAMP", I normally select BIAMP since I know the RCF is an active speaker, thus not passive. Am I right?
5.- Sub-Speaker I select "none"
6.- High amplifier I select "custom". Same for low amplifier. Yes? Then load new program

Now, when you say "you want is a 1X2 and this would be represented by stereo full range tops". I cannot find this option in any of the presets. There is:
1.- Stereo 2way
2.- Full range
3.- and a Custom 2X2, probably left there by the previous owner.

So I presume I should be creating my own program...?

Sorry if I'm being thick. It's usually like this for me with electronic stuff until it suddenly clicks!

Again, thank you very much!

Gadget

2.- I select input as mono or stereo? I infer from your reply that I should be setting it in stereo yes?

Hi, Might as well just go with the 2x2 and stereo.. since the majority of the functions are tied together anyway...

3.- It says select GEQ should it be Dual Mono or Stereo Linked? So far I've set these two options to mono in both cases.

Dual mono in this case but if your only using one input and one output channel it really doesn't matter...

In select main PA: The only two custom options are "custom passive" and "custom BIAMP", I normally select BIAMP since I know the RCF is an active speaker, thus not passive. Am I right?

Sorry... No .... see, bi-amp means that the woofer and the tweeter are powered separately...with different amps...Passive means that the speaker is full range (typically) and has an internal crossover that allows a single amp to run all the speakers in the box.

The DRPA doesn't know (or care) if the speakers are powered or an amp and a speaker... your RCF is actually internally bi-amped , but takes a single input. The DRPA works equally well with powered or un-powered speakers.

5.- Sub-Speaker I select "none"

YES!!! got that one

6.- High amplifier I select "custom". Same for low amplifier. Yes? Then load new program

OOPS... :oops: Nope... select custom for the high amp, but there IS no sub so no need for a low amp... right? If you select fullrange and no subs it shouldn't ask for an low amp...(you asked for Bi-amp that's why it wanted you to select a low amp.

Lets forget I said 1x2... and just stick with 2x2 and use one channel...(make sure if you plug into the left channel input ... you use the left high output... ok? This would be stereo 2 way, by the way...dual mono would mean that each of the 2 input channels has it's own 28 band graphic EQ. You also have 3 fully parametric EQ channels as well.

So I presume I should be creating my own program...?

I like to do it that way, but you could use ....
fullrange,
or stereo 2 way presets and then modify them as I specified...
Be well...

Gadget

Bollen

Oh Gadget you're a life savior! The only doubt left in my mind is when you say set the low frequency over excursion at the 3db "down point". is that mean -3db? (minus)?

I was also wondering if these settings are specific for the RCF art 312-A or generic? If the latter, is there a way to optimize for this specific speaker?

Again, extremely grateful and if there's anything I can ever help you with please don't hesitate to ask!

Cheers!

B.

Bollen

Oh sorry! I also forgot to ask if I should leave the first xover setting at "OUT" or should I set a specific Hz?

Thanks!

Gadget

Technically speaking your RCF will most likely process the HPF itself, but here:
http://www.rcf.it/products/pro-speaker- ... /art-312-a
The frequency response is stated at 50hz to 20khz +/- 3dB

That is what I mean by the 3dB down point...and yes, that's -3dB...

The High outputs on the DRPA do not have an LPF.. so we are said to be allowing the speaker to set it's own LPF...

Your welcome..
G

Bollen

Oh what a beautiful sound! It works amazingly well, thank you! I still somehow managed to trip the RCF's auto shutdown when trying to see how loud it could go... Perhaps I should set it to -4db... Anyway, you've been an invaluable help!

All the best!

Bollen.

Gadget

There is a limiter on the RCF... but you could also set a limiter in the DRPA... just don't set it so that the limiter is getting SLAMMED hard...

You now have 3 PEQ's you can use for tailoring the sound to your taste AND the 28 band GEQ (but the PEQ's sound much sweeter...)
G

Bollen

Mmmh! Yes the PEQs are quite different from the GEQ, I'll have to explore them for a while....

I do not have a clue on how to use the Limiter. Is this similar to a compressor? Should I just set:

LIM: ON
Treshold: -4

And what is the overeasy and what is your suggestion? OFF or a high number like 10 or 9? Assuming this is what you meant by SLAMMED hard....


B.