DBX 266XL
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Posted on Aug 15, 2008 01:46 pm
PunkRockMike
Member Since: Jul 24, 2008
So,I bought a DBX266XL for my bands kick drum to get a fuller sound than what we were getting. The kick drum is not an ordinary kick drum, it is called a "pahu" and it is a drum from Tahiti. It has goat skins on both sides and it is hand tied so it is hard to tune. I understand what the DBX266XL does, I just don't know what to look for as far as sound. I've played with the unit for hours and have gotten very frustraded with it. When we have shows we are using 2 15" speakers with no sub. I want a sub, but its just not in the budget right now. I like the sound we are getting, everything but the bass.
Any thoughts or help?
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Aug 15, 2008 02:20 pm Well, for kick drum in live shows, I would not use the compression feature of the 266.
Use the gate only. By putting the compressor in, your losing bass off of your kick.
The 266 doesn't have the best gate in the world in it. But, it should do fine for two 15"'s.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 15, 2008 09:03 pm Yep, what Rob said.
Also, if you are unhappy with the kick sound you may try a different mic or simply a different position for the mic.
I am familiar with the type of drum you are talking about. That is really the type of drum that you should use 2 microphones on.
Are you cutting a slot or hole in the front skin? You should not, but if you did try putting a good kick drum mic just outside the hole pointing toward the beater. Then place another mic on the kick side pointing directly at the beater from about 8 or 10 inches away, keeping it about 2 inches from the skin or so.
They will both need to be pretty good mics. And you will really need the gate on the kick side mic to keep out any mechanical sound. Try and EQ it to get the beater smack, but to emphasize the thud itself on the pedal side. Then set the front side to get as good and full a sound as possible.
Aug 16, 2008 05:11 am i hate to say it, but it sounds like you're aproaching the problem wrong...
do you like the sound it gives naturally? i'm guessing you're trying to make this sound like something it's not, and all the compression in the world cant help the source.
is there any posibility of using a different drum? (unless you really like the natural sound it produces)
Aug 18, 2008 01:37 am Thanks for your thoughts guys. I will not use the compressor next week. maybe not even the gate.
The drum doesn't have a hole in the front head and I will try using two mics. I also think it might be the mics I am using. I don't rermember the name off hand but it might be "superlux"? It is a pack of five drum mics. I have tried many different mic positions from the front to the back.
For the show we do we have to use that drum. I do like the natural sound it gives, its just not the same through the speaker. The weird part is my headphones sounds great to me.?
Also, can the 15s put out a loud enough kick drum bass to feel? I know that is what my boss wants to feel. Any mics that you guys would recommend. I have been reading about the Audix D-6.
Aug 18, 2008 02:23 am Sorry to say, that another mic will not help your situation.
In live sound, getting the kick up high enough though a single 15" a side, robs your PA of all of it's head room.
A pair of subs will really help more then anything. Then running the system three way.
By increasing the amount of amps in your system, give you the ability to separate the frequencies and double the head room.
On another note. Things may sound good in your headphones, but your not running the PA through your headphones. Headphones are only used a reference in live sound.They have different characteristics from your FOH PA.
Also, the 31 band EQ, does not effect the headphones. Unless your inserting the EQ across the mains. Which can be done, but is not the usual method.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 18, 2008 06:11 pm Rob, just a note.
I recommended the second mic not for more sound. But to pick up that type of drum better. It is an odd bird that he is using for a kick drum. Not an easy drum to get a clear sound from without having a front and rear mic. The skins are so thik that you can't get a good beater sound from the front alone, even with a hole in the skin. Which I don't recommend as it really alters the sound of that drum.
But I have to agree with Rob on the power thing. I was directing more toward the drum sound itself. But that drum will require even more then a standard kick drum as it really has a thud to it and is best felt/heard through a full on bottom set up like Rob describes.
Aug 19, 2008 12:21 am Oh, sorry Noize. I wasn't trying to knock your technique on this one.
I am slightly familiar with this kick. And I agree that you do need to have a second mic on the beater head. Last time I encountered this kick, we used a Audio Technica choir mic on the beater side. Worked very well with the over all sound of the kick.
Just wanted Mike to know, to get that rock and roll type levels out of it, he will need subs.
And if you are interested, a frind of mine is selling his Meyer rig. He has some really nice peices with that.
Aug 19, 2008 01:21 am Ahh... thanks.
What is a Meyer rig?
Also, the show we do is an outside Luau. How much does the sound change from an inside show compared to an outside show? And what height should my speakers be? Last week I think I might have had them too high.
So, let me see if I get this so far. No compressor/gate, try using two mics, one in front and one in back, and to get a bass sound that we can feel I will need two subs and more amps.
And thanks again for all of you guys' advice. I'm new to this and learning a lot.
Aug 19, 2008 02:08 am The sound inside will be subject to the interior of the room your in. Hard surfaces reflect sound. Humidity will effect how well it projects. Hence, More bodies in the room, the more the EQ will change. The dimensions of the room, will give the space it's own natural harmonics.
Doing sound outside will eliminate some of the EQ problems that you encounter inside. But, humidity and hard surfaces will still give you headaches.
As far as how high to put the PA. Stand in front of the speaker when you are setting it up. I always like to have the bottom of the speaker box to be square with the bridge of my nose. That should give you a good starting point. Unless your 4' tall. Then you might want to have some one taller do the measurement.
As far as Meyer is concerned. www.meyersound.com/
My friend has the older non powered version of this link. www.meyersound.com/products/ultraseries/upa-1p/
His has what is known as the bow tie horn. Which is the more sot after model.
www.meyersound.com/products/ultraseries/usw-1p/
Once again, his are non powered. Meaning they do not have a built in amp.
He has 4 of these www.meyersound.com/products/legacy/discountinued/mts-4/
2 of these www.meyersound.com/products/legacy/650r2/
And 12 of the UM1 monitors. They have a 45* conical horn. And they will take your head off!
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 19, 2008 08:32 pm Rob, no worries on that. After I posted I thought about it and said to myself, "Self, Rob's gonna think I was pissin on him."
But I figured I'd wait and see. But no, I just wanted to make sure that he knew that was my reason behind the 2 mic's as well. Making it clear as a whistle.
So no worries again, knocking never even crossed my mind, just more clarity on my part.
I wish I'd thought of a choir mic the last time I recorded that type of drum. I may use that on similar drums next time.
Aug 26, 2008 12:37 am Hey, my show on Friday sounded great. I was really happy with the sound. Thanks.
