Am I doing this correctly?
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Posted on Aug 18, 2010 08:49 am
Adam Mutschler
Abomb Muchbaby
Member Since: Jul 02, 2009
I have read a ton of stuff on here this morning and gotten quite a bit of helpful info. I have one simple question about the way I am using my monitors...
My PA system consists of a passive mixer, an active 18" subwoofer, and 4 active 15" speakers.
My mixer has the following options for outputs:
Main outputs (XLR) Right and Left
Alt 3-4 outputs (1/4") 4-3
Control room out (1/4") Right and Left
Each of my speakers (including the sub) have inputs and outputs. To this point, I have been coming out of the main outputs into my sub. Then I come out of the sub into two of my loudspeakers. This is my main setup.
Then for the monitors, I come out of those two loudspeakers into the other two, and adjust the volume on the speakers itself.
That being said, with the equipment I have, is this the best way to be doing this? Or is there something I am missing. Would it make sense to purchase something else to help with this?
Thanks guys, always appreciate the help.
Adam
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Aug 18, 2010 12:14 pm The way that you have it right now, your just giving the band the FOH mix. Which, if that is what they are looking for is fine. But, you don't have separate contorl of the sound on stage at that point. Meaning, if the singer needs to hear more of themselves in the monitor, you have noway of doing so. Plus the added ohm load on your amps is probably making the amp go into clip a little early.
The other thing that I see is that you're going to the sub, and then passing up to the top boxes. As long as the sub has an internal crossover, your fine. But, if it does not, then you're putting a full range signal into the sub. Which will reduce the amount of bass that it can produce. And also make it sound rather flubby. Not tight. Also, if the 15" mains have both the horn and 15, then at that point, they are passive, and not active. Active needs two sets of speakers wires going to them. Because you address the horn and the 15" separate. This requires a external crossover. Something that you go and turn a knob to select which frequencies are going to each speaker.
The way to do this right, sadly is going to cost you a little money.
First, you need a crossover. If the top boxes are active, then you need a three way crossover. If they are passive, then you need a two way crossover. Also, if the tops are active, then you need another amp to run the sub.
Second, you need another two channel amp. This is to run the monitors separate from the mains. And gives you a much better sound on stage. Plus the ability to give each person on stage what they need to hear.
Third, you're gong to have to get a channel of a 31 band EQ for each of the sends that you have going from your board. So, the Left Mains need a channel, so does the Right side. One for the Sub. And two for the tow mixes of monitors that you have. This means that you need 5 channels in total.
This way the mains are ran for the Main Left Right out of the board. The Monitors are coming form Aux one and two. And the sub you can have tied to your Left/Right via the crossover. All of this has a 31 band EQ in between the board and amps. (In the case of the Mains, it's board out to 31 band EQ, to crossover, then to the amps.
All of this will give you a much better sound overall, reduce feedback, and give you much more headroom.
I'm just sad to tell you that it's going to cost you more cash! :(
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Aug 18, 2010 02:05 pm Quote:
Also, if the 15" mains have both the horn and 15, then at that point, they are passive, and not active.
I'm not sure why you'd say that:
www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PR15D/
Seems like there's lots of active speakers w/ 2 drivers: horn & 15"
Am I missing something?
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Aug 18, 2010 02:10 pm I think I might:
MAINS out -> L and R active speaks
CTRL ROOM -> L and R monitors
ALT BUS -> Subwoofer. You'd want to make it mono, as it'd be 1 output -> sub, unless sub can receive 2 inputs.
Then each is controlled by their own fader on the board, no need to futz with individual volumes.
Course, i'm just pitching in my opinion, I'm just a hobbyist. And, I'd have to play with them to see if this would work OK. But that's the first thing I'd try, seeing as how they're all active.
Aug 18, 2010 02:31 pm Oh, there self powered. OK, the the crossover is still inside of them. Still makes them a passive network. Being that you have no point of adjustment.
I don't know pjk. Running them off of the control room is still leaving them on the Left/Right bus. It still has the same issue of not leaving any control of any mic on stage. It's just whatever FOH is. And this still leaves you with the same feedback issue.
Adam, this still leaves you with the need for EQ's either way you wish to run your board. Without it, you have noway of reducing the frequencies that are feeding back. I would still use the aux sends to drive the monitors. That way, if you only need vocals in the mix, you can. And if one mic is creating feedback on the stage, you can turn it down, or turn it off.
Aug 18, 2010 02:33 pm Wait a minute....... Adam, are your boxes self powered? Or do you use an amp to run them?
If you use an amp, then my top statement holds true. If the boxes are self powered, the refer to my second one.
Aug 18, 2010 04:14 pm Thanks Guys. Yeah my all of the speakers are self powered. I thought there had to be a way to utilize some different outputs on that board. i am going to try setting this up a few different ways. I am only going to micing vocals, and possibly the bass drum, but I only do that occasionally because he plays the bass drum so softly you can barely even hear it... So all I need to worry about coming out of the monitors is vocals.
Thanks a hell of a lot for all of the input. I will come back and let you guys know how this works. If I have to spend some money, I will but I am going to try playing around with this first.
Thanks Guys,
Adam
Aug 18, 2010 04:16 pm And that speaker is not identical but it's the same basic idea.
