Newbee need opinions
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Posted on Mar 01, 2012 11:32 pm
Bayou Audio
Member Since: Mar 01, 2012
Just getting into this live sound from the djing side and wana make sure im not missing anything or doing something wrong. I have a mackie 32-8 bus mixer and a mackie 24-8bus for FOH . I then go into a BBE sonic maximizer then into a behringer 3102 eq from there i go into a peavey 3 way crossover where i take the highs and mids into a behrigner splitter with 8 outputs and the lows into another behrigner splitter with 8 outputs. I am running 4- peavey 4115 DTH cabinets for my tops ( mids and highs) 4- sp4's tops also ( mids and highs) . For lows I have 4- peavey DTH218 cabinets. I am running samson sx 1800's bridged one for each top cabinet and for the lows I am running peavey 4000's bridged one for each cabinet. For monitors i am using nady monitors with 12" and a horn in each 8 of them and running 4- Peavey CS 800's to power them one channel for each monitor so i can run 8 seperate monitor mixes. I have a 100" 32 channel / 8 return rapco stage snake . I am using behringer vertualizer for effects and behringer compressors and gates. If there is anything i am doing wrong here or need to change up please let me know I would greatly appreciate it. I have not done a live show with this system yet just set it up outside and played with it a little so far.
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Mar 01, 2012 11:47 pm Wow! You have a lot invested. And I'm sure that it's going to be a kick butt system! Nice!
the only thing that I would question is the Sonic Maximizer. Trust me, it's not needed at all. You can do more with proper EQ than you can ever achieve with a maximizer.
The other thing that has me slightly confused, is all of the splitters for the low end. Can you explain the signal flow on that a little to me? Forgive me if I am coming across as an arrogant A hole on asking. I just don't understand from reading the purpose of the splitter. And in seeing it, it might make sense to me.
Mar 02, 2012 10:04 pm I can easily not use the sonic maximizer and i will try that next time i use it . I am just used of it from the DJ side I used it and loved it , but I am more than willing to try the eq instead I use behringer 3102 's which are dual 31 band eq's. the splitters that i use are Behringer MX 882's I run multiple amps 10 total so i needed some way to take the signal coming out of Peavey Crossover( PV35XO) so i run one set( left and right XLR) out my board to the sonic maximizer then out it to the behringer 3102 EQ out of it into the Peavey Crossover . Now coming out the peavey crossover i use a y cable and put the highs and mids back together and input them into the behringer splitter( MX882) this gives me 8 high/mid outputs to go to my amps for my tops. Each top has its own amp running in bridge mode , Then I take the low output from the crossover and go to another seperate behringer splitter ( MX882) and it gives me a total of 8 outputs to go to my sub amps. All of this i know sounds confussing , but it works really well and is crystal clear . I have all my amp and effects racks hard wired and they stay wired up so all i have to do is very minimal connections at the gigs. I have multiple mixing boards i use , but can use any of them with the system I have a Mackie 32-8bus, a 24-8bus and a peavey unity 16 channel . I am in the process of buying a 40 channel soundcraft spirit 8 bus. Like they say bigger is always better . The only problem I am running into now is that the 16 foot trailer is now FULL lol. But please if anyone has any suggestions on how to change the set up or different way or equipment to use I am more than happy to try it
Mar 02, 2012 11:03 pm If I am interpreting your signal flow correctly, there is a much simpler way of setting it up.
Correct me if I am wrong. You are taking two outputs of your Peavey crossover. (Mid/high) You are using a "Y" cable to do so. And then you are running that signal into the MX882, and then down to the amp.
Is this correct?
If it is, sorry to say that it is not a good way of doing it at all.
By taking two different outputs of a crossover, and putting them into a "Y" cable is a real bad idea. This will cause cancellation and distortion in your system. And then putting the signal into a line driver is even worse! The added noise of the line driver will be more than extremely noticeable. With no signal going to the amps, you will hear a very loud hiss coming from your horns. And believe it or not, this reduces your headroom of the PA.
The best thing to do, is run your crossover in 2 way mode. Take the Mid/High signal as one XLR out of the crossover. So, no "Y" cable. Then, if you have a return channel on your audio snake, take that straight to your amp for the Peavey top box. It's simpler, quieter, and cleaner. The MX882's are not needed at all.
Even in stadiums, we don't use a line driver (MX882) to run signal to our amps. Your crossover can send signal down a 1000' of cable with no problems at all. And like I said, it will make your life so much easier for your set up, and tear down time.
Mar 03, 2012 04:09 pm the peavey crossover i use can only do 3 or 5 way it doesnt have 2 way as a option. But I looked and Peavey makes a 23xo which is a 2 way or 3 way crossover and i ordered that one just now and will try it like you suggested. The only problemI have now is , is how am i going to take that one left and one right xlr out put coming from the high/mid and get enough outputs out of it to go to 4 left outputs and 4 right outputs. Like i said before i have one samson sx1800 running in bridge mode for each one of my top cabinets , that means I have 8 amps total that need inputs. I am not sure about if I can daisey chain the inputs on these samson amps like i can on my Peavey CS amps that is the reson I was using the behringer splitters but if i need to get rid of them then I need to come up with another way to split the signal. Just being curious what is the Behringer 882 made for ? Is there a specific application for them ? Or is it something i just need to get rid of once i do away with them?
Mar 03, 2012 09:30 pm Generally, the MX882 are for driving systems through out a venue. So, if you had an under balcony fill, upper balcony fill, ceiling speakers for a different room, and so on. It is meant for long distance runs of over a 1000' or more. Kind of like a signal booster that you put in the middle of the long run.
For your amps, the "Y" cable that you where using from the crossover will work fine at the amp side of things. You just need one that the genders are reversed. One female to two males. Or a Splitter cable. The input load of your amps should be somewhere in the 10K ohm range. Daisy chaining them is not an issue.
Mar 03, 2012 10:19 pm Will do ....I already have the 2 way crossover on order and as far as the splitters to do it i have plenty of them. I think i have enough cables for anything you can possibly need to hook up I def beleive in extra and all kinds . just never know when and what you will need. So guees I am gonna just put the 3 way crossover and the 882's in the closet and let them sit. As soon as i get this all up and going I will let you know how it goes. Also on a totally different topic have you ever heard of a cabinet call the housewrecker its set of plans from decware. I started today on making on of them to try it should be finished tomorow if i get time its loaded with 4 -15" blackwidow 5101-8's gonna put it running on a peavey 4080 that I got just for it .
Mar 03, 2012 10:32 pm Can't say that I know the brand, but I do know the design. The design works well. You will have a lot of fun with the subs.
