DBX Driverack pa.

[73jbass]

Anybody here use one of these on their PA system? I was getting ready to buy a crossover for my bands PA,and I was told that with the driverack,I don't need a crossover. If you use one I'd like to hear your thoughts.

[MNAirHead]

Yes I have one. You have to read the manual. Once you do its slick

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by 73jbass

Anybody here use one of these on their PA system? I was getting ready to buy a crossover for my bands PA,and I wa told that with the driverack,I don't need a crossover. If you use one I'd like to hear your thoughts.

The DR is your crossover plus a bunch of other stuff. Fairly steep learning curve but well worth the while. The auto EQ (via RTA mic) works well, also.

Riis

[73jbass]

That's what I was thinking. One of the sales people said it will replace a graphic eq,crossover,and several other rack components. Might have to look in to getting one tomorrow.

[TimmyP]

No DRPA, get DRPA+ or used DR260, as they can be connected to a computer, which makes adjusting most things easier.

[JackANSI]

Don't just get the cheapest DriveRack, the DriveRack PX is meant for powered mains and lacks a few features the PA+ has.

The PA+ is awesome. Can take a mediocre setup and really get it into the 'ok-to-good' area... if you set it up right.

[Munjibunga]

I have a DR260. It costs a little more than the DRPA but the added features and performance are worth it. This is another one of those items you'll want to buy from Northern Sound and Light (you have to call on the telephone to get the non-MAP price).

Anyway, it's great for crossover or filters. You can adjust the slope of the filters using up to 4th-order Bessel, Butterworth or Linkwitz-Reilly filters. It also has a pretty effective feedback killer (2 channels). It also has limiters, compressors and either graphic or parametric EQ. The DR260 can be connected to a computer to download EQ parameters for a broad range of speakers and subs. They used to have just Crown and JBL parameters, but last time I looked they have some Mackie and EAWs too. Maybe even more now.

It's a cool tool. You can eliminate 6 to 8 rack spaces of equipment with this one rack-space processor. The learning curve is a little steep and it requires studying the manual and practicing in the gear, but the results make it worthwhile.

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

...can be connected to a computer to download EQ parameters for a broad range of speakers and subs...

The learning curve is a little steep and it requires studying the manual and practicing in the gear, but the results make it worthwhile.

I never quite understood the EQ parameters option as my Carvin mains and Yorkville subs are not included in the menu. Not to matter, though....I use the Set-up Wizard and designate the "custom" default when asked for speaker brand / # although my power amps are listed. I manually enter my Xover parameters (LR, BW, and slopes). The first time you perform an Auto EQ, the GEQ "slider" positions are re-set, anyway.

When I first installed my DRPA, I set up our FOH PA in the living room (ask my wife about that!), hooked up a CD player, and ran a 20" pink noise CD I'd downloaded from the dbx website. Highly recommended! Once the gain structure was established, I stuck a vocal mic in front of the speaker array, slowly cranked the main sliders, and watched the feedback filters capture and squelch the offending freq's. A bit extreme but I just wanted to witness for myself. To ice the cupcake, I threw on a "Best of ELP" CD and let 'er rip.

Regarding the Auto EQ function: I see minor variations venue-to-venue but, overall, the resulting EQ curve morphology remains remarkably consistent. This comes in handy when Auto EQ is not practical. I use a pre-existing curve and tweak with the high & low outputs (located in the Xover), PEQ, and/or mixer's mic channel EQ's.

Riis