Need help setting up new monitors...

LightGroove · #1 08-19-2010, 05:11 AM

I come to you again oh knowledgeable and glorious talkbass bretheren..

As mentioned in previous threads Ive begun assisting a local band with sound. I have decent amount of knowledge and concepts but lack some details.

Anyways the new bass player has arrived (my replacement) and with him he brings some new equipment.

Currently we have been using 2 single 15 passive Peavey monitors (8ohms) run in series I believe (hooked together) and run by a single power amp. He owns 2 powered Mackie single 15's that I'd like to use as 2 more monitors. Ive got one single monitor send and only 1 channel in our snake designated for the monitors. Can I simply plug a splitter of some sort into the snake and run a new line to the powered monitors and my old line back to the amp as normal?

Zooberwerx · #2 08-19-2010, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightGroove

I come to you again oh knowledgeable and glorious talkbass bretheren..

As mentioned in previous threads Ive begun assisting a local band with sound. I have decent amount of knowledge and concepts but lack some details.

Anyways the new bass player has arrived (my replacement) and with him he brings some new equipment.

Currently we have been using 2 single 15 passive Peavey monitors (8ohms) run in series I believe (hooked together) and run by a single power amp. He owns 2 powered Mackie single 15's that I'd like to use as 2 more monitors. Ive got one single monitor send and only 1 channel in our snake designated for the monitors. Can I simply plug a splitter of some sort into the snake and run a new line to the powered monitors and my old line back to the amp as normal?

Point of clarification: your passive monitors are run in parallel (daisy-chained) unless there's been some extensive rewiring. Is the single power amp being run in bridged mono or in stereo using only the A channel output? Check your manual but I'm pretty sure that the power amp's B input (1/4, XLR) can be used as a "pass-thru" to send the monitor signal to other external devices, i.e. powered Mackie monitors. Send a line from your mixer's single monitor feed to channel A input then run a line from channel B's input to the Mackies. Kinda strange when an "input" becomes an "output", eh? Again, the manual should make some reference to this option.

Riis

LightGroove · #3 08-19-2010, 01:23 PM

I figured I had the series/parallel thing backwards...yes they are daisy chained.

Yes you are correct I am using a dual channel amp running from one channel. The second channel is non functioning at this point. It may work as you stated but I know it produces no signal/power when plugged up normally...this actually being channel a..so channel b is in use for the monitors. I have another power amp that is just sitting. i'll look into seeing if we can it it up this way and trash the other amp.

Zooberwerx · #4 08-19-2010, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightGroove

I figured I had the series/parallel thing backwards...yes they are daisy chained.

Yes you are correct I am using a dual channel amp running from one channel. The second channel is non functioning at this point. It may work as you stated but I know it produces no signal/power when plugged up normally...this actually being channel a..so channel b is in use for the monitors. I have another power amp that is just sitting. i'll look into seeing if we can it it up this way and trash the other amp.

Its never easy, is it? What's the defective amp (brand / model) and what are you using as a replacement? Then again, you could use a cheap splitter after the mixer's monitor output, send one limb to the power amp and the second to the powered Mackies (they should daisy-chain also).

Question for the amp guru's: can the channel A / channel B pass-thru option be reversed?

Riis

Zooberwerx · #5 08-20-2010, 07:25 AM

Correction: Technically, the powered Mackie monitors are not daisy-chained...they're sharing a signal. Daisy-chain usually refers to the pairing of two passive enclosures with a single amp output. Which brings up another suggestion...

You might be able to get away with sending the mixer's single monitor output to a powered Mackie, send a pass-thru to the second Mackie, and send that pass-thru to the power amp's B channel input.

Riis

LightGroove · #6 08-21-2010, 07:22 AM

Very interesting Riis...I may give this a shot.

If this doesnt work..what "splitter" would you recommend. I know the snake is a 1/4" trs line out.

Edit: Is this the one....does it have to be trs or stereo? http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...ter?sku=339511

On a random side note. I was also informed that the new guy owns a powered 18" Nady sub with built in crossover.., Im I wrong in thinking that I'll still need a crossover prior to this sub to send the lows to this powered sub and the mids-highs to our 2x15 peaveys?

Im confused as the sub manual stated that it provides thru-put..similar to what you described earlier.

Zooberwerx · #7 08-21-2010, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightGroove

Very interesting Riis...I may give this a shot.

If this doesnt work..what "splitter" would you recommend. I know the snake is a 1/4" trs line out.

Edit: Is this the one....does it have to be trs or stereo? http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...ter?sku=339511

On a random side note. I was also informed that the new guy owns a powered 18" Nady sub with built in crossover.., Im I wrong in thinking that I'll still need a crossover prior to this sub to send the lows to this powered sub and the mids-highs to our 2x15 peaveys?

Im confused as the sub manual stated that it provides thru-put..similar to what you described earlier.

The MF splitter should work. If not, you're out $4. I believe you can find these at a well-stocked Radio Shack.

The Nady 18" does not have a true xover, it has a variable low pass filter. If you use the pass-thru feature, the 2 X 15 Peaveys (and power amp) will "see" a full range signal. If your power amp has a high pass filter, you may be in business.

BTW, what amp are using to power the passive monitor enclosures? Is the A channel acknowledging input signal...IOW, is the yellow signal light flashing when fed signal from the mixer?

Riis

musicman7722 · #8 08-22-2010, 07:13 PM

IMHO opinion you don't want a sub in the monitors and furthermore you will have one heck of a time trying to eq two different types of monitor speakers with one monitor eq (assuming you have one). Perhaps you should dump the passive system and go with the mackies. Do you have any more returns from the snake available? if so perhaps you could use a pan trick off the boared to cheat out another sort of moniot mix. Most boards are stereo but stereo isn't often used in the fronts. you could pan all vocals center and all instrumets say to the right and then send the vocal left side down another send to the stage and use another eq and send all of that say into the passive system. you'd need to be careful but it could give you another sort of monior mix. i've done it before.

Zooberwerx · #9 08-22-2010, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicman7722

IMHO opinion you don't want a sub in the monitors and furthermore you will have one heck of a time trying to eq two different types of monitor speakers with one monitor eq (assuming you have one). Perhaps you should dump the passive system and go with the mackies. Do you have any more returns from the snake available? if so perhaps you could use a pan trick off the boared to cheat out another sort of moniot mix. Most boards are stereo but stereo isn't often used in the fronts. you could pan all vocals center and all instrumets say to the right and then send the vocal left side down another send to the stage and use another eq and send all of that say into the passive system. you;d need to be careful but it could give you another sor of monior mix. i've done it before.

You're correct...the subs LG mentioned hark back to an earlier thread re: FOH enclosures, not monitors.

Riis

LightGroove · #10 08-25-2010, 07:32 AM

Unfortunately I dont have any more snake space available. Weve got a show this Tues and Im shooting to test out the new monitor setup. Im gonna pick up a splitter tom. night and give it a go that way. Only qualm is 2 of them are active so getting the volume levels balanced may take a bit of time.

I believe the sub will be down the road as they are waiting on a few paid gigs to pick up a decent crossover. More toys to play with...

and er learn how to use

asley · #11 08-30-2010, 11:37 PM

Hi.
If you want the same display in the both monitor then splitter will works otherwise you have to search for another. I think you can do your all work on the same monitor. Try it.
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ric stave · #12 08-31-2010, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asley

Hi.
If you want the same display in the both monitor then splitter will works otherwise you have to search for another. I think you can do your all work on the same monitor. Try it.

Uh.... what?

You make it seem like you're talking about a computer monitor.

newwavefrank · #13 09-01-2010, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zooberwerx

Correction: Technically, the powered Mackie monitors are not daisy-chained...they're sharing a signal. Daisy-chain usually refers to the pairing of two passive enclosures with a single amp output. Which brings up another suggestion...

You might be able to get away with sending the mixer's single monitor output to a powered Mackie, send a pass-thru to the second Mackie, and send that pass-thru to the power amp's B channel input.

Riis

This will work