Is using a driverack pa+ with a studiolive board overkill?

[Wadge]

In the phones section you can solo your Aux to hear yourself and you can then individually solo the other auxes to hear those mixes.

[Wadge]

Originally Posted by bassaram

I'm a user of the 24.4.2 with K-subs and either Mackie SRM 450s or K12s (occasionally)--While I don't think the Driverack is NECESSARY, I have found that I like an external crossover better. I find that the K-subs are crossed over higher than I would like, and they end up limiting sooner because they're pushing more than just the 'thump.' They sound great for recorded music, since it's mastered, but live there's a bit of headroom lacking. While there is a bit of overlap in the functions of the SL and a Driverack, the crossover and limiter functions can't be replicated on the board.

As an example, if you try to run aux-fed subs using a SL, and use the GEQ to get the highs out of the subs, you're only dropping by 12dB, rather than down to nothing. It can get muddy quick. Moral of the story: You probably don't need a driverack, but actually might get a good bit of use out of a crossover.

Also, Biggbass--if you're the one running sound (not sure if you are, based on the use of 'we' in your post), I'd suggest running your IEMs out of the Control Room outputs. You can keep your Aux 1 mix, but running out of control room lets you solo anything on the board (including everyone else's mixes or the main mix).

Rather than eq-ing the sub to get rid of the highs out of the subs could you not use shelving cut off those frequencies - something akin to a low pass filter?

[monkeyland]

driverack with any good powered speaker system is generally redundant. The boxes themselves are tuned with internal DSP in perfect environments. The crossover frequencies are set to make the best overall use of the subs that they are designed to go with. Most powered systems already include the functions that are in the Driverack, set for the speakers and amps themselves.

Once you add in the SL you have your GEQ/PEQ on the mains etc that you can use to adjust for room resonances and such. If you are not using your SL in conjuction with the computer interface then you are seriously missing out

[bassaram]

Originally Posted by Wadge

Rather than eq-ing the sub to get rid of the highs out of the subs could you not use shelving cut off those frequencies - something akin to a low pass filter?

Even on the 24 channel SL, which has the most complete parametric EQ, your max cut is still only 12dB. In addition, the high pass filter has a pretty shallow slope.

[Wadge]

Understood, thanks

[Biggbass]

Originally Posted by NickfromSOS

That brings up another Sl question. I run sound as well as sing. How can i (or can I even) use the headphone out of the SL live to listen to the aux sends? I use a wired in ear system but if i could just use the sl headphone out that would be great. By the way, i returned the SL16.0.2 and got the 16.4.2 instead

I use an instrument cable that has a headphone cable incorporated into it for my wired IEM. I take the line feed from AUX SEND 1 to my headphone box, which is on my pedal board. Then out of the HP box with my dual cable to my guitar.
I slip the instrument cable thru my side belt loop so I can change guitars without getting tangled in the IEM cable. About a foot from the end of the guitar input jack there is a breakout jack for my IEM input.

The cable I use is made by the Rockbox guy. For a wired IEM
system it is the way to go.

[tekdiver500ft]

Originally Posted by bassaram

Even on the 24 channel SL, which has the most complete parametric EQ, your max cut is still only 12dB. In addition, the high pass filter has a pretty shallow slope.

Not entirely. You can use the parametric EQ, plus the high pass, plus the GEQ. This gives you -12dB three times. It isn't 36 dB, but it is certainly enough as you don't have to eliminate, but merely greatly reduce.

[Wadge]

Originally Posted by Biggbass

I use an instrument cable that has a headphone cable incorporated into it for my wired IEM. I take the line feed from AUX SEND 1 to my headphone box, which is on my pedal board. Then out of the HP box with my dual cable to my guitar.
I slip the instrument cable thru my side belt loop so I can change guitars without getting tangled in the IEM cable. About a foot from the end of the guitar input jack there is a breakout jack for my IEM input.

The cable I use is made by the Rockbox guy. For a wired IEM
system it is the way to go.

I use it also and it works very well. The company is called Rock-on-Audio. Jump Audio make a similar system.

[Blue]

The Crossover the PA+ has a lot of crossovers ... meaning you can play with a lot of different settings ... helpful if you have mis-matched (or not factory matched) subs.

The PA+ also has anti feedback for too loud stages. I have QSC K10 monitors and they are really bright. When I'm not running Sub's I sometimes use the PA+ on the monitor mix, either . Since I started Pinking them out using the Smaart Tool, feedback went away.

[D1on]

Why would you not use the driverack to set your gain structure,limiting,flatten whole system and then use the SL to correct room anomalies?

[4Mal]

Originally Posted by Keithwah

That is pretty much what I be talkin' bout! It does everything a drive rack does and more.

Not actually... I love SMAART and my 16.4.2 and QSC setup. I also have and am learning to use a Drive rack. There are things a drive rack can do that the rest of the setup can't on it's own. Auto feed back suppression, sub-octave... Not 100% sure that I will end up using it or if so, how often but there are in fact things a Driverack does that the SL and SMAART doesn't do.

[Blue]

Originally Posted by 4Mal

Not actually... I love SMAART and my 16.4.2 and QSC setup. I also have and am learning to use a Drive rack. There are things a drive rack can do that the rest of the setup can't on it's own. Auto feed back suppression, sub-octave... Not 100% sure that I will end up using it or if so, how often but there are in fact things a Driverack does that the SL and SMAART doesn't do.

A Plus 1 on all said above.

[Keithwah]

Originally Posted by 4Mal

Not actually... I love SMAART and my 16.4.2 and QSC setup. I also have and am learning to use a Drive rack. There are things a drive rack can do that the rest of the setup can't on it's own. Auto feed back suppression, sub-octave... Not 100% sure that I will end up using it or if so, how often but there are in fact things a Driverack does that the SL and SMAART doesn't do.

I know how to tune a room and a system, so I never have a need for band-aids like digital feedback reduction circuits. Being that I am well versed in acoustics and electro-acoustics, the information SMAART Live can offer a live operator that understands the information and what to do with it, is ten fold anything a drive rack can offer. That said, I'm not saying a drive rack is crap, I'm just saying I would not need one unless I was using an analog desk. And if I did use a DSP to manage a speaker cluster I'd use something more flexible and quieter like a Symetrix Solus or a Jupiter if I wanted to monitor it via WIFI.

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by Keithwah

I know how to tune a room and a system, so I never have a need for band-aids like digital feedback reduction circuits. Being that I am well versed in acoustics and electro-acoustics, the information SMAART Live can offer a live operator that understands the information and what to do with it, is ten fold anything a drive rack can offer. That said, I'm not saying a drive rack is crap, I'm just saying I would not need one unless I was using an analog desk. And if I did use a DSP to manage a speaker cluster I'd use something more flexible and quieter like a Symetrix Solus or a Jupiter if I wanted to monitor it via WIFI.

Well-stated and exactly where I operate at the moment. The SL was demo'd for me at Alpha Music and the capabilities were staggering. I can see where this would make any number of peripheral devices unnecessary or redundant.

Riis

[Blue]

Originally Posted by Zooberwerx

... SL capabilities [are] staggering. I can see where this would make any number of peripheral devices unnecessary or redundant.

The money spent on a SL is "worth it", but if like myself you already had a PA+, they can complement each other.