Good reason to buy the DCX2496

[scottcameron]

i purchased the DEQ2496 and so far i like it. i use it for a medium size PA that is used for my band. i have been reading and looking at buying the DCX2496 for sometime now, but not sure if i really need it. i currently use a samson crossover, which works fine. give me some good pros/cons as to why i should or shouldn't buy one.

[wg_ski]

The only reason not to buy one is if whatever processing gear you already own is sufficient for your needs - in which case you don't need to spend money. If you outgrow your gear (and need to spend money anyway), or are starting from scratch (and need to spend money anyway) these units are usually the best option. They cost way less than a rack full of separates of equivalent capability.

If by "medium size PA" you mean a pair of 2x15 cabs and a sub or two you can get by with just an EQ and an XO - especially if they are already bought and paid for and are up to the task. If you want/need to do things like time aligning the PA to the stage, handling multiple sets of cabs (and perhaps different setups), using large sub arrays that need frequency shading, and pinking/tweaking they system flat it's silly not to have one (or a more powerful version).

[scottcameron]

yeah, by medium i mean 2x15 cabs and 4x18 subs. i just wasn't sure if time aligning and the other features was necessary for my set up. i actually have the money saved to purchase the dcx2496, just wasn't sure if the unit was necessary and worth the learning curve.

[tom_s]

If you want/need to do things like time aligning the PA to the stage, handling multiple sets of cabs (and perhaps different setups), using large sub arrays that need frequency shading, and pinking/tweaking they system flat it's silly not to have one (or a more powerful version).

I agree! Even with a medium sized PA, there are great benefits to being able to use different slopes on the various pieces of your system. I've found that things don't always sum properly with the standard LR4 slopes seen in most analog crossovers. And with the parametric EQs in the DCX and you might not even need to use your trusty graphic EQ anymore on the fronts. Just use ARTA or Holm to measure the system, then tweak. It'll be like you have whole new PA!

[scottcameron]

to be perfectly honest, i have minimum experience with mixing/sound. i have an ear and i know what i want for sound; i just have trouble finding it. may have not been a good idea to purchase the DEQ2496, but i learn fast. i ask a lot of questions and read a lot of information. i haven't tackled the parametric EQ side of the DEQ. any tips are appreciated. maybe the procedure for pinking a room. i will be experimenting this weekend. i may also go ahead and order the DCX.

[wg_ski]

If you're having trouble "finding the sound you want" you need to measure - DCX or no DCX. You'll need to get a measurement tool and play with it for a weekend or two. It's fun, you'll wonder where they day went, and your neighbors will want to kill you from listening to pink noise bursts all afternoon, but it will be time well spent. Freeware like Speaker Workshop is quirky but it does work. Start by measuring individual cabs (or drivers) and work up - don't just hook it all up and beat it into submission. Some things may not be apparent from an overall response, and may be easier to tweak in by adjusting crossover points or delays than boosting a hole left by a phase cancellation.

[wg_ski]

I agree! Even with a medium sized PA, there are great benefits to being able to use different slopes on the various pieces of your system. I've found that things don't always sum properly with the standard LR4 slopes seen in most analog crossovers.

For the same reason that stock passive crossovers rarely work really well.

Asymmeteric slopes and user-definable delays are needed to make a horn loaded system work optimally. Unless you like traditional methods which rely on natural phase rotation, which will stick you with a high crossover point for the subs.

[scottcameron]

If you're having trouble "finding the sound you want" you need to measure - DCX or no DCX. You'll need to get a measurement tool and play with it for a weekend or two. It's fun, you'll wonder where they day went, and your neighbors will want to kill you from listening to pink noise bursts all afternoon, but it will be time well spent. Freeware like Speaker Workshop is quirky but it does work. Start by measuring individual cabs (or drivers) and work up - don't just hook it all up and beat it into submission. Some things may not be apparent from an overall response, and may be easier to tweak in by adjusting crossover points or delays than boosting a hole left by a phase cancellation.

my next question. what am i looking for when i pink individual drivers? flat response in the freq. range sent to the driver? if it is not flat, use the eq to adjust? i run 3 way with my current analog crossover. the DEQ has an RTA feature, could i use that with a measurement mic? what software is available that is compatible with windows 7?

[scottcameron]

i'm going to mess with the REW software and see what i can do.

[wg_ski]

my next question. what am i looking for when i pink individual drivers?

When designing any speaker system, you need to start by knowing what you're working with. Think of that step as obtaining the .frd file for this or that woofer. It will take the guesswork out of setting up the x/o and EQ (designing the crossover). Once you know what your stuff is doing (from measurements out in an open field) you don't need to do this again unless you change cabs.

I'm not sure how useful the RTA feature on the DEQ is - the "auto EQ" in the dBx driverack is pretty much useless. Since you almost always have a computer on site anyway, why not just fire up a measurement app and get higher resoultion? I think most apps run on win7 - I haven't found anything that won't run. Specific *hardware* may have trouble, and I have run into this. Mass market usb sound cards seem to work fine, because the driver sets use a lot of common code that's been tested and fixed. I eventually got a Hercules DJ controller to work, but only AFTER a Windows update.