Dj Xeo
A good way to think about the volume pots on amps is not as gain controls but as attenuators. In fact this is what some higher end amps label them. This is because these dials do not boost anything, they REDUCE the level that reaches the output stage of the amplifier. For those that know cars (why are cars always the number one example lol) your throttle body is an attenuator not an amplifier. It doesnt BOOST the fuel when you want to go fast is simply restricts the fuel when you want to idle.
Amps are not the only things that distort when pushed too hard, city is right when he says that you want that headroom in your mixer. If you decide one day that you want to have your amps set to half volume because you dont want to push them and then make up for that by turning your mixer output up you will distort the mixers output and you wont be getting the best sound from what you paid for. You have to think about the signal all the way through (and that includes Virtual DJ!) decide where you want to control the volume and leave everything else at 0db (as in neither boosting or reducing).
If you are using an LMS like the driverack or even just a cheepo Bery crossover with limiter you want to use this to control your maximum volume. Using the driverack as an example you can set gain structures and 0 attack limiters matched to your speaker and amp capabilities. In plain English, set it properly once and you CANT blow your equipment up!
Sonic maximizers mess with your sound making it sound meatier by adding harmonic distortions for example, like valve amplifiers. These can make a cheep system sound more impressive but if i was you i would save that money and put it into a better amp or speakers. At the end of the day there is no substitute for good amps and good speakers, you can have all the DSP you want but if you are running naff speakers its game over. Upscale venues dont use 'sonic maximizers' or 'aural exciters' for one reason, good sound speaks for itself. Also when pushing your system they can make the sound a bit grating and you will find your system distorting at a lower volume than without.
Also when buying speakers and amps the ONLY number worth a damn is RMS, the rest is nothing short of a sales pitch. This most certainly applies to both your amps and your speakers. Although reputable speaker manufacturers give conservative RMS figures (mostly so people dont go crying to them when they blow them up) a its a good idea to match like for like. For some good background and advice i suggest you check out this http://www.squatjuice.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=56600
Hope this helps anyway!
Amps are not the only things that distort when pushed too hard, city is right when he says that you want that headroom in your mixer. If you decide one day that you want to have your amps set to half volume because you dont want to push them and then make up for that by turning your mixer output up you will distort the mixers output and you wont be getting the best sound from what you paid for. You have to think about the signal all the way through (and that includes Virtual DJ!) decide where you want to control the volume and leave everything else at 0db (as in neither boosting or reducing).
If you are using an LMS like the driverack or even just a cheepo Bery crossover with limiter you want to use this to control your maximum volume. Using the driverack as an example you can set gain structures and 0 attack limiters matched to your speaker and amp capabilities. In plain English, set it properly once and you CANT blow your equipment up!
Sonic maximizers mess with your sound making it sound meatier by adding harmonic distortions for example, like valve amplifiers. These can make a cheep system sound more impressive but if i was you i would save that money and put it into a better amp or speakers. At the end of the day there is no substitute for good amps and good speakers, you can have all the DSP you want but if you are running naff speakers its game over. Upscale venues dont use 'sonic maximizers' or 'aural exciters' for one reason, good sound speaks for itself. Also when pushing your system they can make the sound a bit grating and you will find your system distorting at a lower volume than without.
Also when buying speakers and amps the ONLY number worth a damn is RMS, the rest is nothing short of a sales pitch. This most certainly applies to both your amps and your speakers. Although reputable speaker manufacturers give conservative RMS figures (mostly so people dont go crying to them when they blow them up) a its a good idea to match like for like. For some good background and advice i suggest you check out this http://www.squatjuice.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=56600
Hope this helps anyway!
Posted Wed 14 Jan 09 @ 5:38 pm
RicardoM
djcity wrote :
Ricardo,
I understand where you are coming from. Having a bad cable is not something that usually happens especially if you are rack mounted and do not disconnect and re-connect your cables and you use quality cables to start with.
You want to constrict and control your SIGNAL, not your POWER.
I understand where you are coming from. Having a bad cable is not something that usually happens especially if you are rack mounted and do not disconnect and re-connect your cables and you use quality cables to start with.
You want to constrict and control your SIGNAL, not your POWER.
Yes, and I know that the chances of a short cable are very very uncommon, but there still a possibility to blown anything. The system that I was talking about was a cable from the snake to an analog crossover (doesn't had limiter) and he blown a couple of subs and all the high drivers... This is the same probability as an airplane crashes in your head, but if you can avoid it, do it. Many of us are mobile, and we don't know exactly where we going to play, how will be the installation, if you have to throw long cables from your dj rack to your amp rack, and someone could squeeze your cables with a door, a chair, or with any heavy or sharp thing.
I think that the way as I do is right, AS WELL AS YOURS, and as well as many other experienced users. There is a lot of ways to tune a system, and everybody haves their own "personal manual", or "personal taste" and most of them will be sound fine and will be protecting the system at same time.
Posted Thu 15 Jan 09 @ 9:40 am
djcity
[/quote]
Yes, and I know that the chances of a short cable are very very uncommon, but there still a possibility to blown anything. The system that I was talking about was a cable from the snake to an analog crossover (doesn't had limiter) and he blown a couple of subs and all the high drivers... This is the same probability as an airplane crashes in your head, but if you can avoid it, do it. Many of us are mobile, and we don't know exactly where we going to play, how will be the installation, if you have to throw long cables from your dj rack to your amp rack, and someone could squeeze your cables with a door, a chair, or with any heavy or sharp thing.
I think that the way as I do is right, AS WELL AS YOURS, and as well as many other experienced users. There is a lot of ways to tune a system, and everybody haves their own "personal manual", or "personal taste" and most of them will be sound fine and will be protecting the system at same time.
[/quote]
I agree.
Everyone has their own way of doing things and If it works out for you...ALL TO THE GOOD.
I'm happy that you understand what I explained and why I explained it. I can't and won't knock you for how you tune YOUR system.
What I posted is for the average DJ that has questions on how to tune a system and why it's done in a certain way.
Happy DJ'ing.
Posted Thu 15 Jan 09 @ 10:13 am