Need Help Once more on setting Limiter using Multimeter...

[hollywd901]

Need help on setting my Limiter once again on my Behringer DCX2496 Crossover,,,I remember vaguely how to do this, unfortunately I had a Crossover go bad so am needing to do this again...I am using a set of T-39s with 3012LF Speakers being driven by a Behringer EP2500 Amp ... I believe I run a sine wave of 60hz through my laptop into my mixer then into the crossover with speakers unattached, I also have the multimeter clips on the rear of my amp which has both of its gains at full...there are 2 red and 2 black points where as I can place my multimeter do i go red to red and black to black?? if someone knows that amp and could tell me where to place my leads...
...Also do I adjust all my gains on my mixer, and crossover prior to setting this new limiter setting...if someone could please walk me through this once more would be appreciated...thank you!

[hollywd901]

anyone?? thanks

[SoundInMotionDJ]

On the EP2500, attach the multimeter leads to the binding posts (e.g. the prongs used with a banana plug). Attach the red to red, and black to black. Use the plugs on the back that correspond to the channel you will be adjusting.

Starting with the laptop, turn up the signal as far as it can go without clipping.
Then do the same with the mixer.
Then do the same with the effects.
Then do the same with the crossover.
Until the signal gets to the amp.

In general, prefer to have the output of any unit on "full", and adjust the inputs down to keep the signal in the desired range.

Next turn the amp input gain up all the way, and then measure the voltage output. Now adjust the limiter DOWN until the voltage reading is at the desired maximum.

--Stan Graves

[Gregory East]

I don't know how a limiter works so bear with me. If you replace an item upstream of the limiter does it matter as far as the limiting goes? In other words so long as you put enough signal into the limiter to make it limit does it matter if you put even more into it?

Good idea to measure the input/output voltages of the upstream gear to see what is making big gains in order to avoid clipping before it gets to the limiter and make the widest dynamic range available. I read that in a book I got from Leland. Someone mentioned DJ mixers being very hot some time ago.

[hollywd901]

THANK YOU Stan and Gregory...few more questions and I'll have this down pat...60Hz Sine wave correct?? and the rear of my ep2500 amp has 4 binding posts 2 red 2 black...which do i measure across??...I'm using both outputs 1 going to 1 t39 the other to the other t39...and last but not least...what is my desired maximum voltage reading, I am using 2 3012 lfs...in T39s...thanks so much

[Gregory East]

That's 1 driver per cab right?

I forget volts but it's in the plans. I'd go 70 hz to stay out of the sub highpass for sure.

I don't know how you got this far without destroying 2G worth of gear but those posts are one set of red and black per channel, one of each, red is + black is -, sheesh.

+ to +, and - goes to -, when you are hooking up stuff.

measue volts across red to black, that's where the power is waiting to be unleashed on speakers, so don't short out anything or you'll get big sparks and fire.

[hollywd901]

one final question before tomorrow night...I have my dcx-2496 configured again, at least it's workable at this point...I didn't get to borrow a voltmeter from my friend to set a new limiter on the crossover...I did make a few changes in gain on the crossover but not much...is it safe to say I can use my last limiter setting from old crossover unit and at least be somewhat protected...and I guess my question is this, for those that don't use limiter...will I see the clip light come on my crossover to at least give me warning to turn things down a bit?? and should I just keep my old limiter setting turned on for tomorrow night and just monitor it?? thank you

[Gregory East]

sheesh

[Gregory East]

If your crossover is clipping you're driving IT too hard, never mind the speakers. That'll sound ugly for sure. Read about gain structure in the Rane notes.

[Gregory East]

Best to keep it all on one thread mate,

At least I notice you got your answer some days ago from Phatman on another thread. I didn't realise you were talking about a limiter inside the 2496.

[Dave Non-Zero]

one final question before tomorrow night...I have my dcx-2496 configured again, at least it's workable at this point...I didn't get to borrow a voltmeter from my friend to set a new limiter on the crossover...I did make a few changes in gain on the crossover but not much...is it safe to say I can use my last limiter setting from old crossover unit and at least be somewhat protected...and I guess my question is this, for those that don't use limiter...will I see the clip light come on my crossover to at least give me warning to turn things down a bit?? and should I just keep my old limiter setting turned on for tomorrow night and just monitor it?? thank you

with the ep2500 you would be clipping the amp before you'll overpower the 3012lfs, so you would have to be going crazy to damage them. So in other words, leave your limiter on. And don't go crazy.

[hollywd901]

Thanks Dave and Greg ---> Have my old limiter setting still engaged on my new dcx2496 crossover til my buddy can let me borrow his multimeter ... I only slight adjusted my gains and I hardly ever see the clip light come on so hopefully I will be ok tonight, I won't go too crazy, I guess I was just trying to figure out if I should leave the limiter off and judge by the clip light on my dcx crossover or if i should leave my old limiter setting on and judge by that,,,thanks...

[Bruce Weldy]

Thanks Dave and Greg ---> Have my old limiter setting still engaged on my new dcx2496 crossover til my buddy can let me borrow his multimeter ... I only slight adjusted my gains and I hardly ever see the clip light come on so hopefully I will be ok tonight, I won't go too crazy, I guess I was just trying to figure out if I should leave the limiter off and judge by the clip light on my dcx crossover or if i should leave my old limiter setting on and judge by that,,,thanks...

Don't wait on your buddy. You can buy a voltmeter for under $10. Home Depot, Lowes, anywhere.

[Gregory East]

I don't think it would be good to rely on the 2496 clipping to protect your speakers. Have a look at some of your old threads when you were first having issues. Running up to the bleeding edge without any limiting is just asking for trouble.

[hollywd901]

On the EP2500, attach the multimeter leads to the binding posts (e.g. the prongs used with a banana plug). Attach the red to red, and black to black. Use the plugs on the back that correspond to the channel you will be adjusting.

Starting with the laptop, turn up the signal as far as it can go without clipping.
Then do the same with the mixer.
Then do the same with the effects.
Then do the same with the crossover.
Until the signal gets to the amp.

In general, prefer to have the output of any unit on "full", and adjust the inputs down to keep the signal in the desired range.

Next turn the amp input gain up all the way, and then measure the voltage output. Now adjust the limiter DOWN until the voltage reading is at the desired maximum.

--Stan Graves

...update- purchased a multimeter, now going to get this right in the next day or two before this weekend...i have a 60hz and a 100hz test tone I created with audacity and seems like 60hz is what i need to use, correct me if im wrong once again...ok so tell me if this is right--> turn up laptop incoming signal make sure not clipping just as a normal song would play, then since i have my channel faders all way up on mixer due to dj usage and my gains i have at noon (which i adjust to accommodate the incoming song), i should bring up my master volume until it hits the last green led on the mixer and then adjust my channel gains up a bit til they are also still in the green on my mixer...ok, i have no effects so I guess ill bypass that,,, and then I go to the crossover which i take it I should adjust the input gains up until they are also still in green and same with outputs?? and both output gains on my amp are turned all way up...i take it the clip light will be on my amp at this point?? ok so then i take my voltmeter (what scale should i be in ?? ) and i take the red clip and black clip...red going to the red of channel 1 output and black lead going to channel 2 black output?? is that right?? and as the test tone is playing i adjust the limiter which will go to say (- negative) some reading and since I have the 3012 lfs the voltage i believe is 60 so do i adjust the limiter down until i see 60?? I probably have this all totally wrong, but I'm trying, and thanks for the help...