Extra stereo out on a DriveRack PA+

[SirNickity]

My typical PA rig is a pair of mains and one or two subs. The DriveRack PA+ has six outputs, designed of course to support a stereo tri-amp setup. Every now and then I end up needing an aux feed for another room or zone, and usually do this by using a splitter coming off the board, or driving the PA from my Furman headphone mixer, which can parallel several remote boxes over CAT-5 cable. I always wondered if you could tap the unused mid outputs though. I know the DCX2496 treats the outputs as assignable, but the DRPA is a little more purpose-built for 1, 2, or 3-way systems in either mono or stereo -- which is of course the most common use case.

So, since I had some time, I figured I would check into it. The manual does not list it as a supported option, but as it turns out, you can indeed!

Building a preset off a 3-way setup will activate all channels, where you can then pick your crossover points at will. I knew you could overlap the points, but I had never tested the limits, and had not yet checked on the mid output at all. In fact, you can set every crossover point - highpass and lowpass - for every output, anywhere from 20Hz to 20kHz, or "out" entirely.. So you can essentially pick any of the stereo pairs (any - low, mid, or high) as a completely independent full-range stereo output with it's own filters, EQ, and limiting!

This may not be news to everyone, but I was pretty stoked to find that out. If any of you find yourself in a similar situation, create a new preset and have at.

[SirNickity]

Oh, the one down side I've found is that the max channel delay is 10ms, or 11.3 feet / 3.43 meters. So, not much help as a delay stack unless you add an inline outboard delay.

[Bryce]

What about the AutoEQ function? Will it EQ every output at the same time, or let you EQ Low/Hi, then your separate Mid output?

[SirNickity]

AutoEQ adjusts the global graphic EQ, which is earlier in the chain than the crossover and per-channel parametric EQ. So, while the aux out would be affected by the global EQ curve (and compression, which is also global), it doesn't necessarily contribute to or affect it -- assuming of course that the aux feed is not audible to the RTA mic.

[BrentEvans]

I tried to do this (and spent a good deal of time trying to figure it out) and I recall finding some document that states it's a no go with the DRPA. The DR260 can do it, but that's a lot more money. For that matter... most other processors can do this... just not the DRPA.

[SirNickity]

Do you remember why? I'll confess, I was just sitting there turning knobs with the rack in "storage". I didn't listen to the output. But if the front panel isn't lying, I see no reason why it wouldn't work.

[Bruce Weldy]

Do you remember why? I'll confess, I was just sitting there turning knobs with the rack in "storage". I didn't listen to the output. But if the front panel isn't lying, I see no reason why it wouldn't work.

Why not just run two mono feeds? L to one room, R to the other? You can use the auto EQ to set the L, then do the R by ear - then you can run subs in both rooms.

If you strictly need to run a full range, then your option should work....as long as the crossover will allow you to have the settings as you describe...don't know why it wouldn't.

[SirNickity]

Mono?! Pfft! Shirley you jest. If we were meant for mono PA we'd have only one ear.

[Bryce]

Do you remember why? I'll confess, I was just sitting there turning knobs with the rack in "storage". I didn't listen to the output. But if the front panel isn't lying, I see no reason why it wouldn't work.

Why not just run two mono feeds? L to one room, R to the other? You can use the auto EQ to set the L, then do the R by ear - then you can run subs in both rooms.

If you strictly need to run a full range, then your option should work....as long as the crossover will allow you to have the settings as you describe...don't know why it wouldn't.

You can do one better. In the initial setup, set the GEQ to non-stereo-linked (I can't remember the term), and then you can have run AutoEQ separately for each room(Channel).

[Bruce Weldy]

Mono?! Pfft! Shirley you jest. If we were meant for mono PA we'd have only one ear.

If PAs were meant to be stereo, venues would be built in the shape of a triangle with the crowd squeezed into one of the corners and the speakers in the other two.

[SirNickity]

Touche...