basement building T60s / Omnitops

[snowphish]

Last summer we assembled a T60 using precut panels, a local woodworker that we found on kijiji charged us 200$ for his labor.Here are some pics of that build.

We're a small crew of DJs, producers and overall sound enthusiasts, throwing all sorts of events from 'renegade' bush parties to indoor events and raves, although we're always looking to diversify and reach different audiences by playing all genres of music.

This happened, and I've been stupid and blown two Lab15s this summer by using the Tuba with front loaded and being overly careless; after a big period with little funds we've finally gotten enough money to restart production so we can have 'more of the same' and less random junk that is terribly out of phase. I also successfully reconed a LAB15 which was quite stressful as the kit did not come pre-assembled like the other Yorkville and EV drivers I had previously reconed.

We just got the wood in this week and my dad gave me his crappy old table saw, which we built a table around today. We've not very experienced at cutting wood but I'm pretty confident it'll work out. Next step is figuring out a fence. I'll update with developments! Pics are here

[Tom Smit]

Wishing you success in your builds.

Do you have a limiter for the sub(s)?

[snowphish]

Thank you!!! Well, we have a behringer cross-over with a built-in limiter, but we usually use our DBX cross-over because it definitely sounds better. I'm not sure at the moment if I should go for some kinda of processor like a driverack or stay analog, we have many DJs that play vinyl and it really sounds great on the all analog system. We often rent a Demeter VTCL-2a tube amplifier/compressor, definitely adds a nice color to the sound.

[thunderw0lf]

Saw table looks nice. However, you want to get the plans for the panel jig and use that instead. I'm guessing you didn't order the cd and only ordered the plans for the T60 and Omnitops. My suggestion would be to order the Panel Jig plans. While I don't use it myself as I don't have a table saw, it would be a huge help for cutting panels if I had one. I use a circular saw instead.

http://billfitzmaurice.net/PanelJig.html

[snowphish]

I did buy the panel jig plans along with the T60 so we'll look into that, thanks!

[thunderw0lf]

If you have a router and a guide to keep the router perfectly straight, you could extend the rail channels in the table saw into the table you built around the saw.

[Michael Ewald Hansen]

Thank you!!! Well, we have a behringer cross-over with a built-in limiter, but we usually use our DBX cross-over because it definitely sounds better. I'm not sure at the moment if I should go for some kinda of processor like a driverack or stay analog, we have many DJs that play vinyl and it really sounds great on the all analog system. We often rent a Demeter VTCL-2a tube amplifier/compressor, definitely adds a nice color to the sound.

I don't think you know what kind of limiter you need - its not the sort of built-in clip limiter or similar that is found in some amps and crossovers.. You need a proper brick-wall limiter, like the ones found in the DCX2496 or the Driverack.. Then you need to measure the voltage swing of your amps with a sine wave and set the limiter to the recommendations in your plans - if you fail to do this, then well, you know how it went with your lab15's

[snowphish]

Indeed... I know I should have measured it to 60v, and I already use a sine generator for placement and phasing, also looking into getting an RTA mic but for now it would have been useless seeing as the system is really 'frankenstein' stuff. I'm planning on running the Tubas on Micro-tech 1200s, having blown them before on a bridged 2402 (yes, very stupid, I know...) It's been a very long process of learning from our stupid, stupid mistakes; and we're taking a more proactive approach in order to avoid stupid mistakes in the future.

Now how good are DBX Driveracks? I really don't know if our tendency to keep things analog is well-grounded; and while I definitely like the sound of the VTCL-2A, I have a feeling it's not really meant for FOH. If I don't get a driverack I will definitely add a limiter to the rack.

[Grant Bunter]

The Driverack is fine, so is the DCX2496 from Behringer. Then there's BBE's DS24 /26 or whatever number they are up to now, the Bunker audio product and I'm sure there's more.

Lots of people here use either the driverack or the DCX. For comprehensive EQ and RTA capability with the DCX you can add the DEQ. Since the Driverack has it all in one unit, IMO it's better value and cheaper.

You don't want an "ordinary" compressor/limiter. Brick wall limiting is achieved with a minimum of 24dB Butterworth or Linkwitz Reilly(Sp?) slope

As far as analogue sound goes:
We only hear analogue.
Whatever processor you use still has analogue output. Analogue to digital on the input side (ADC) and digital to analogue on the output side (DAC).

[snowphish]

Whatever processor you use still has analogue output. Analogue to digital on the input side (ADC) and digital to analogue on the output side (DAC).

I'm aware but I figure a system with DSP might sound differently than one without; this is probably very subjective and I suppose that with the added control I have over my speakers a Driverack would definitely be a good choice.

Does the sample rate make a difference when choosing a processor?

[dswpro]

[Does the sample rate make a difference when choosing a processor?]

It can but that depends on a couple of things.

If you are driving the system processor with a digital mixer feed via AES-EBU, ADAT or other digital interface you should make sure both devices have compatible sample rate and bit depth. If you are chaining digital gear or using external preamps as well as a digital board and system processor you might also consider a master clock, but these are found usually in large systems or ones which do frequent interfaces with broadcast trucks, etc.

If you are amplifying highly detailed delicate symphony music or other wide dynamic range wide frequency content you may also consider a high sample rate controller. I get by fine with 24 bit 48 kHz but gear these days are touting 96 or even 192 kHz sample rates. It may also depend on your discerning ears sometimes (and budget).

I am quite happy with my DEQ2496 EQ and DCX2496 controller (after I replaced the ribbon cable inside) which I do not connect digitally. I'm not too happy with the price / performance of the DBX drive rack systems but some people swear by them. I am very fond of the BiAmp Audia and Nexia system controllers. Fortunately Ashley and other companies are also making quality gear these days as well so there are a lot of choices.

[88h88]

I am very fond of the BiAmp Audia and Nexia system controllers.

After having to decipher the layout of a lecture theatre profile on a Nexia system I can say they're not my favourite. The guy who programmed it had very little idea of flow and there was just a mess of bits and bobs all over the screen. Just finding the various inputs was a nightmare.

I'm sure used properly they're great though!

[osse]

I feel very sorry for that T60 in the pic with all the speakers... and my ears hurt thinking of the setup

It would probably have sounded better with all the other subs turned off, only running the tuba + tops.

[snowphish]

Yeah, I can't wait for it to have some friends of it's own kind...

So we finally got the time to rip some 26" strips, make a cutting jig and we got a router to extend the rails of the table... We'd love to make a jig like hifibob's but I'm not even sure where to start... pics added to facecrap

[Tom Smit]

.....the addiction has started .....