Hi From Melbourne, Australia

Post Reply
Message
Author
Basshund
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2014 5:21 am
Location: Melbourne

Hi From Melbourne, Australia

#1 Post by Basshund »

Hi all,

Stumbled across BFM a few back whilst looking into DIY subs and have been inspired to leap in. I'm an industrial designer come furniture/cabinet maker running my own business in Melbourne. Always loved electronics and audio (the bigger the better) and live a pseudo second life as an average DJ. I had the pleasure of attending Burning Man this year, and experiencing the dancetronauts stage first hand. Must have been fate that I found this forum only a few weeks later!

We attend and run quite a few parties throughout the year, both in the city and outdoor festivals. Building something "a bit special" and taking ownership is right up our alley and certainly more price conscious. I initially thought DR280's and Tuba 60's where the way to go (who doesn't) but I've quickly realized that the Tuba's whilst fantastic are in several ways rather impractical. That said the majority of the music we play is electronic, mostly techno, with lots of juicy bass in the sub 30Hz range. I've ordered all the plans, so once I see the Titan schematics I'll be able to make a better call about the way I want to go.

That all said and done if there is anyone floating about in Victoria who has built some BFM cabs I would love to come see them in action. In general anyone based in OZ who canshare some hints on sourcing drivers, amps and so on would be much appreciated. We don't appear to get the same great prices as our mates in the states do for ;-)

Cheers guys

User avatar
J_Dunavin
Posts: 1273
Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 3:13 pm
Location: Appleton WI
Contact:

Re: Hi From Melbourne, Australia

#2 Post by J_Dunavin »

Welcome!!!!
8)
2 - OTop8
2 - T39
8 - DR200
2 - DR250
9 - T24
6 - T45
1 - Auto Tuba

User avatar
bitSmasher
Posts: 628
Joined: Fri May 30, 2008 2:55 am
Location: Sydney, Aus.

Re: Hi From Melbourne, Australia

#3 Post by bitSmasher »

techno as in specific genre, or techno as in broad term for 4/4 stuff?
Not being picky about genres (or I'd be :chainsaw: anyone that said 'edm') just I found that whilst there's a good pulsing bassline in most techno it's really about the kick drum
T48s might be worth looking at, the Communifi guys are using Ande 15" drivers sourced from JDSound for $200ea - one of the best value options available in Aus
They're playing a bit of deeper stuff, so know their basslines. Check out the build thread

User avatar
Tom Smit
Posts: 7569
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2008 1:24 pm
Location: Sarnia, Ont. Canada

Re: Hi From Melbourne, Australia

#4 Post by Tom Smit »

Hi, and welcome to the forum!

Here is a guide for Oz purchases....http://www.billfitzmaurice.info/forum/v ... 14&t=17627
TomS

Basshund
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2014 5:21 am
Location: Melbourne

Re: Hi From Melbourne, Australia

#5 Post by Basshund »

Thanks for the replies guys. Much appreciated.

I was being broad with the term techno. Definitely the 4/4 stuff... on light days we might make it to house :lol:

The Communifi guys did a great job of tracking their progress. Definitely leaning toward the T48 now that i've seen their build thread, and heard their reflections of the project. Might see if I can catch their show next time I'm visiting family back home (Albury, half way to the capital).

From what I've read is it right to assume that you don't mix Titans and Tubas? You either run one cab or the other?

So many noob questions to come... (Naturally after I've thoroughly searched the forum)

User avatar
Tom Smit
Posts: 7569
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2008 1:24 pm
Location: Sarnia, Ont. Canada

Re: Hi From Melbourne, Australia

#6 Post by Tom Smit »

From what I've read is it right to assume that you don't mix Titans and Tubas? You either run one cab or the other?
If the cabs are more than 30 (?)feet apart, then you can mix them one style on one side, and the other style on the other side. Otherwise, use one form only (which is ultimately the best way to go).
TomS

Grant Bunter
Posts: 6912
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 11:12 am
Location: Ilfracombe Queensland Australia
Contact:

Re: Hi From Melbourne, Australia

#7 Post by Grant Bunter »

Basshund wrote: Might see if I can catch their show next time I'm visiting family back home (Albury, half way to the capital).

From what I've read is it right to assume that you don't mix Titans and Tubas? You either run one cab or the other?
G'day and welcome to the forum :)

Not where I live now, but I was born and bred in Wagga Wagga and was running around the area before moving up here, have a couple of great mates in Albury.

Tubas and Titans.
You're right, they shouldn't be used together in the same bandpass, as that will likely introduce phase problems (the result of which is frequency cancellations) due to differing path lengths. The same can be said for mixing different models or either tubas or titans, as they also have different path lengths.

Other than that, it is redundant to use either tubas or titans to cover parts of a passband (eg tubas for 25-60Hz and Titans for 60-100Hz), because both cabs can cover the entire passband alone. Hope that makes sense...
Built:
DR 250: x 2 melded array, 2x CD horn, March 2012 plans.
T39's: 4 x 20" KL3010LF , 2 x 28" 3012LF.
WH8: x 6 with melded array wired series/parallel.
Bunter's Audio and Lighting "like"s would be most appreciated...

User avatar
bjm362
Posts: 89
Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2014 5:55 am
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Re: Hi From Melbourne, Australia

#8 Post by bjm362 »

Grant Bunter wrote:
Basshund wrote: Might see if I can catch their show next time I'm visiting family back home (Albury, half way to the capital).

From what I've read is it right to assume that you don't mix Titans and Tubas? You either run one cab or the other?
G'day and welcome to the forum :)

Not where I live now, but I was born and bred in Wagga Wagga and was running around the area before moving up here, have a couple of great mates in Albury.

Tubas and Titans.
You're right, they shouldn't be used together in the same bandpass, as that will likely introduce phase problems (the result of which is frequency cancellations) due to differing path lengths. The same can be said for mixing different models or either tubas or titans, as they also have different path lengths.

Other than that, it is redundant to use either tubas or titans to cover parts of a passband (eg tubas for 25-60Hz and Titans for 60-100Hz), because both cabs can cover the entire passband alone. Hope that makes sense...
In general what Grant is saying is accurate. However, I have used deep subs with shallow subs very successfully on the other hand. It can be done and under certain circumstances even makes good sense. The last time I did that I used one set of subs from 25hz to 65 hz and a smaller set of subs from 65hz to 120 hz, tops from 120hz up. It was seriously more phenomenal than any other configuration of the cabs I had to work with. I did however pay very close attention to the physical placement of cabs to be certain of correct phase alignment.
In order to have a dream come true, you must first dream it!

horizonize
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat May 10, 2014 7:29 pm
Location: Canberra/Australia
Contact:

Re: Hi From Melbourne, Australia

#9 Post by horizonize »

hey basshund

Marko and I put the Communi-fi system together pretty much on a whim like you seem to be doing. Read lots and take the plunge and you will have a blast.

In terms of T48's I can absolutely recommend them. They are hefty!

We have a pair loaded with Ande 1560LB drivers from JD Sound.$200 each. No complaints at all. Seemingly quite well built, but they're only just starting out so we will see how they hold out.

Chompy 191 put us on to them-he has a pair of T48s and Otops. Think he is in rural SA, but it might have been Vic.

The only thing with the Andes is they are heavy about 12.5kg IIRC, which is about double our other 18Sound 15NLW9300 drivers.

As BB was out of our price range we used Bunnings Marine Ply for the externals which is a fair bit heavier. It all adds up and i would estimate the Ande loaded subs are pushing 70kg, which is into two man lift territory if you are loading in and out of a truck or up stairs or stacking two high. The other night I was packing down and took the full weight of one on my finger, between the titan and a metal bar keg. :owned:

If people haven't experienced horn loaded bass before these subs will be a revelation. you won't be able to shift people from standing directly in front of them essentially being massaged. unparalleled was one verdict.

I do wonder every now and then just how low some tubas would go but I don't think the titans are lacking.

let us know if you are ever in Canberra and can give you a demo. We may be out at a local festival near Yass at the end of October (Dragon Dreaming).

I went to BM in 2012 but never saw and didn't know about Dancetranouts :(

Basshund
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2014 5:21 am
Location: Melbourne

Re: Hi From Melbourne, Australia

#10 Post by Basshund »

Hi Guys, thanks again for making the effort to pitch in with ideas and tips. I've been flat out with work, so haven't been able to put much into this, but hopefully next week will be a bit calmer.

Titan definitely seems like the logical choice, although part of me, like horizonize, just wants to know what the Tuba is capable of... Anyway I'll weigh that one up of the next little while as I get my head around the logistics of the project, and so on.

A note on construction, I build a lot of my work in Ply, both Radiata and Birch. Whilst birch is specified, Radiata seems acceptable if you're desperate. Is there any technical disadvantage in using Radiata (other than warped sheets)? A Cab in Radiata should be about 30% lighter, although as noted on another post they radiata is pretty susceptible to damage (Birch outer, Radiata internals for the best of both worlds?).

Grant Bunter
Posts: 6912
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 11:12 am
Location: Ilfracombe Queensland Australia
Contact:

Re: Hi From Melbourne, Australia

#11 Post by Grant Bunter »

About the ply:
If I could have found BB near to me, I probably would have used it.
But, at that time, $100 sheet + $250 for freight from Melbourne, forget it.

You don't have the supply problem if you're in Melbourne, so you could use BB on the outside as you say...
Built:
DR 250: x 2 melded array, 2x CD horn, March 2012 plans.
T39's: 4 x 20" KL3010LF , 2 x 28" 3012LF.
WH8: x 6 with melded array wired series/parallel.
Bunter's Audio and Lighting "like"s would be most appreciated...

User avatar
bjm362
Posts: 89
Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2014 5:55 am
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Re: Hi From Melbourne, Australia

#12 Post by bjm362 »

Welcome aboard!
In order to have a dream come true, you must first dream it!

Post Reply