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BFM system firt start help ..

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 1:46 am
by mino00
Finally I got alll my gears together to try out my first built pairs jack 110 & T39
First: which is the recomended way to hookup from DCX2496 to one GX5 (one chanel to the Jacks one to the T39)? this can only run in mono right ?
Second :If I'm using 2 amps, one to power the Jack another to the T39 how should I wire this up ?
Third : What is the crossover Switch position full range or crossover ?
Thanks for your help I have learn a lot from here ,yesterday I just power up my Jacks (Deltalite 2510) It sound amazing I'm very happy that I made a right decision . waiting on a rossover for my T39 from Leland I be done . :hyper: :hyper: :hyper:

Re: BFM system firt start help ..

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 2:11 am
by SeisTres
Mono input left channel on the dcx. Then the lows to one channel and the high's to the other one. Full range as the dcx will take care of the processing. Then you can connect one cable for the Jack to the speak-on and one to the banana plug on the same channel or use a splitter for either of those, or bridge from jack to jack (it works but it's better if the cable was only a couple of feet).

If running two, you can then run stereo. simply do R-high on one channel of the smaller amp and L-high on the other channel (you could then run four tops), and then just add the subs on the other amp.

Re: BFM system firt start help ..

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 2:13 pm
by mino00
Thanks you so much SeisTres
Is this what you mean if I use only one amp.

Re: BFM system firt start help ..

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 2:38 pm
by Bruce Weldy
mino00 wrote:Thanks you so much SeisTres
Is this what you mean if I use only one amp.
Close....

You should sum the L and R output of the mixer by making a Y cable so that both signals come out of one connector in mono. Either that, or just run the left or right side and pan every channel that way. Y is better.

On the amp speaker outputs - Don't run one jack off the Speakon and one on bannana plug. Just run from the Speakon to the first Jack, then daisy chain to the other one (use the parallel speakon jack on the speaker to run to the other speaker).

Re: BFM system firt start help ..

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 3:16 pm
by SoundInMotionDJ
Bruce Weldy wrote:Close....

You should sum the L and R output of the mixer by making a Y cable so that both signals come out of one connector in mono. Either that, or just run the left or right side and pan every channel that way. Y is better.
Close....

"Y cables" are "splitters" not "combiners."

http://www.rane.com/note109.html

--Stan Graves

Re: BFM system firt start help ..

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 3:23 pm
by SeisTres
Bruce Weldy wrote: You should sum the L and R output of the mixer by making a Y cable so that both signals come out of one connector in mono. Either that, or just run the left or right side and pan every channel that way. Y is better.
No no no. When you make a y cable what you're doing is driving one input into the other. Is it not AT ALL like splitting where one output is driving both inputs. If you must combine, a direct box or a "mixer" must be used, not a y cable. Y's are for splitting, not combining.
Bruce Weldy wrote: On the amp speaker outputs - Don't run one jack off the Speakon and one on bannana plug. Just run from the Speakon to the first Jack, then daisy chain to the other one (use the parallel speakon jack on the speaker to run to the other speaker).
Why not? The down side here is that the first will get slightly more power than the second as the second cable will be piggy backed onto the first and adding further resistance. It's doable and it really won't be all that noticeable, but just to keep everything optimal, splitting right from the amp is best. If you cannot, then don't sweat it. Since this is how I run my set up most of the time, I actually built a speak-on splitter from some jacks and a little project box from mcm. Works perfectly when I don't want to use banana plugs as the powered mixer does not have them. The other plus side of splitting right from the amp is that your wires can be shorter if you place your amp in the middle. The real down side, though, is having to deal with banana :(

As I do not have a dcx, someone else will have to chime in, but if you can combine the stereo inputs with the dcx then the way you have your diagram is perfect. However, if you cannot, once you send a signal to the R input, it will make everything stereo, so everything on the Right channel will not be played if the dcx does not combine. If this is the case, then you must combine outside.

What are you using as far gear to kind of get an idea how it will be good to combine if the dcx cannot do it?

Re: BFM system firt start help ..

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 7:22 pm
by Bruce Weldy
SoundInMotionDJ wrote:
Bruce Weldy wrote:Close....

You should sum the L and R output of the mixer by making a Y cable so that both signals come out of one connector in mono. Either that, or just run the left or right side and pan every channel that way. Y is better.
Close....

"Y cables" are "splitters" not "combiners."

http://www.rane.com/note109.html

--Stan Graves
Depends on the signal flow. Have you never used a Y-cable to run your IPod to a mono input? How about 2 rcas to a 1/4" plug? Geez, you can buy cables like this everywhere. Two outs to one in is a combiner....one out to two ins is a splitter...it's the same cable. Y cables don't know which direction the signal is flowing - it's just wire.

Re: BFM system firt start help ..

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 7:35 pm
by Bruce Weldy
SeisTres wrote:
Bruce Weldy wrote: You should sum the L and R output of the mixer by making a Y cable so that both signals come out of one connector in mono. Either that, or just run the left or right side and pan every channel that way. Y is better.
No no no. When you make a y cable what you're doing is driving one input into the other. Is it not AT ALL like splitting where one output is driving both inputs. If you must combine, a direct box or a "mixer" must be used, not a y cable. Y's are for splitting, not combining.
Bruce Weldy wrote: On the amp speaker outputs - Don't run one jack off the Speakon and one on bannana plug. Just run from the Speakon to the first Jack, then daisy chain to the other one (use the parallel speakon jack on the speaker to run to the other speaker).
Why not? The down side here is that the first will get slightly more power than the second as the second cable will be piggy backed onto the first and adding further resistance. It's doable and it really won't be all that noticeable, but just to keep everything optimal, splitting right from the amp is best. If you cannot, then don't sweat it. Since this is how I run my set up most of the time, I actually built a speak-on splitter from some jacks and a little project box from mcm. Works perfectly when I don't want to use banana plugs as the powered mixer does not have them. The other plus side of splitting right from the amp is that your wires can be shorter if you place your amp in the middle. The real down side, though, is having to deal with banana :(

As I do not have a dcx, someone else will have to chime in, but if you can combine the stereo inputs with the dcx then the way you have your diagram is perfect. However, if you cannot, once you send a signal to the R input, it will make everything stereo, so everything on the Right channel will not be played if the dcx does not combine. If this is the case, then you must combine outside.

What are you using as far gear to kind of get an idea how it will be good to combine if the dcx cannot do it?

Uh.....an input into an input? If I turn it around, am I sending an output to an output?...Fellas, it's three connectors with common wiring - they are all paralleled. The signal is "seen" the same in all 3 places. It is the simplest of cables - I build my own....have run 'em for years. My PA runs with the L/R Yed to the input of the DRPA. The church system I run is wired this way to run mono from both outputs (it was this way when I took over). This is not unusual. Nor wrong....it insures when running mono that if a channel accidently gets panned the "wrong" way, you still have signal. Can't do that with using only one side. I wouldn't do this trying to combine different devices, but out of a single mixer L and R? Never been a problem.

As far as the amp outputs. Who wants to have speakon to speakon for one cab and bannana to speakon for another? Daisy chaining means the cable don't have to be specific and can be interchanged. The load on the amp is exactly the same. Those bananna connectors are paralelled to the speakons....so whether you split the output at the amp or at the speaker makes no difference (unless you think you can hear the difference that the sound travels over 30 feet instead of 50 feet...my ears aren't that good).

No need in making things harder than they have to be.

Re: BFM system firt start help ..

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 7:54 pm
by BrentEvans
Bruce Weldy wrote:[
Depends on the signal flow. Have you never used a Y-cable to run your IPod to a mono input? How about 2 rcas to a 1/4" plug? Geez, you can buy cables like this everywhere. Two outs to one in is a combiner....one out to two ins is a splitter...it's the same cable. Y cables don't know which direction the signal is flowing - it's just wire.
Those cables are designed to split, not combine. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. The linked Rane article goes into a lot of detail on this.

Re: BFM system firt start help ..

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 8:02 pm
by Bruce Weldy
BrentEvans wrote:
Bruce Weldy wrote:[
Depends on the signal flow. Have you never used a Y-cable to run your IPod to a mono input? How about 2 rcas to a 1/4" plug? Geez, you can buy cables like this everywhere. Two outs to one in is a combiner....one out to two ins is a splitter...it's the same cable. Y cables don't know which direction the signal is flowing - it's just wire.
Those cables are designed to split, not combine. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. The linked Rane article goes into a lot of detail on this.
I read it, but have never had any issues doing this. Never burned anything up, never experienced signal loss..in fact, the signal strength goes up every time I've done it. If smaller format mixers would offer mono outs it wouldn't be an issue. You'd think they would put 'em on there since most small mixers are used mono anyway. Oh well, I guess "STEREO" sells better.....

The kid that was running sound before I took over at the church had stuff panned all over the place.....and the system was running mono. But he thought he was running stereo, so he was happy.

Re: BFM system firt start help ..

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 8:28 pm
by BrentEvans
Bruce Weldy wrote: I read it, but have never had any issues doing this. Never burned anything up, never experienced signal loss..in fact, the signal strength goes up every time I've done it. If smaller format mixers would offer mono outs it wouldn't be an issue. You'd think they would put 'em on there since most small mixers are used mono anyway. Oh well, I guess "STEREO" sells better.....

The kid that was running sound before I took over at the church had stuff panned all over the place.....and the system was running mono. But he thought he was running stereo, so he was happy.
I think we've all done something like that more than a few times... but it's not the "right" way to do it. I have actually experienced situations where a passive Y did affect sound... so I try to not work that way.

Re: BFM system firt start help ..

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 8:38 pm
by Bruce Weldy
BrentEvans wrote:
Bruce Weldy wrote: I read it, but have never had any issues doing this. Never burned anything up, never experienced signal loss..in fact, the signal strength goes up every time I've done it. If smaller format mixers would offer mono outs it wouldn't be an issue. You'd think they would put 'em on there since most small mixers are used mono anyway. Oh well, I guess "STEREO" sells better.....

The kid that was running sound before I took over at the church had stuff panned all over the place.....and the system was running mono. But he thought he was running stereo, so he was happy.
I think we've all done something like that more than a few times... but it's not the "right" way to do it. I have actually experienced situations where a passive Y did affect sound... so I try to not work that way.
Well, it will be easy enough to test. Next time I set up, I'll pop the L or R and see what happens. I expect volume to go down.

Re: BFM system firt start help ..

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 9:21 pm
by SeisTres
wow, after three exact same response and a link and literally dozens of articles out there about this topic I see no point to discuss any further really as it will just be more "i've done it this way and will continue to do it this way".

And you missed my point on the cable length. Is not the amp that I was concerned about, it is the speakers that will get different power levels.

Re: BFM system firt start help ..

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 9:38 pm
by mino00
Thanks alot
I will try both way to see what is the out come . after read the manual of the dcx 2496 it kind confusing if any owner of dcx can guide me how to set would be great , hopefully everthing come out right befor this halloween party .
Many thanks :fingers: :fingers: :fingers:

Re: BFM system firt start help ..

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 9:43 pm
by BrentEvans
Bruce Weldy wrote: Well, it will be easy enough to test. Next time I set up, I'll pop the L or R and see what happens. I expect volume to go down.
It's not just about volume. It's about interaction. Some L/R sources are slightly out of phase which can result in certain amounts of frequency-specific cancellation. A better test would be to compare the y-cabled signal to two separate mono channels to stereo split, and listen for the differences. I've found that two separate channels sounds better than a Y cable, and of course true stereo sounds best from a true stereo source.