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Splitting my rig?

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2022 9:39 pm
by ACUA
I have a dilemma. I need to be able to split my sound rig in half and run sound in two places at once.

What I have is:
2 mixers
1 drive rack
4 amps
-crown xls1000
-crown xls1500
-2x crown xls2500
4 single otop12s
2 dual otop12s
4 tuba45s
2 50ft 4conductor cables
1 25ft 4conductor cable
4 50ft 2conductor cables

The system is currently setup active off the drive rack. I have biamp-ed the otops consuming two amps and I have a sub amp with matching spare.
My otops do not have passive filters at the moment. If I build passive filters for the otops, I can leave them external and configure a little interface box that easily plugs in and out of the chain. Then I can divide my rig up, my amps can low and high pass the only issue is I will not be able to eq on one of the systems. I am prepared to scale the rig up or down easily enough but splitting it up is not so easy.

I am starting to think I need a second drive rack. I could buy one or two of those Dayton biamp dsp pro audio plate amps for $320.00 each. That would give me some flexibility.

I wonder what any of your thoughts might be?
Thanks in advance everyone. I appreciate your comments.

Re: Splitting my rig?

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2022 10:41 pm
by Seth
Sounds like you're running stereo. If you went to mono, you could get 2 pair of tops on a single amp (xls are 2ohm rated). I've never played with one, will the xls built in limiters hold a voltage? I wanna say I recall Bruce saying they wont, but figured I'd put it out there anyway. Could get you by in a pinch, maybe.

I have a Behringer DCX2496 and DEQ2496 that I've been meaning to put up on ebay. If you're interested, shoot me a message. Whatever they're going for is fine with me. But, I think you may be better served with another Driverack.
I also have a 500' spool of 12AWG 4 conductor wire if you need some lengths of that.

Sound business picking up for you?

Re: Splitting my rig?

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2022 11:13 pm
by Bruce Weldy
Definitely need another driverack - you've got to limit those subs.

Re: Splitting my rig?

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2022 11:15 pm
by Bryan Cox
You'll be alright if you run the Otops full range (and you'll free up amps) and you acquire another driverack (or equivalent). I advocate for the extra driverack so you can limit your second set of subs. But I don't think I'd set my system up if I didn't have the ability to EQ.

Re: Splitting my rig?

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 7:28 am
by NukePooch
I've been going thru the same thing recently...my available gigs have been changing, and so I've been changing/adding to my equipment to suit my needs better.
I've been picking up fewer 'live band' gigs, but getting more weddings/dances/parties and the like.
I've still got the big rig with main/sub/monitor amps/the works...didn't want to tear that apart.
Slowly got a smaller (car trunk packable) setup together over the past couple years, has 6-space rack with amp, 2-pack wireless, and XR12 digital mixer. Worked well for small gigs with the Jack 112s.

Now that I'm getting into weddings and other 'personal' gigs, the need for an even smaller and more portable rig came up. I now have added a small powered-speaker rig that can be completely wireless and run off battery packs. The wedding ceremonies I have been doing are often outside in a field, so no power is available. In addition, having to run cable from one side to the other worked, until a drone video operator tripped on the cable and yanked my mixer off the table. :roll: I now have a wireless dongle that eliminates the cable run across the grass.

I now have setups in small, medium, and large... and that works for me. I think that the answer to your original question depends on what the second/additional gig details are.
If the second setup will be used for a club-style dance gig, it's a different equipment need to background music for a cocktail hour.
I wouldn't (and didn't) spend money on a second Driverack for the 6-space rack system, as I knew it would be used primarily with the Jacks, and not at war volume. If the T48s come out of the trailer, the big 16-space rack comes along too. I spent the money instead on the XR12, to get adjustable HPF and EQ on channels and EQ for the main mix...much more important to me for that rig.

Re: Splitting my rig?

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 10:10 am
by ACUA
I appreciate the support. I used to be able to get a driverack for $400, now they are $510 and partsexpress does not carry them.

I have a contract with Harley Davidson Tucson and they have two dealership store fronts in town. They do promotional events here and there and have a live band or dj. They are doing events at bother locations and I need the flexibility. My wife will run one location and I the other.

Seth if you intend to sell that cable name your price?

I at least need an additional driverack for sure. Today I have a big out door event and I will be putting up my whole system. I shall get picture and post them up. I intend to start a website this year for our business. We will see how that goes.

Re: Splitting my rig?

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 10:15 am
by Bruce Weldy
ACUA wrote: Sat Jan 29, 2022 10:10 am I used to be able to get a driverack for $400, now they are $510 and partsexpress does not carry them.

Craig's List. eBay. Reverb.com.

You don't need the newest one. Any of the PA or PA+ will work just fine. If you had passive crossovers in your OT12s, then you could use the PX also.

You should be able to pick one up for 200-250 all day long. I've never bought a new driverack (I have 4 or 5 of 'em). There are so many available used because people buy 'em to start up a PA - then never learn to use 'em.

Re: Splitting my rig?

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 10:55 am
by jimbo7
ACUA wrote: Sat Jan 29, 2022 10:10 am I used to be able to get a driverack for $400, now they are $510 and partsexpress does not carry them.
:shock: :shock: :shock:

I have 3 driveracks and I think the most I paid for one was $125. They're out there, just gotta look.

Re: Splitting my rig?

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 8:02 pm
by Bryan Cox
There are many Driveracks on eBay now. There's a PX for $199 and a PA2 for $399, just to name two.

Re: Splitting my rig?

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 10:21 pm
by ACUA
Thanks guys. I may try eBay. Event went well today. My meter read 94db 20ft in front of the speakers and was easily heard across the park.

Re: Splitting my rig?

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 4:38 am
by Seth
ACUA wrote: Sat Jan 29, 2022 10:21 pm Thanks guys. I may try eBay. Event went well today. My meter read 94db 20ft in front of the speakers and was easily heard across the park.
Less than a quarter watt per OT12... if I'm mathing that out right. Of coarse, an spl meter doesn't tell us which freq peaked the meter. Maybe it was the subs... at less than 2 watts each.

Those stands are so cool. I'd really like a solution like those.

Re: Splitting my rig?

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 8:28 am
by Bruce Weldy
Bryan Cox wrote: Sat Jan 29, 2022 8:02 pm There are many Driveracks on eBay now. There's a PX for $199 and a PA2 for $399, just to name two.
Just remember - the PX only does a two-way system.....and I think the OP is bi-amping his OT12s. So, he'd need the PA, PA+, or newer.

Re: Splitting my rig?

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 8:33 am
by Bruce Weldy
Here's what's at Reverb.com .... If you haven't ever used them, it's a great site and very safe. They don't send the money to the seller until the product is delivered.

https://reverb.com/item/50050502-dbx-dr ... -tennessee

Re: Splitting my rig?

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 8:35 am
by Bruce Weldy
Oh, but don't get tempted to buy a 260. It's an old design that still works fine, but you have to get a special cable to hook it up to a laptop to configure. Not nearly as easy as the standard Driveracks. I know, I installed one last year - giant PITA.

Re: Splitting my rig?

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2022 10:58 am
by Chris_Allen
If you could get away with a PX:

viewtopic.php?p=290141#p290141