Limiting Amplifier output with Volt meter

[rummtwo]

A quick question for all you sound pros. I currently do not have any sound processing equipment that serves as a limiter.
I am using an amplifier dedicated to my Tuba24's. I am coming out of my Behringer FBQ3102 subwoofer output to feed the
amp with the low cut set to 45Hz and the high to 130Hz. My question is to limit the output of the amp with a volt meter
is there a specific frequency tone that I should be sending to the amp when I take my measurement? Or should I be using
the frequency that the output of the amp has been rated at which is 1Khz?

Thanks in advance for the help and Bill thanks for sharing your knowledge these things rock!

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Use 100 Hz.

[Kevin James]

Use 100 Hz.

I've been wondering this same thing. In his example he's crossing over at 130hz, but what if your crossing over lower as I think most people would. I am crossing ober at 100hz, and sometimes at 80hz. What frequncey would you use then?

[SoundInMotionDJ]

I've been wondering this same thing. In his example he's crossing over at 130hz, but what if your crossing over lower as I think most people would. I am crossing ober at 100hz, and sometimes at 80hz. What frequncey would you use then?

I try to keep the signal at least 1/3 oct away from any high/low pass filter frequencies.

--Stan Graves

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

The amp isn't going to respond to an 80 Hz signal any different than it would to 100 Hz.

[Kevin James]

The amp isn't going to respond to an 80 Hz signal any different than it would to 100 Hz.

So even the fact you are right on the crossover point or beyond it makes no difference? Just trting to understand... not trying to be a smart ass by the way. I guess I'm just wodering how that works for example if I'm crossing over at 80hz, nothing over 80 would be going to the amp, so how can I use a 100hz signal? Or.... are you saying I should be doing this BEFORE I set a crossover point... IE with outputs wide open 20h to 20khz? Again... just trying to understand.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

The amp isn't going to respond to an 80 Hz signal any different than it would to 100 Hz.

So even the fact you are right on the crossover point or beyond it makes no difference? Just trting to understand... not trying to be a smart ass by the way. I guess I'm just wodering how that works for example if I'm crossing over at 80hz, nothing over 80 would be going to the amp, so how can I use a 100hz signal? Or.... are you saying I should be doing this BEFORE I set a crossover point... IE with outputs wide open 20h to 20khz? Again... just trying to understand.

It depends on your configuration, where the limiter falls in the signal chain, and how you're routing the test signal to the limiter.

[Kevin James]

The amp isn't going to respond to an 80 Hz signal any different than it would to 100 Hz.

So even the fact you are right on the crossover point or beyond it makes no difference? Just trting to understand... not trying to be a smart ass by the way. I guess I'm just wodering how that works for example if I'm crossing over at 80hz, nothing over 80 would be going to the amp, so how can I use a 100hz signal? Or.... are you saying I should be doing this BEFORE I set a crossover point... IE with outputs wide open 20h to 20khz? Again... just trying to understand.

It depends on your configuration, where the limiter falls in the signal chain, and how you're routing the test signal to the limiter.

I'm using a DBX Driverack 260 and the limiter is after the crossover. THe signal is routed by way of a test CD into my mixer wich goes into the driverack.

[bgavin]

I'm contemplating a DBX 260 for myself...
Since this box is essentially software, isn't there a limiter after each crossover?
IIRC, they offer some 6-odd output channels.

If I was going to do this with analog boxes, the limiter would be after the EQ, and before the crossover.

[Kevin James]

I'm contemplating a DBX 260 for myself...
Since this box is essentially software, isn't there a limiter after each crossover?
IIRC, they offer some 6-odd output channels.

If I was going to do this with analog boxes, the limiter would be after the EQ, and before the crossover.

Its a great piece Bruce, I highly recomend it. Yes The limiters are on the outputs, so after the crossover. And the 6 outputs can be assigned any way you want which is great.

[bgavin]

I can certainly live with the limiter position in the signal chain.

I don't use a limiter, but rely on the console LEDs instead.
I have my 24.4 VLZ Pro set where 0dB on the LEDs produces the half-power voltage at the speaker terminals.
This gives me plenty of headroom with low risk of blowing things up.

I have found that a higher power output gets into distortion quickly, and isn't much louder.
If I need to go significantly louder, I must run more cabs instead.

My upper limit to rig size is four T48 and four OT212.
If this isn't enough, they have to get somebody else.