dbx driverack questions/impressions

[Gian]

I play in a duo.

I play guitar, taylor, and a nylon string, my wife sings.

I have a soundcraft mixer driving RCF powered speakers.

I dont use 1/3 octave eq.

Have any of you guys used a dbx driverack thingy to tune the room?
I find that sometimes, a B or a G or other notes really ring, when I play.

Suggestions on using a processor like that driverack?

[Mickstape]

Is there any reason you don't use a graphic other than the extra baggage? DBX is a cost effective solution i've found for something like what you and the wife are doing. People may dispute that last but i can't complain about the dbx eq's. Maybe in ten years i might. What model is he console? Spirit, folio etc..

Also are you always playing the same room type? Are you direct out of the the guitar clean, do you have a pedal chain, or do you mic the (nylon) guitar? Are the FOH speakers on stands? These things do make a difference i've found. (in my limited experience that is).

To answer the driverack Q, i havnt used one personally, yet. (it's not in my outboard cab/packer), if the Taylor is semi acoustic perhaps a little less emphasis on the guitar eq and a bit more reliance on the actual channel eq may solve this.

Interested to hear other peoples opinions on this one.

[Gian]

I DI into a spirit something, both the steel and the nylon.
Speakers are on stands.
Different venue each time, sometimes outdoors, sometimes indoors.

I am after a quick solution, like you run the audio white/pink filter and it does an auto eq with the (supplied) mic.

[Chris H]

B or G string taking off...(best to leave the G string on when performing in public) might be due to resonant frequency of the guitar/speaker combo more than the room, although the room will play a part. Tuning to the room is more helpful in increasing the gain before feedback with open mics. With the guitar it might be more usefull to have a graphic and just notch back the offending frequencies where the guitar takes off?

[Jason]

The DBX drive rack is good. The EQ works great The comp is fine. The feedback distroyer works well

I would not use the auto EQ function. It does not do the greatest job

The limiters are not very nice at all so set them to protect and then don't go anywhere near them.

Cheers

Jason

[Gian]

Just to clarify, I play finger style, and certain bass notes that I play boom out more than others.
The boomy notes change depending on the venue, everything else is constant, so it is the room, yes? no?

I was hoping to use the auto eq function on something like the driverack to flatten the room acoustics, but Jason suggests (thanks for your input) its not great.

[Mickstape]

Gian, the reason i mentioned having the graphic is that it will give you a bit more flexibility, you can always use the onboard on the guitar but having the graphic will enable you to adjust and adapt to each different room scenario you are presented with, just play the offending chords & notes and cut accordingly on the eq. Like Chris said it (graphic) is good if you like to run a hotter gain structure, it helps to tame the room resonances.

From (limited) experience the taylor style guitars are a bit more brighter than your matons etc, i have a TE signature and a friend has the taylor 500 (i think its the 500), when we have an acoustic jam i find i have to cut a little around 400Hz to take the boom out where as he is cutting slightly round 10kHz to take the zing out of his guitar.

Regarding the problem being a sporadic thing it seems that it is a room problem, unfortunately you will encounter this problem again although some slight changes to your setup may just help you in the future. Things like speaker placement, the physical location of the stage/riser/chairs and even adjusting where the throw is aimed within the room can often correct phase issues, freq resonance problems and generally open the overall sound up quite noticeably, would you agree there chris and you other live guys?

Its one of those things unfortunately Gian, my recommendation is to just purchase a 32 band 1/3 oct. graphic and it will really help you out. But if you have just layed out 700 odd on the driverack then i guess thats the last thing you wanted to hear...

[Gian]

Thanks Mick, but I havnt got a driverack yet, I was asking opinions before I made the investment.

[Kurt]

I'd say get one. (not that I have one yet)
Like Jason said, the limiters are very obvious (I did a gig at a venue that uses one, the Headliner's sound guy was smashing against the limiters for their whole set, nasty)

The auto eq seems to work ok as a starting point, but then I think all auto-eq's are like that. There is also a special powered speaker version, don't know what's different about it, but it's cheaper..


**Ducking for cover** heard some good reports about the be!@#$%^& speaker processor...

[Gian]

Yeah, I was thinking about the powered speaker version: it has a PX at the end of the name I think.

I have heard ok things about the be*&^$% on too.

Anyone else care to chime in, someone that has had experience with one.

[Gian]

Yeah, I was thinking about the powered speaker version: it has a PX at the end of the name I think.

I have heard ok things about the be*&^$% on too.

Anyone else care to chime in, someone that has had experience with one.
I like the thought or being able to add a sub, if need be, and tune that in too.