dbx DriveRack PA2, Owner'S Manual

Page 1: ...Owner s Manual...

Page 2: ...AD THE FOLLOWING KEEP THESE INSTRUCTIONS HEED ALL WARNINGS FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS The apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing liquid and no object filled with liquid such as vases sha...

Page 3: ...7583 SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS Notice For Customers If Your Unit Is Equipped With A Power Cord WARNING THIS APPLIANCE SHALL BE CONNECTED TO A MAINS SOCKET OUTLET WITH A PROTECTIVE EARTHING CONNECTION The co...

Page 4: ...his product In no event shall dbx or its dealers be liable for special or consequential damages or from any delay in the performance of this warranty due to causes beyond their control Technical Suppo...

Page 5: ...25 Storing Presets 26 Copying Presets 26 The PA2 Processing Modules Parameters 27 Graphic EQ GEQ 27 Parametric EQ AutoEQ HIGH MID LOW PEQ 29 Advanced Feedback Suppression AFS 31 Subharmonic Synthesis...

Page 6: ...ents for analysis providing an extremely accurate timely and non intrusive automatic EQ experience And the enhanced AFS algorithm is now even faster and more accurate at eliminating feedback without a...

Page 7: ...ings Stereo PeakPlus Output Limiters Stereo Output Driver Alignment Delays For 2 Way 3 Way Systems Real Time Analyzer White Pink Noise Generator 2 XLR Inputs 6 XLR Outputs Front Panel XLR RTA Mic Inpu...

Page 8: ...performed by pressing the data wheel 5 WIZARD Button Pressing this button enters the Wizard menu where you can select a specific Wizard to run or run all Wizards in succession For more information on...

Page 9: ...ent LED meters display the output signal level strength and available headroom and range from SIG signal present to 0 dBFS These meters monitor the signal level after the limiter modules and output MU...

Page 10: ...re information Note A DHCP enabled switch or Wi Fi router is required to assign an IP address to the PA2 for network control 3 USB Port This USB connector is used for updating the PA2 s firmware See F...

Page 11: ...umer device with unbalanced output connectors such as RCA connectors If you re not sure what the nominal output operating level of your mixer is check the product s manual or contact the manufacturer...

Page 12: ...0 for application notes and system diagrams which can be used for reference when connecting the PA2 to your system See Cable Diagrams on page 61 for information on cabling 3 Connect the outputs of you...

Page 13: ...as been assigned an IP address by pressing the UTILITY button then selecting the SYSTEM INFO option Note A DHCP enabled switch or router must be used to assign an IP address to the DriveRack PA2 See N...

Page 14: ...er can be used for switching power to the PA2 on and off 5 Apply power to your mixer then your power amplifiers or powered speakers Note When powering up a fully configured and connected PA system it...

Page 15: ...s SELECT Turn DATA Wheel Press SELECT Turn DATA Wheel Press SELECT Turn DATA Wheel Press SELECT Turn DATA Wheel Press SELECT Turn DATA Wheel Press SELECT Press PEQ Button Press DELAY Button Press WIZA...

Page 16: ...ode This mode is entered by pressing the WIZARD button This mode is used to create a new system configuration or edit an existing one When running the Wizards pressing and holding the WIZARD button wi...

Page 17: ...ing The Preset 1 1 EDIT COMPRESSOR HIGH LIMITER MID LIMITER LOW LIMITER 30 12 5 0 O O O O icon indicates that the signal level is within the OverEasy region and some minor compression or limiting is b...

Page 18: ...ration without having to recreate the whole configuration from scratch Below is a list and description of each of the available options in the PA2 s Wizard menu RUN ALL WIZARDS CURRENT SETTINGS NEW SE...

Page 19: ...er 1 3rd 1 3rd 1 3rd AutoEQ Mic Position 3 Optional RTA M Mic Placement 1 Reference Left Speaker Right Speaker 1 3rd 1 3rd 1 3rd AutoEQ Mic Position 2 RTA M Mic Placement 1 Reference RTA M Mic Placeme...

Page 20: ...or edited To clear them you must turn the LEVEL ASSIST AUTO TRIM function off then re run Level Assist in the Wizard menu MIC RESPONSE dbx RTA M FLAT When the dbx RTA M option is selected AutoEQ will...

Page 21: ...r your particular speakers or amplifiers you will need to select the NOT LISTED option in the PA2 s Setup Wizard The PA2 will automatically set usable default settings which may sound and work just fi...

Page 22: ...dialed in you re ready to optimize the loudpeakers phase All loudspeaker drivers in the system need to work in unison in order for the sound system to sound its best This is accomplished by matching t...

Page 23: ...specific crossover frequency matching levels and inverting polarity on one of the drivers you are free to experiment with different settings to determine the best settings for your loudspeaker system...

Page 24: ...tput meters most reputable console manufacturers use red LEDs at the top of the meters to show the onset of clipping To calibrate the system s gain structure and PA2 limiters Warning Although it is hi...

Page 25: ...ders are set to unity this indicates that you have more power than is required for the application and you can simply turn down your mixer s main output faders until the desired performance level is a...

Page 26: ...UICK CURVE options sound right set the QUICK CURVE parameter back to MANUAL 5 Make any further adjustments to the frequency bands in the GEQ to suit your taste 6 Ring Out The System With AFS Ringing o...

Page 27: ...et Fixed filters to Live filters 11 Set the AFS MODE to LIVE 12 Go to the TYPE parameter and select the desired width for the Live filters select the MUSIC SPEECH option for the best all around real t...

Page 28: ...he DATA wheel to select the parameter you wish to edit 4 Press the DATA wheel to edit the selected parameter 5 Turn the DATA wheel to edit the setting Press the DATA wheel then repeat steps 3 5 to mak...

Page 29: ...resets Recalling presets requires that you enter Preset Recall mode select a preset and then load it This helps prevent accidental switching of presets from the front panel DATA wheel To recall a pres...

Page 30: ...dy configured a stereo sub preset for larger shows and wish to copy it and create a mono sub preset for smaller shows or for creating an initial preset template and then copying that preset template f...

Page 31: ...ency bands in the GEQ to add some extra top end to the system The built in GEQ Quick Curves allow you to quickly alter the frequency response of the system Try auditioning each option to see which one...

Page 32: ...zed for live music performance using larger PA systems in larger sized venues large clubs This EQ curve is very similar to the MYBAND option except that it does not attenuate the low mids and offers a...

Page 33: ...f the available PEQs to select from Which options are available in the list will depend upon the current configuration In all cases you will at least see the AutoEQ PEQ and HIGH PEQ PEQ for the HIGH o...

Page 34: ...e width of the selected PEQ filter Lower Q settings provide wider filters affecting a wider range of frequencies when adjusted Higher Q settings provide narrower filters which affect fewer frequencies...

Page 35: ...ren t as deep and even less audible It prevents the filters from being too narrow to tackle feedback at lower frequencies It has better frequency resolution which provides pinpoint accuracy and uses t...

Page 36: ...will be cleared when you perform the clear function If the NONE option is selected filters cannot be cleared If the LIVE ONLY option is selected only the Live filters will be cleared when you perform...

Page 37: ...this option selected the AFS filters will take slightly longer to set than when using the MUSIC SPEECH setting although the difference in time will be quite negligible but will be virtually inaudible...

Page 38: ...lly enables a timer Turn LIVE LIFT on when you want AFS to lift release Live filters after a predetermined time set by the LIFT AFTER parameter Higher fidelity can be restored to the system by lifting...

Page 39: ...d by pressing the SUB button Turn the DATA wheel to scroll through the list of parameters Press the DATA wheel to edit a selection SUBHARMONIC ON OFF This parameter turns the subharmonic synth module...

Page 40: ...is applied to the signal by adjusting the SUBHARMONICS parameter NOTE The left and right input signals are summed to mono before the subharmonic synthesizer processes the audio The subharmonic synthes...

Page 41: ...he compressor the strong low frequency energy from the sub synth process can cause excessive compressor pumping breathing If you exhibit this type of behavior try lowering the subharmonic synthesis le...

Page 42: ...xceeds threshold and will provide a more abrupt and aggressively compressed sound as well as retain more of the attack and level of the original sound Conversely a compressor with soft knee characteri...

Page 43: ...waveforms If your subs are placed off to the side of the stage or somewhere other than between the mains or under the mains anywhere not aligned with the mains when viewed from the side perspective y...

Page 44: ...10ms 11 27ft 3 43m Sets the delay time or length Each pair of outputs has up to 10ms of delay time available for driver alignment delay Delay length will be displayed in all units at the same time i e...

Page 45: ...ration See Preset List on page 55 to see a list of the available pre configured factory presets Crossover Parameters Each pair of outputs i e LOW MID and HIGH will contain their own set of parameters...

Page 46: ...evel around the crossover frequency which makes these type of filters very popular The numbers represent the slope rate per octave POLARITY NORMAL INVERTED Inverts the polarity of the selected PA2 out...

Page 47: ...selecting the NOT LISTED option for your amps Therefore the limiters will need to be calibrated manually if you wish to use them to protect the system See Manual System Optimization Tips on page 18 f...

Page 48: ...g will be A limiter with hard knee characteristics won t limit the signal until it exceeds threshold and will provide a more abrupt and aggressively limited sound as well as retain more of the attack...

Page 49: ...me the RTA will display hold peaks in the display providing an easy to read visual indication of peak levels even after they ve already passed SIGNAL GENERATOR OFF PINK WHITE Turns the built in signal...

Page 50: ...in 5min 10min DISABLED This parameter sets the time that it takes for the PA2 to return to the Home screen after a period of inactivity or whether the PA2 will return to the Home screen at all DISABLE...

Page 51: ...A2 with mutes on 1 Press and hold any output MUTE button then power on the PA2 Keep the button pressed until the LCD display reads MUTE BUTTON HELD All outputs will be muted after initialization then...

Page 52: ...ilter Clear and Mutes This option is similar to the System Locked with AFS Filter Clear option listed above When this option is selected all front panel controls will be locked with the exception of t...

Page 53: ...utton message appears in the LCD display then release the STORE button 3 Press the WIZARD button to perform the Factory Reset procedure Press the STORE button to cancel the operation Soft Reset The So...

Page 54: ...in Making Connections on page 8 then apply power to the system according to the instructions described in Applying Power on page 10 Run the Setup Wizard and select the MONO input option if connecting...

Page 55: ...f the features in the PA2 with the exception of the crossover and in some cases the limiters as some of these speaker systems may have built in limiters which cannot be defeated When the PA2 is config...

Page 56: ...20 Hz 20 kHz Note that you can alter the crossover frequencies at any time So for example if you have a system which requires 4 full range outputs and 2 subwoofer outputs this configuration could sti...

Page 57: ...zard and select the MONO input option if connecting your mixer to the PA2 via a single connection or select the STEREO input option if connecting the mixer to the PA2 via a left right stereo connectio...

Page 58: ...the Setup Wizard and select the MONO input option if connecting your mixer to the PA2 via a single connection or select the STEREO input option if connecting the mixer to the PA2 via a left right ster...

Page 59: ...WaywM Sub Mono 3 Way with Mono Sub 11 36 61 86 ST Bi ampMains Stereo bi amped mains 2 Way 12 37 62 87 M Bi ampMains Mono bi amped mains 2 Way 13 38 63 88 ST 6FR Stereo All 6 Outputs Full Range 14 39 6...

Page 60: ...ng the ability to connect directly to the ever growing online tuning and preset database internet connection required where you can share your own presets and tunings or download additional tunings fr...

Page 61: ...mation on configuring these security features Network Troubleshooting If you are having difficulty connecting to the PA2 using the DriveRack PA2 control app here are some things that you can try to re...

Page 62: ...esn t have an IP address consult the documentation which came with your network switch or router to see how to enter the utility used for configuring the switch router Ensure the DHCP server is enable...

Page 63: ...n The latest PA2 Firmware Update Utility application will be made available on the DriveRack PA2 product page at www dbxpro com as updates become available If using the DriveRack PA2 control app you c...

Page 64: ...Output Input Mixer 31 Band Graphic Equalizer Stereo or Dual Mono AutoEQ 8 Band PEQ Advanced Feedback Suppression Subharmonic Syntesizer Compressor Pre Delay 8 Band PEQ 8 Band PEQ 8 Band PEQ PeakPlus L...

Page 65: ...1 White Orange 2 2 Orange 3 3 White Green 4 4 Blue 5 5 White Blue 6 6 Green 7 7 White Brown Crossover Crossover cables can only be used with network switches routers which support Auto Sensing This fe...

Page 66: ...T SLEEVE GROUND HOT TIP HOT SLEEVE GROUND SLEEVE RCA PHONO TO TS PHONE FROM SOURCE DEVICE OUTPUT TO NEXT DEVICE INPUT TIP HOT SLEEVE GROUND HOT SLEEVE TIP HOT SLEEVE GROUND TRS PHONE TO TS PHONE FROM...

Page 67: ...63 Dimensions 19 1 75 17 25 5 875...

Page 68: ...th transient material A weighted 22kHz BW 121 dB with transient material unweighted 22kHz BW 115 dB typical with program material A weighted 22kHz BW D A PERFORMANCE D A Converter 24 bit D A Dynamic R...

Page 69: ...nal Resources dbx Website http www dbxpro com DriveRack PA2 Product Page http www dbxpro com en US products driverack pa2 dbx Support http www dbxpro com en US support dbx User s Forum http www dbxpro...

Page 70: ...stered in the U S and other countries Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U S and other countries Android is a registered trademark of Google Incorporated dbx Professiona...