Routing and limiting

[Andrew C]

I'm looking for alternatives to a Behringer DCX2496 Ultradrive Pro. This piece of kit would do exactly what I want, and a lot more but I've just been given a lead time of 9 months.

 

The scheme is to route full range to a stereo pair, a mono (but different level) centre pair, and LF to a pair of subs. I would like limiting, but need a software/preset solution. Schoolkids + knobs & buttons = fiddle. I would like to set scenes for; musical with band, lecture, play with SFX, concerts of various types, and be able to switch between them.

 

I have crossovers/EQ for the subs, so don't really need it in the proposed box.

 

As ever cost is an issue, and the B is <£200!

[dbuckley]

The trouble with the Behringer DCX2496 is three fold.

 

Firstly, its not a copy of anything, so the "Behringer just copy opther peoples stuff" crowd can't whine about it. Secondly, its dirt cheap. Thirdly, its got a really good feature set. And on top of all that, a lot of people whose opinion I respect think they are really quite good. Addded to that my previous experience with Behringer gear (limited to a couple of small mixers) was that Behringer kit is actually OK, despite the rumblings.

 

So I bought one.

 

Trouble was, I didnt buy it in New Zealand, where I now live, and so when I opened the box it was (a) DOA and (b) outside the warranty period and © The NZ agents didnt want to touch it with any length of bargepole. So I have a dead DCX, in bits, and frankly its DSP electronics are well beyond my capability to fix. So dead, dead, dead.

 

Trouble was, that has been the start of my Behringer bad luck story, since then anything Behringer I've so much as gone near has died or started to die. This includes two sharks, and just this week, somebody else GEQ....

 

Anyway, far as I can make out the nearest equivalent is the dBX Driverack PA. Its a cheaper reduced function set version of the dBX DriveRack, which is an excellent bit of kit. The DCX does more than the Driverack PA, in particular the 'PA has very limited time alignment delays, much shorter than the DCX. The 'PA also costs more. On the other hand, you are likely to have less trouble with a dBX product than I am currently having with Behringer, and its likely to be on a delivery time of rather less than the thick end of a yonk. The big driverack certainly has password tamperproofing, and layered security, so I suspect the little one will have something at least in that line.

 

Read all about it on the dBX website.

[jayselway]

I'd second the vote for the DriveRack PA. I was going to get a behringer, but there's little things which niggle me quite a lot - such as any EQ changes cut the sound off and start up again. Also - it seems to run out of memory rather quickly as soon as you have chosen a x-over.

[Stuart91]

Firstly, its not a copy of anything, so the "Behringer just copy other people's stuff" crowd can't whine about it.

 

It does bear a marked similarity to a Driverack 260...

I've used a couple of them - primarily where there isn't the budget for a 260 - and they've certainly been good enough. It isn't quite as easy or intuitive as the Driveracks, but at less than a third of the cost, I'm not complaining. Until, of course, they aren't available... :o

 

 

One thing worth remembering with the Driverack PA is that the unit is tied into use as a two or three way stereo crossover. As far as I'm aware, you couldn't use it for, for example, a full range stereo pair and four delay feeds.

[Andrew C]

One thing worth remembering with the Driverack PA is that the unit is tied into use as a two or three way stereo crossover. As far as I'm aware, you couldn't use it for, for example, a full range stereo pair and four delay feeds.

Just spotted that playing with the software. Nor does it seem to create an internal mono sum.

[boswell]

One thing worth remembering with the Driverack PA is that the unit is tied into use as a two or three way stereo crossover. As far as I'm aware, you couldn't use it for, for example, a full range stereo pair and four delay feeds.

Just spotted that playing with the software. Nor does it seem to create an internal mono sum.

 

Try a Tannoy TDX2 (if its in budget) It will do all you want

 

B

[Rich]

I thought you said it was a copy of an Omnidrive Jay, and the BSS software would run it?

 

I've just bought a Driverack PA (finally made the move Jay!) and it's pretty good so far. £365 from Thomann.

[Mr.Si]

The Driverrack PA, as I understand, has no relays on the outputs whereas the DCX, I believe, does.

This is not good and I have heard of people having received damaged drivers due to the power going off and then when coming on, a pop happens to the speakers.

 

How about the Alto "Altodrive 3.4"?

 

Alto do a 2 in 4 out (2 way) speaker management box called altodrive2.3 for £316.00 inc VAT retail or a 2 in 6 out (3 way) box called altodrive3.4 for £361.00 inc VAT retail.

 

As far as I know, they are reasonably transparent, and easy to configure (although as with anything you pay for what you get) but to just act as a digital Xover, limiter, delay they should be more than capable

 

I know www.terralec.co.uk stock them but you may be able to get them cheaper elsewhere

 

Click here for the full thread.

[jayselway]

I thought you said it was a copy of an Omnidrive Jay, and the BSS software would run it?

 

I heard from a sound tech I used to work with that it was very similar to an Omnidrive, if not a copy - I am pretty sure they were talking about the menu system etc... although having never used an Omnidrive, I never witnessed it. As far as I can remember I never mentioned the BSS software being able to run the Behringer unit, or the other way round.

[Rob_Beech]

I heard from a sound tech I used to work with that it was very similar to an Omnidrive, if not a copy

 

Seems odd. I wouldn't say there were any great similarities, other than they do the same job. As with alot of things. you can't expect a unit to be entirely different if it does the same job. There is however a limit

 

 

The Driverrack PA, as I understand, has no relays on the outputs whereas the DCX, I believe, does.

 

As Simon says here this is a big problem. This problem has been known to take out HF drivers. The risk is low with 2 way setups using passive crossovers between mid and high. However HF drivers dont take kindly to this type of pop. so a 3 way active system or a smaller bi amped system can give you problems.

I am very dissapointed with DBX for not ammending this when this problem came about. I have personally witnessed 4 HF drivers out of 6 being "destroyed" when power was cut accidentally to the DRPA...by a DJ...

 

Rob

[Andrew C]

And now the good news.

 

Despite the 9 month lead time from several well know UK suppliers, the kind folk of Thomann got a DCX to me in about two weeks for 280 Euros. Just hope I'm not disappointed now I've got it!

[Rob_Beech]

I'm sure you wont be.

 

I MAY....thats a MAY have one for sale (used half a dozen times) in the next few weeks.

 

I use them in smaller PA's but use an old imnidrive in the A rig. I keep the DCX as a spare incase of failure but I may have a 2nd omnidrive coming.

Watch this space. (oh and the classifieds sections)

 

 

rob

[Andrew C]

Can you give me any clues on the serial connection? I've tried the obvious serial cables (1-1 & 2-3 permutations) but have yet to communicate with it.

[PoppaDom]

When I have used it in the past I have used a straight serial-serial null cable as standard. Probably not a helpful answer....

 

Poppadom

[adove]

Normal serial cable works fine. The DCX is as simple beast but works well. Cheap as chips £180 from Blue Aaron in Southampton, he had some in stock last week.

 

If you've got a dead once I would check the switch mode psu. It has a 5 pin device which failed in one of ours. £3 replacement from Farnell fixed it, forget support from Behringer unless you're still in warranty.

 

Also watch for the units XLR connectors shorting on inside of case causing crackling - simple fix with tape on the case.

 

Alan.