digital controlers

[The Boogie Man]

does anyone know exactly what goes on inside the digital controlers like nexos one etc. is it a very special eq and limiter?

Baz

[Chris Hinds]

The answer is of course "It depends". It depends on whether it's a generic programmable controller like a DBX DriveRack or a Lake Contour, or a totally custom one like Nexo NX242, the D&B Technology in their amplifiers or the Meyer technology in the Galileo processor. Of course then there are the custom builds that L'Acoustics, JBL, EAW and the rest provide for generic boxes to use with their systems.

 

All of them will include:

* Crossovers of varying slopes

* Parametric EQ on each bandpass output

* Limiting

* Time alignment

* Phase control

* Input EQ to tune to taste (sometimes a parametric, sometimes a graphic, sometimes both)

* Input delay (for aligning to the backline or perhaps for delaying the system to another system)

 

The Nexo and D&B stuff also includes mathematical modelling of the speakers, therefore by sensing the amp outputs they can judge when the speaker is going to be driven beyond its usable limits, thereby reducing the signal before it gets there. As the drivers change response to some extent with varying level the Nexo also includes dynamic EQ to allow for this, varying EQ points depending on the level. You can reverse engineer a preset on a generic controller like a Contour, if you have a few computers to do it and a few hours/days. If you had a few months and the same gear you could eventually model the Nexo too for dynamic EQ, but you'd never model the varying limiters on a generic box.

 

Hope that's of some use

 

Regards

 

Chris

[The Boogie Man]

Thanx Chris, I have to be honest and say that the question was raised not from a technical point ,but from a curiosity.

I was thinking of upgrading to some nexos and was wondering if the controller was really necessary. I think you just answered that one!!!!

 

Although now youv'e got me thinking, Is it the controller that allows the nexos and such like to get such great spl's?

 

Cheers

baz

[Chris Hinds]

The controller enables the speakers to sound 'right'. They apply the appropriate band passing for cabs and they let you get all the level out that is possible. A number of people find the NX241/242 allows you better sound and control than the analogue PS-TD range controllers do for the PS Series cabs. Simon Lewis has Nexo gear and I'm sure he can elaborate further.

 

Regards

 

Chris