May 24, 2009 9:25 AM
Line 6 X3 Live thru JBL PA System?
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I am currently getting ready to start building the stage and was hopeing to get some good advise on what set up I should go with. I am a simple person so I like simple solutions.
I currently own a Line 6 x3 Live and I love it. It sounds great thru just the little practice PA (Yamaha Stagepas 300) and I love how it doesnt take up hardly any room at all. We are getting geared up to start playing a few little shows around towns the surounding areas and we have equipment but it is outdated and cosmetically UGLY! I have been eyeballin the JBL PRX Series of Speakers due to the fact its JBL, its pleasing to the eye, wood cabinets and have heard these before and fell in love with them. With the speakers, mixer, and Line 6 x3 I think with a good set of monitors to go with should be great for all players.
Has anyone done this and if they did, how did it sound?
The X3 live is a great solution for live performances. I have had mine for a few weeks and use it in church running directly into our PA. Going through a PA is the very best option. If you are a guitar player the PA will supply the whole room with your guitar sound. If you use a standard guitar amp and cab the sound dispersion is very narrow and only those standing infront of the speaker will hear the guitar very well. Bass guitar sounds go every where ( big wave lenth) so they can go through an amp with no problem. I think the day of a wall of amps and cabs is comming to an end. Get a good PA system and run it with a flat EQ and you can get excellent sounds. Consider a DBX driverack PA to controll the PA. It can automaticaly flaten your speaker response and set the crossovers for the best of sounds. The best news is you don't have to buy a guitar amp and carry it around. Also consider a sub with your PA for that full sound. Good luck Phil
I did a little reading on this DBX Driverback and didnt notice if it would work with other speakers. Since my last post I have read mixed reviews about the JBL PRX series and have seriously considered the QSC HPR's. I can not find one negative post about these speakers and all I read is how ex JBL die hards are now saying goodbye to their old JBL's. Interesting to say the least, but this DBX does look like a very good solution to a lot of FB problems and just overall fine tuning in general so it would be a shame if it didnt work with another rig. Thanks for the insight.
Hi , I did send you a PM but the Dbx PA has "custom" option for the speakers and the amp selection. The instructions do a good job showing you how to set up the mixer and amps and speakers. Once you do the automatic EQ of the speakers and set them to flat you are done and never have to do it again. .I used the indoor proceedure for mine. You do need a RTA mic, I bought a beheringer 4000 ( i think ) for $46 the DBX mic is $100. after you finish using the setup wizard you save it. The when you go to a gig you just run the automatic feed back option and you are ready to roll. You just EQ for your personal taiste and the systom will sound as good as it can. The Dbx also sets up cross overs and limiters for your subs. and much more. I have a Beheringer mixer 1222, QSC GX5, Dbx rackgear PA, and DIY speakers designed by billfitzmaurice.net. These speakers are nothing short of amazing and compaired to my old brand name PA cabs there is no comparison. Go to the web site, my build with pictures is there under DR 250 and T39. ( my tops and subs). Good forum of infomation on speakers if you are a DIYer. .This kind of a PA system with the X3 is just a killer system that will out perform the wall of amps and cabs that we used to use. It is cheaper, lighter and sets up fast and will give you more consistant sounds than trying to ballance individual pieces of equipment. Plus your sound will be consistant in every corner of your venue. Good luck Phil
I watched as many tutorials about this DBX as I could last night and one thing I am confused about and couldnt seem to find an answer is when conncecting to your speakers, is this for only a passive speakers or can you use it for active? My speakers wont have 2 inputs (One for highs and mids) The lows are good I will be running a left and right subs but the 15 inch mains dont have two inputs so would I still be able to bennifit from this system?
Also I think this would work out great for a drum kit but havent found anything to validate that yet.
The Dbx can be set up for all possible speaker combinations ,passive or powered. When you go through the setup wizard it will ask you questions about your speakers, tops, subs how many of each, stereo configeration or mono, singal or dual power options. If you want to want, go the the Dbx web site and down load the manual and it has pictures of all the possible set up options.
With Powered speakers you go directly out the back of the Dbx unit , left side outs to the speakers, In passive speakers, you hook up to the Dbx through the right side outs and go into the amp and then to the speakers. By using the crossover you send only the frequencies you want to the correct speakers eg. Subs 45 through 100 , Tops 100 and up to 4000 That way you dont have vocals trying to go through the subs and your Tops trying to reporduce the low bass notes. It makes the whole mix cleaner. So your set up would be: Mixer to Dbx = Lt side out to Active Subs
Rt side out to Amp = to Tops
The other thing you might want to try is to put the tops off to each side and put the subs together in the center. Subs should be put close together or at least 50 ft apart do to their very long wave form. Since subs are none directional and low tones go in every direction it helps make the mix a little clearer too. Also put the subs on the floor in front of the stage. the low tones bounce of the floor and actually make it sound louder and fuller. The tops should be at head height or angle down slightly to be pointing at head height.
Run you X3 through the PA and I would be surprised if you didn't like the sound. Having your speakers really set up with a flat EQ makes a big difference in the music and vocals. The pe amps for the vocals in the X3 can really inhance your vocals as well. Well good luck in your decission, I hope I haven't confused you too much, Phil
No not really confused, just trying to envision it in my head. I did download the manual yesterday after you told me what it could do and unless I missed it the speaker configurations all showed as follows from the DBX:
2 Channels of Low Signal Output = Left Sub and the Right Sub
2 Channels of Mid Range = Right Top Speaker and Left Top Speaker
2 Channels of Highs = Right Top Speaker and Left Top Speaker
The Speakers only have one available XLR input so Im thinking like you said, when you go thru the setup wizard it will ask me what I have and will make the adjustment to feed both the High and Mid signals thru one channel output, either the Mid or High.
Even the JBL's that it says has pre-set settings for only has one XLR Input so that is the only thing that is a little confusing at the moment.
Ya it sounds a little confusing. When you run through the wizard you will chose a mono system, 2 subs and 2 tops and you don't have to mess with bi amped speakers settings. Your tops are full range and when you run throu the wizard it set that up and you don't have to do a thing. If your tops had different inputs for high and lows, you could bi amp them and feed the horns and speakers seperatly but since you don't have that you don't have to mess with it. The instructions give you every option for set up from very complicated to a simple rock and roll set up and I think it is preset 3 or maybe 5 and I think that would fit your system. The system has compressores and delays and many things you probably won't need.
If you are going to use your PA for just vocals you may not need the Dbx set up but it is very nice for feed back control and to get you speaker EQ to a flat setting. , if you going to feed your X3 through it I think it might be a real assetto get the sound just like you want.
I have been through the wall of amps from my playing back in the late 60 and 70's. and killed my ears with the volume we used. And the sound was always spotty, sometimes it is the location but usually it was the limits of the amps and speakers we were using.
We now use a mixer, the Dbx, 2 compression subs (could use 4 for outdoors) and two full range tops ( folded horn type). This system is good for crowds up to 200- 300 people We get 106 db at 3 feet from the system at max settings and it is crystal clear. Vocals are right on top and lows are in the subs out front, and; the drums, organ and 4-5 mic all have wonderful separation. I use a QSC GX 5 500watts. I do run alittle chorus and just a smell of reverb through the vocals for some additional debth. Nothing weighs more that 50# each. If we used the old school set up we would need at least three amps of 500 watts individual cabs for each instrament and the list goes on.
By setting up using every thing through the PA you still have the same volume without the hassel. So consider a good PA, Speakers are the most important, amps not so much just make sure you have enough head room in your amp to fully power your speakers. Eg: If you run you systam and get 100db out put ,( thats the point where you start killing your hearing) and want to double the precieved volume you need to go from 100db to 110db (very painfull volume). Volume doubles with every 10 db increase. So increasing your output just 2 or 3 db is a significant increase in volume. So when you want to make your system louder, just add more speakers to it. Make sure your amp or amps are big enough to run them. If you over drive your cabs they really don't get much louder they just get fuzzy and lose their clarity.
The best thing is to start with the PA system and if you don't like it you just start adding the wall of sound, but you still need the PA any way so you have not waisted the money on a PA .
Hope that helps.
PS If you are still in doubts buy the unit from Guitar center or musician friend and they have an excellent return policy. Try it for 30 days and return it if it doesn't work for you.
Good Luck Phil
Do you run your mic thru the X3 Live or the mixer direct?
I will be running active PA Speakers from QSC so that way I keep every speaker with its own power source. The dbx sounds insane. Nothing but great reviews so I have added it to my wishlist. Still wondering if this will take the place of a compressor/gate for my drum set as that I believe should be channel specific but even if it doesnt they are not that expensive to add. I would have to intercept it I think before it got to the mixer as I dont see any other way to do it. I want that tight bass puch with a little hint of high end thru the mains and then obviously tone down the snair/toms.
My PA is going to be for EVERYTHING, not just vocals so I deffinately could see where the dbx would play a vital roll in that.
The info you gave me is awesome. Thank you so much I do appreciate it.
Josh
I have not tried out the mic or bass settings yet. I am now adjusting the settings for my electric semi hollow body, accustic, and my Clapton Strat. Way too many options for a simple guitar player like me to choose from. Good luck with the stage set up. Phil
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