User's Manual

of the speaker. If the sound system is too loud when the mixer’s main faders are set to unity, this indicates that you have

more power than is required for the venue and you can simply turn down your mixer’s main output faders until the desired

performance level is achieved.

4. Balance The System’s Frequency Response

It’s now time to balance the system’s overall frequency response by fine-tuning the amplifier attenuators. This step is not

absolutely necessary, but is recommended as it can help smooth out the system’s frequency response before applying any

system EQ, which translates to smaller gain adjustments in the EQ and better sound quality. You can perform this procedure

while listening to your reference music and do it by ear or use the dbx RTA-M reference mic and RTA. The music you choose

to use for reference should contain full-bandwidth audio and should be something you have spent much time listening to and

are extremely familiar with.

Since the gain structure is already set and the limiters calibrated, you will not want to raise your amplifier attenuators, as we’ve

already determined when we set the gain structure, setting them any higher will cause the amplifiers to clip. Instead you will

want to lower the amp attenuators for whichever frequency range (i.e., low, mid, or high) is too loud. For example, if the system

has too much midrange, turn down your mid amp attenuators. If the system has too much high end, turn down the high amp

attenuators. The goal is to achieve a somewhat balanced system.

TIP: If you made any additional adjustments to amp attenuator settings in this step, you may want to make additional

marks around the attenuators to indicate these updated positions for future system use.

5. EQ The System In The Venue

Now that the system is optimized for use, it’s time to EQ the sound system in the venue. The PA2’s built-in AutoEQ Wizard

does a great job of equalizing your sound system in a timely manner so we recommend using it. You can alter the parametric

EQ settings generated by AutoEQ or tailor the equalization of the system using the built-in GEQ (Graphic EQ) – this will leave

your automatically generated AutoEQ settings intact. The following instructions can be used to fine-tune the system after

running AutoEQ or to manually EQ the sound system in the event you don’t have the dbx RTA-M measurement microphone.

Note that using the DriveRack PA2 control app on a mobile device allows you to walk around the venue while making EQ

adjustments.

To EQ the system by ear using the GEQ:

1� Choose a music reference source that you are familiar with and that contains full-bandwidth audio material. Play the

reference music through the sound system. Turn the music up as close as possible to performance level (the level at

which the system will be used during performance).

2� Walk around the venue and listen to the sound system. Does it sound thin, bright, muddy, or muffled? Try to get an overall

assessment of how the different audience areas sound and what kind of improvements can be made.

3� Go into the PA2’s Graphic EQ (GEQ).

4� Try each of the available QUICK CURVE options. Do any of them sound close to what you’re after? If so, keep the

selection. You can proceed and fine-tune the system further by manually adjusting the GEQ’s frequency bands if you feel

it can be further improved. If none of the QUICK 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.