beautypg.com

Rane SAC 23 User Manual

Page 7

background image

Manual-5

Setting Levels With a Realtime Analyzer

1. Set the INPUT LEVEL as described previously on page

Manual-2, and the LOW, MID, and HIGH LEVEL controls

to minimum; leave the FREQUENCY controls as set previ-

ously.

2. Place the analyzer microphone at least 15 feet (5 meters) away

from the speaker stack, on axis (dead ahead) and about chest

level. Minimize any background noise (fans, air conditioners,

traffic, wild animals, etc.) that could affect readings.

3. Run pink noise through the system, either through a mixer

channel or directly into the crossover. Turn all amplifier con-

trols at least half way up.

4. Slowly turn up the LOW LEVEL control until you hear a

healthy level of noise through the low frequency drivers (it

should sound like rumble).

4. Adjust the display controls on the analyzer so that it shows the

greatest number of 0 dB LED’s (green on Rane equipment)

below the crossover frequency.

6. Now slowly turn up the MID LEVEL control until the dis-

play shows the same high frequency output level average as the

low frequency section.

7. Repeat this procedure for all crossover frequency sections, low-

est to highest, so the end result is as flat response as possible

on the analyzer display near each crossover point.

IMPORTANT: Compression driver or horn high frequency

roll-off, bass roll-off, and room acoustics usually cannot be cor-

rected by the crossover.

If, for example, you are adjusting the HIGH LEVEL control

and observe a decline in frequency response somewhat above the

Crossover point, then set the HIGH LEVEL control for equal

display level near the crossover point and leave it there. Use an

equalizer to correct the roll-off problem.

If you are tuning the system in a room, the acoustics will

greatly influence the system response, as shown by the analyzer.

Move the microphone and check the analyzer system re-

sponse at several other locations. Adjust the crossover to reach

a fixed compromise setting as necessary. If you plan to use the

analyzer only once to set the crossover, set up the speaker system

in a quiet place outside or in a very large concert theater, and

run pink noise at low levels with closer microphone placement

to keep the room acoustics out of the picture as much as possible.

Setting Levels With an SPL Meter & Pink Noise Generator

1. Run pink noise into the crossover Inputs (through the mixer

or directly, as is convenient).

2. Make sure all crossover LEVEL(s) are turned all the way down

and all amplifier level controls are at least half way up to start

with.

3. Turn the crossover INPUT LEVEL all the way up. Place the

SPL meter at least 15 feet from the speaker stack and about

chest high. Once positioned, make sure that the SPL meter re-

mains in the exact same location for the rest of the procedure.

Minimize all background noise (fans, air conditioners, traffic,

wild animals, etc.) to get accurate readings. Set the SPL meter

to “C-weighting” and “slow” if those switches are present.

4. Slowly turn the LOW LEVEL up until there is a healthy

rumble coming from the bass speakers. Adjust the SPL meter

and/or LOW LEVEL until you get a 0 dB reading on the me-

ter. After this point do not change the controls on the SPL meter.

5. Make a note of the LOW LEVEL control setting at the 0 dB

adjustment just obtained, then reduce the LOW LEVEL to

“0” so that the pink noise disappears from the bass speakers

(revel in the silence...).

6. Now slowly turn up the MID LEVEL control so that pink

noise is heard from the high frequency speakers. Without

changing any settings on the SPL meter, adjust the crossover

MID LEVEL control until you obtain a 0 dB reading on the

SPL meter.

7. Turn down the MID LEVEL and repeat this process for the

HIGH LEVEL. Return the LOW and MID LEVELS to the

previously recorded settings. Now all drivers are set at the

same level. Make any overall level adjustments with the IN-

PUT LEVEL controls and leave the output LOW, MID and

HIGH LEVEL controls unchanged.

It is possible to turn one of the frequency section output LEVEL

controls all the way up and still not have enough volume for a

0 dB reading (as determined by previous section levels). This

is probably due to different sensitivities of amps, speakers and

other level controls in the system. When this happens, re-set the

SPL meter so that it reads 0 dB on this frequency section (you

may have to “down range” the meter and re-adjust the crossover

INPUT LEVEL control). Now go back and re-adjust the previ-

ous crossover LEVEL controls, turning these down to get a 0 dB

reading on the meter.