Optimal sound from mixer and PA?

electrogrimey

Just wondering, is it necessary to have anything to go between a mixer and a PA? I have a PA set-up, which is a big central active bass-bin, and two active tops. Normally I just run the mixer straight into the bassbin, and then the tops from the bassbin.

The last time I used this set-up though, the sound was pretty dire. I'm pretty sure this was simply due to the fact that I was using a Behringer DJX700 as a mixer, but am I wrong, and should you actually run the mixer through something else before going into the PA?

Any general tips about optimizing sound in these situations would also be appreciated.

ED E

You should be using a crossover with such a system:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_crossover

unclebill98

Normally systems that fed/power the tops have built in x/overs already.

OP please detail the system.

electrogrimey

unclebill98 wrote: »

Normally systems that fed/power the tops have built in x/overs already.

OP please detail the system.

I can't find the exact model, but it'd be similar to this.

unclebill98

Well that sub has an active x/over.

Best sound would to have everything at unity. Song to channel, channel to master and not having your rig peak on a consistent basis. Have your eq flat. If your not happy with the sound try eq the channal, if its the overall sound try an eq on the master out to pa. If its not loud enough without pushing any part of the chain into the red then you've "not enough rig for the gig".

There is no right or wrong to what it sounds like, its what you like. Every box will sound different and if you can get it nice then upgrade to better boxes.

electrogrimey

unclebill98 wrote: »

Well that sub has an active x/over.

Best sound would to have everything at unity. Song to channel, channel to master and not having your rig peak on a consistent basis. Have your eq flat. If your not happy with the sound try eq the channal, if its the overall sound try an eq on the master out to pa. If its not loud enough without pushing any part of the chain into the red then you've "not enough rig for the gig".

There is no right or wrong to what it sounds like, its what you like. Every box will sound different and if you can get it nice then upgrade to better boxes.

There's no problem with the PA, I've had it set up with decks & a mixer before and it has sounded beautiful (that time using a Pioneer mixer), I was just wondering is it standard practice to go straight from a mixer into an active PA. For some reason in my head it seems like it should be going through a mixing desk or something.

BigDaddyCan

electrogrimey wrote: »

There's no problem with the PA, I've had it set up with decks & a mixer before and it has sounded beautiful (that time using a Pioneer mixer), I was just wondering is it standard practice to go straight from a mixer into an active PA. For some reason in my head it seems like it should be going through a mixing desk or something.

you should be ok! it might just have been the mixer but was it noticably ****ter?

if it is really troubling you, you could buy a sonic maximiser, not widely used but they are a cheap option for really cleaning up your sound, I know a couple of mobile heads that use them, I have often considered buying one myself!

unclebill98

electrogrimey wrote: »

There's no problem with the PA, I've had it set up with decks & a mixer before and it has sounded beautiful (that time using a Pioneer mixer), I was just wondering is it standard practice to go straight from a mixer into an active PA. For some reason in my head it seems like it should be going through a mixing desk or something.

Ah ok, yeah straight from mixer to your PA so.