dbx DriveRack PA User manual

User Manual
CompleteEqualization&LoudspeakerControlSystem
Featuring
Custom Tunings
PA
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KEEP THESE INSTRUCTIONS
HEED ALL WARNINGS
FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS
THEAPPARATUSSHALLNOTBEEXPOSEDTODRIPPINGORSPLASHINGLIQUIDANDNOOBJECT
FILLED WITH LIQUID, SUCH AS VASES, SHALL BE PLACED ON THE APPARATUS.
CLEAN ONLY WITH A DRY CLOTH.
DO NOT BLOCK ANY OF THE VENTILATION OPENINGS. INSTALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS.
DO NOT INSTALL NEAR ANY HEAT SOURCES SUCH AS RADIATORS, HEAT REGISTERS, STOVES,
OR OTHER APPARATUS (INCLUDING AMPLIFIERS) THAT PRODUCE HEAT.
ONLY USE ATTACHMENTS/ACCESSORIES SPECIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
UNPLUG THIS APPARATUS DURING LIGHTNING STORMS OR WHEN UNUSED FOR LONG PERI-
ODS OF TIME.
Donot defeatthe safetypurpose ofthe polarizedor grounding-typeplug. A polarizedplug
has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and
a third grounding prong. The wide blade or third prong are provided for your safety. If
the provided plug does not fit your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the
obsolete outlet.
Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, conve-
nience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
Useonlywiththecartstand,tripodbracket,ortablespecifiedbythemanufacture,orsold
with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus
combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
Referallservicingtotoqualifiedservicepersonnel. Servicingisrequiredwhentheappa-
ratus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liq-
uid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been
exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
POWERON/OFFSWITCH:ThePowerswitchusedinthispieceofequipmentDOESNOTbreak
the connection from the mains.
MAINSDISCONNECT: Theplugshall remainreadily operable. Forrack-mountor installa-
tionwhere plugisnotaccessible,an all-polemains switchwith acontactseparationofat
least3 mmineachpoleshall beincorporated intothe electricalinstallationoftherack or
building.
FORUNITS EQUIPPED WITHEXTERNALLYACCESSIBLEFUSERECEPTACLE: Replacefuse with
same type and rating only.
MULTIPLE-INPUT VOLTAGE: This equipment may require the use of a different line cord,
attachmentplug,orboth,depending ontheavailablepowersource atinstallation.Connect
thisequipment onlytothepowersource indicatedon theequipment rearpanel.To reduce
therisk offire orelectric shock,refer servicingtoqualifiedservicepersonnelorequiv-
alent.
This Equipment is intended for rack mount use only.
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NOTICE FOR CUSTOMERS IF YOUR UNIT IS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER CORD.
WARNING:THISAPPLIANCEMUSTBE EARTHED.
The cores in the mains lead are coloured in accordance with the following code:
GREEN and YELLOW - Earth BLUE - Neutral BROWN - Live
Ascoloursofthe coresinthemains leadofthisappliance maynotcorrespondwiththe colouredmarkings
identifying the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows:
•The core which is coloured green and yellow must be connected to the terminal in the plug
marked with the letter E, or with the earth symbol, or coloured green, or green and yellow.
•Thecorewhichiscolouredbluemustbe connected to the terminal marked Norcolouredblack.
•Thecorewhichiscoloured brown must beconnectedtotheterminalmarked L or colouredred.
This equipment may require the use of a different line cord, attachment plug, or both, depending on the
availablepowersource atinstallation. Iftheattachmentplugneedsto bechanged,referservicingtoqual-
ified service personnel who should refer to the table below. The green/yellow wire shall be connected
directly to the units chassis.
WARNING: If the ground is defeated, certain fault conditions in the unit or in the system to which it is con-
nected can result in full line voltage between chassis and earth ground. Severe injury or death can then
result if the chassis and earth ground are touched simultaneously.
LIVE
ENEUTRAL EARTH GND
CONDUCTOR
L
NBROWN BLUE
GREEN/YEL
BLACK
Normal Alt
WIRE COLOR
WHITE
GREEN
Thesymbols shown aboveare internationally acceptedsymbols that warn ofpotential hazards with
electrical products. The lightning flash with arrowpoint in an equilateral triangle means that there
aredangerousvoltagespresentwithintheunit. Theexclamationpointinanequilateraltriangleindi-
cates that it is necessary for the user to refer to the owner’s manual.
These symbols warn that there are no user serviceable parts inside the unit. Do not open the unit.
Do not attempt to service the unit yourself. Refer all servicing to qualified personnel. Opening the
chassis for any reason will void the manufacturer’s warranty. Do not get the unit wet. If liquid is
spilledontheunit,shutitoffimmediatelyandtake itto adealerforservice. Disconnecttheunitdur-
ing storms to prevent damage.
CAUTION
ATTENTION: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE - NE PAS OUVRIR
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC
SHOCK DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

U.K. MAINS PLUG WARNING
A molded mains plug that has been cut off from the cord is unsafe. Discard the
mains plug at a suitable disposal facility. N
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Do not use the mains plug without the fuse cover in place.
Replacement fuse covers can be obtained from your local retailer. Replacement
fuses are 13 amps and MUST be ASTA approved to BS1362.
LITHIUM BATTERY
WARNING
CAUTION!
This product may contain a lithium battery.There is danger of
explosion if the battery is incorrectly replaced.Replace only
with an Eveready CR 2032 or equivalent. Make sure the bat-
tery is installed with the correct polarity.Discard used batter-
ies according to manufacturer’s instructions.
ADVARSEL!
Lithiumbatteri - Eksplosjonsfare.Ved utskifting benyttes kun
batteri som anbefalt av apparatfabrikanten. Brukt batteri
returneres apparatleverandøren.
ADVARSEL!
Lithiumbatteri - Eksplosionsfare ved fejlagtig håndtering.
Udskiftning må kun ske med batteri av samme fabrikat og
type. Levér det brugte batteri tilbage til leverandøren.
VAROITUS!
Paristo voi räjähtää,jos se on virheellisesti asennettu.Vaihda
paristo ainoastaan laitevalmistajan suosittelemaan tyyppin.
Hävitä käytetty paristo valmistajan ohjeiden mukaisesti.
VARNING!
Explosionsfara vid felaktigt batteribyte.Använd samma batteri-
typ eller en ekvivalent typ som rekommenderas av apparattil-
lverkaren. Kassera använt batteri enligt fabrikantens instruk-
tion.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC
COMPATIBILITY
This unit conforms to the Product
Specifications noted on the D
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. Operation is subject to the fol-
lowing two conditions:
• this device may not cause harmful inter-
ference, and
• this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Operation of this unit within significant elec-
tromagnetic fields should be avoided.
• use only shielded interconnecting cables.
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Manufacturer’s Name: dbx Professional Products
Manufacturer’s Address: 8760 S. Sandy Parkway
Sandy, Utah 84070, USA
declares that the product:
Product name: dbx DriveRack PA
Note: Product name may be suffixed by the EU.
Product option: None
conforms to the following Product Specifications:
Safety: IEC 60065 (1998)
EMC: EN 55013 (1990)
EN 55020 (1991)
Supplementary Information:
The product herewith complies with the requirements of the
Low Voltage Directive 72/23/EEC and the EMC Directive
89/336/EEC as amended by Directive 93/68/EEC.
Vice-President of Engineering
8760 S. Sandy Parkway
Sandy, Utah 84070, USA
Date: April 19,2002
European Contact: Your local dbx Sales and Service Office or
Harman Music Group
8760 South Sandy Parkway
Sandy, Utah 84070 USA
Ph: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Table of Contents
DriveRack
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PA
Introduction
0.1 Defining the DriveRack®PA .........................ii
0.2 Service Contact Info........................................iii
0.3 Warranty...........................................................iv
Section 1 - Getting Started
1.1 Rear Panel ......................................................2
1.2 Front Panel .....................................................2
1.3 Quick Start .....................................................3
Section 2 - Editing Functions
2.1 Basic Navigation Modes.................................12
2.2 Button Array Overview..................................12
2.3 Navigating the EQ Section (GEQ/PEQ)........14
2.4 Navigating the Subharmonic Synthesizer Section....14
2.5 Navigating the Crossover Section..................14
2.6 Navigating the Feedback Suppression Section ..15
2.7 Navigating the Comp/Limiter Section...........15
2.8 Navigating the Speaker Alignment Delay
Section..................................................................15
2.9 Navigating the Utility Section........................16
2.10 Navigating the Wizard Section ....................16
Section 3 - Operating the
DriveRack PA
3.1 Program Definition.........................................18
3.2 Navigating Factory Programs.........................18
3.3 Editing Factory Programs...............................18
Section 4 - Detailed Parameters
4.1 Pre-Crossover Graphic EQ.............................22
4.2 Advanced Feedback Suppressor ...................22
4.3 Subharmonic Synthesizer...............................23
4.4 Crossover ........................................................24
4.5 Post-Crossover Parametric EQ.......................25
4.6 Compressor/Limiter........................................25
4.7 Speaker Alignment Delay .............................27
Section 5 - Application Guide
5.1 2X6 Crossover.................................................30
5.2 2X5 Crossover.................................................31
5.3 2X4 Crossover.................................................32
5.4 2X3 Crossover.................................................33
Appendix
A.1 Factory Reset .................................................36
A.2 Quick Key Options........................................36
A.3 Specifications..................................................37
A.4 Auto EQ Optimization Tips ..........................37
A.5 Crossover Diagrams.......................................38
A.6 Block Diagram ...............................................39
A.7 Prog List/Speaker Tunings/Amp Tunings ....40
A.8 System Setup and Gain Structure .................41
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DriveRack® User Manual
Table of Contents

INTRO
CUSTOMERSERVICEINFO
DefiningtheDriveRack
WARRANTYINFO
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INTRODUCTION
DriveRack
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PA

Introduction
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DriveRack®PA User Manual
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DriveRack
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PA
Drive your PA to a whole new level of performance with the DriveRack®PA Complete
Equalization & Loudspeaker Control System. The DriveRack PA from dbx Professional Products
represents a complete integration of the key elements that help ensure optimal loudspeaker sys-
tem management in PA-specific applications. Capitalizing on the legendary 480 DriveRack tech-
nology, the DriveRack PA is able to provide its user with top-tier, pro-level loudspeaker man-
agement specifications, yet still remain appealing to the budget-conscious audiophile who
requires a tried and true utilitarian workhorse. With its all-inclusive, no-compromise design, the
DriveRack PA has been systematically developed and designed to grow with your system needs
for years to come.
The dbx DriveRack®PA is the most effective way to manage all aspects of Loudspeaker man-
agement for Public Address system applications. The DriveRack PA essentially becomes the only
device that you will need between the mixer and the power amps. The following are just some
of the features of the DriveRack®PA.
DriveRack®PA features:
• Stereo Feedback Elimination with 12 feedback notch filters
• Dual 28-band Graphic EQ
• Classic dbx®Compressor
• 120A Sub-harmonic Synthesizer
• 2x3, 2x4, 2x5, 2x6 Crossover Configurations
• Stereo Multi-band Parametric EQ
• Stereo Output Limiters
• Alignment Delay
• Pink Noise Generator
• Auto-EQ with 28-Band RTA
• JBL®Speaker and Crown®Power AmpTunings with SetupWizard
• 25 User Programs / 25 Factory Programs
• 2 Channel XLR Input and 6 Channel XLR Output
• Front panel RTA-M XLR input with phantom power
• 24-Bit ADC/24-Bit DAC, >110 dB Dynamic Range
• TypeIV®Conversion System
• Full Graphic LCD Display
0.1 Defining the DriveRack®PA
INTRODUCTION

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Introduction
DriveRack
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PA
DriveRack®PA User Manual
By including every form of processing necessary to drive the signal from the mixer to the power
amp, the DriveRack®PA allows you to eliminate all other processing devices normally found in
large and cumbersome traditional drive rack systems of the past.
The DriveRack®PA Loud Speaker Management System includes two balanced XLR inputs, as
well as six balanced XLR output connectors.
If you require technical support, contact dbx Customer Service. Be prepared to accurately
describe the problem. Know the serial number of your unit - this is printed on a sticker attached
to the top panel. If you have not already taken the time to fill out your warranty registration
card and send it in, please do so now.
Before you return a product to the factory for service, we recommend you refer to the manu-
al. Make sure you have correctly followed installation steps and operation procedures. If you
are still unable to solve a problem, contact our Customer Service Department at [phone]
for consultation. If you need to return a product to the factory for service, you MUST contact
Customer Service to obtain a Return Authorization Number.
No returned products will be accepted at the factory without a Return Authorization Number.
Please refer to the Warranty information on the following page, which extends to the first end-
user. After expiration of the warranty, a reasonable charge will be made for parts, labor, and
packing if you choose to use the factory service facility. In all cases, you are responsible for
transportation charges to the factory. dbx will pay return shipping if the unit is still under war-
ranty.
Use the original packing material if it is available. Mark the package with the name of the ship-
per and with these words in red: DELICATE INSTRUMENT, FRAGILE! Insure the package prop-
erly. Ship prepaid, not collect. Do not ship parcel post.
0.2 Service Contact Info
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Introduction
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DriveRack®PA User Manual
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DriveRack
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PA
This warranty is valid only for the original purchaser and only in the United States.
1. The warranty registration card that accompanies this product must be mailed within 30 days
after purchase date to validate this warranty. Proof-of-purchase is considered to be the bur-
den of the consumer.
2. dbx warrants this product, when bought and used solely within the U.S., to be free from
defects in materials and workmanship under normal use and service.
3. dbx liability under this warranty is limited to repairing or, at our discretion, replacing defec-
tive materials that show evidence of defect, provided the product is returned to dbx WITH
RETURN AUTHORIZATION from the factory, where all parts and labor will be covered up to
a period of two years. A Return Authorization number must be obtained from dbx by tele-
phone. The company shall not be liable for any consequential damage as a result of the prod-
uct's use in any circuit or assembly.
4. dbx reserves the right to make changes in design or make additions to or improvements upon
this product without incurring any obligation to install the same additions or improvements
on products previously manufactured.
5. The foregoing is in lieu of all other warranties, expressed or implied, and dbx neither assumes
nor authorizes any person to assume on its behalf any obligation or liability in connection
with the sale of this product. In no event shall dbx or its dealers be liable for special or con-
sequential damages or from any delay in the performance of this warranty due to causes
beyond their control.
0.3Warranty

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Getting Started
Section 1
DriveRack
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Getting Started
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DriveRack®PA User Manual
2
Section 1 DriveRack
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PA
IEC Power Cord Receptacle
The DriveRack®PA comes with a power supply that will accept voltages ranging from 100V-
120V at frequencies from 50Hz-60Hz. An IEC cord is included. EU version accepts 220V-240V
at frequencies from 50Hz-60Hz.
Outputs 1-6
The output section of the DriveRack®PA offers six electronically balanced XLR connectors.
Inputs 1-2
The input section of the DriveRack®PA offers two electronically balanced XLR connectors.
+4/-10dBv Switch
This switch changes the level from either +4 or -10dBv.
Ground Lift Switch
The ground lift switch lifts the pin 1 chassis ground of both input XLR connectors.
RTA Input Jack
This balanced XLR input is used for the connection of an RTA microphone, which allows the
user to “Pink” and optimize the EQ settings of any room through the use of the Auto EQ in the
Wizard setup assistant.
RTA MIC Input Selector
Pressing the RTA MIC input button will engage the front panel RTA input XLR connector.
DataWheel
The Data wheel of the DriveRack®PA is used to scroll through the program menu, load pro-
grams, select parameters and edit parameter values.
CROSSOVER/ALIGNMENT DELAY/GRAPHIC EQ/PARAMETRIC EQ/AUTO/EQ
1.2 Front Panel
Left/MonoLeft/Mono
1.1 Rear Panel Connections