Thanx for takin the time putting this up. I am looking at buying some subs, but the logistics of getting them there is the challenge, too big and heavy to throw in the pickup bed. Hoisting up those speakers on a pole, yikes. I run just two K12's and had no complaints, I fill with 2 Yamaha DXR8s. Do you really need that many subs? lol.
No problem, glad found my video useful! I love the look and ease of dual 18” subs like the RCF 8008, but the QSCs offer better transport and layout options. Maybe if I get van I'll swap over. I use so many subs because, to me, the low-end really fills out the sound. Running more subs at lower levels improves the overall feel and can make a weaker system sound larger. Sub placement really helps with this. The poles were a bit scary! The Ultimate stands are rated for 150 lbs, and my setup was 120 lbs so they were safe, but I added sandbags later for stability. :)
For anyone wondering.... on the CDL12p / 10p, "Clip"is input clipping aka your sound board is sending too hot, "Limit" means the CDL's amp is saturated, the output voltage is approaching the amp's supply rail voltage. We can take a lesson from the QSC Touchmix user manual here. I know there is this rule of thumb in the sound community that powered speakers should be set to "zero", but unfortunately "zero" is not a standard across brands, or even different models from the same brand. Deep in the QSC Touchmix manual (or in the built in help pages of the mixer), they tell you to set QSC KW series speakers to FIVE clicks past ZERO. More or less +5 if it was a DSP with a digital display. KWs are a bit "cold" on their inputs, so rather than clipping your board trying to drive them, you crank up the KWs. CDL's are exactly the same... a bit cold on their inputs, so crank 'em up past zero. No harm done, as long as you don't see the CDL's LIMIT light coming on. CDLs ask 8x or 6x 2" cone drivers to handle from 20kHz down to 420Hz. That's a lot of work for a driver of that size. By comparison, the horn loaded compression drivers in most point source top boxes cross over around 2.5kHz, which means you can a lot more dB SPL out of them since their titanium or Mylar diaphragms barely have to move at all to scream at those frequencies. I stick with my QSC's for hard rock & metal. For everything else, there's CDL...!!!
Nice Setup! It was cool to see ya put that all together! When you're cleaning up the cables after everything is setup, do you use cable crossover covers at all? When you mention cleaning up the cables, it made me think of how we use them on set. They can come in handy to prevent tripping if cables are in heavy foot traffic areas or if cables are in the path of carts or gear with wheels. Anyway, this was a great video! :)
Normally, I would use cable covers! They told me they'd supply power to the stage, so I saved some space in the trailer. I did my best to keep the cables behind the fence where people couldn't walk. Lesson learned for next time!
No, the CDLs sound great, but they’re seriously underpowered. If you push them too much, they’ll literally cut out for a few seconds. The only reason I got away with using just four was because I had the K12s as center fills. Don’t get me wrong-they sound awesome, but you just can’t push them too hard. I don't know if it is the limits of the speaker or the limits they place in the amps.
I was on stage preforming, but I didn't notice any clipping lights. The sound guy also didn't hear any issues. I ran them at +2 on the bottom and +3 on the top, with my main LR at -8. By doing so, I let the amps on the speakers boost the signal instead of feeding them too hot. In the past, I've seen the light blink on and then off right away rarely, but it didn't affect the sound at all.
Thanx for takin the time putting this up. I am looking at buying some subs, but the logistics of getting them there is the challenge, too big and heavy to throw in the pickup bed. Hoisting up those speakers on a pole, yikes. I run just two K12's and had no complaints, I fill with 2 Yamaha DXR8s. Do you really need that many subs? lol.
No problem, glad found my video useful! I love the look and ease of dual 18” subs like the RCF 8008, but the QSCs offer better transport and layout options. Maybe if I get van I'll swap over.
I use so many subs because, to me, the low-end really fills out the sound. Running more subs at lower levels improves the overall feel and can make a weaker system sound larger. Sub placement really helps with this.
The poles were a bit scary! The Ultimate stands are rated for 150 lbs, and my setup was 120 lbs so they were safe, but I added sandbags later for stability. :)
For anyone wondering.... on the CDL12p / 10p, "Clip"is input clipping aka your sound board is sending too hot, "Limit" means the CDL's amp is saturated, the output voltage is approaching the amp's supply rail voltage. We can take a lesson from the QSC Touchmix user manual here. I know there is this rule of thumb in the sound community that powered speakers should be set to "zero", but unfortunately "zero" is not a standard across brands, or even different models from the same brand. Deep in the QSC Touchmix manual (or in the built in help pages of the mixer), they tell you to set QSC KW series speakers to FIVE clicks past ZERO. More or less +5 if it was a DSP with a digital display. KWs are a bit "cold" on their inputs, so rather than clipping your board trying to drive them, you crank up the KWs. CDL's are exactly the same... a bit cold on their inputs, so crank 'em up past zero. No harm done, as long as you don't see the CDL's LIMIT light coming on.
CDLs ask 8x or 6x 2" cone drivers to handle from 20kHz down to 420Hz. That's a lot of work for a driver of that size. By comparison, the horn loaded compression drivers in most point source top boxes cross over around 2.5kHz, which means you can a lot more dB SPL out of them since their titanium or Mylar diaphragms barely have to move at all to scream at those frequencies. I stick with my QSC's for hard rock & metal. For everything else, there's CDL...!!!
Nice Job Dustin!
Thanks, man! I appreciate it.
Nice Setup! It was cool to see ya put that all together! When you're cleaning up the cables after everything is setup, do you use cable crossover covers at all? When you mention cleaning up the cables, it made me think of how we use them on set. They can come in handy to prevent tripping if cables are in heavy foot traffic areas or if cables are in the path of carts or gear with wheels. Anyway, this was a great video! :)
Normally, I would use cable covers! They told me they'd supply power to the stage, so I saved some space in the trailer. I did my best to keep the cables behind the fence where people couldn't walk.
Lesson learned for next time!
What size ipad do you use ?
I used 12.5", but they get heavy. Most of the time I use the base model 10" now.
Do you think one CDL12 on each side would have also been fine for this show?
No, the CDLs sound great, but they’re seriously underpowered. If you push them too much, they’ll literally cut out for a few seconds. The only reason I got away with using just four was because I had the K12s as center fills.
Don’t get me wrong-they sound awesome, but you just can’t push them too hard. I don't know if it is the limits of the speaker or the limits they place in the amps.
Ant problem with clipping???
I was on stage preforming, but I didn't notice any clipping lights. The sound guy also didn't hear any issues. I ran them at +2 on the bottom and +3 on the top, with my main LR at -8. By doing so, I let the amps on the speakers boost the signal instead of feeding them too hot. In the past, I've seen the light blink on and then off right away rarely, but it didn't affect the sound at all.
I've given up trying to get returns on my investments. I just buy what I need to get the job done.