Karaoke Forums

I've been using the CFX12 MkII, for two years now and I decided to add a Sub woofer. I'm using a Yorkville LS608 and powered by Yamaha P4500. It doesn't seem like I'm getting a lot of signal output from the main sub out. I was thinking of getting one of those active crossover processor like the Rane AC22 so I could get a better signal for my subwoofer. What do you guys recommend? Thank you for your time.

I see the Mackie crosses @75Hz with an 18db slope, I'm not to sure that would be appropriate for the Yorkville sub. I don't have that model sub so I can't be sure. I would think that 90Hz with a 24 db slope might be a better point. Are you running your Yamaha P4500 bridged? Whats your configuration now? By the way the Rane AC22 is a little dated but is nice cross over, I'm pretty sure it uses Linkwitz-Riley Alignment with 24 dB per Octave Slope. Your not running your music into a regular channel and have the 100hz cut switch engaged by accident do you? Had to ask

_________________
Quickness of mind will deceive the eye

I tried to hook it up in one channel 8 ohms full power, also tried to hook it up bridged, no big difference. My music is connected in channel 11/12 and it doesn't have a low cut switch which is only available in the first 8 channels.

I presume your using the sub output on the Mackie ?

If so then the sub signal level is related to the main fader settings. You could try upping these and reduce your mains speaker volume/amplification to compensate for the increase in output from the mixer.

How is the PFL set for the music channels ? It should be peaking around 0dB.

My 2 cents. (A former CFX12 and active sub owner)

_________________
Gadget's Karaoke : Boldly singing what no one has dared sing before.

Yes, I am using the sub output on the mackie. My music tracks peaks at around 10 just bellow yellow. I'm going to try what you suggested as soon as everybody wakes up. Thank you G-man!

Yes, as gunghouk mentioned you should be running as close to zero (unity) as possible on your outputs. I still find it odd that you had no noticeable difference between the 460 watts in stereo mode to the 1240 watts in bridged mode. I also find it troubling that Mackie gives you a sub out, but only allows for a fixed 75Hz point with no separate volume control. I'm not sure what your upper cabinets and power consist of, but it sounds like using an external crossover would give you much more control than you have now. Different subs and different rooms require different crossover points, with the subs I use now I run anywhere between 80hz to 95 hz. In the past, using different subs, I've had to run as high as 120hz to get a nice punchy, "am I having a heart attack" kind of thump.

_________________
Quickness of mind will deceive the eye

Thank you LondonLive, I really wanted that window rattling punch and that's why I'm leaning to an external cross-over. Right now my SRM 450s have decent bass but I want more thump....Any recommendations?

Once you get the sub working properly, you won't need anything else & will have the thump you are looking for.

I have used both the sub out on the Mackie & an external crossover. Even if the crossover point is wrong for the sub & room, you should still be able to hear the sub pumping pretty good - especially if the amp was bridged properly. How did you bridge your amp?
If you need a good simple crossover, look into the dbx 223XL
http://www.zzounds.com/item--DBX223XL

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Lonman I bridged the amp by following the instructions in the p4500 manual. But if you say I don't need anything else if I can tweak the mixer right then I would do just that. Gunghouk already mentioned that the sub output level is related to the main output and also London live said that My main output level should be near or at unity. I now have a very good idea of how to get ir done> Thank you so much for all your replies guys...Gunghouk,LondonLive, and Lonman. I'll let you know in a few hours.

I would get the channel eq's closer to unity. The main - no. This is your volume control, you don't want it at unity then having to adjust each channel individually, this defeats the purpose of a main fader that controls all channels once set.
Did you try a different cable from the main sub out to the amp? You are definitely using the XLR sub out and confusing the 4 sub 1/4" outputs? May be a stupid question, but had someone make that confusion a while back. Is the speaker cord from amp to the sub good? That amp, especially in bridge mode, should make that sub pound at least will let you know it is there!

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Lonman, I went out to buy a ten foot speakon cable and discarded that cable that I fabricated. It was a little long (25 feet) I did what you suggested Lonman. Now I have that thump I wanted. In stereo mode, I'm hooked up to one channel and I'm thumpin. When In bridge mode, I'm shaking the second floor of my house. Is it the Yamaha power or the Yorkville Elite. Another thing I can report is my power amp has clip light and not a flicker,,,,not a single blink. Thanks to y'all.

That's what I meant when I said "it seemed odd that your weren't noticing any difference". I was implying that you apparently had something amiss in your signal chain. Obviously your Yamaha P4500 running a Yorkville LS608 should have been able to get your attention. I'm assuming it turned out to just be a cable? Now if you could just adjust the crossover point you could really realize the potential of your gear. Sometimes just shaking things isn't enough, sometimes you have to make it hard to breath, Unless your just doing Karaoke and no DJ work, then it would be ok. In any case it looks like you are at least capable of annoying your neighbors now. Glad you solved your problem. Peace/Out

_________________
Quickness of mind will deceive the eye

Thank you for your help LondonLive. I don't do DJ work, but I'm a serious Karaoke singer. I also submit songs in Singersshowcase every now and then under the same name.

Glad your sorted

I would check out the gain structure in the mixer however to ensure you have the best signal to noise ratio available from the mixer.

Set all EQs flat and set the input trims on all the channels in use for 0dB peaking on the PFL (as recommended in the CFX12 manual).

When I did this I set my subgroup and master faders at unity (0) and adjusted my powered speakers for my usual working volume. This was just a useful starting point for my adjustments.

Coincidentaly the best sound I achieved afterwards was with the mic channel faders at or around unity and the music channel fader between -6 and -10 dB.

Master volume is easily controlled with an additional 15 dB of gain on the master fader and another 15dB on the subgroup faders.

The unity setting on subgroups and master fader seem to me to be a convenient start point at the beginning of the night.

Once set I never touched these 'master' faders and all the mixing was then accomplished on the mic/music channels.

My 2 cents

_________________
Gadget's Karaoke : Boldly singing what no one has dared sing before.

Thank you so much Gman. Your two cents is worth a lot to me.