Tuning your room, tried a DBX driverack?

[FOURTHTUNZ]

The dbx driverack seems like it would be a pretty cool device to own but so far mixed reviews, whadya think?
I would like to tune my mix room, so what do you recommend?
is the driverack usable or better to invest in a real rta or software for best results? I admit that the driverack could come in handy at gigs with my crapband but first and formost I would like to see how badly my room scopes out...advice?
Thanks
daniel

[Jay Kahrs]

I've been in a few clubs with the $500 Driverack installed. IMNSHO they fukkin' suck. The user interface isn't the easiest thing to scope out, they aren't all that flexible when it comes to crossover points and the like. Forget about trying to adjust the graphic EQ on the fly...it's just not gonna happen unless the thing is at eye level and you have it setup to that page. Also, the overall sound of it sucks. In comparion, one of the rooms yanked out an Ashley EQ, one of the better dbx crossovers and a 1066 for the Driverack. Sad to say but the room sounded better before the swap, plus it was easier to tweak on the fly.

The Driverack studio just looks like a really easy way to screw things up. Who needs a subharmonic synth on their monitor rig?!?!

[Ethan Winer]

Daniel,

> I would like to tune my mix room, so what do you recommend? <

The correct way to solve room acoustic problems is acoustically with treatment, rather than electronically. EQ and DSP devices can sometimes help a little, and they're not inappropriate in a live venue. But for a control room, gadgets like the DriveRack can't do what's needed. For example, muddy bass is often caused by a too-long reverb time at low frequencies. A DriveRack or EQ can't help that at all.

--Ethan

[FOURTHTUNZ]

Originally posted by Ethan Winer
Daniel,

> I would like to tune my mix room, so what do you recommend? <

The correct way to solve room acoustic problems is acoustically with treatment, rather than electronically. EQ and DSP devices can sometimes help a little, and they're not inappropriate in a live venue. But for a control room, gadgets like the DriveRack can't do what's needed. For example, muddy bass is often caused by a too-long reverb time at low frequencies. A DriveRack or EQ can't help that at all.

--Ethan

I totally agree! I have quite a bit of treatment in my rooms, but would like to get some kind of rta to help figure out where to go next. If not the driverack then whatever works better.
I'll probably be using some of your stuff in the future! Thanks
daniel

[carltatz]

Carl Tatz Design uses high quality digital processing such as the dbx DriveRack 4850, xta and others to implement its highly praised PhantomFocus System speaker tuning protocol. Of course a high-resolution analysis program is necessary to tune a system. It is a sad myth that speakers can be tuned in a room by using only acoustic treatments such as bass traps and panels. Although they are vital, they will only get you part of the way there and can often be destructive without proper data. You can visit Carl Tatz Design: Accoustic Design, Analysis and Implementation and click on PhantomFocus System to learn more. Best of luck.