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Master gains and channel gains. WHERE SHOULD THEY BE?
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Master gains and channel gains. WHERE SHOULD THEY BE?

Djaward 8:13 PM - 4 May, 2011
My problem is this.
I got brand new KW122. I was clipping both speakers (By clipping I mean the red light on the back of the speakers was blinking) and I dont know why or how. My gains were as follows

Master gain on Serato was at 12 o'clock
Gains for each level on my 57 were are 12 o'clock
Master gain on the 57 started off at 9 o'clock ended up at 1 o'clock when it started clipping (by clipping I meant the red light on the back of the speakers was blinking).

Do I have my settings wrong? Should the Master Gain on Serato be at 9 o'clock instead of 12? Or should my channel gains be lower or higher?? Do I need a separate unit to help me control this problem?

Please help.
deezlee 8:22 PM - 4 May, 2011
turn the speakers up (all the way if you have too) and the mixer down. the signal coming from the mixer is too hot for the speakers (if the red light really is an incoming signal clip indicator)
SELECT 8:41 PM - 4 May, 2011
Quote:
turn the speakers up (all the way if you have too) and the mixer down. the signal coming from the mixer is too hot for the speakers (if the red light really is an incoming signal clip indicator)


Exactly, you have to tone down your signal. Go into your setup screen and make sure the auto gain is set first. Assuming youve analyzed your files like your suppossed to then make sure your DB is at 91-92. Doest matter where your set your gain knobs, what matters is how strong you setup the signal. Does your mixer levels jump past +4? If you read the 57 manual it states your should run the levels at +4, nothing higher. If you choose to go higher in the DB setup like 93 or above, your gonna have to turn down your gain knobs. At 93 DB my gain knobs are around 11 oclock. At 91-92 I can leave em at 12 oclock.
Djaward 4:04 PM - 5 May, 2011
So my speakers are supposed to be turned up all the way??
DJWarrenKelly 4:22 PM - 5 May, 2011
Quote:
So my speakers are supposed to be turned up all the way??


Yea..I don't think I'd do that if I were you…But I agree with the mixer settings..this all depends on the bit rate of the tracks too…Lower quality tracks(256kbps and lower) need to be bumped up in volume compared to something at 320kbps in my experience. So I set my auto db at 94 I believe 93 is default…been so long I'm not sure…But even then I need to bump up certain tracks internally on SL so that the meters on the mixer equal the other tracks as much as possible. But thats me and my equipment.
SELECT 4:22 PM - 5 May, 2011
Quote:
So my speakers are supposed to be turned up all the way??


Nah dude, dont do that. I had the KW153s for a few weeks and they started to limit when my friend used his mixer. He was blasting his gains. Just keep the levels where they are suppossed to be and watch your levels on the mixer. Do not go above +4.
DJWarrenKelly 4:37 PM - 5 May, 2011
Quote:
Quote:
So my speakers are supposed to be turned up all the way??


Nah dude, dont do that. I had the KW153s for a few weeks and they started to limit when my friend used his mixer. He was blasting his gains. Just keep the levels where they are suppossed to be and watch your levels on the mixer. Do not go above +4.


+1
I use the Sixty-Eight and keep my Ch. gains at +4..and you see Yellow LED's at most…But in fairness I have heard of the Serato or Rane staff saying you can touch the Red(limit) as long as it just touches here and there…thats what they do with their gains.(Staff correct me if I'm wrong plz)
Djaward 5:20 PM - 5 May, 2011
Quote:
Quote:
turn the speakers up (all the way if you have too) and the mixer down. the signal coming from the mixer is too hot for the speakers (if the red light really is an incoming signal clip indicator)


Exactly, you have to tone down your signal. Go into your setup screen and make sure the auto gain is set first. Assuming youve analyzed your files like your suppossed to then make sure your DB is at 91-92. Doest matter where your set your gain knobs, what matters is how strong you setup the signal. Does your mixer levels jump past +4? If you read the 57 manual it states your should run the levels at +4, nothing higher. If you choose to go higher in the DB setup like 93 or above, your gonna have to turn down your gain knobs. At 93 DB my gain knobs are around 11 oclock. At 91-92 I can leave em at 12 oclock.


When you were asking about my levels at +4, I thought you were talking about my master gain on the mixer. Sorry. I let it go to +8 and never let it hit OL. I do have my DB set but I think its at 97. I will lower that tonight to 91-92. After I do this, do I need to re analyze my songs again?

So just to be clear this is what Im going to do. After I do this my sound should be good and not clipping right?

-Set DB to 91-92
-Turn up speaker and turn down Master on mixer
-Turn up all songs lower than 256kbps

What about the Master in serato?
What about the gains on the mixer?

Thank you guys. Really do appreciate the help.
SELECT 5:31 PM - 5 May, 2011
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
So my speakers are supposed to be turned up all the way??


Nah dude, dont do that. I had the KW153s for a few weeks and they started to limit when my friend used his mixer. He was blasting his gains. Just keep the levels where they are suppossed to be and watch your levels on the mixer. Do not go above +4.


+1
I use the Sixty-Eight and keep my Ch. gains at +4..and you see Yellow LED's at most…But in fairness I have heard of the Serato or Rane staff saying you can touch the Red(limit) as long as it just touches here and there…thats what they do with their gains.(Staff correct me if I'm wrong plz)


The problem isn't that, its the signal strength going into the amp/speaker system. Some sound systems can handle it, some cant, like the KWs.
DJWarrenKelly 5:35 PM - 5 May, 2011
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
So my speakers are supposed to be turned up all the way??


Nah dude, dont do that. I had the KW153s for a few weeks and they started to limit when my friend used his mixer. He was blasting his gains. Just keep the levels where they are suppossed to be and watch your levels on the mixer. Do not go above +4.


+1
I use the Sixty-Eight and keep my Ch. gains at +4..and you see Yellow LED's at most…But in fairness I have heard of the Serato or Rane staff saying you can touch the Red(limit) as long as it just touches here and there…thats what they do with their gains.(Staff correct me if I'm wrong plz)


The problem isn't that, its the signal strength going into the amp/speaker system. Some sound systems can handle it, some cant, like the KWs.


Maybe..but I don't run QSC..I run JBL and I also never ever peak on my Speakers..EVER! And my shit blows the doors off of any club in my neighborhood.
Djaward 5:36 PM - 5 May, 2011
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
So my speakers are supposed to be turned up all the way??


Nah dude, dont do that. I had the KW153s for a few weeks and they started to limit when my friend used his mixer. He was blasting his gains. Just keep the levels where they are suppossed to be and watch your levels on the mixer. Do not go above +4.


+1
I use the Sixty-Eight and keep my Ch. gains at +4..and you see Yellow LED's at most…But in fairness I have heard of the Serato or Rane staff saying you can touch the Red(limit) as long as it just touches here and there…thats what they do with their gains.(Staff correct me if I'm wrong plz)


The problem isn't that, its the signal strength going into the amp/speaker system. Some sound systems can handle it, some cant, like the KWs.

So you're saying QSCs cant hang? I just bought these dam speakers.
SELECT 5:43 PM - 5 May, 2011
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
turn the speakers up (all the way if you have too) and the mixer down. the signal coming from the mixer is too hot for the speakers (if the red light really is an incoming signal clip indicator)


Exactly, you have to tone down your signal. Go into your setup screen and make sure the auto gain is set first. Assuming youve analyzed your files like your suppossed to then make sure your DB is at 91-92. Doest matter where your set your gain knobs, what matters is how strong you setup the signal. Does your mixer levels jump past +4? If you read the 57 manual it states your should run the levels at +4, nothing higher. If you choose to go higher in the DB setup like 93 or above, your gonna have to turn down your gain knobs. At 93 DB my gain knobs are around 11 oclock. At 91-92 I can leave em at 12 oclock.


When you were asking about my levels at +4, I thought you were talking about my master gain on the mixer. Sorry. I let it go to +8 and never let it hit OL. I do have my DB set but I think its at 97. I will lower that tonight to 91-92. After I do this, do I need to re analyze my songs again?

So just to be clear this is what Im going to do. After I do this my sound should be good and not clipping right?

-Set DB to 91-92
-Turn up speaker and turn down Master on mixer
-Turn up all songs lower than 256kbps

What about the Master in serato?
What about the gains on the mixer?

Thank you guys. Really do appreciate the help.



Master level on the top of serato screen at 12 oclock. Dont worry about your master gain on your mixer, you have to focus on the gains on each channel, thats where your problem is. Do not turn up the level on the speaker either, leave it at whats recommended, usually 12 oclock. Again, make sure your auto gain is set and the DB at 91-92. This will allow you to leave the channel gain knobs at the top of the mixer at 12 oclock. Every track you play that is analyzed will now play at the same volume. You'll notice the on the mixer it will bounce to +4, thats it. Also 97 DBs is crazy! No wonder your speakers are clipping. Also +8 on the mixer levels is too much IMO. I know tons of dudes who play like though, but the amp/speakers can handle it.
SELECT 5:46 PM - 5 May, 2011
Qsc is fine. Any powered speaker will clip and shutoff the signal coming in is to strong.
Djaward 5:54 PM - 5 May, 2011
Quote:
Qsc is fine. Any powered speaker will clip and shutoff the signal coming in is to strong.

You SELECT thanks for the information. I will let you know how everything works out this weekend. Thanks again for all the help. And thanks to the other people who responded/.