Rane SEQ 30S (2003 version) User Manual download pdf (Page 6)

Manual-4

SEQ 30S Connection

Exactly where you install your SEQ 30S into a sound

system significantly affects such things as noise, system

headroom, compressor/limiter performance and other factors

influencing overall sound quality. Both what and why you are

equalizing determines where you install it.

WHAT AND WHY

Tone contouring is accomplished mainly by ear. This you

know how to do. Be careful not to introduce too much bass

boost. Be aware that the SEQ 30S is capable of boosting

signals up to 12 dB (4 times as large!)—a level at which great

care should be taken to prevent seismic disturbances. Optimal

gain setting is indicated by the +4 dBu indicator lighting

occasionally, while the OL indicator does not light.

The SEQ 30S can be used to align crossovers and flatten

speaker response. The best way to “see” what your sound

system is doing, is to use a realtime analyzer. A 1/3-octave

realtime analyzer is an accurate means for setting a 1/3-octave

equalizer properly.

WHERE

For tone contouring, the equalizer may be used at any

point in the signal chain, such as insert loops in a mixer to

equalize a single instrument, sweeten a tape recording, etc.

When an equalizer is used for acoustic correction, the

equalizer should be one of the last pieces of gear in front of

the amplifiers and active crossovers. Here are a few general

guidelines useful in deciding exactly where to install the SEQ

30S in the system.

Downstream of the Compressor

Since system EQ is aimed at controlling acoustic prob-

lems, install it after any compressor, which is designed to

operate on electrical signals. For one thing, the equalizer

slider settings will change in each room location, which in

turn affects the control voltage and threshold responses of the

compressor, rendering it inconsistent. Secondly, large

amounts of boost often cause tone differences by causing

some frequencies to limit or compress before others.

After any System Gain

The best configuration is: mixer, compressor/limiter,

equalizer, active crossover and power amplifier. Whenever

headroom allows, try to take all the gain at the mixer, and run

unity levels from then on. This also gives better noise

performance from the mixer. Connect the SEQ 30S before the

amplifier or crossover. Take any required line gain before the

SEQ 30S. Avoid boosting gain in the crossover or power

amps as this may increase noise. The SEQ 30S operates at

unity gain with the INPUT LEVEL control at the 0 dB center

detent when sliders average to center (0 dB). You can test this

with the EQ BYPASS switch—adjust the INPUT LEVEL

control so that volume does not change when switching

between Active and BYPASS. For more details, read the

RaneNote, “Setting Sound System Level Controls.”

Send/Receive Loops

Mixers, mixer/preamps and the like often provide send/

receive loops for additional effects or EQ, and the SEQ 30S

works well in this situation. Just be sure to keep input trim or

gain controls turned up as far as the mixer input headroom

will allow, to avoid taking excessive gain downstream and

creating noise problems.

Operating Instructions

The SEQ 30S is an accurate, professional quality instru-

ment capable of precise equalization down to a fraction of a

dB. You can expect several advantages from your constant-Q

equalizer over conventional designs: Moving one slider will

not affect neighboring filters as much, so you won’t spend

time re-adjusting sliders (we call this “equalizing the equal-

izer”). You’ll be able to obtain better feedback control

without losing sound quality. All sliders maintain smooth,

consistent and accurate calibrated control over filter levels,

which is especially critical in low-profile equalizer designs.

Because of this, the overall EQ adjustment process is signifi-

cantly easier and more effective.

Equalizing a sound system by ear is a very difficult

process to achieve successfully, especially in a timely

manner. Although the human ear is very sensitive, it is not

calibrated, nor consistent, and frankly the odds against a well

behaved, clear sound system are very great when tuned by

ear. Most people know when a sound system doesn’t sound

good, unfortunately they just can’t tell exactly why and where

it’s not right. Because of this, we strongly recommend the

use of a realtime analyzer to properly equalize your system

with the SEQ 30S.

A realtime analyzer helps you quickly achieve things

nearly impossible by ear: flatten speaker response, minimize

feedback, reduce room resonance and achieve accurate

crossover alignment. In most cases, simply “normalizing” or

“flattening” a sound system is a surprisingly drastic improve-

ment, but don’t stop there:

Remember this Rane proverb: “Look, don’t stop, and

listen.” Once you have aligned the system by looking at the

analyzer, don’t stop at this point. Listen to the music

program and make additional adjustments to suit your taste,

the type of music and your audience. Fatten the bass, sweeten

the highs, brighten the mids. Since you are starting from a

“tuned” system, your ear will not be fooled into thinking bass

is too high when actually mids are too low, or that highs are

too weak when really the mids are too strong.

Fact: analyzers don’t have good taste—people do.

Analyzers consistently and accurately “tell it like it is,” but

ultimately, personal judgment determines what sounds good

or appropriate. In fact, final optimum EQ settings, made after

analyzer testing, will vary greatly depending on the type of

music, sound pressure level, size of the venue and disposition

of the audience.

Conclusion: To consistently obtain the best sound from

your system, use an analyzer and then your ears, in that

order. The analyzer supplies the consistency and calibration

while your ears supply the good taste.

All features & specifications subject to change without notice. 105074

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Rane SEQ 30S (2003 version) User Manual Page 6

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