Sound systems at DuShor & Chevy Chase

[jakespatz]

Hola DJs,

Last Saturday (16 May 2009) I fixed the sound system at DuShor, and it was sounding much better than it has in the recent past. This seems like a good time to share some of my notes about using that system as well as the one at Chevy Chase (which is usually very nice anyway). I hope you find this informative!

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:: DuShor ::

1. Mixer
The mixer (the green thing) should have its Bass and Treble controls at 0dB = "noon". This fills out the sound nicely. Previously, they were set at -12dB, which weakened the sound a lot and required the input levels to be too high.

2. Volume controls
If you want more volume, turn up the amplifier-- it's the piece with 6 dials that stands on its side. Each dial controls a set of speakers on the ceiling. The #1 dial is the one closest to where the DJ sits.
This #1 speaker has some problems, so I wouldn't run it as high as the others. If you hear some noise (even when there's no music playing), turn it off completely.
Each pair of speakers (1/2, 5/6, 3/4) has its own subwoofer, so if the mixer is set up properly, you should have decent output even with dial #1 turned off.

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:: Chevy Chase Ballroom ::

1. Hi-cut and Low-cut
In case you want to adjust the hi-cut and low-cut dials on the amplifier (I do this), be aware that you can trip the system's built-in circuit breaker. I did this last time I played at CCB, and lost output from the top speakers on both sides of the room. Towards the end of the night the sound returned, because I had adjusted the dials again.
I don't recall the exact settings, but I remember that the low-cut was at "9 o'clock" (30Hz?) and the hi-cut at "3 o'clock" (20kHz?)-- this was too extreme. I'd say that 10 o'clock (low) and 2 o'clock (hi) are safer.
If you don't use these controls, you can probably ignore this.

2. Speaker angles
For some reason, the speakers are always set up straight with the corners of the room when I arrive at CCB. I prefer to angle them in towards the dance floor, so that the speaker "paths" intersect.
Note that each speaker stack has an upper AND a lower speaker.

3. Mixer
The mixer at CCB is wired very oddly. If someone is using the room behind the partition, you'll need to set the balance all the way to LEFT, since the other room gets the R signal from the mixer.

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I'll be posting some additional information soon, regarding audio equipment generally. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to post them here or to write me at spatz@tangoDC.com.

Saludos,

Jake