Idea TEOd9 - System Setup and Gain Structure

User Manual- 10 -
2.2. SYSTEM SETUP AND GAIN STRUCTURE
This product offers a wide range of tools for sound system design and setup. These tools can make your system more ecient and
better sounding, but to get the best possible sound it is important to use these tools properly. The following section explains how to
maximize system gain and how to use the limiters to protect your ampliers from clipping. In traditional system design, the output
of your console would be routed to a system EQ, a compressor, and a crossover with output level control. From the crossover, there
may be additional lters that are employed to improve the response of your speakers.
There may also be limiters set up to keep your ampliers from going into clipping and protect your speakers from the hazards of a
clipped signal. Your ampliers play a vital role in system setup, because they are last device in the chain before your speakers and
offer the greatest amount of gain. If your limiters and ampliers are incorrectly setup you will not be using your system to its fullest
potential and could result in damage to your speakers.
To ensure an optimal gain structure:
• Play a signal at the nominal level from your mixing desk, and set the input gain of your processor to 0.
• Set the crossovers that you want to use, while keeping the output gains also at 0.
• With DISCONNECTED loudspeakers, turn up the volume of the power ampliers entirely clockwise (full volume).
• Now reduce the output gain and / or the output limiter setting to get the desired gain, so that the amplier is just clipping and
the built-in limiters of your processor are just limiting. If the amplier does not have a built-in clip limiter, set your processor’s
limiter so that the amplier does not clip.
• Now turn down the volume of the power ampliers, connect your speakers, and slowly increase the volume while checking the
sound.
• If there are no other issues, there should be distortion-free sound, and the limiter LEDs are ashing or off, but not continuously
on. If they are continuously on, reduce the output gain of your processor.
• If you can reach enough signal level, increase the processor’s input gain or turn up the level from your mixing desk.