ProAudioSpace
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Power Amps with internal DSP and Monitoring VS. External DSP Processors and Controllers
Something I kept hearing during system setup and sound check when I stopped in on a tour to meet up with a crew was, "I suppose I could do that inside the amps" or " That really could have been done with the External DSP Processor on the overall system".... So my questions are, do you prefer to use one set of system processing over another or do you have certain instances when you use internal equipment processing over external system processing such as a Lake or Ashly.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Peter Richter on -
One thing I find easier about using a seperate processor is that you can quickly change amps out as required.
One thing I'm going to give a go though is settting up the speaker processing in the desk (in my case a digico). That would mean one less time I go AD - D/A in the chain.
Normally having the processor at the deak means more patching at the stage end, but with a digital snake, you can leave it patched in the amp rack.
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Permalink Reply by Robert Gorecki on -
DSP amps are great for install setups. allows for precise monitoring of the system for dialing in the room. In a live setting I still prefer outboard gear such as an XTA. For me it is just simply faster. And when your on a live gig problems have to be solved quickly. The new DSP amps have better software now, which will help make things a bit quicker. Eventually I think the industry will switch over to all internal DSP.
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Permalink Reply by Slade on
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I use both whenever possible....... especially in installs or small rentals when you have to "dummy-proof" things. I realize that's (usually) more a/d-d/a conversion, but preventing distortion and blown drivers is worth a few ms of latency.
On systems that we are driving, or know that the system and operator are completely capable, we generally use external DSP units. Most of the large/modular DSP units have so much more capability than most smart amps, that you have to use them on a large scale system, but DSP in the amps will usually cover most of the small/simple systems.
Sometimes it just comes down to budget.
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Permalink Reply by Bill Robison on -
For rental packages and small systems amps w/ internal DSP are really quite convenient. We use the Crown XTA amps and are very pleased with the flexibitity they offer us. We can program ea. amp w/ parameters for a number of different speakers. When the package is prepped the setting on the amp is called up and we can be reasonably confident that the speakers will perform well and be protected.
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Permalink Reply by Danny Avila on -
Well Mr. Hooton, I personally was in the position of preferring to controll everything from the "floor" level, with tons of amplifier racks and DSP engines to power passive loudspeakers. But after hearing Martin's MLA system and being "enlightened" by their fundamentals behind their new system I changed my mind at all. I only wish there comes the day that a Class-D power amplifier can outperform the subjective part of musical hearing of an analog power stage (on Mid to High frequency duties) and XTA or Lake FIR & whistles can be put onto a small single chip on each loudspeaker power pack to completely discard power amplifier racks.
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Permalink Reply by Kevin Feres on -
I have heard rave reviews about the new self powered rigs out there. Gaining the floor space the racks take. Built in DSP in each cabinet is a great, Instant no loss in the speaker cables. Each cabinet sound the same no matter what. Turn digital once at the mic input. Master control Via Lake or XTA and whoever`s digital audio system you choose be it Dante or what ever. The playing field has just leveled once again. But will the guys out there mixing give us the sound quality we all have been waiting for? Has the volume gone up and the quality down?
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