getting new Mixer: Mackie???

[billyo]

Originally Posted by Monolithent

Hey guys,
Greetings from somewhere in Southeast Asia. I'm not even sure where anymore. It's kinda like that movie Groundhogs Day lately.

Sorry I took so long to get back to you on this. I been kinda busy.

As far as what I was talking about. There are several amplifiers on the market that will allow you to use one of your inputs as a line level output in mono. It is possible to use a y connector to sum the outputs from the mixer into a single line (recommend XLR) into one input of the amp and use the other input to daisy chain a line level (not amplified) signal to the input of a different amp. If you look at the multiamp setups of stadiums and large array speaker systems they run them sort of that way. With the amps you've described I don't know if its possible. Your RMA800 definitely wont do it and I don't know about the Mackie. Check the owner's manual. If it does then it will explain in graphic detail how to do it. I love Mackies manuals.

As far as safety I've been running systems like this for years and have never had a single hiccup.

I do whole heartedly agree with Lonman, though. A crossover is definitely the best way to go. Make sure to study all your speaker and amp manuals (especially their usable frequencies) before going to full power or you could blow something. Wrong frequencies into a tweeter or a bass bin can get expensive.

thats one thing about having an active ( powered ) speakers, you can just daisy chained it without having to go from one amp. to another (not to mention having to carry those heavy amps ) , and if you wanna use subs, all you had to do was plug in your speakers to the sub and sub to the board, and mackie boards has its own input for any kind of sound processors/monitor ( s)

[Monolithent]

Had a few moments to look at the manual for the Mackie M1400i you have.

Here's what you do........run stereo into the 1400 just like you already are from the 2 main outputs on your mixer. The 1400 has a THRU connection (basically two outputs that aren't amplified and are identical to what's going into the 1400). Get two XLR cables and run them from the THRU connections on the 1400 to the RMA 800 inputs. And then run out of each amp to your speakers as you already have been doing.

Or you can get a crossover.

Good luck with it. Gimme a yell if you need help.

[bryant]

Originally Posted by Monolithent

Had a few moments to look at the manual for the Mackie M1400i you have.

Here's what you do........run stereo into the 1400 just like you already are from the 2 main outputs on your mixer. The 1400 has a THRU connection (basically two outputs that aren't amplified and are identical to what's going into the 1400). Get two XLR cables and run them from the THRU connections on the 1400 to the RMA 800 inputs. And then run out of each amp to your speakers as you already have been doing.

Or you can get a crossover.

Good luck with it. Gimme a yell if you need help.

Pretty cool trick; are you saying that this accomplishes exactly the same thing as I am doing now. It doesn't seem to save a lot of wiring, but just replaces a mixer to RMA800 wire set for a 1400i to RMA800 wire set. What is the real advantage here then?

[Monolithent]

Sorry about the delay. Had to check on a flight into someplace I'm not supposed to mention.

The biggest advantage is that you only have to wire them together once. Based on what I got from earlier, you run the cables from your mixer to the amps every time you set up. This way if you rack them together you only have to connect them together one time and leave them and then only have to run one set of cables from your mixer instead of two.

There is also a setting on your 1400 to bridge the amp. Which basically joins the both sides of your amp into one with a single output (usually A or 1 side). Run that output to one of your subs and then out of that sub into the other sub. That will lower the resistance because of being parallelled and increase your output while putting less load on your amplifier. It will work harder but more efficiently if that makes any sense.

You can do the same with the RMA800 but I believe you will have to use the binding posts on that amp to make that work. I have an RMA 1600 that I used to use that way and I think thats how I had to do it. Either way it will do the same as the 1400 power wise at that point. My recommendation would be to leave the outputs from it alone (don't bridge it and keep running stereo out of it the way you have been (one cable to each speaker) so you still have stereo if you want it. Tops are fine to run stereo but its really not that useful for subs (most audiences can't hear it).

I also noticed that your particular amp (1400) has several small knobs and switches on the back for setting output levels and input settings. You may not need a crossover after all. If there is a knob for low pass filter that will do pretty much the same thing and you don't have to buy any more outboard gear.

Have a look at the manual online http://www.mackie.com/pdf/m1400_m1400i_om.pdf and do some studying. There looks to be a ton of available options for that particular model. The back of your subs should have a frequency range on them. Use that as your baseline for setting the switches. Not 100% sure all of this will work exactly as described but it looks promising. Be sure to read all of the manual before you risk a show on this. Sometimes bridging an amp shuts off one of its inputs and would leave you with only left channel (or maybe just right).

Hope that helps.

By the way, I was just in Bangor late last week on my way out here to sand land. How far is that from you?

[bryant]

Originally Posted by Monolithent

Sorry about the delay. Had to check on a flight into someplace I'm not supposed to mention.

The biggest advantage is that you only have to wire them together once. Based on what I got from earlier, you run the cables from your mixer to the amps every time you set up. This way if you rack them together you only have to connect them together one time and leave them and then only have to run one set of cables from your mixer instead of two.

There is also a setting on your 1400 to bridge the amp. Which basically joins the both sides of your amp into one with a single output (usually A or 1 side). Run that output to one of your subs and then out of that sub into the other sub. That will lower the resistance because of being parallelled and increase your output while putting less load on your amplifier. It will work harder but more efficiently if that makes any sense.

You can do the same with the RMA800 but I believe you will have to use the binding posts on that amp to make that work. I have an RMA 1600 that I used to use that way and I think thats how I had to do it. Either way it will do the same as the 1400 power wise at that point. My recommendation would be to leave the outputs from it alone (don't bridge it and keep running stereo out of it the way you have been (one cable to each speaker) so you still have stereo if you want it. Tops are fine to run stereo but its really not that useful for subs (most audiences can't hear it).

I also noticed that your particular amp (1400) has several small knobs and switches on the back for setting output levels and input settings. You may not need a crossover after all. If there is a knob for low pass filter that will do pretty much the same thing and you don't have to buy any more outboard gear.

Have a look at the manual online http://www.mackie.com/pdf/m1400_m1400i_om.pdf and do some studying. There looks to be a ton of available options for that particular model. The back of your subs should have a frequency range on them. Use that as your baseline for setting the switches. Not 100% sure all of this will work exactly as described but it looks promising. Be sure to read all of the manual before you risk a show on this. Sometimes bridging an amp shuts off one of its inputs and would leave you with only left channel (or maybe just right).

Hope that helps.

By the way, I was just in Bangor late last week on my way out here to sand land. How far is that from you?

50 miles south, one road, I-95, no toll either.

[Monolithent]

Might just have to make a trip way up there when I get home in May. There's tolls (lots of em) if I drive it.

[bryant]

Originally Posted by monolithent

might Just Have To Make A Trip Way Up There When I Get Home In May. There's Tolls (lots Of Em) If I Drive It.

Where You From Again?