DUB DISCUSSION BOARD

Jah Herb · Joined: 11 Jul 2003 Posts: 6

I see a lot of Soundsystems, like Jah Tubby, Irations Steppas, BSL, KDW using an odd looking piece of equipment they refer to as the mixer/preamp or preamp crossover.

Jah Tubby's even seems to sell these units, http://www.jtsstudio.co.uk/tubbys/photo/pre4.jpg but nowhere can I find any information on what they do. I mean sure they mix the signals, but what other features do they have? Aux sends, kill switches, parametric EQ's?

Anyone know where there is a really good explanation of them, maybe even a build your own guide? I'd love to make one, save carting a full board around everywhere you go.

Mike Zee · Joined: 20 Mar 2001 Posts: 766 Location: NY, USA

Hey, man, I don't know anything about these specific units... but in general, crossover is a common unit (or part(s) in any live-system. Yeah, if you really wish to know what exactly JTS unit(s) is/are ...just e-mail them...looks like the site has contact link their. If they sell these stuff, I think, they'll be glad to give you a good info.
Or is your question in general about what crossover is for?
Now, the 'mixer' is to mix...heh heh, but crossover isn't

Crossover is to split (to separate different parts of the frequency spectrum), so you can send them separatly to its own drive (or power amp). Commonly crosover 'seats' after preamp in the "chain". More complicated/sophisticated your sound system is....more you need them...generally speaking.
well, so my guess... the unit called preamp crossover could simply be what it's called ...combination of preamp and crossover.
But then, again, if these units were design specifically for dub s-systems, then they may have some specifics.... only the designer knows what they are.... you gotta contact 'the designer'..

well, I am all over the place here.... heh heh ...

/respects,
/Mike Zee, aka Dr ZEE

Jah Herb · Joined: 11 Jul 2003 Posts: 6

Thanks Mikey, I was aware of the use of a crossover, I just wonder what can be gained by making the preamp and the crossover in the same unit. Usually the crossover is a set once and forget it kind of thing.

Perhaps the purpose of having the crossover in the preamp, is rather than a mixer the boosts and cuts certain frequency ranges, then sends out a combined signal, which is then split up again, does it perhaps split the signals first, so each frequency band is manipulated separately within the mixer, so that the bass mid and hi's are basically just all processed separately on different (pre)amp circuits?

Perhaps you're right, maybe I should just email Jah Tubby's and see what they say about it. I was just wondering if it was some 'common knowledge' that had somehow missed me.

Mike Zee · Joined: 20 Mar 2001 Posts: 766 Location: NY, USA

Jah Herb,
well, I really can only speculate here...but , again, my guess is, pretty simple: you can have preamp and crossover (as two boxes) ... or a one unit preamp-crossover instead

, which maybe what it is?, and it simply may be as a preamp ...then crossover in one box (but not crossover - to - preamps(s)) ...see what I mean ;). So, another words, let's see... you get stereo-out from mixer - to that preamp-crossover and then each 'way' out to its own power amp's in (if it's three way crosover - you have three power amps as example).
If I am correct, this is what is being called electronic (or active) crossover (preamp-crossover-PowerAmp(s)-Speakers).
The whole idea is to power-amp two/three 'main' portions of the spectrum separately. This is especially important for LoEnd. This way you can for example boost/or say overload Bass/low(s) and still have clean (or say undistorted, or uneffected) Hi(s)/Mid(s).
I wish I had some real experience in Live Setting , then I could be more specific... but it's not my 'field, I don't really know much about it.
Maybe somebody else here knows more. Speak up, guys

regards, and respects
/Mike Zee, aka Dr ZEE

Kiddus Fatzke · Joined: 15 Aug 2004 Posts: 2

greetings,
the thing you have seen jah herb is a traditional
reggae-preamp. jts builds 'em and sells 'em. they are used, because they are optimized for their purpose: "presenting reggae music heavy and original"!! such a preamp has the following functions: he has 2 phono-ins, i think 3 line-ins,
kill switches, eq's, sends and crossover. now it comes to what makes them a "reggae-preamp". you can send mids and top seperated into your effectunits, you can kill specific frequnzies (you might say, that this isn't very special, but the soundmen in JA were the first who had this idea, and it's traditional since soundsystem begun, dj-mixer took this principle.), it has a sweep control for bass and you can add more dub to the dub you are playing with eqing it (like king tubbys "flying cymbal style".
blessed love

Kiddus Fatzke

Kiddus Fatzke · Joined: 15 Aug 2004 Posts: 2

here are some links to russ d's site where he gives some explanation about soundsystem and preamps.
by the way a jts 3-way preamp costs 595 pounds,
the annihilator 4-way preamp costs 750 pounds.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/russdbslbm02/bslp6.html
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/russdbslbm02/siren.html

but if you really want to go original, build one yourself. i would too if i had the skills or exact
knowledge.
any further question are appreciated.
i-ses and i-tection

Kiddus Fatzke

TRE4U2NV · Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 1

HI BLESSED LOVE TO 1 AND ALL
ANYBODY GOT CONTACT DETAILS FOR RUSS D
AS I BEEN GIVEN NUMEROUS LINKS THAT DONT WORK OR COME UP WITH A NTL ERROR MESSAGE

TRE4U2NV@HOTMAIL.COM

interruptor · Joined: 04 Sep 2005 Posts: 1138 Location: Switzerland

russ d's website is down indeed. to get in contact with him i'd ask at the blood&fire forum:
http://www.bloodandfire.co.uk/db/index.php

jts have a website here:
http://www.jtsstudio.co.uk/pages/proaudio.htm

Jah Herb · Joined: 11 Jul 2003 Posts: 6

Russ D moved his website around, it's now at http://www.disciplesbslbm.co.uk/ and there are contact email addresses there for him.

I also got talking to a guy on another board about this (you can tell it's still preying on my mind, two years on), he's another pre-amp builder and actually just did one for Russ D too, guess theres no loyalty ;) http://mostec.co.uk/electronics/preamps.htm

Anyway, he explained the layout and functionality a little bit to me.

If you look at the picture of the 4-way preamp, working sort of from left to right and top to bottom.

The 5 white knobs along the top are the input levels for the music, there's 2 phono and 3 line, and I'm guessing the toggle switches are for whats on the crossfader.

The blue section is the 3 mic channels, top to bottom you have volume, bass, mids, treble, send1, send2.

The column of black knobs beside the blue is the master for the music inputs (remember the 5 white buttons) and the layout is the same as for the mics volume, bass, mids, treble, send1, send2.

The grey knobs beside that are the returns, and the grey knobs beside the crossfader are the headphone controls.

That leaves the black knobs above and right of the crossfader, thats your 10 band fixed bandwidth eq (think graphic EQ except with knobs).

The 3x4 color section are bass, lo mid, hi mid and treble with Level and Parametric EQ and the kill switches above.

So there you have it. Two years after the fact I kind of answered my own question.

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