An
Introductory Guide to Subwoofers
Using the Behringer
DEQ 2496
This page
is under construction
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Hey, what's the DEQ2496?
Click HERE for a large front view and HERE for a large rear view
The DEQ2496 is the audio version of a Swiss Army Knife. It slices, it dices, it chops, it....oh well, let's just show the functions and describe them... For ease of reading, the graphics shown in this guide are slightly larger than the actual display window in the DEQ2496
For those into consensual validation
here's the "EnjoytheMusic.Com"
review of the DEQ2496 which also contains a link to their review of it's predecessor
the Ultracurve Pro 8024
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Hooking things up
For analog signals the DEQ2496 only has balanced XLR inputs, with both XLR and 1/4" outputs
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There's also a full array of digital
inputs/outputs.
The mic-in has switchable 15 volts for Phantom power (this is accessed using
the 'Utility' menu.)
The 'MAX' button refers to the maximum input level setting.
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Getting started using the DEQ2496
This is a brief
overview of each of the functions.
Examples and a comprehensive explanation of the more sophisticated
functions useful to the home audio user will be presented later in this guide
The DEQ is a 2
channel processor.
The channels can be the identical or completely different.
This means it can simultaneously equalize two different subwoofers
in two different locations with 2 totally different sets of
instructions
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One can access the various functions using the buttons that correspond with the desired function. Some of buttons contain LEDs that will light up when a function setting is in operation. The color of the LED depends on the particular function button. Whether the button contains an LED or not, all the buttons have a label above them indicating their function.
The illuminated LEDs indicate whether that particular function contains settings. For example the graphic equalizer button lights up only when there are gain settings in the equalizer.
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Metering systems (Peak, SPL, and Vu)
The Metering, RTA, AutoEQ, and DEQ functions
require a mic like the ECM-8000 or Nady
CM-100
Operation of the METER is about
as simple as it gets. One plugs in the mic, powers up the DEQ, then pushes the 'METER'
button. Each time the 'METER' or the 'Page' button is
pushed, it toggles to a different meter type, first is Peak/RMS (seen in
the graphic window as Meter 1), then SPL (seen in the graphic window as
Meter 2),
then VU (seen in the graphic window as Meter 3). In either the Peak/RMS or the SPL
meter setting one can
choose 'A' weighting, 'C' weighting or Off (no weighting)
by pushing the 'A' button. Pushing the 'B' button clears and
resets the peak SPL reading.
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Real-Time Analyzer
The DEQ2496 contains a 61 band (1/6th octave) Real-Time Analyzer.
Using the Real-Time Analyzer
function isn't much more complicated than using the SPL meters. Plug in the mic, turn on
the unit and push the RTA button. Like the meter section, there are 3
different settings for the RTA. One toggles through the different RTA settings
by pushing either the RTA or the Page button. In the graphic
window below the RTA text there are tabs showing which setting is displayed.
The first tab (RTA1) is where one can enter the Auto EQ function. The second
tab (RTA2) is where on can control the metering rate by pushing the 'A' button
or turn on/of whether or not the unit shows the peak reading for each frequency.
RTA3 (not shown in the graphic) allows the widest graphic window for the 61
band RTA.
When in the RTA2 or RTA3 modes, pushing the 'A' button toggles between the rate (speed) of the display between 'Fast', 'Middle', 'Slow', and 'Average'. Pushing the 'B' button toggles the Peak Hold speed between 'Fast', 'Middle', 'Slow', and 'Hold'
Choosing the right combination of settings these two buttons provide, makes it easier to see the measured data.
Adjusting the smaller rotary knobs (referred to as data wheels in the owners manual) to the right of the display allows one to set various parameters on the RTA. The upper knob controls the upper maximum SPL level for the graph, the lower knob sets the lower SPL level.
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Graphic Equalizer
The DEQ2496 has a stereo 31 band graphic equalizer.
Although it looks like a standard 1/3rd octave graphic EQ, looks can be very deceiving. One can choose a filter bandwidth in 1/3rd octave increments up to 59/3rds octave wide. In addition to the standard graphic EQ operations, this unit has a Virtual Parametric Function. This means it can create crude High pass and Low pass filters. However these filters aren't as sophisticated as those created with the real PEQ setting.
Turning the upper small rotary knob adjusts the frequency. Pushing the upper small rotary knob toggles between a specific frequency and the entire spectrum (Full)
Turning the lower small rotary knob chooses the bandwidth 1/3-59/3 octave. Pushing the lower small rotary knob toggles between 1/3 octave setting and a High/Low mode setting.
Turning large rotary dial changes the gain setting of the chosen filter.
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Parametric Equalizer
The DEQ2496 has a stereo 10 band parametric equalizer.
The adjustments in the PEQ operation are made using the same knobs for the same control functions as the GEQ operation.
The PEQ function has some very interesting features compared to the 'Feedback Destroyers'.
For example.......
1) Low pass and high pass settings
with 6dB or 12dB/octave slopes.
2) High cut and low cut options, these provide -15dB of attenuation from
whatever frequency is chosen.
3) Bandwidth settings are 1/10 octave to 10 octaves wide.
4) Bandpass filters can be created.
5) There's a graphic display of the effects of the filter settings
The graphic display will attempt to show the settings stored in memory. There are of course limits to this given the nature of the display and what filter settings are chosen.
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Memory Settings
1) There are 64 separate memory
settings (titles) available.
2) One can lock the memories (titles)
individually.
3) When locked, a lock icon shows at the end
of the title line
4)) An icon for each type of processing used in the memory (title) shows,
ie: G=GEQ, P=PEQ and so on...
5) To edit a title use the 'Recall Preset'.
6) To load a title into operation use 'Recall Module'.
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Utility Menu
The utility menu is where one makes basic changes to the operation of the DEQ2496.
1) Changes to the contrast level of
the graphic display panel
2) Changes to the output level
a) one can
create unity gain when a lot of cut or boost is used
b) adjusting this setting is also helpful for
controlling the output level during AutoEQ operation
3) Changes to the sensitivity level of the RTA
4) Midi operation
5) Allow updates to the DEQ2496 firmware via the Midi port
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Digital Delay
Settings
These settings are accessed using the I/O button
The output of the delay can be sent to either the main or the aux outputs. This means one could delay their main speakers in relationship to a subwoofer. The delay settings can be in Msec, Feet, or Meters. If one is so inclined, compensation for variations in ambient temperature is possible as that effects the speed of sound.
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Auto Equalization
The Auto-EQ function is a bit
complicated
so there's a dedicated webpage explaining it HERE
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Dynamic
Equalization
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The following functions are contained in the DEQ2496 but are not covered in this guide.
Feedback Destroyer
Width (stereo imaging) control
DYN, aka Expander
Limiter/Compressor
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