How to set up an active crossover in 3-way PA

Mixing Explained

Setting up an active crossover in a 3-way configuration, whether in mono or stereo mode, is essential for achieving optimal sound distribution and clarity in a PA (Public Address) system.

How to setup an active crossover in 3-way mono and stereo mode for a PA.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

  1. Determine your system’s requirements: Assess the audio system and identify the specific crossover points for each frequency band. In a 3-way setup, you’ll typically have low, mid, and high frequency bands. Determine the ideal crossover frequencies based on your speakers’ specifications and the desired tonal balance.
  2. Connect the active crossover: Begin by connecting the input of the active crossover to the audio source, such as a mixer or amplifier’s output. Ensure the connections are secure and appropriate for the input and output configurations of your crossover unit.
  3. Set the crossover frequencies: Adjust the crossover controls on the active crossover unit to the desired frequencies for each frequency band. Most active crossovers provide knobs or switches to set the crossover points accurately. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions for specific guidance.
  4. Connect the amplifiers and speakers: Connect the outputs of the active crossover to the corresponding inputs of the amplifiers. If you’re using a mono setup, connect the crossover outputs directly to the amplifier driving each speaker. In a stereo setup, connect the crossover outputs to the left and right channels of the respective amplifiers.
  5. Configure the amplifiers: Configure each amplifier to the appropriate settings for the corresponding frequency band. For instance, set the low-frequency amplifier to handle bass frequencies, the mid-frequency amplifier for midrange frequencies, and the high-frequency amplifier for treble frequencies. Adjust the gain, EQ, and other parameters on each amplifier as needed.
  6. Connect the speakers: Connect the speakers to their respective amplifiers. Ensure that the speaker connections are secure and follow the recommended wiring configurations for your specific PA system.
  7. Fine-tune the system: Play audio through the system and carefully listen to the output from each speaker. Make any necessary adjustments to the crossover frequencies, amplifier settings, and overall sound balance to achieve the desired results. Experiment with different settings to find the best sound quality and coverage for your specific venue and audience.

Remember, every PA system is unique, and the setup process may vary based on the equipment you are using. It is always recommended to consult the user manuals and seek professional assistance if needed. With proper setup and fine-tuning, an active crossover in a 3-way configuration will allow you to optimize the performance of your PA system, delivering impressive sound quality and clarity for your audience.

This Video explains how to use a active crossover to route the Higher , Mid and lower frequencies to tweeter , woofer and 2 subs. It also explains how to configure the crossover in 3-way stereo mode for live sound reinforcement in house of worships or any other Live Events applications.

Video Text:

hi guys welcome to my channel audio/video me and recently somebody asked me on youtube if I could do a video for mono set up with two subs in a pro do section and that could really help out them in their house of worship using this mono set up with two subs so for this demonstration the equipment I’m using is a Yamaha mg 166 CX a USB mixer and I’m using a Behringer active crossover CX 3400 and then I’m using three amplifiers to our QSC GX 5 + 1 is crown accel s 2 or 2 I’m gonna use the crown and to drive the higher frequencies through the ball a Boston speaker and then I’m going to use one of

0:01:03.3 –>
the QSC GX 5 amp to drive the mid frequencies through EVs X 300 and the third QSC GX 5 app I’m gonna use to drive the low frequencies through those two subs one is there and one is there and those revs:1245rpm and the system but i’ll show you how to do the wiring and also after showing the mono wiring

0:02:00.8 –>
i’m also going to show you the three ways to your wiring basically what you do you just add another evie a speaker and a Boston speaker and ok so I’ll show you the back of the rack and back of the speakers how to do the wiring alright so this is the back of the rack where there are three amplifiers active crossover and a graphics equalizer and these are the back terminals of the speakers that’s the subwoofer and this is the second subwoofer okay to start with take a left and right output from your mixer and at the left side I’m going to use as channel one of my sound design for this

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demonstration and write output from the mixer I’m going to use for channel two input in all my devices for my sound design for this demonstration okay so left and right output from the mixer goes into the input on my graphics EQ so left output from the mixer goes into my graphics EQ now it’s not necessary to use a graphics EQ but I use it anyways with my analog mixers if it’s a digital mixers and then nowadays they called built-in graphics EQ depend what type of digital mixer you got okay and so it’s going to go into left input

0:04:07.4 –>
that’s my left output – left input channel one input on my graphics EQ and write your put right output goes into channel two input for my right channel or okay next I’m gonna show you how to take out the outputs outputs from your graphics EQ channel 1 and channel 2 goes into your active crossover so output from channel 1 from the graphic CPU goes

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into input on channel 1 on the active crossover and output from channel 2 from graphics EQ goes into input on active crossover okay now next is I’m gonna take the outputs from the active crossover and connected to my speakers so there are a

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few settings I wanna tell you with this active crossover if I want to use it in three vane mono or three based Evo mode then these two buttons need to be in outward position and the low some butter needs to be in outward position because the guy requested if I can do a demonstration using two subwoofers so I’m going to use the low outputs on both channels and just going to use high and mid on channel one and not going to use high and mid on channel 2 for 3-way model with two subs these ports they’re going to be active anyways but I’m not going to connect anything to it so nothing is going to be routed anywhere

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so just going to use the low output on both channels and high and mid frequencies for 3-way mono with two subs so mid output on channel 1 goes into channel 1 input on my first amp then low output goes on to channel one

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online second app and then the high output from my channel one on my active crossover goes into channel 1 input on my 3rd amp ok and from the left side sorry for the right side channel 2 I’m

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just going to take low output for my second sub and it’s going to go to my second app channel to through which I’m going to be driving the subs okay so so far these are the connections from the active crossover to the amplifiers and next I’m going to show you how to take the outputs from the amplifier and connect it to your speakers okay so the app that’s driving my mid frequencies just

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going to take output from channel 1 on the amp and that goes into input on the EBS X 300 then and output from channel 1 on 2nd amp which is driving my low frequencies I speak on output goes to the first sub

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woofer speak on input which is EVs v12 – ok now from my second amp channel to speak on output goes into input on the second sub s b12 – and now from output from the crown app

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I’m going to take these outputs to drive my high frequencies online Boston speaker okay so positive goes into positive channel one output negative goes into negative terminal on channel

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one output okay so next it’s gonna go to this Boston speaker inputs right here positive goes into positive and negative goes into

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negative okay so those are the connections made and now let’s test the system okay so once you have made all your connections or just test the system for your house of worship if you have connected several mics test all the mics and do your ringing and stuff I’ll make a video on

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how to do the ringing on your microphones using a graphics EQ once I get the proper equipment and the time to do it and so once you have done your three day no no with two subs connection and just connect a microphone and test testing one two two two this is a test test one two two two okay so once you have done your microphone check it’s time to check whether your crossover is doing the proper job but playing some music so best way is connector iPod so I’m just going to click the iPod to my mixer

0:16:10.2 –>
just going to play some music now okay so now I’m playing some music from my iPod and I’m going to cut off the different frequencies on the crossover just to double-check that it is set up properly so basically for this setup channel one is on the crossover is operating the high maybe low frequencies and channel two is only driving the low frequencies for the second son so I’m going to let the music begin and then I’m gonna run that the frequencies alright so now I’m gonna try to cut off

0:17:02.4 –>
again low frequencies turn off the taps individually just to demonstrate when I got the high frequency how the song sounds fine and frequencies okay let’s start I’m gonna cut off the high frequencies so now the high frequencies are gone the crossover point between I am make my have selected s1k so now when your

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earring is just low frequencies and range frequencies I’m gonna add – expand and I I’m gonna head back so all you can hear

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is high and low frequency I’m gonna add the mix you can sit back okay guys so that was a three day and mono configuration with two subs and now I’m going to show you how to do the three VST you basically we got high and made outputs wakened on our channel two on the active crossover so I’m just going

0:20:00.5 –>
to connect those ports to my app that’s driving the high frequencies and the mid one I’m going to connect to my and that’s driving the mid frequencies okay so just going to do the connection up okay so my channel two made output from ethnic crossover goes into channel to my input or channel to input and channel to high output goes into channel

0:21:10.4 –>
to input on the crown lamp which is driving the high frequencies the next you repeat the process from your app that’s driving the mid frequencies you take channel to output goes into your second speaker’s mid-range speaker and on the third amplifier which is driving the high frequencies you take an output from Channel two and that goes into your speaker that is driving and the high frequencies and so that’s how you do the 3v stereo setup okay so hopefully I’ve

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explained in a simple way how to do a three-day mono setup for your house of worship and with two subs and also I showed you how to do the wiring if you want to use the same setup same sound design for three days to you alright guys if you have enjoyed this video please click on the like icon and I’ll keep making informated AV videos thank you bye

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