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unsafe8989
02-23-2012, 01:35 PM
What career is it to design cabs and amps and everything in between? Is it acoustical engineering ?

Bill Fitzmaurice
02-23-2012, 01:53 PM
What career is it to design cabs and amps and everything in between? Is it acoustical engineering ? Design wise pretty much the electrical engineer is in charge until you get to the input jack of the speaker, and that's where the acoustical engineer takes over. A very thorough knowledge of acoustics is a must, as knowing how speakers interact with their environment is just as important as what's contained within the box.

windspeed36
02-23-2012, 01:55 PM
Audio Engineering pretty much is what it is in Australia

Bill Fitzmaurice
02-23-2012, 04:11 PM
Audio Emgineering pretty much is what it is in Australia
The designations get confusing, as the Audio Engineering Society oversees all the sub-disciplines, from EEs to AEs to recording engineers. But just because you're an AES member that doesn't make you an acoustical engineer. An audio engineer is the equivalent of a general practice doctor, an acoustical engineer is a specialist.

unsafe8989
02-23-2012, 04:48 PM
I would like to design cabs so acoustical?

Bill Fitzmaurice
02-23-2012, 06:37 PM
I would like to design cabs so acoustical?Yes. You need a solid math background.

Incognito
02-23-2012, 07:25 PM
Yes. You need a solid math background.

Rules me out.....

unsafe8989
02-23-2012, 10:19 PM
Yes. You need a solid math background.

So i should take statistics and calculus?

Coronaoperator
02-23-2012, 10:30 PM
So i should take statistics and calculus?

Not only take it, but if you want to get into engineering you better excel at it, along with linear algebra and physics and get into at least some kind of computer programming. The language isn't that important as long as you know the basics of logical design. Some chem wouldn't hurt to help you get past first year. Time management would be another asset to have, engineering is a pretty intensive workload, if you get 6 nights of sleep a week your doing better than most students.

unsafe8989
02-24-2012, 12:38 AM
Not only take it, but if you want to get into engineering you better excel at it, along with linear algebra and physics and get into at least some kind of computer programming. The language isn't that important as long as you know the basics of logical design. Some chem wouldn't hurt to help you get past first year. Time management would be another asset to have, engineering is a pretty intensive workload, if you get 6 nights of sleep a week your doing better than most students.

Thanks gonna keep that in mind I was thinking Penn state my grade arent any way near 4.0-5.0 i have 3.5 -3.9

Synaxis
02-24-2012, 01:08 AM
I'm going into Electrical Engineering, and you won't get a degree without Calculus. Or Calculus II, and maybe even III.

All science majors at my college are required to take calculus, as the minimum.

I'm not sure if statistics is that important though.

Coronaoperator
02-24-2012, 01:57 AM
Thanks gonna keep that in mind I was thinking Penn state my grade arent any way near 4.0-5.0 i have 3.5 -3.9

Not sure what scale your grades are based on, we only went up to 4.0 . In engineering you only need to have grades high enough to gain acceptance into your academic place of choice. After that its all up to you and your motivation whether you succeed or fail. In my first year we had kids come out of high school with 99.7% averages with full scholorships. They went to every class, studied every hour of every day, come finals they thought they aced every final and finished every question, they even had family on faculty. You should have seen the look in their eyes when they recieved their test results. 0% on every question of every test they wrote, gone the next day. Those kids that thought they didn't have what it takes to make it and barely made the acceptance cut but had heart and soul aced every test. If there is a lesson in that it's that don't judge yourself too hard on your grades before engineering, those that want it get the ring.

As for statistics ... in the real world it won't mean anything to you as an engineer but if you want a job working for a company designing things it is EVERYTHING! Managers need to know the failure rate of their products so they can plan their price points, warranty policies, human safety, etc. Failure rates are not happen chance, they are predictable mathematical equations. Learn it well.

Bill Fitzmaurice
02-24-2012, 07:55 AM
Thanks gonna keep that in mind I was thinking Penn state my grade arent any way near 4.0-5.0 i have 3.5 -3.9
Most colleges only offer acoustical engineering as post-graduate studies, so if you only want to get a BS to start with you have to find a college that offers it. Otherwise you'd have to get a bachelors degree in a related field first, which isn't the fast track.

unsafe8989
02-24-2012, 09:32 AM
Thanks for the input. I still got 3 years of high school but I am studying this now.

ampnation
02-24-2012, 04:29 PM
Thanks for the input. I still got 3 years of high school but I am studying this now.

Good luck unsafe. In this economy, I would suggest based on what Bill pointed out, you should a) consider getting a good bachelors degree and place your main focus on your route to your graduate degree. and b) start reading up now on acoustical design principles. There are a lot of resources readily available to you free and cheap. I started out many years ago intending on getting a degree in Civil Engineering and decided to drop when the stress of taking first semester general physics, 2nd semester Chemistry and 2nd semester (or was it 3rd) calculus caused me to briefly start smoking. (luckily dropped before it became a habit). Many years later I started looking into designing my speakers and quickly came to the conclusion that despite a math background beyond the average person, I was lost in the equations being used.

The point being, you really, really need to start now excelling at math. It affects everything in this field. Consider trying to get through your math courses in half the time they are being taught. Go through your text doing the problems ahead of time and see if you can borrow or buy the text from the next course up. If you can advance through your school's highest math course before your last semester or maybe even before your last year, you could possibly get your counselor to set you up to take college classes at your local community or state college during your senior year. I did this with English although you would never know it now looking at some of my posts. LOL

This aggressive type of approach to your education will not only impress those looking to fill their educational slots, but when you get to the job market, it will stand out too. By the time you're competing with other grad students, that might be the slight edge that gets you the best job.

Also, start working on building your own cabs now. If you haven't already, start by building someone else's designs like Bill's, then work on your own. If you can't afford it, see if you can get someone to let you build for them. You supply the labor and they supply the parts and supplies.

Again... good luck. You sound like a very bright young man with a goal and I like that.

unsafe8989
02-24-2012, 06:00 PM
Good luck unsafe. In this economy, I would suggest based on what Bill pointed out, you should a) consider getting a good bachelors degree and place your main focus on your route to your graduate degree. and b) start reading up now on acoustical design principles. There are a lot of resources readily available to you free and cheap. I started out many years ago intending on getting a degree in Civil Engineering and decided to drop when the stress of taking first semester general physics, 2nd semester Chemistry and 2nd semester (or was it 3rd) calculus caused me to briefly start smoking. (luckily dropped before it became a habit). Many years later I started looking into designing my speakers and quickly came to the conclusion that despite a math background beyond the average person, I was lost in the equations being used.

The point being, you really, really need to start now excelling at math. It affects everything in this field. Consider trying to get through your math courses in half the time they are being taught. Go through your text doing the problems ahead of time and see if you can borrow or buy the text from the next course up. If you can advance through your school's highest math course before your last semester or maybe even before your last year, you could possibly get your counselor to set you up to take college classes at your local community or state college during your senior year. I did this with English although you would never know it now looking at some of my posts. LOL

This aggressive type of approach to your education will not only impress those looking to fill their educational slots, but when you get to the job market, it will stand out too. By the time you're competing with other grad students, that might be the slight edge that gets you the best job.

Also, start working on building your own cabs now. If you haven't already, start by building someone else's designs like Bill's, then work on your own. If you can't afford it, see if you can get someone to let you build for them. You supply the labor and they supply the parts and supplies.

Again... good luck. You sound like a very bright young man with a goal and I like that.

Thanks, Glad too see your back. What expertise do I need in Building a sub from BFM in wood skills?

ampnation
02-24-2012, 10:55 PM
Thanks, Glad too see your back. What expertise do I need in Building a sub from BFM in wood skills?

I'm the wrong guy to ask because I haven't built one. If I do build one, I believe I'll start with an AutoTuba and simply follow the instructions that come with it and if needed, get help online.

Another thing I thought of. I don't know if you have anything like this down in Bakersfield but in the Sacramento area there is a DIY speaker builders club. I attended one of the meetings and got to meet Sigfried Linkwitz who is famous as one half of the Linkwitz-Riley algorithms used in so many crossovers these days. http://www.linkwitzlab.com/ A good part of the day was devoted to listening to people's speaker projects using a common musical program and the same amp -- a simple T-amp. Let me tell you, when they got to the Orions that Linkwitz brought with him, it was one of those moments where you thought, "wow! I thought the others sounded pretty good till I heard this. It was like driving a Ferrari and realizing you had to drive home in a mere Acura. (which I've also done)

unsafe8989
02-24-2012, 11:11 PM
I'm the wrong guy to ask because I haven't built one. If I do build one, I believe I'll start with an AutoTuba and simply follow the instructions that come with it and if needed, get help online.

Another thing I thought of. I don't know if you have anything like this down in Bakersfield but in the Sacramento area there is a DIY speaker builders club. I attended one of the meetings and got to meet Sigfried Linkwitz who is famous as one half of the Linkwitz-Riley algorithms used in so many crossovers these days. http://www.linkwitzlab.com/ A good part of the day was devoted to listening to people's speaker projects using a common musical program and the same amp -- a simple T-amp. Let me tell you, when they got to the Orions that Linkwitz brought with him, it was one of those moments where you thought, "wow! I thought the others sounded pretty good till I heard this. It was like driving a Ferrari and realizing you had to drive home in a mere Acura. (which I've also done)

I dont Know if such exsist but i hope so Yes linkwitz runs crossover on my IPR 3000's so how may i figure out if they do.

ampnation
02-24-2012, 11:23 PM
I dont Know if such exsist but i hope so Yes linkwitz runs crossover on my IPR 3000's so how may i figure out if they do.

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/clubs-events/ should be a good starting point

unsafe8989
02-24-2012, 11:25 PM
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/clubs-events/ should be a good starting point

Thanks bro.

ampnation
02-24-2012, 11:36 PM
Thanks bro.

No problem. Maybe some day when I'm not up to my eyeballs in other stuff, we can get together and compare equipment, techniques, and just shoot the breeze. Bakersfield and Modesto aren't that far apart. Maybe we could even do a gig or two together.

unsafe8989
02-24-2012, 11:55 PM
No problem. Maybe some day when I'm not up to my eyeballs in other stuff, we can get together and compare equipment, techniques, and just shoot the breeze. Bakersfield and Modesto aren't that far apart. Maybe we could even do a gig or two together.

Sounds great you do know i dont mix?

ampnation
02-25-2012, 12:15 AM
Sounds great you do know i dont mix?

Well that's no good! I don't either LOL.. but I am learning.

unsafe8989
02-25-2012, 01:15 AM
Well that's no good! I don't either LOL.. but I am learning.

Hahaha yea but i have a feeling our music choice is quite different but it would be good as im only 16.

ampnation
02-25-2012, 01:36 AM
Hahaha yea but i have a feeling our music choice is quite different but it would be good as im only 16.

True dat. Based on your current fave track, would it be fair to guess you play Mexican/Latino tracks? I have a bunch of that on my DN-HD2500's hard drive that was there when I bought it used from Guitar Center. I haven't messed with it yet because I've only used it as a CD controller. I need to take the time to figure out hooking it to my laptop and offloading it because I'd like to just have those tracks in my collection for personal use when I'm bored. The problem is, my current laptop has an 80Gb hard drive and I've got 60Gb of music on it.

Incognito
02-25-2012, 08:12 AM
I have a bunch of that on my DN-HD2500's hard drive that was there when I bought it used from Guitar Center. I haven't messed with it yet because I've only used it as a CD controller. I need to take the time to figure out hooking it to my laptop and offloading it because I'd like to just have those tracks in my collection for personal use when I'm bored. The problem is, my current laptop has an 80Gb hard drive and I've got 60Gb of music on it.


I used to have that controller in my B rig, it's a great piece of gear but I just couldn't get used the the cue system (I am used to Pioneers Cue system)

GswRjtApzRM

The controller comes with software to manage your music files (check Denons site for the download) to & from the controller & your computer. As for your storage shortage, you can always use an external hard drive to expand your storage capacity.

unsafe8989
02-25-2012, 11:28 AM
True dat. Based on your current fave track, would it be fair to guess you play Mexican/Latino tracks? I have a bunch of that on my DN-HD2500's hard drive that was there when I bought it used from Guitar Center. I haven't messed with it yet because I've only used it as a CD controller. I need to take the time to figure out hooking it to my laptop and offloading it because I'd like to just have those tracks in my collection for personal use when I'm bored. The problem is, my current laptop has an 80Gb hard drive and I've got 60Gb of music on it.

Hahaha my cousins having the same problem his laptop only has a 80gb hard drive and me and him have a 1TB hard drive with 100 Gbs of music ha ha my laptop however is 500Gb and 4Gb ram so no problems yet. I mostly cover anything in spanish,lation,mexican whatever you like to call it. My cousin kind of takes over the english music.

unsafe8989
02-25-2012, 11:30 AM
I used to have that controller in my B rig, it's a great piece of gear but I just couldn't get used the the cue system (I am used to Pioneers Cue system)

GswRjtApzRM

The controller comes with software to manage your music files (check Denons site for the download) to & from the controller & your computer. As for your storage shortage, you can always use an external hard drive to expand your storage capacity.

Looks great nice marathon case looks like im not the only one who owns some marathon products as their cases are fairly nice don't you think.

Incognito
02-25-2012, 12:10 PM
Looks great nice marathon case looks like im not the only one who owns some marathon products as their cases are fairly nice don't you think.

Their higher end cases is something I would say is right up there with the best, I also own Odyssey cases & see no difference between the two outside of price. I had placed an order for another Marathon case only about two weeks ago for my new Pioneer DDJ-S1 controller, I considered the Odyssey case but remember my good experience with the case shown in this video.

unsafe8989
02-25-2012, 01:56 PM
Their higher end cases is something I would say is right up there with the best, I also own Odyssey cases & see no difference between the two outside of price. I had placed an order for another Marathon case only about two weeks ago for my new Pioneer DDJ-S1 controller, I considered the Odyssey case but remember my good experience with the case shown in this video.

They look great as well.

ampnation
02-25-2012, 02:42 PM
I used to have that controller in my B rig, it's a great piece of gear but I just couldn't get used the the cue system (I am used to Pioneers Cue system)

GswRjtApzRM

The controller comes with software to manage your music files (check Denons site for the download) to & from the controller & your computer. As for your storage shortage, you can always use an external hard drive to expand your storage capacity.

Thanks. I am aware of the Denon software. I think I already downloaded it. Just need to take the time to do it. I get real nervous when it comes to installing anything that might affect my music library right now. I need to get a good backup and I really need to get my iTunes libarary transferred to an external hard drive or two.

Anyway, the system in that rig is very similar to what I have. I don't have the lights and FX or patch bay though. I actually do have a patch bay in the rack but haven't figured out how to implement it for my use. It's an older Behringer I picked up very cheap and after reading the manual and reading the manual on their newer patch bays and reading some other brands, I think I'll change the patch bay and just sell the one I have if I can. I mainly want it to be able to substitute backup equipment in case of failure.

I have both by controller mounted and I have the CD player like you have. Since both controllers can use the same CD player, if I use the backup which is currently the HD2500, I just need to switch the CD data cable on the back. All my cables are color coded with colored zip ties in 2-3 color combinations plus labels from a brother p-touch labeler. I've got a simple power strip from American DJ which enables me to keep the cables out of sight and it has lighted on/off switches for every plug. Since the Denon equipment either doesn't have a power switch or is located up underneath, I just use that to power them on and off.

The rack is a Road Runner slant top I got at GC and it is the least well constructed rack of the ones I own. All the other racks are simple amp or processing rack cases from Odyssey and EWI (audiopile.net, not to be confused with audiopyle.com which is another good company (Mike in Napa.) It isn't horrible, it just has minor issues which are mostly cosmetic. And then I have an SKB but I don't like plastic cases. They slide around too easily for my tastes.

The bottom of my rack has equipment I never use for DJ'ing but I use this in conjunction with my MixWizard 16 channel desk mixer. When I'm doing live sound, I'll take the EWI case with the MixWizard in it and place it next to my DJ/FOH rack and I'll run cables between the two systems. I plug the outputs from my DJ mixer into a couple of the channels on the MixWizard and use it for background music or announcements from the booth. I run my auxes from the MixWizard to my EQ's for stage monitors. I also run the mono output from the MixWizard (full range) to a rackmount mixer/splitter and use that as a distribution mixer for people who want to patch into the main sound like videographers who want better sound than what they would pick up with their camcorder mic. This can also be used for recording but haven't done that yet.

Anyway this is an evolving system and getting the Denon stuff was one of the best decisions I've made, probably right behind the K10's.

Incognito
02-25-2012, 02:48 PM
Thanks. I am aware of the Denon software. I think I already downloaded it. Just need to take the time to do it. I get real nervous when it comes to installing anything that might affect my music library right now. I need to get a good backup and I really need to get my iTunes libarary transferred to an external hard drive or two.

Anyway, the system in that rig is very similar to what I have. I don't have the lights and FX or patch bay though. I actually do have a patch bay in the rack but haven't figured out how to implement it for my use. It's an older Behringer I picked up very cheap and after reading the manual and reading the manual on their newer patch bays and reading some other brands, I think I'll change the patch bay and just sell the one I have if I can. I mainly want it to be able to substitute backup equipment in case of failure.

I have both by controller mounted and I have the CD player like you have. Since both controllers can use the same CD player, if I use the backup which is currently the HD2500, I just need to switch the CD data cable on the back.

You should always have a back up of your digital files, one you keep stored safe at home & the other backup you bring with you to gigs (you never know when a mechanical hard drive will fail, SSD are a different story & is why I have upgraded all of my hard drives to SSD).

You don't need to take both your CD play & the controller, the controller is all you need since it functions as a CD player as well.

ampnation
02-25-2012, 02:57 PM
You should always have a back up of your digital files, one you keep stored safe at home & the other backup you bring with you to gigs (you never know when a mechanical hard drive will fail, SSD are a different story & is why I have upgraded all of my hard drives to SSD).

You don't need to take both your CD play & the controller, the controller is all you need since it functions as a CD player as well.


Yes, I know. Thanks for the reminder. Not sure what you mean @ not needing to take both. I bought a HD2500 without the CD player and a D4500 with the CD player (which is the one you have in your unit and when sold separately is called the BU4500 despite the markings on the unit). For clarification, when I refer to the D4500 I'm only referring to the controller half of the product even though it comes with the CD player which mounts separately.

Incognito
02-25-2012, 03:30 PM
Yes, I know. Thanks for the reminder. Not sure what you mean @ not needing to take both. I bought a HD2500 without the CD player and a D4500 with the CD player (which is the one you have in your unit and when sold separately is called the BU4500 despite the markings on the unit). For clarification, when I refer to the D4500 I'm only referring to the controller half of the product even though it comes with the CD player which mounts separately.

Yes, the HD2500 controller can also control the cd trays unit (BU4500 when bought seperately as you know) of the CD player, so there is no need to bring the head unit of the CD player as well since the HD2500 will also serve as the CD players head unit.

ampnation
02-25-2012, 03:44 PM
Yes, the HD2500 controller can also control the cd trays unit (BU4500 when bought seperately as you know) of the CD player, so there is no need to bring the head unit of the CD player as well since the HD2500 will also serve as the CD players head unit.

But what if it is the HD2500 that fails?

Incognito
02-25-2012, 03:54 PM
But what if it is the HD2500 that fails?

What if the BU4500 fails? At least you can then switch the HD2500to the media controller mode, it offers its' own redundancy.

unsafe8989
02-25-2012, 04:01 PM
nice...

ampnation
02-25-2012, 04:08 PM
What if the BU4500 fails? At least you can then switch the HD2500to the media controller mode, it offers its' own redundancy.
My point was, you said there was no reason to bring the CD player head unit. The reason I bring both is in case one controller/head unit fails. If the BU4500 fails, yes, I can use the internal on the HD2500 or USB media.

swine
02-29-2012, 11:56 PM
its such bullshit how you can get a 5.0. Apply EVERYWHERE though, youd be surprised who rejects you and who accepts you at times.