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Topic: Crate Amp Sound System

Janice Glesser
Film Goddess

Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted April 18, 2013 04:56 AM

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Today I wondered out to my shed and found my old Crate guitar amplifier. I got an idea to put it to good use. I connected my DB-01 Direct Box to the audio output of my Elmo 16-CL then from the output of the Direct Box to the amplifier. WOW!...The sound is now much loader and I have a little more control of the highs and lows which reduces the over modulation. This setup should also work with many of my sound 8mm projectors too.

I set the speaker titling upward towards the screen. The sound then bounces off the screen back to the listener...your ears think the sound is coming directy from the screen. This is how my projection TV worked too...very cool [Cool]

[Cool]

It's not a dual speaker system and having an equalizer would would be nice...but it's a big improvement for now [Smile]

[Smile]

[ April 18, 2013, 07:58 PM: Message edited by: Janice Glesser ]

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Janice

"I'm having a very good day!"
Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).

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Gerald Santana
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1060
From: Cottage Grove OR
Registered: Dec 2010

posted April 18, 2013 10:46 AM

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BINGO!

[Smile]

--------------------
http://lostandoutofprintfilms.blogspot.com/

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James N. Savage 3
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1375
From: Washington, DC
Registered: Jul 2003

posted April 18, 2013 10:49 AM

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AWSOME JANICE!!

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Zheng Peng
Junior
Posts: 3
From: Connecticut, USA
Registered: Sep 2013

posted September 23, 2013 06:00 PM

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Hi Janice, may I ask what cable/connector did you use for the 16-CL?

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Zheng Peng
Junior
Posts: 3
From: Connecticut, USA
Registered: Sep 2013

posted September 23, 2013 06:00 PM

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Did you use a 1/4" stereo plug?

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Pasquale DAlessio
Film God

Posts: 3523
From: Bristol,RI, USA
Registered: May 2010

posted September 23, 2013 06:43 PM

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Janice is so awesome!

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Joe Taffis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1592
From: United States
Registered: Jun 2003

posted September 23, 2013 07:34 PM

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Hi Janice, I used to play bass guitar in some bands , and I know CRATE amps had a good rep. I still use the ACOUSTIC brand bass cabinet for my external speaker with my projectors sometimes [Smile]

[Smile]

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Joe Taffis

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Janice Glesser
Film Goddess

Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted September 23, 2013 08:05 PM

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Zheng...Yes I use a 1/4" plug to a balanced plug that goes into a direct box. Going out is a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter. This is because I don't have a 1/4" cord long enough.I then have a cord with a 1/8" plug on one end and a 1/4" plug on the other. I know...a bit convoluted...but until I get the right cords...this will work. I can also hook up a splitter to split the mono signal to two channels.

@Joe...Glad to see you still play once in awhile. I haven't played my electric guitar since my kids were born...I don't think there are any strings on it now... and my acoustic is collecting dust on the hearth of my fireplace. At least the amp is getting some use [Smile]

[Smile]

[ September 23, 2013, 10:01 PM: Message edited by: Janice Glesser ]

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Janice

"I'm having a very good day!"
Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).

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Zheng Peng
Junior
Posts: 3
From: Connecticut, USA
Registered: Sep 2013

posted September 24, 2013 08:57 AM

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quote:
Zheng...Yes I use a 1/4" plug to a balanced plug that goes into a direct box. Going out is a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter. This is because I don't have a 1/4" cord long enough.I then have a cord with a 1/8" plug on one end and a 1/4" plug on the other. I know...a bit convoluted...but until I get the right cords...this will work. I can also hook up a splitter to split the mono signal to two channels.

Thanks a lot, Janice. Your reply is very helpful!

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Timothy Price
Master Film Handler

Posts: 335
From: Minneapolis, MN. USA
Registered: Nov 2009

posted September 24, 2013 11:45 AM

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Awesome Janice!

I run all my projectors (overhead and film)into a 12 Channel Yamaha Powered Mixer then into two EV SX100 Speakers. Yeah man! I don't use DI's (Direct Box) and still get a very strong/clear signal.

Those little Crate's are pretty much indestructible! Very Cool! [Big Grin]

[Big Grin]

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James Peterson
Film Handler

Posts: 64
From: Williamsburg, VA, USA
Registered: Jun 2013

posted September 24, 2013 12:34 PM

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Wow! I never would have thought about doing this! I use an Elmo 16-CL (w/a 50's Filmosound speaker)as my main projector and have had challenges with the signal being to hot to run into the preamp and power amp of the home theater system. But I never thought of using my closeted Crate! I have the Crate Bass Amp (I guess it's a Bx-25?) that looks similar to your guitar amp and has the 4 eq dials.

Janice, would you recommend using the 0 or the -15 db input on the Crate amps? Does your direct box "cool" of that signal somewhat? (looks like it's attenuator is switched to off/0 db) Any issues with grounding/shocks due to coming amplified off of your Elmo's amp? I am considering giving my tube/valve Bell and Howell 540 projector a shot at the projection stand once I get the right 3/16" speaker cable plug for the Bell.

That is so awesome!

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James "Pete" Peterson II

Far too many machines--I'm sick

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Timothy Price
Master Film Handler

Posts: 335
From: Minneapolis, MN. USA
Registered: Nov 2009

posted September 25, 2013 08:05 AM

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Hi James-

Plugging into the -15Db will lower or "cool" your signal. If you want or need more input plug directly into the 0Db input. Being a bass amp you may need to push your mids/highs, but you should get a nice bottom end.

Depending on the DI (Direct Box) they're typically for pushing a signal a long distance and enable you to alter your signal from a 1/4 inch style cable to an XLR, (which is usually used for longer mic style cables) Chances are you don't even have an XLR "in" on your amp, so you may or may not even need one. (DI)

I experimented running direct into my powered mixer (which has both 1/4 inch and XLR ins)and liked the signal better without a DI and plugged directly into the 1/4 inch inputs.

You may also hate what works for me, so experiment. Janice is soooo awesome, what a great post. I love her tutorial vids as well.

Tim

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James Peterson
Film Handler

Posts: 64
From: Williamsburg, VA, USA
Registered: Jun 2013

posted September 25, 2013 12:30 PM

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Thanks Tim!

My Crate is an older 10" B20XL Bass amp--I watched the Rose Bowl Story (1952)--or should I say the Eastman Red Bowl Story? lol--last night using the Crate. It sounded really good once I adjusted the pre-shape and eq--I turned the Elmo tone control about mid-way. It seems my Crate has been asleep for many years and the controls have a lot of static and noise. It seems impossible to get switch cleaner in behind the controls, so I'm going to try to force the cleaner through the front. The static is so bad that the sound cuts out if you touch the gain control.

In addition to the booming sound, another advantage of using an amp like this crate is now I have stereo (well, dual mono) headphones by pluging the headphones into the amp.

Score one for Janice!!

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James "Pete" Peterson II

Far too many machines--I'm sick

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Janice Glesser
Film Goddess

Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted November 13, 2014 05:48 PM

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This is a small update to this thread. I have since gotten rid of the old projection TV which has given me a lot more floor room now. However, I kept the screen which has worked out very well for my 8mm and 16mm projectors. As far as the sound system... I moved the Crate amp forward to where the screen is. I then connected a cable from the output of the Crate to the input of a second small Peavey amp. This way I get sound coming out of 2 speakers. It's not stereo...but the dual speakers sounds really good. The separation between the two amps is only limited by the cord length.

I picked up the little Peavey amp at the flea market.

I'm still working on positioning the amps to get the best effect.

--------------------
Janice

"I'm having a very good day!"
Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).

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Timothy Duncan
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 150
From: Russellville, KY, USA
Registered: Sep 2014

posted November 14, 2014 10:15 AM

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Janice,
What in the world did you do before retiring? Electrician? Engineer? Rocket Scientist? I am very curious!
-Tim

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012

posted November 14, 2014 05:39 PM

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Mr Timothy Price sure knows his audio! The Ev SX500 + bass bins were fantastic mobile DJ kit. Now there is even better! The EV ZLX15. Simply the most powerful, portable sound cab ever created by EV @ a genuine 1kw RMS 8 ohm cab. Just superb! Now get these babies on the end of a HTI in ur yard!

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Doug Johnston
Junior
Posts: 8
From: San Diego, CA, USA
Registered: Mar 2015

posted March 22, 2015 10:22 PM

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Hi Janice,

I wanted to say that you too Janice for providing that link to your solution for providing great audio in a small venue situation.

I am starting to look now for that same guitar amplifier you selected as a solution for my upcoming family camp-out movie presentation.

You've been very inspiring to me and I will be certain to post the results of my first upcoming movie screening.

Take care Janice.

Murphy and Doug

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