Coupled my subs at a outdoor event just two Peavey Subcompact 15’s after watching your video made a world of difference lots of people commenting on how good it sounded cheers.
This is very helpful and should be practiced wherever possible. Couple (pun intended) of considerations to add which is why Andrew said GENERALLY. 1st You can mess up sightlines to the main artist if you haven't got a raised stage. This is often a consideration. 2nd whilst you do get a subtle cardoid effect by setting them up like this, you could be putting a lot of energy very close to a your lead talent which may or may not be an issue for them, especially smaller venues. 3rd you don't actually have to have them butted up against each other you can experiment with spacing them a short distance and changing your bass polar pattern. 4th You can also gain valuable Db by placing speakers next to a wall.5th Some stages and floors interact with subs in a weird way, in which case alternatives might have to be tried. Finally tripods are messy compared to speakers on subs, this and 1st point is the main reason I don't deploy them like this at weddings (wish I could).
You totally nailed what I was worried about with this setup. Plus, you'll need longer speaker cables for the subs, which can get messy without good cable management. I'd rather keep things simple and tidy than squeeze out a couple of dB and deal with all that hassle.
Thanks for this. Though coupled together on one side is correct in science. However when I have tried this at Street Fair Stages or outdoor park events, I always have people comment that they can feel the weight of the subs off to one side and it pulls their attention over to it. Granted overall it absolutely has smoother coverage pattern to couple on one side instead of splitting the pair, but it seems to add an unnatural sound quality that people notice more than when the bass is just cancelled in a comb pattern across the front.
Good vid. However, an explanation of how you connect them together would be useful. Is it simply pass through in/out from one to another, or something else?
Hello...I have two rcf 905 as 2 subs and two rcf 745 as2 mk2 tops, which according to you is the best possible setup to get more power and depth in the bass?
@@NoLimit-un7kv what ever brand u have if u put them like this yoy will gain more bass .but sometime sit depends on the venue you play at. Let's say a small backyard party house for your band L/R is just fine . But when you talk about larger venue ,you do not only need 2 but sometimes 8 subs in line just like this ones. My best advice is to do what you can with the equipment you have. Doesn't matter if you don't have good quality speakers or subs but I recommend so . Work with what you have and be smart where you project your sound. Everything matters not just sound . Every instrument has to be tune right and the gains need to be set up properly and the wires you run and how I set up your top speakers, the height and how manny people you r playing to
do you ever ratchet strap them together so they don't vibrate against each other? Or do you ever put rubber dampeners between them or anything like that?
Hell yea Bro!! I bought 2 Harbinger S12 subs to match my 2 Harbinger MLS 10000 . Wow! I couple the subs together and sounds GREAT!! Alway pair by multiple of 2s . One is ok …2 better not 3 but 4 subwoofers . It won’t sound louder but fuller and deeper bass. Always remember to keep your subwoofers of the same brand , size and power rating. No different size cabinets for example one 12 and one 15 Happy listening
Doing this still creates power alleys and valleys. If you place two subs in the front, stack them with one facing the stage, reverse the polarity on the bottom sub and add a 3 to 4 millisecond delay as well. By doing so you create a clean, deep bass through the entire venue.
Hello, great video. I would maybe have one question. How do you connect these subwoofers? From mixer both outputs L and R (two xlr cables) to the first sub and then link L and R (two xlr cables) to the second sub? Or from the mixer L output is going to the first sub and R is going to the second sub? Or do you connect just mono L output from the mixer to the first sub and then link to the second sub? Can you please advice?
From mixer L and R to, (press Link 0n the first sub) L and R on the Subwoofer, run L and R to Subwoofer 2 (turn on X- over 80 hz or 110 hz) run L and R to each tops.
Hello,..I have two rcf 905 as 2 subs and two rcf 745 mk2 tops, which according to you is the best possible setup to get more power and depth in the bass?
Can i mix 2 diffrent sizes of subs? Like coupling 2 sets of 18in on the far left side of the stage and the same way couple the 2 sets of 12in sub on the far right side of the stage. Is it ok? Is it allowable? Thanks...
Thanks for the advice. I only use one sub right now but I am considering getting two of the same and will try the coupling method. Your video is clear and to the point and this something I have heard people advise for years Question. So I , like a lot of folks, have begun using the module systems like the EV Evolve 50...... Are we creating that same power ally since we do not have are subs coupled. Or maybe do to smaller venues it’s not an issue? The bass on these sounds great to me. But are we losing out on some low end.
You are technically creating the power alley, but indeed it's all somewhat relative to each venue. For many smaller rooms with Evolve systems (and Evox, and Eon One...) it's likely not a deal breaking problem.
When using 1 sub, if the vocalist is going to be standing somewhat near the middle of a stage/lounge/bar setup it, I would put it off to either side, but not in the middle (too close to the singer).
Yes you sure do. Stacking works the same as side-by-side for coupling. The RCF's in this video do not have the built in wedges for stacking, but many subs do.
In general, yes the effect is the same if you stack subs vs. side-by-side them. With these exact RCF models I wouldn't recommend stacking them because they don't have the small cutouts on the top for stable stacking.
Stacking the sub will it make more punchy (it will hit the chest people that are close by) and the bass will not travel that far. Placing both subs on the bottom will increase the output, and the bass will spread our more even.
I have 2 pair of the 15" subs by RCF and 2pair of the RCF 18" subs. Is your recommendation to pair the 18's together on one side and the 15" on the other?
If you must use all four at once, (for peak performance I would not recommend using 15 & 18's at the same time) I would think getting them all as close together would still be best.
You want to face it forward. You can run two subs, one facing back towards a wall and one towards the dance floor (cardioid setup). You will need to be few yards away from the wall or it may not sound good -- go by ear. If you place both subwoofers facing forward you will get more output.
Can I couple 2 different brands of subwoofers? Like QSC KW181 and EV ETX 18sp, would they cancel out some frequencies? Some people says it's a bad idea to couple different brands but is there any proof about that or does someone already tried that? Thank you very much!
It's always BEST to use identical subs. If you must mix brands, at least use the same size woofers 18" and 18" etc, and close sized boxes as much as possible. Won't be perfect, but won't be completely wack.
What about two on one side (coupled) and two on the other side? (4 total) Would you still get bass cancelling each other at the edges of the stage/venue?
Yes, to an even larger degree I believe. If you're not going to couple them all together, it becomes very venue/stage specific on how you need to space them without major cancellation in certain spots.
These are not recommended for stacking (no built in "feet"), it really depends on your venue. Outdoors is often toughest, indoors - depending on size of the venue etc. that may work quite well.
Quick question..... Do you still come out of your desk L & R and split the sound or run both in stereo. Also, do you reverse faze one of them or leave all the settings the same on both?
Yes -- you want to run L&R from the mixer, to L&R to sub one, press in Link, L&R to sub 2 and turn of X-over (80hz sounds good for most music) and run L to L main, and R to R main -- you only want to change the phase if the subs are not pointing where the mains are pointing -- other then that leave the phase at 0 and point them to the dance floor.
Example: Set your RCF 705 output to "link" and run an XLR into the "Right" input on one RCF, then simply run an XLR from that same "Right" output to your second RCF.
@@13bcoffee Thanks for answering, but to be clear, I have an 18 and a 12. At my next event I will have them in front of my booth. If you’re saying I can use them both, should I put them side-by-side or should I stack the 12 on top of the 18? Thanks for your help.
Short answer: no. For proper acoustic coupling and the most actual benefit (6dB gain), you need the same subs, placed within their acoustical centers (within a 1/4 - 1/2 wavelength of their highest frequency) This exact placement can vary...side by side or top/bottom is easiest - but they can be a few feet apart. A 12 on top of an 18 will not couple (phase issues)
Generally it would still be best to just put all four subs together - the best boom. If you can't do that, coupling each pair would be better than single subs on opposite sides of the stage I suppose, but you'll still create issues if each pair isn't far enough apart from the other pair.
you think coupling is good idea but it does not. You see it's a common sense that if you put your subwoofer together you think yeah it's great it double the DB or improved the loudness because you coupled it on one spot and now you hear them together. The bad thing is, now you don't have enough bass on the other spot or if you put both sub on the right the left will suffer from less bass and more mid and high because only one top on the other side. In our gig we always put our subs on both side each so that the tops can be balance. No matter where you put your subs it will always have negative effect so better to put them separately on the room so that the left or right audience has balance on tops and subs output. The best thing to do if you want massive bass is to double them on both side or adding another subs
You are incorrect. "You don't have enough bass on the other spot", what spot? If you center your subs, the bass radiates evenly throughout the room. Heck you can even move all subs to one side or the other and get the same pattern. Sub frequencies run along floors and walls and run to corners. What you can't do is split your subs and get even coverage. ua-cam.com/video/D1hBxCswahQ/v-deo.html
Coupled my subs at a outdoor event just two Peavey Subcompact 15’s after watching your video made a world of difference lots of people commenting on how good it sounded cheers.
Oh yes, it does work! Love it.
This is very helpful and should be practiced wherever possible. Couple (pun intended) of considerations to add which is why Andrew said GENERALLY. 1st You can mess up sightlines to the main artist if you haven't got a raised stage. This is often a consideration. 2nd whilst you do get a subtle cardoid effect by setting them up like this, you could be putting a lot of energy very close to a your lead talent which may or may not be an issue for them, especially smaller venues. 3rd you don't actually have to have them butted up against each other you can experiment with spacing them a short distance and changing your bass polar pattern. 4th You can also gain valuable Db by placing speakers next to a wall.5th Some stages and floors interact with subs in a weird way, in which case alternatives might have to be tried. Finally tripods are messy compared to speakers on subs, this and 1st point is the main reason I don't deploy them like this at weddings (wish I could).
You totally nailed what I was worried about with this setup. Plus, you'll need longer speaker cables for the subs, which can get messy without good cable management. I'd rather keep things simple and tidy than squeeze out a couple of dB and deal with all that hassle.
Place both subs together against a corner of a room. Have the subs face the wall. Yes, have them face the wall. Watch the entire room shake.
Thanks for the advice. I stacked them one on top of each other and WOW huge difference on the SPL.
It's really cool to get free SPL increases
Stacking on top of each other will not only couple them together, it will disperse the sound WIDER rather than taller.
Thanks for this. Though coupled together on one side is correct in science. However when I have tried this at Street Fair Stages or outdoor park events, I always have people comment that they can feel the weight of the subs off to one side and it pulls their attention over to it. Granted overall it absolutely has smoother coverage pattern to couple on one side instead of splitting the pair, but it seems to add an unnatural sound quality that people notice more than when the bass is just cancelled in a comb pattern across the front.
Good vid. However, an explanation of how you connect them together would be useful. Is it simply pass through in/out from one to another, or something else?
pass through
This is truly true about getting more bass and I have tried it out my self.
Have not used the 15" version of this.
Hello...I have two rcf 905 as 2 subs and two rcf 745 as2 mk2 tops, which according to you is the best possible setup to get more power and depth in the bass?
@@NoLimit-un7kv what ever brand u have if u put them like this yoy will gain more bass .but sometime sit depends on the venue you play at. Let's say a small backyard party house for your band L/R is just fine . But when you talk about larger venue ,you do not only need 2 but sometimes 8 subs in line just like this ones. My best advice is to do what you can with the equipment you have. Doesn't matter if you don't have good quality speakers or subs but I recommend so . Work with what you have and be smart where you project your sound. Everything matters not just sound . Every instrument has to be tune right and the gains need to be set up properly and the wires you run and how I set up your top speakers, the height and how manny people you r playing to
Thank you very much for your reply and advice
do you ever ratchet strap them together so they don't vibrate against each other? Or do you ever put rubber dampeners between them or anything like that?
Hell yea Bro!! I bought 2 Harbinger S12 subs to match my 2 Harbinger MLS 10000 . Wow! I couple the subs together and sounds GREAT!! Alway pair by multiple of 2s . One is ok …2 better not 3 but 4 subwoofers . It won’t sound louder but fuller and deeper bass. Always remember to keep your subwoofers of the same brand , size and power rating. No different size cabinets for example one 12 and one 15 Happy listening
Nice!!
I have 1 QSC KS118 now and to be honest I'm itching for a 2nd one. He's not lying there.
Doing this still creates power alleys and valleys. If you place two subs in the front, stack them with one facing the stage, reverse the polarity on the bottom sub and add a 3 to 4 millisecond delay as well. By doing so you create a clean, deep bass through the entire venue.
Hello, great video. I would maybe have one question. How do you connect these subwoofers? From mixer both outputs L and R (two xlr cables) to the first sub and then link L and R (two xlr cables) to the second sub? Or from the mixer L output is going to the first sub and R is going to the second sub? Or do you connect just mono L output from the mixer to the first sub and then link to the second sub? Can you please advice?
From mixer L and R to, (press Link 0n the first sub) L and R on the Subwoofer, run L and R to Subwoofer 2 (turn on X- over 80 hz or 110 hz) run L and R to each tops.
Hello,..I have two rcf 905 as 2 subs and two rcf 745 mk2 tops, which according to you is the best possible setup to get more power and depth in the bass?
Put those two 905's together on one side, or together in the middle. Nice setup!
I'm assuming you run one channel through both in mono?
So I have Dual JBL 18” subs. Do I set them side by side or on top of each other?
I currently separate them with the tops…
Either way will produce essentially the same good result. Simply depends on your space/area.
Can i mix 2 diffrent sizes of subs? Like coupling 2 sets of 18in on the far left side of the stage and the same way couple the 2 sets of 12in sub on the far right side of the stage. Is it ok? Is it allowable?
Thanks...
do you still activate the built in sub crossover for the tops even you couple the subs like in the middle?
Yes you do :)
What about if I put it together on the side whit my tops ?
Can I couple 2 different brands but same speaker size 18s.?
You should be fine. The main thing you have to worry about is polarity, if they’re cancelling each other out flip the phase on one of them.
@@mikkywhalan thank you
Just curious, what happens if you place one each Left / Right and put one out of polarity? That'll eliminate the "power alley" and nulls.
Thanks for the advice. I only use one sub right now but I am considering getting two of the same and will try the coupling method. Your video is clear and to the point and this something I have heard people advise for years
Question. So I , like a lot of folks, have begun using the module systems like the EV Evolve 50...... Are we creating that same power ally since we do not have are subs coupled. Or maybe do to smaller venues it’s not an issue? The bass on these sounds great to me. But are we losing out on some low end.
You are technically creating the power alley, but indeed it's all somewhat relative to each venue. For many smaller rooms with Evolve systems (and Evox, and Eon One...) it's likely not a deal breaking problem.
@@AndrewYates thanks
Where would you place one sub and two tops for a singer with backing music
When using 1 sub, if the vocalist is going to be standing somewhat near the middle of a stage/lounge/bar setup it, I would put it off to either side, but not in the middle (too close to the singer).
Bro is speaking facts. They need to be shoulder to shoulder and not angle. #TRUST
nice video. Do you get the same SPL and Base if you Stacked them together instead of Coupling.. Just curious. Thanks
Yes you sure do. Stacking works the same as side-by-side for coupling. The RCF's in this video do not have the built in wedges for stacking, but many subs do.
@@AndrewYates thanks man. I will try this
can you stack them and get the same effect?
In general, yes the effect is the same if you stack subs vs. side-by-side them. With these exact RCF
models I wouldn't recommend stacking them because they don't have the small cutouts on the top for stable stacking.
Stacking the sub will it make more punchy (it will hit the chest people that are close by) and the bass will not travel that far. Placing both subs on the bottom will increase the output, and the bass will spread our more even.
Your thoughts on the 905 asii
I have 2 pair of the 15" subs by RCF and 2pair of the RCF 18" subs. Is your recommendation to pair the 18's together on one side and the 15" on the other?
If you must use all four at once, (for peak performance I would not recommend using 15 & 18's at the same time) I would think getting them all as close together would still be best.
Can you point the subs to the back wall with a little gap? Or do they HAVE to be in front of the stage?
You want to face it forward. You can run two subs, one facing back towards a wall and one towards the dance floor (cardioid setup). You will need to be few yards away from the wall or it may not sound good -- go by ear. If you place both subwoofers facing forward you will get more output.
you make a valid point, coupling does work.
Putting two of these (or any identical subs) into proper coupling really does wonders - I wish more people understood the easy and useful benefit.
Can I couple 2 different brands of subwoofers? Like QSC KW181 and EV ETX 18sp, would they cancel out some frequencies? Some people says it's a bad idea to couple different brands but is there any proof about that or does someone already tried that? Thank you very much!
It's always BEST to use identical subs. If you must mix brands, at least use the same size woofers 18" and 18" etc, and close sized boxes as much as possible. Won't be perfect, but won't be completely wack.
What about two on one side (coupled) and two on the other side? (4 total) Would you still get bass cancelling each other at the edges of the stage/venue?
Yes, to an even larger degree I believe. If you're not going to couple them all together, it becomes very venue/stage specific on how you need to space them without major cancellation in certain spots.
What if I stack two both left and right(stereo) with tops??? Or couple them both left and right with tops. Would I get the same effect???
These are not recommended for stacking (no built in "feet"), it really depends on your venue. Outdoors is often toughest, indoors - depending on size of the venue etc. that may work quite well.
Quick question..... Do you still come out of your desk L & R and split the sound or run both in stereo. Also, do you reverse faze one of them or leave all the settings the same on both?
Yes -- you want to run L&R from the mixer, to L&R to sub one, press in Link, L&R to sub 2 and turn of X-over (80hz sounds good for most music) and run L to L main, and R to R main -- you only want to change the phase if the subs are not pointing where the mains are pointing -- other then that leave the phase at 0 and point them to the dance floor.
Hi, what is the best setting for pair of Yamaha DXR10 and 1 RCF Sub 705asii?
I would set the RCF to the 110 cut, I believe the DXR has a 110 bypass for subs.
@@AndrewYates no they have 120hz
How do you couple Is by wiring on the back can you please show us
Example: Set your RCF 705 output to "link" and run an XLR into the "Right" input on one RCF, then simply run an XLR from that same "Right" output to your second RCF.
Can you use different sized subs when coupling?
Yes
@@13bcoffee Thanks for answering, but to be clear, I have an 18 and a 12. At my next event I will have them in front of my booth. If you’re saying I can use them both, should I put them side-by-side or should I stack the 12 on top of the 18? Thanks for your help.
Short answer: no.
For proper acoustic coupling and the most actual benefit (6dB gain), you need the same subs, placed within their acoustical centers (within a 1/4 - 1/2 wavelength of their highest frequency) This exact placement can vary...side by side or top/bottom is easiest - but they can be a few feet apart. A 12 on top of an 18 will not couple (phase issues)
@@AndrewYates thank you
Could do with 4 side by side right
Yes, absolutely.
What about 4 subs? 2 each side or 4 in the middle?
4 in the middle would be killer, do that.
Will this works for dual 18s as well?
Absolutely it will!
Can you couple two different size subs?
For a proper coupling effect, you need to use identical subs (make & model), side by side or stacked.
What about 2 sets of coupling. 1 couple on the left side of venue and 1 couple on the rights idea? (Total 4 subs) what effect would this have?
Generally it would still be best to just put all four subs together - the best boom. If you can't do that, coupling each pair would be better than single subs on opposite sides of the stage I suppose, but you'll still create issues if each pair isn't far enough apart from the other pair.
Trust me if you put 4 in the middle you will get a very big sound
Subbed. Thx
Welcome!
you think coupling is good idea but it does not. You see it's a common sense that if you put your subwoofer together you think yeah it's great it double the DB or improved the loudness because you coupled it on one spot and now you hear them together. The bad thing is, now you don't have enough bass on the other spot or if you put both sub on the right the left will suffer from less bass and more mid and high because only one top on the other side. In our gig we always put our subs on both side each so that the tops can be balance. No matter where you put your subs it will always have negative effect so better to put them separately on the room so that the left or right audience has balance on tops and subs output. The best thing to do if you want massive bass is to double them on both side or adding another subs
You are incorrect. "You don't have enough bass on the other spot", what spot? If you center your subs, the bass radiates evenly throughout the room. Heck you can even move all subs to one side or the other and get the same pattern. Sub frequencies run along floors and walls and run to corners. What you can't do is split your subs and get even coverage. ua-cam.com/video/D1hBxCswahQ/v-deo.html