DBX AFS224

[John Bell]

I recently purchased a DBX AFS224 for use with my JBL MRX512 monitors.
After trying out all of the options of Q and experimenting with the number of fixed and live filters in my studio, I found this unit to be so much better with my system than 2X 31 band graphics.

Not only are the monitors louder and clearer, but any further feedback caused by mic movements, is swiftly dealt with.
The live filters then release when not required, so they are available for re-use.

When I first tried it out at a live gig, I put it in series, in front of a dual 15x band graphic, just in case I hadn't got the settings right, but I didn't have to use it.

Not cheap, at £279 from Dolphin Music, but well worth the investment. John.

[soundmanjim]

that gadget looks great John - if it works as well as you say its a fit and forget for many installs as well as live

[John Bell]

I used the DBX AFS224 at a gig in Kent and reset all of the fixed filters as usual and it did the job very well, after a quick ring-out.

Then we had a local gig in Uxbridge a week later and didn't need the monitors at such a high level, so I just left the previous fixed filter settings as they were and it didn't have to use the live filters.

This saved the audience from the brief ring-out and saved some setting-up time. A quick sound-check and we were ready to go.

This was our first "plug in and play" gig and it went very well, with 2 more bookings from the audience, who were checking us out for their venues. Great piece of kit. John.

[John Bell]

I have just ordered another DBX AFS224 for my rig, this time from Digital Village.

I am racking these units into a separate 3U DMS 400 rack, so that I can use them without my full FOH outboard rack at small gigs, with the Mackie CFX16 MKII mixer.

These are all stacked up on the amp rack next to my drum kit and I just monitor the main output on cans. I use my iPod for testing the rig and interval music if required.

With the 1.3kw rig out the front and just 2x 400w monitors, with 4x LED short Par 64's mounted on the speaker poles between the subs and tops, this makes for a nice compact but clean and punchy rig.

The DBX gear makes leveling the FOH and monitors a doddle and no feedback if the guitarists mess with the mics.