Toby Keith’s Big Throwdown II Tour Marks the Real-World Debut of the New dbx® DriveRack® 4800 System Processor

(dbx | Posted 2006-03-05)

The new dbx® DriveRack® 4800 System Processor, the next generation in the critically acclaimed line of dbx DriveRack processors, made its real-world debut on January 20th, when multi-platinum-selling artist Toby Keith kicked off his Big Throwdown II tour in Portland, Oregon. Chosen by Keith’s FOH Mixer, Dirk Durham, in a critical-listening comparison test at Sound Image in San Diego, the PA provider for the tour, the new DriveRack 4800 as part of an integrated HiQnet™ system, not only gave the tour a huge new sonic boost but also made the task of mixing a huge arena tour much easier.

“On the very first day I had it out, there were three cabinets in the JBL Vertec line array that were out due to bad cabling,” recalls Durham, who has mixed Toby Keith’s live sound since 2000’s How Do You Like Me Now tour. “Using the graphic display in System Architect™ to check the ohm load on each box, I could identify the problem boxes without having to pull the PA system down. That saved me 45 minutes right there.” Durham continues to find new capabilities on the 4800 and the HiQnet control backbone daily that make his job easier and the sound better. “I’ve literally just scratched the surface of what this system is capable of,” he says. “The more I use it, the more I learn and the more I respect it.”

Durham is running a complex system, covering a full 270 degrees from the stage back video wall. He has divided the sound into five distinct areas: three main zones (a forward left/right and two side left/right zones) as well as two banks of 10 Vertec subs each side — one flown, the other on the deck, with the latter also feeding front fill boxes for the first few rows. Each area has its own DriveRack 4800 controlling it. And as good as its ergonomics from either the front panel or the software have been, Durham has found the DriveRack 4800’s sonic capabilities to be even more amazing. “I knew it was going to sound great as soon as we tested it the first time,” he enthuses, recalling a challenge to identify A/B signals passing directly to the Crown I-Tech amplifiers or through the 4800. “None of us — me, our monitor mixer Earl Neal or Dave Shadoan of Sound Image — could spot the processed signal,” he notes. Durham also lauds the 4800’s extensive EQ features, including the capability to do notch filtering within the parametric equalizer. “And everything can be visually represented on the 4800’s front panel display or via the System Architect™ software, which is real important when you’re surrounded by 20,000 screaming fans,” he adds. “It’s reassuring to be able to see the moves I’m making even if I can’t hear them if I make changes between songs. The DriveRack 4800 is just one incredible box. I’ve been with Toby as we went from clubs to arenas — it’s been a great ride. And the ride’s about to get better with the 4800 with us.”

The dbx DriveRack 4800 features all the familiar processing functions and a host of new algorithms — including selectable DSP inserts on the inputs and outputs, a wealth of parametric and graphic EQ, delay, classic dbx compression and limiting, bandpass and crossover filters — the DriveRack 4800 supplies the front-of-house engineer, monitor engineer and/or system technician with all the necessary processing tools for any live sound reinforcement situation. The unit’s 96 kHz 40 bit processing engine and standard digital I/O further extends frequency response and reduces latency. The 4800 incorporates Harman Professional’s HiQnet™ protocol, providing the ability to monitor and control signal routing as well as the processing of multiple DriveRack 4800 units and other HiQnet™ products from various locations via standard Ethernet equipment including routers and wireless access points.

Photo Caption: Pictured left to right are David Shadoan, President Sound Image; Rob Urry, President of HMG, Russell Fischer FOH System Engineer, Dirk Durham FOH Engineer

Toby Keith’s Big Throwdown II Tour Marks the Real-World Debut of the New dbx® DriveRack® 4800 System Processor

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