Mackie DRM18S User Manual

DRM18S

2000W 18" Professional Powered Subwoofer

OWNER’S MANUAL

Important Safety Instructions

1. Read these instructions.

2. Keep these instructions.

3. Heed all warnings.

4. Follow all instructions.

5. Do not use this apparatus near water.

6. Clean only with a dry cloth.

7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance

with the manufacturer’s instructions.

8. Minimum distance (5 cm) around the apparatus for sucient ventilation. The ventilation should not be impeded by covering the ventilation openings with items, such as newspapers, table-cloths, curtains, etc.

9. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including ampliﬁers) that produce heat.

10. No naked ﬂame sources, such as lighted candles, should be placed on the apparatus.

11. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding-type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not ﬁt into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.

12. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.

13. Only use attachments/accessories speciﬁed by the manufacturer.

14. Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table

speciﬁed by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus.

PORTABLE CART

WARNING

When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/ apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.

15. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.

16. Refer all servicing to qualiﬁed service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

17. This apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing, and no object ﬁlled with liquids, such as vases or beer glasses, shall be placed on the apparatus.

18. Do not overload wall outlets and extension cords as this can result in a risk

of ﬁre or electric shock.

DRM18S 2000W 18" Professional Powered Subwoofer

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK! DO NOT OPEN!

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT

REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.

REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.

The lightning ﬂash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the prescence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure, that may be of signiﬁcant magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user of the prescence of important operating and maintaining (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.

WARNING — To reduce the risk of ﬁre or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.

CAUTION — To prevent electric shock hazard, do not connect to mains power supply while grille is removed.

19. This apparatus has been designed with Class-I construction and must be connected to a mains socket outlet with a protective earthing connection (the third grounding prong).

20. This apparatus has been equipped with a rocker-style AC mains power switch. This switch is located on the rear panel and should remain readily accessible to the user.

21. The MAINS plug or an appliance coupler is used as the disconnect device, so the disconnect device shall remain readily operable.

22. The use of apparatus is in tropical and/or moderate climates.

23. NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits

for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 5 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.

WARNING: Operation of DRM8S in a residential environment could cause

radio interference.

CAUTION: Changes or modiﬁcations to this device not expressly approved

by LOUD Audio, LLC could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment under FCC rules.

24. This apparatus does not exceed the Class A/Class B (whichever is applicable) limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus as set out in the radio interference regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.

ATTENTION

— Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant las limites applicables aux appareils numériques de class A/de class B (selon le cas) prescrites dans le réglement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicté par les ministere des communications du Canada.

25. Exposure to extremely high noise levels may cause permanent hearing loss. Individuals vary considerably in susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss, but nearly everyone will lose some hearing if exposed to suciently intense noise for a period of time. The U.S. Government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has speciﬁed the permissible noise level exposures shown in the following chart.

According to OSHA, any exposure in excess of these permissible limits

could result in some hearing loss. To ensure against potentially dangerous exposure to high sound pressure levels, it is recommended that all persons exposed to equipment capable of producing high sound pressure levels use hearing protectors while the equipment is in operation. Ear plugs or protectors in the ear canals or over the ears must be worn when operating the equipment in order to prevent permanent hearing loss if exposure is in excess of the limits set forth here:

Duration, per day in hours

8 90 Duo in small club 6 92

4 95 Subway Train 3 97

2 00 Very loud classical music .5 02

 05 Matt screaming at Troy about deadlines

0.5 0

0.25 or less 5 Loudest parts at a rock concert

Sound Level dBA, Slow Response

Typical Example

Laite on liitettävä suojakoskettimilla varustettuun pistorasiaan.

Apparatet må tilkoples jordet stikkontakt.

Apparaten skall anslutas till jordat uttag.

Correct disposal of this product: This symbol indicates that this product should not be disposed of with your household waste, according to the WEEE directive (202/9/EU) and your national law. This product should be handed over to an authorized collection site for recycling waste electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). Improper handling of this type of waste could have a possible negative impact on the environment and human health due to potentially hazardous substances that are generally associated with EEE. At the same time, your cooperation in the correct disposal of this product will contribute to the eective usage of natural resources. For more information about where you can drop o your waste equipment for recycling, please contact your local city oce, waste authority, or your household waste disposal service.

DRM18S 2000W 18” Professional Powered Subwoofer

Contents Features

Owner’s Manual

Important Safety Instructions ........................................... 2

Contents / Features ............................................................ 3

Introduction / Getting Started ........................................... 4

Hookup Diagrams ............................................................... 5

DRM8S Subwoofer: Rear Panel Features ......................0

1. Power Connection ...................................................0

2. Power Switch ..........................................................0

3. XLR and 1/4” Combo Inputs ...................................0

4. Direct Out ................................................................ 

5. High-Pass Out ......................................................... 

6. LCD Display ............................................................ 

7. Speaker Control Knob ............................................ 

DRM Control Dashboard™ ................................................2

Main .............................................................................2

Subwoofer Mode ........................................................3

X-Over ..........................................................................3

Cardio ..........................................................................4

Delay ............................................................................4

Conﬁguration ..............................................................5

• High-eciency 2000W Class-D ampliﬁer oers ample headroom for professional applications

o Universal power supply (00-240 VAC) with Power Factor

Correction technology ensures consistent performance even with unstable AC power

o Next-gen protection circuitry keeps transducers safe

and ensures peak performance in all applications

• Advanced Impulse™ DSP module

o Precision acoustic correction delivers reference quality

sound that is consistent even at high SPL

• DRM Control Dashboard™ features a high-resolution full color display for easy single-knob access to conﬁguration, processing, and more

o View current crossover setting, high-resolution metering,

and more from a single overview window

o User adjustable variable crossover point allows

for matching to any speaker system plus a DRM speciﬁc mode tailors DRM8S for full-range DRM loudspeakers

o Save and recall up to 6 user presets for various

applications and venues

o Cardioid mode allows for easy setup of a directional

subwoofer array

o Screensaver plus dimmer and contrast control o Polarity Invert o Alignment Delay control for delay stacks o System lock with 4-digit passcode

Protection Circuitry ...........................................................7

Limiting .......................................................................7

Overexcursion Protection ..........................................7

Thermal Protection ....................................................7

AC Power ............................................................................8

Care and Maintenance ......................................................8

Placement ..........................................................................8

Rigging ..............................................................................8

A Note About Cardioid Operation ....................................20

Appendix A: Service Information ......................................2

Appendix B: Technical Information ................................. 22

DRM8S Dimensions .................................................23

DRM8S Block Diagram ............................................ 24

Limited Warranty .............................................................. 25

• Dual independent input channels with Full-Range Direct and High-Pass outputs

• Premium components

o Road-worthy 8mm plywood construction and internal

bracing oers optimal acoustic performance with a touring-grade textured coating and powder-coated heavy gauge steel grille

o 8" high-excursion woofer oers increased bass response,

low distortion, and professional reliability to withstand the most demanding applications

• Acoustic design with no compromises

o DRM8S is acoustically designed with ample internal

volume and precision tuned ports to naturally deliver the bass you need with minimal distortion

• Versatile conﬁguration options

o Flyable via optional FB00 Fly Bar and FKDRM8S

Flyware Kit

o M20 threaded pole attachment for use with DRM Series

loudspeakers and other pole mountable speakers

• Max SPL: 35 dB

• 90 lb / 40.8 kg

Like us

Part No. SW274 Rev. A 0/9

Watch our dang videos

Owner’s Manual

Introduction

Getting Started

The DRM8S 2000W 8” Professional Powered Subwoofer

delivers class-leading power via an ultra-ecient Class-D ampliﬁer with next-gen protection and Power Factor Correction technology provides peak low-end performance when you need it.

Advanced Impulse™ DSP provides acoustic correction

via precision tuned FIR ﬁlters for accurate, punchy sound typically experienced only with massive touring systems.

The DRM Control Dashboard™ features a high-contrast,

full-color display for quick access metering, crossover settings, and more.

Designed to match the rest of the DRM Series perfectly,

the DRM8S is stackable, ﬂyable, and is equipped with a pole cup for maximum versatility.

How to Use This Manual:

Afer this introduction, a getting started guide will help

you get things set up fast. The hookup diagrams show some typical DRM8S subwoofer setups.

This icon marks information that is critically important or unique! For your own good, read and remember them...it is a good idea to pay special

DRM18S 2000W 18" Professional Powered Subwoofer

attention to these areas in the Owner’s Manual marked with the “VERY IMPORTANT” hand icon.

The following steps will help you set up the DRM8S quickly.

. Make all initial connections with the power switches OFF

on all equipment. Make sure the master volume, level and gain controls are all the way down.

2. Connect the outputs from the mixing console (or other

signal source) to the inputs on the DRM8S, then connect the high pass outputs from the subwoofer to the inputs of the loudspeakers.

3. Push the line cord securely into the subwoofer’s /

loudspeaker’s IEC connectors and plug the other ends into grounded AC outlets. The subwoofer/loudspeaker may accept the appropriate voltage as indicated near the IEC connector.

4. Turn the mixer (or other signal source) on.

5. Turn the subwoofer on.

6. Turn the loudspeakers on.

7. Make sure the subwoofer’s channel levels are set

to (or near) 0 dB.

8. Make sure the loudspeaker’s channel levels are set

to (or near) 0 dB.

9. Start the signal source and raise the mixer’s main L/R

fader up to a comfortably loud listening level.

There’s an illustration of a microscope, so, of course, you’re going to get more detailed information when you see this little guy. There are explanations of features and practical tips listed here.

It’s a good idea to pay attention to text displayed next to a note icon, as this icon draws attention to certain features and functions relating to the usage of the DRM8S.

Please write the serial numbers here for future reference (i.e., insurance claims, tech support, return authorization, make dad proud, etc.)

Purchased at:

Date of purchase:

Things to Remember:

• Never listen to loud music for prolonged periods. Please see

the Safety Instructions on page 2 for information on hearing protection.

• As a general guide, the mixer (or other signal source) should

be turned on ﬁrst, DRM8S subwoofer next, and loudspeakers last. As such, the loudspeakers should also be turned o ﬁrst, followed by the DRM8S, then the mixer. This will reduce the possibility of any turn-on or turn-o thumps and other noises generated by any upstream equipment from coming out of the speakers.

• Save the shipping boxes and packing materials! You may

need them someday. Besides, the cats will love playing in them and jumping out at you unexpectedly. Remember to pretend like you are surprised!

• Save your sales receipt in a safe place.

DRM18S 2000W 18” Professional Powered Subwoofer

Hookup Diagrams

Owner’s Manual

SPM400 Pole Mount

A DRM8S subwoofer and DRM loudspeaker is the perfect tool for a standard PA setup, whether installed in a club, gymnasium, house of worship and more.

Here you will want to connect a cable from the mixer’s lef main output jack to the ch.  input jack of the DRM8S. The ch.  high-pass output of the DRM8S subwoofer is then connected to the ch.  input of the DRM loudspeaker [DRM22 in this example].

It is possible to reproduce this exact same hookup in stereo. Simply utilize the lef and right main outputs from the mixer to feed the ch.  input of each DRM8S and mirror the rest of the system as described above.

You will want to set the crossover to DRM Top as described in detail on page 3. Or set it to Var if using a non-DRM loudspeaker.

Simple PA Setup

Owner’s Manual

Hookup Diagrams continued...

SPM400 Pole Mount

DRM18S 2000W 18" Professional Powered Subwoofer

This type of setup will typically be found at small indoor or outdoor gigs, festivals, weddings, or parades where a high output PA with wide coverage and throw is necessary. This is a great setup for local DIY bands, too.

The lef output from a mixer feeds the ch.  input of a Mackie DRM8S powered subwoofer. The ch.  direct output of the subwoofer feeds the input of a Mackie DRM2A powered arrayable loudspeaker. The DRM2A reproduces the mid-to-high frequencies in mono, and the sub provides the low frequencies in mono.

It is possible to reproduce this exact same hookup in stereo. Simply utilize the lef and right main outputs from the mixer to feed the ch.  inputs of each subwoofer and mirror the rest of the system as identiﬁed above.

Another important aspect to keep in mind is the rigging setup. In this diagram, the DRM2As are pole-mounted on a DRM8S subwoofer, utilizing an SPM400 adjustable pole. Refer to pages 8 and 9 for more information about rigging.

You will want to set the crossover to DRM Top as described in detail on page 3. Or set it to Var if using a non-DRM loudspeaker.

Pole-mounted DRM2A arrayable loudspeaker with single DRM8S

DRM18S 2000W 18” Professional Powered Subwoofer

Hookup Diagrams continued...

Owner’s Manual

FKDRM18S Flyware Kit

This is the perfect setup for any venue where the audience is level with and sloping upward from the stage and PA. For example, a bowl, a shed or a gym with bleachers.

The lef output from a mixer feeds the ch.  input of a single Mackie DRM8S powered subwoofer. The ch.  high-pass output of the subwoofer feeds the input of a Mackie DRM2A powered arrayable loudspeaker. The output of that Mackie DRM2A powered arrayable loudspeaker feeds the input of the next Mackie DRM2A powered arrayable loudspeaker. The DRM2As reproduce the mid-to-high frequencies in mono, and the sub provides the low frequencies in mono.

Another important aspect to keep in mind is the rigging setup. In this diagram, the DRM2As are ground stacked on a DRM8S utilizing the FKDRM18S Flyware Kit. This system may also be ﬂown utilizing the FB00 Flybar, with the DRM8S powered subwoofer on top. See pages 8-9 for more information about rigging.

You will want to set the crossover to DRM Top as described in detail on page 3. Or set it to Var if using a non-DRM loudspeaker.

Three ground-stacked DRM2A arrayable loudspeakers with single DRM8S

Owner’s Manual

Hookup Diagrams continued...

FB100 Flybar

FKDRM18S Flyware Kit

DRM18S 2000W 18" Professional Powered Subwoofer

This setup is perfect for installs, touring systems, festivals and/or small stages...any venue requiring a 75–00 foot throw. Two subwoofers are introduced to this setup, providing even low frequency coverage for the ﬂown subs.

It is possible to reproduce this exact same hookup in stereo. Simply utilize the lef and right main outputs from the mixer to feed the main inputs of the top subwoofers to mirror the rest of the system as identiﬁed here.

Another important aspect to keep in mind is the rigging setup of loudspeakers. In this diagram, the DRM8S subwoofers and DRM2A powered arrayable loudspeakers are ﬂown utilizing an FB00 Flybar. Note that each subwoofer requires its own FKDRM18S Flyware Kit, as well. Refer to pages 8 and 9 for more information about rigging (and eyebolts).

You will want to set the crossover on both subwoofers to DRM Top as described in detail on page 3.

Two ﬂown DRM8S subwoofers with four DRM2A arrayable loudspeakers

DRM18S 2000W 18” Professional Powered Subwoofer

+ 18 hidden pages