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Author: Wayne Harris Click HERE to view more articles by Wayne Harris. Originally appeared in the Volume 2, Number 2 issue of Made in the USA magazine. © All rights reserved. |
Welcome to Wayne's World!
Wake up Dude! It's time to shake the dust off the woofers and clean the cobwebs from your ears (if you have any ears left). Sound-Off season's here, and if you wanna kick butt again this year, you're gonna have to start tweakin' on your system – NOW! In this issue I'm going to give you a few tips you can use to improve your score at auto sound competitions.
First, as obvious as it might seem, read the rule book. Judging will ALWAYS be done by the book. This is especially important for 1995 because of some new rule changes. In fact, if you're really smart, you'll snag a copy of the new rule book first and THEN design your system. Your goal should be to satisfy the judging criteria exactly as it is outlined in the book. (This book gives you the answers to the questions on the "test," so use it to your advantage.)
Secondly, study the score sheet. Examine the scoring breakdown and then focus on the areas that have the largest impact on your score. (See Figure 1). In each of those areas, identify the various things that you can do to improve your system and then group those things using the following criteria...
Do the Fast and Easy stuff first. Your goal should be to maximize your score in the minimum amount of time with the least amount of effort. The more contests you win now, the better your chances of qualifying for the Finals.
Get Organized. If you're like most contestants, you probably have to juggle your time between your car, your job, and your girl. This means that you need to utilize your time as effectively as possible. Prioritize the tasks you have identified above and then write down a time schedule for each.
Do It! The sooner you start, the sooner you'll see results. Always try to do something every day, even if it seems insignificant. In many cases, it's the little things that make the difference between a good system and a winning system. You may even find that the hardest part of accomplishing a given task is to just get started.
Study Your Previous Score Sheets. As you compete throughout the season, try to identify the areas where you are consistently losing points. Focus on correcting those areas.
Join IASCA – You get 3 bonus points just for being a member of IASCA. This one is a no-brainer.
Install an EPX2 Signal Processor. What an opportunity! The new rules for '95 allow contestants to adjust their systems between the sound quality, RTA, and SPL testing areas. Using an EPX2 will give you a tremendous advantage over the other Lame-O's that are competing! While those dudes are fiddling around with tweakers and gain pots, you'll be able to simply recall the desired Global Preset on your EPX2. (Remember, the EPX2 features four Global Preset Memories, each of which stores Preamp, Equalizer, and Crossover information.) By using these Global Presets, you can set up your system for best SQ, RTA, and SPL scores BEFORE the competition begins. You can then recall these presets instantly with the Global Load command. Last year, contestants using EPX improved their scores by an average of 8 points by using the VDISC feature. This year, the sky's the limit.
In the next issue, I'll go into detail about the EPX2 and its features, as well as some really cool strategies for using it in competition.
Until next time... Party On Dude!