PlanetZ forums - scopeusers.com

Hi all!
I use my millennia TD1 preamp with my pulsar2.
The TD1 has lots of headroom - when I push its gain a little, checking on the dedicated TD1 headphone output the sound is clear, no distortion. BUT connecting it to the pulsar is another thing: it distorts! like the pulsar can't handle the large headroom the TD1 provides... Is it realy the case?

Thanks!

The millenia puts out a balanced and unbalanced signal. Try the unbalanced signal output.If you have the pro i/o it should be fine with balanced outputs.

Fluxpod wrote:The millenia puts out a balanced and unbalanced signal. Try the unbalanced signal output.If you have the pro i/o it should be fine with balanced outputs.

Thanks,
I use the unbalanced outs (my pulsar version is the unbalanced).

In the scopes software (4.5) I connected the analog source (the TD1 unbal output) to a compressor (only for clean monitoring) and then to the analog dest (speakers). when I look at the in monitor of the compressor, above a certain TD1s gain it always goes red! it seems that the inputs of the pulsar realy cant handle too much gain!

Is it possible in some way to lower the gain of the analog inputs of the pulsar so I will be able to calibrate the TD1 input gain? the scopes mixers gain/fader only change it AFTER the analog source and not BEFORE...

help....

no, the compressor is just overloading.

why don't you use a mixer? if you did, you'd have a gain control.

why are you using a compressor in that way? the proper level to record, if you are using 24bit or better resolution is not to have the average signal as close to zero as possible. this is an analog tape technique. the average signal should be between 1/2 and 3/4 up the scale. this leaves plenty of headroom for dynamics, yet leaves plenty of bit depth for an accurate recording.

if the material is so dynamic that you need to compress, so be it, but i'd rather just put a limiter on the channel in that case, and i'd want it in between the pre and the AD/DA, which means hardware.

if this were a live performance, then a compressor might be needed, but again, then you'd want a mixer. the thing that makes me so adamant is that compression cannot be undone, once done. i don't really know how much i want to squish a track until i hear it together with everything else, personally.

sorry for all the advice, of course you are free to use your own stuff as you wish. the Pulsar i/o are not lacking, however. there are very few soundcards that are it's equal, let alone superior.

or so my opinion tells me...

Hi,
as I wrote before, I use the compressor only to monitor the in levels. I do not use it to compress.
If I use the mixer (all faders on 0) the same problem happens: it clips above a certain TD1s gain.
the gain control of the mixer doesn't change the picture - it still clips. this is because it seems to control the gain AFTER the input stage and not BEFORE it.

a mic pre adds gain. a mic is not hearable without gain. add less gain. of course it's possible to add enough gain to clip the input!

i use a millenia hv-3 and an 8 channel hv-3r is being used by soniccore at NAMM this year. the pre is sitting in my living room. there's no level issue between a Scope card and the preamp.

if you monitor the compressor, how will you know what anything sounds like? the red light on the compressor indicates clipping, which your ears also hear.

obviously, i just don't understand what you are doing, or i wouldn't be getting all recording 101 on you. i'm sure there's a reason, but i don't get it. are you trying to set the TD-1 to 0 and then seeing the level in Scope be zero? what do you mean be calibrate? the reason to add gain is to get the mic to a usable level. there's a meter in the mixer, or there's a meter by itself. it doesn't matter what the pre is referenced to, voltage-wise, the level known as "zero" is a relative number. from one piece of gear to another it will vary. there's never a perfect amount of gain for a mic, it depends on the source material.

don't you get a good level for recording, before you get clipping? why does it need to be any hotter than that? the level it doesn't clip is the level to "calibrate" to....

no i think i must misunderstand your intentions and/or purposes.

Can you please try the following:
- put the gain of the HV3 on MAX.
- connect a condenser mic and speak loud (do not shout) so the overload led doesn't light on.

do you get any distorsion from the scopes output (on the speakers)? I do.

so what?

you SHOULD get that result!!!

the mic pre is capable of more gain than needed for that mic used that way.
the only reason for gain, is to make the level of the mic recordable. that's it.

*edit* i'm sorry i almost freaked out.
the clip light on the mic pre indicated the level that the micpre clips, which may be significantly higher than ANY recorder's inputs could handle. also, there are frequencies and transients that won't trip the red clip light on the pre, but will certainly be heard when they hit the AD/DA.

that is not a good way to monitor level. your ears should recognize clipping in the pre, and there are meters in the Scope environment that are the ones that should be used for recording levels. as i said, 0db is a RELATIVE level, not an absolute one. usually, it's to a standard voltage, but it doesn't have to be. that's why you see consumer(unbalanced, not bad) gear referenced to -10 or -20. usually, the spec is accompanied by a reference voltage. in the old days, the VU meters were adjustable and differences in the zero reference were ignored by simply changing the position of the needle with a screwdriver. sealed and digital meters don't usually allow for this. there is no government mandated exact standard for 0db and there's no problem with a micpre that has many times more headroom than the recorder. in fact, that's pretty normal.

Thanks!

awww, i'm a jerk, but your system's probably just fine.

You helped me ALOT, thank you very very much