Re: Clipping or Distortion on input

[Mike Rivers]

In article > writes:

> Mike, the documentation I have is a drawing of a triangle with input
> buffer written inside that says +18db

> I looked at a web site for info and found line in to be
> unbalanced.I don't know if it's -10.

My guess is that "+18 dB" means that the maxiumum input level before
clilpping is +18 dBu. Depending on how much headroom you want to leave
for yourself, that could be +4 dBu nominal, but a nominal -10 dBV
source will give you plenty of headroom. So if your preamp isn't
clipping and the level converter is passive, you're probably not
overloading the SeaSound interface. Based on comments from a few other
folks here who have experience using the instrument input on the API
preamp, I'd say that's what's clipping.

Can you bypass everything and connect the preamp output directly to
your monitor system? That will tell you if you're clipping at that
point. The way to solve these problems is to take things apart and try
to find which pieces aren't distorting. That will help you to find the
guilty party, and give you a hint as to what to do about it.

--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
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[Jeff Shaner]

(Mike Rivers) wrote in message news:<znr1077135334k@trad>...
> In article > writes:
>
> > Mike, the documentation I have is a drawing of a triangle with input
> > buffer written inside that says +18db
>
> > I looked at a web site for info and found line in to be
> > unbalanced.I don't know if it's -10.
>
> My guess is that "+18 dB" means that the maxiumum input level before
> clilpping is +18 dBu. Depending on how much headroom you want to leave
> for yourself, that could be +4 dBu nominal, but a nominal -10 dBV
> source will give you plenty of headroom. So if your preamp isn't
> clipping and the level converter is passive, you're probably not
> overloading the SeaSound interface. Based on comments from a few other
> folks here who have experience using the instrument input on the API
> preamp, I'd say that's what's clipping.
>
> Can you bypass everything and connect the preamp output directly to
> your monitor system? That will tell you if you're clipping at that
> point. The way to solve these problems is to take things apart and try
> to find which pieces aren't distorting. That will help you to find the
> guilty party, and give you a hint as to what to do about it.

Lowered the gain considerably on api,no audible distortion.Also no
distortion w/335 volume pot considerably lower.Mike,did you mean to
hook api into the powered genelecs?Thanks again

[Mike Rivers]

In article > writes:

> Lowered the gain considerably on api,no audible distortion.Also no
> distortion w/335 volume pot considerably lower.Mike,did you mean to
> hook api into the powered genelecs?

Yes. Connecting the preamp output directly to the input of your
powered speakers (or just one) is the simplest path. Learn what makes
the preamp itself distort, and then just keep things below that level.
I'll bet you can still get plenty of record level at your computer.

It sounds like you're on track by lowering the preamp gain or lowering
the output volume of the guitar. Since the guitar's volume control
probably also changes the tone, you'll want to set this where you like
it, then adjust the preamp gain accordingly.

--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo