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Date: 10-Oct-05 @ 12:34 PM -
digital & analogue combi gain structure
Dominic
Posts: 1128
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I'm having major issues with deciding on -10 db and +4db inputs and outputs in my studio. I run 24 channels of delta 410 soundcard outputs down 24 channels on my Mackie 32:8:8 analogue board. I have made sure that my control panel card outputs are at -10db consumer and that 0db on my instrument channel in Logic 5.5 on the PC exactly matches 0db on the repective Mackie desk channel. I try to have my mixes peaking at +3db on the Mackie - is that about right?
I like to sub group my drums through one of my focusrite compounders but am having problems deciding on whether to use the +4db inputs or -10db inputs. When I use the -10 db inputs - the signal peaks nicely at 0db on the compounder. When I flick the switch to +4db inputs then the compounder metre peaks at about -10db on the LED metre. The Mackie manual says that -10 db inputs are semi pro and +4db inputs are pro. Does that mean the Mackie desk is a semi pro desk and that I should be using the -10 db inputs on my compounder?
Finally I have the same input question with regards to my Focusrite Mixmaster. I have tried routing the final mix from my Mackie main mix output into both the -10db inputs and +4db inputs on the Mixmaster using both XLR's and Jacks and come out of the Mixmaster via an spdif lead back into one of the Delta 410 soundcard digital inputs and into a audio track with Logic. This is because I need to then throw Logic's AD limiter over the final WAV to have any chance of getting my final mixes to anything like the same volume/gain as commercial CD's. Do you think I am comprimising my final mixes by recording back into Logic from my Mixmaster? I mean when I play back my final mix WAV - it peaks at 0db on my Mackie faders whereas when I play back a commercial track ripped off a CD, it hits anything from +6db to +12db on my Mackie main metres - is this because they have been pro mastered? Would I be better off purchasing a standalone CDR recorder and going via spdif directly from my Mixmaster into the CDR recorder? Would I get a hotter signal that way?
I know there are a lot of questions above so thanks for taking the time to read this. Cheers.