deaf clef pro
New member
Hello, everyone! I'm new to both this forum and audio capture/production. I'm starting this thread here to get some CONSTRUCTIVE inputs for my current efforts and to be pointed in the right direction moving forward.
1. Environment-My living room. Single-story ranch platform over crawlspace. Textured ceiling, standard drywall and medium-pile padded carpet. No grounded outlets. I turn off the HVAC, fishtank, fountain and all electronics in the room while recording. The guitarist sits on my couch with his back to the 7x4 ft window; I'm around the corner in a bedroom with my power conditioner, Boss BR-1180 and KRK 6400 headphones.
2. Setup-Takamine acoustic guitar, using a Sterling Audio S50 microphone (in the shock mount) on input 1 (with phantom supplied by the BR-1180) and a snap-in pickup on the guitar input. The mic is positioned about 10-12 in away from the sound hole and has a pop filter to reduce percussive pick noise. It's on a boom stand which I isolate from the floor using soft pillows. Seems primitive but it helps. I record the mic and pickup on tracks 1 and 2 respectively. I play with the pan and EQ (Mic: set high to shelf type, lower the freq to around 6k and trim it -4 to -6 db to kill the staticy fuzz [which probably has a more technical name]; then I set the low end to shelf, raise the freq to somewhere around 60-100hz and boost 2-3 db. Pickup: Almost the same on high end, but I actually cut the low end a bit to brighten it up). I balance out the volume levels when bouncing to tracks 9/10. This device has a robust "Mastering Tool Kit" (specifically for tracks 9/10 with much better EQ capabilities that I have yet to fully explore) so I'll trim off any pre- and post-music crud then master the track to the best of my abilities. Results sound very pleasing through my KRK 6400 headphones.
I know the S50 is an enrty-level mic and its small diaphagm has shown it's low-end limitations but unless someone is donating, I don't see an upgrade in my future; especially with a $125 speeding ticket eating all my discretionary income this pay period...
2. A. Question-I also have an Art Tube MP pre-amp I was considering adding to the microphone for a stronger input signal. Would using this device reap any tangible benefit? I enjoy the natural sound of the mic vs. the relatively lifeless tone of the clip-in pickup but I don't get a very strong signal from it. I'm aware the 1180 has a built-in mic pre-amp and I'd like to know how to bypass or disable that feature, assuming it's not the input sensetivity knob...
3. What I want to do next-Route my BC Rich Trace Warbeast through my Digitech GNX 3 processor to the BR 1180 for recording. I LOVE the sounds I can get with the Digitech processor but enjoy the ease of "layering" multiple tracks with the Boss device. The GNX 3 can record but it's a PITA to manage and has very little storage capacity.
3. A. Question-What's the preferred method for interfacing these two devices? The GNX 3 has two 1/4" TS outputs-described as:
"Left Output. Connect to the input of an amplifier, input of a power amp, or line input of a mixing console.
Right Output. Use this jack in conjunction with the Left Output for stereo applications. Connect to the input of a
second amplifier, or the right input of a stereo power amp."
The BR-1180 also has three 1/4" inputs, described as: "Guitar. High-impedance input jack to directly connect your guitar or bass. MIC 2 jack (TRS Phone) Input jack/connector for use with mics. Two types are provided, TRS balanced input...* If mics are connected both to the TRS phone jack and the XLR connector, the TRS phone jack is selected automatically. * If an instrument is connected to the GUITAR/BASS jack while a mic is also connected to the MIC 2 jack (or connector), the GUITAR/BASS jack is selected automatically. MIC 1 (VOCAL) Jack (TRS Phone). These jacks allow a mic to be connected. Two types are provided, TRS balanced input (p. 27)..."
I'm assuming I can connect an instrument cable (mono or tip/sleeve but NOT stereo or tip/ring/sleeve cable) from the GNX Left Output into the 1180's Guitar input?
4. Near future plans-I would like to incorporate an external equalizer into the path since the BR-1180's EQ seems quite limited. Any guidance on how to best accomplish this, along with constructive suggestions for good equalizers, would be very helpful. Rack mount units preferred. The BR-1180 has analog audio in/out jacks but the manual doesn't specify them as an "effects loop" as I'm familiar with on guitar amps. It mentions an "audio sub-mix" option but I don't quite understand what that is.
4. A. General question-I need some help understanding what "gain", "volume", "sound pressure level" and "line level" are. The display on the BR-1180 has a output level indicator that starts at 48 and ends at 0 which doesn't make any sense to me.
Thanks for taking the time to read through my lengthy post and I look forward to hearing your constructive inputs!
1. Environment-My living room. Single-story ranch platform over crawlspace. Textured ceiling, standard drywall and medium-pile padded carpet. No grounded outlets. I turn off the HVAC, fishtank, fountain and all electronics in the room while recording. The guitarist sits on my couch with his back to the 7x4 ft window; I'm around the corner in a bedroom with my power conditioner, Boss BR-1180 and KRK 6400 headphones.
2. Setup-Takamine acoustic guitar, using a Sterling Audio S50 microphone (in the shock mount) on input 1 (with phantom supplied by the BR-1180) and a snap-in pickup on the guitar input. The mic is positioned about 10-12 in away from the sound hole and has a pop filter to reduce percussive pick noise. It's on a boom stand which I isolate from the floor using soft pillows. Seems primitive but it helps. I record the mic and pickup on tracks 1 and 2 respectively. I play with the pan and EQ (Mic: set high to shelf type, lower the freq to around 6k and trim it -4 to -6 db to kill the staticy fuzz [which probably has a more technical name]; then I set the low end to shelf, raise the freq to somewhere around 60-100hz and boost 2-3 db. Pickup: Almost the same on high end, but I actually cut the low end a bit to brighten it up). I balance out the volume levels when bouncing to tracks 9/10. This device has a robust "Mastering Tool Kit" (specifically for tracks 9/10 with much better EQ capabilities that I have yet to fully explore) so I'll trim off any pre- and post-music crud then master the track to the best of my abilities. Results sound very pleasing through my KRK 6400 headphones.
I know the S50 is an enrty-level mic and its small diaphagm has shown it's low-end limitations but unless someone is donating, I don't see an upgrade in my future; especially with a $125 speeding ticket eating all my discretionary income this pay period...
2. A. Question-I also have an Art Tube MP pre-amp I was considering adding to the microphone for a stronger input signal. Would using this device reap any tangible benefit? I enjoy the natural sound of the mic vs. the relatively lifeless tone of the clip-in pickup but I don't get a very strong signal from it. I'm aware the 1180 has a built-in mic pre-amp and I'd like to know how to bypass or disable that feature, assuming it's not the input sensetivity knob...
3. What I want to do next-Route my BC Rich Trace Warbeast through my Digitech GNX 3 processor to the BR 1180 for recording. I LOVE the sounds I can get with the Digitech processor but enjoy the ease of "layering" multiple tracks with the Boss device. The GNX 3 can record but it's a PITA to manage and has very little storage capacity.
3. A. Question-What's the preferred method for interfacing these two devices? The GNX 3 has two 1/4" TS outputs-described as:
"Left Output. Connect to the input of an amplifier, input of a power amp, or line input of a mixing console.
Right Output. Use this jack in conjunction with the Left Output for stereo applications. Connect to the input of a
second amplifier, or the right input of a stereo power amp."
The BR-1180 also has three 1/4" inputs, described as: "Guitar. High-impedance input jack to directly connect your guitar or bass. MIC 2 jack (TRS Phone) Input jack/connector for use with mics. Two types are provided, TRS balanced input...* If mics are connected both to the TRS phone jack and the XLR connector, the TRS phone jack is selected automatically. * If an instrument is connected to the GUITAR/BASS jack while a mic is also connected to the MIC 2 jack (or connector), the GUITAR/BASS jack is selected automatically. MIC 1 (VOCAL) Jack (TRS Phone). These jacks allow a mic to be connected. Two types are provided, TRS balanced input (p. 27)..."
I'm assuming I can connect an instrument cable (mono or tip/sleeve but NOT stereo or tip/ring/sleeve cable) from the GNX Left Output into the 1180's Guitar input?
4. Near future plans-I would like to incorporate an external equalizer into the path since the BR-1180's EQ seems quite limited. Any guidance on how to best accomplish this, along with constructive suggestions for good equalizers, would be very helpful. Rack mount units preferred. The BR-1180 has analog audio in/out jacks but the manual doesn't specify them as an "effects loop" as I'm familiar with on guitar amps. It mentions an "audio sub-mix" option but I don't quite understand what that is.
4. A. General question-I need some help understanding what "gain", "volume", "sound pressure level" and "line level" are. The display on the BR-1180 has a output level indicator that starts at 48 and ends at 0 which doesn't make any sense to me.
Thanks for taking the time to read through my lengthy post and I look forward to hearing your constructive inputs!
