Trying to get some drum tracks on the GP9 out for review, but...

[Seeker of Rock]

The Mackie 24.8 outs are XLR. First time I've sent something out with the new setup into the CDRW-700, and without reading through the manual does anyone know if the 8 bus series has 1/4" outs to that can go into my CDRW700? You know, never an issue with my 488MKII as everything out was RCA, but I never really paid attention to the fact it only takes RCA in and all I see on the Mackie 8 bus is XLR out. I'll read the manual, just looking for a quick answer if anyone is familiar with it to tell me otherwise. I have TS to RCA cables, and I wanted to post a link to a drum test tonight to get some feedback. Unfortunately if XLR to RCA is what I need, that is the one cord and adapter that I don't have. Let me know if anyone knows the 8 bus series and whether I have to wait til tomorrow or whether there is a L/R 1/4" unbalanced out.
Thanks. Seeker

[Seeker of Rock]

Alright, time to break out the manual. I'm sure it has 1/4" outs somewhere. If not, time to go shopping tomorrow for conversion cables. XLR to RCA. Hmmm, doesn't seem a popular cable I recall seeing in the stores, but if that's what it takes then so be it. Or maybe I'll bite the bullet and order online and save a couple of $$. Nonetheless, I am going to need it with my setup, but to the point I want to run my drum sounds by you guys to get some feedback, just can't get them posted just yet unless I find those elusive two jacks on my board.

[Dr ZEE]

isn't it what you need?

[Seeker of Rock]

You, sir, are da MAN. Saw that before but, Ma I been drinkin' a little red wine and reminescing (sp?) with on old drummer buddy and bandmate of mine who is doing session work now. Kinda cool. Alright, let me see if I can get an output onto CD, rip it to MP3 and get some feedback. I figure it is best at this point because I still have time to change if I need to. BTW, the GP9 sounds good.

[Dr ZEE]

LOL,
pass THIS ONE to your old buddy

[Seeker of Rock]

Well I don't think this is good. I am beginning to think I am jinxed on TASCAM products. I fire up the CDRW-700 after about a year or so. w-e-l-c-o-m-e-! pops up like I remember, but can't get the tray to open and it seems like its frozen. Gotta thought. It is tightly racked and on the bottom....let me try and relieve some top pressure, just in case. Damn digital equipment.

[Seeker of Rock]

Now don't get me wrong, I love me kids like nothing else in this world, but damn Mom for letting them mess with my stuff, although she claims "they never go in there, I don't let them". Yeah right. Voltage switch on the back was set to 220. Alright, re-rack and I'll try to post some crappy compressed MP3s (may have to do it to my soundclick site, but I'll try first as an attachment).

[Seeker of Rock]

Damn, soundclick.com is making this more confusing everyday, posting free stuff. Anyway, not the best digital linker there is, but the link below takes you to my site, not the song, but click on "drumsamplemix1.01" and let me know what you think. Listening to "wild_eyed jim's" done on the 488, the MSR and maybe with the Hot input factor and GP9 or maybe just a learning factor for me, the signal is HOT. Mixwise, MP3 sucks compared to what it sounds like through my monitors, but this is ultimately what it will be transferred to so let 'er rip. High hats already sound too hot in the drum mix, but I'm looking for mix in the drum kit as well as tone if you have opinions on hi-hat cymbals, snare, kick, toms, ride/crash. On the MP3 cymbals seems way too much high end, but you gotta start somewhere. This is straight on btw. I would really appreciate some observations. Not going to post in the MP3 forum because it is not a song, just looking for advice here at this point. I can level, mix, etc. anything you suggest, as it is a DM Pro kit ( except for my playing, sorry unless I hire out ) so lay it on me. How is the mix between different pieces, tone, etc. BTW again, this is on the new GP9 tape and to tell the truth, unless I record something extremely acoustic and mellow with all sixteen tracks, I think Christine will do fine. In the sample you can hear six channels doing their thing before the first cymbal hits...maybe I'm wrong but can you hear major noise?
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...?bandID=244666

[Seeker of Rock]

Listening again, sounds like I have the whole thing too hot...I think I took this pushing hot thing a little too far, and yes the high-hats are hot. Just my reflective ears so far.

[arjoll]

Originally Posted by Seeker of Rock

Voltage switch on the back was set to 220.

You're quite lucky. We see the odd computer at work where someone sets the voltage to 120. Things tend to look at bit black and charred when 230 kicks in....

[arjoll]

Originally Posted by Seeker of Rock

http://www.soundclick.com/updateband...?BandID=244666

I just got a login prompt . I guess it knew I was going to listen on either the speakers on my nc8320 laptop or possibly some Bose headphones....

[Seeker of Rock]

My bad man. I used copied the link when I was logged in to update the page. This one should work.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...?bandID=244666

Listened again through my crappy computer speakers. It doesn't sound too bad (the levels that is, not the mix in the set), still probably a little hot though. I set the CDRW700 to halfway mark on digital gain and it was getting some digital overload, telling me the signal is coming in pretty hot from the board, though the boards meters are reading where they should. I think I should back off the gain on the burner and that is probably what I'm hearing that I don't like. Please let me know if you have a better idea. Again, though, I am surprised by the lack of hiss on this thing, and this drum sample is running through six tracks. Cool

[FALKEN]

sorry dude I couldn't get that player to work on my machine. I tried though.

[Raw-Tracks]

You are pushing the levels way too much. Your sample is a wash of distortion. What tape machine are you using? Did you do a full alignment when you switched to GP9? The noise before the track starts seems excessive, possibly due to a machine not set up for the tape.

You shouldn't push the levels on things like cymbals. If you are wathching VU meters to set your levels, you should shoot for -10dB on the VU meters with cymbals. Your cymbals sound way too distorted to my ears.

[Seeker of Rock]

Machine is an MSR-16. Everything is calibrated and setup up. I highly doubt it is the machine, but thanks for the thought. It is me pushing the levels. I think I was just hitting it TOO hard. Got some work to do still on the setting my levels.

[FALKEN]

seeker,

for percussion you have to set the LED's conservatively, because the trasients can hit much higher than what the LED is showing. I would try to keep them at 0 and then the'll probably be overshooting to +3 to +5 or higher.

[Seeker of Rock]

Good advice man. I think the worst mistake I made was setting the CDRW700 digital gain to 5 when the meters were clearly redlining. In the manual, as well as common sense, it warns of the difference between analog distortion and digital distortion, the latter being much more unpleasant and I think that may be the biggest problem with the posted sample. I will need to tweak every aspect of the kit along the way though to get it right, starting with the source.

[reel buzzer]

Originally Posted by Seeker of Rock

The Mackie 24.8 outs are XLR. First time I've sent something out with the new setup into the CDRW-700, and without reading through the manual does anyone know if the 8 bus series has 1/4" outs to that can go into my CDRW700? You know, never an issue with my 488MKII as everything out was RCA, but I never really paid attention to the fact it only takes RCA in and all I see on the Mackie 8 bus is XLR out. I'll read the manual, just looking for a quick answer if anyone is familiar with it to tell me otherwise. I have TS to RCA cables, and I wanted to post a link to a drum test tonight to get some feedback. Unfortunately if XLR to RCA is what I need, that is the one cord and adapter that I don't have. Let me know if anyone knows the 8 bus series and whether I have to wait til tomorrow or whether there is a L/R 1/4" unbalanced out.

You could use the "MIX B" .
Because the main outs are XLR and there are also a duplicate main outs that are 1/4 inch TRS balanced, don't use those unless your mix down unit has balanced inputs.
So the "MIX B" left and right outputs is one way.

The other way is to use your bus to mix down, and set the output switch on the bus outputs to -10, and use a 1/4 to RCA cable.
That's probably the best way anyway cause then you can send the signal back into the mackie from the CDR and monitor the end result on the fly.
In other words:
All your mackie with signals channels coming from the multitrack, push in the "1-2" button only, the L/R MIX putton should be pushed out.
That sends all the signals to bus 1 and 2.

So on the back of the board, bus outputs 1 and 2 send 1/4 to RCA cables to your CDR and set bus output switch to -10 unbalanced.

Then send signal back from CDR to 2 open channel strips on the mackie via RCA to 1/4 inch, connect to the line inputs on top of the board, those are unbalanced. Pan the 2 channels left and right and push in the L/R MIX button only, so that is the signal that you will be monitoring.




Save that main XLR out for some day you buy a mix-down unit that can take that much signal.

[reel buzzer]

And those 1/4 inch main outs on the top of the board are 1/4 TRS balanced.
That is why the signal is too hot.
They will not work properly with unbalanced connections, they will be too hot and distorted.
Don't use that unless your mixdown unit balanced inputs.

[Dr ZEE]

Originally Posted by reel buzzer

And those 1/4 inch main outs on the top of the board are 1/4 TRS balanced.
That is why the signal is too hot.
They will not work properly with unbalanced connections, they will be too hot and distorted.
Don't use that unless your mixdown unit balanced inputs.

Nop.
TRS MainMix, Mix-B, Control Room Out and Studio Out - are all unbalanced (tip - high/signal, ring and sleeve - ground), nominal level is +4dBu.
You can connect it with any unbalance input of recorder/amp just fine, but watch rec level on your recorder if your recorder's inputs are set/designed for -10dBV operating level.
The two XLR outs on the back panel of the board are the only fully balanced main mix outs (with maximum level +28 dBu).
Subgroups outs on the back are balanced and they also can be used for unbalanced connection, and you can set operating level (-10dBV/+4dBu) for 1-4 and 5-8 subs.

[reel buzzer]

So 1/4 main output is nominal level +4 dbu, but still unbalanced, got it.
I guess that is why when I send a signal from that 1/4 main mix out to an unbalanced -10 input device, it is overpowering and I have to ease back on the main faders. I don't use that method much anymore.

I usually use the bus for mixdown because of the convenience of patching the tape outputs to different units.

Thanks for clearing that info though.

[Seeker of Rock]

Originally Posted by Dr ZEE

Nop.
TRS MainMix, Mix-B, Control Room Out and Studio Out - are all unbalanced (tip - high/signal, ring and sleeve - ground), nominal level is +4dBu.
You can connect it with any unbalance input of recorder/amp just fine, but watch rec level on your recorder if your recorder's inputs are set/designed for -10dBV operating level.
The two XLR outs on the back panel of the board are the only fully balanced main mix outs (with maximum level +28 dBu).
Subgroups outs on the back are balanced and they also can be used for unbalanced connection, and you can set operating level (-10dBV/+4dBu) for 1-4 and 5-8 subs.

So the actually outputs, though unbalance, are running at the level of balanced signals? That could explain why the CDRW was getting so strong of a signal from the board. I was pushing the meters slightly into the reds on the master as well. I'll have to play with it a little. Now I have a -10/+4 for the channels, I wonder if I have something like that for the master outputs as well. If not, I need to pull back the LR faders to weaken the signal a little?

[reel buzzer]

I think you will get better signal if you use the bus outputs and set them at -10.

You won't have to pull back on the faders as much and you will get a fuller sound.

[Seeker of Rock]

I was meaning to group them anyway (since they comprise six channels) to help me control them better during mixdown. Looks like everything will be sent to the busses then, since I need that pad.

[reel buzzer]

When you say group do you mean? -
SEND SOME CHANNELS TO BUS 1-2, SOME CHANNELS TO BUS 3-4, etc?