Hissing in the headphones ?

[yetipur]

Hello this question is an extension of questions I had in another thread regarding how to chain things togther

Actually some of those questions were answered but led to new questions
are still needing answers if any one is in the mood to answer this frazzled girls questions Shoot!


This is a new question though--

First- I am using an avalon 737SP Pre amp. I understand that this is a professional piece of gear that operates at +4 decibles unlike consumer equipment that operates at -10 decibles

Can you connect a +4 piece of equip with a -10 piece of equip???????

My chain is
a mic to pre amp to efx to tape
For example I was a running the avalon (+4 dec) XLR'd into a
a dbx pro vocal (-10 dec) vocal effect processor
then running from the pro vocal to a E-16 tape machine input via RCA.
but

The mic was clipping in and out, so now I switched the chain to be
mic-- provocal--avalon--tape

this seems to stopped the mic clipping out. Why?
okay then

I tried hooking the dbx provocal efx processor
to the mixing console to send efx into the channel as I was recording but the siignal was too weak , I couldnt get a good sound. the pkayback was so small. When I raised the input the sound would distort, even at low readings on the metere it would distort.

the efx processor has a mic XLR mic inputon the front and 1/4 inch instrument input on the front too.
A 1/4 in line input on the back
then outputs on the back . I tried overy possible way of connecting the efx processor
to the console except the one using the mic XLR input (front of efx processor) mayb this is the one? but
because I need a male XLR plug to plug in there that
has a RCA connection on the other end to go to the console connection.
I dont have that cable yet, but I will get it nd try.

This mixing console (Fostex 450) analog
console has
access send and recieve RCA 's (they are plugged in with some type of pin
two pronged black plug that
is always plugged, are these grounding plugs?
I notice that when I pull the plug out you cant hear anything through monitor.
But I did unplug the black plug because this
is where I plugged in the efx as the mixer manual instructed. but sound was weak as i said above. the play back terrible

then I tried hooking the efx to the mixing console to send efx in the mix down after the fact, but it didnt work at all, no sound or signal was hitting the board. I might need a different cable . The manual had me connecting
through a bus in and a direct out
I was wondering if maybe this dbx processor isnt the right kind of processor to use in the mix down.
Maybe it is just designed to be used in the chain going in ?

Are vocal processors such as this different than other effects that you are supposed to send to a mixing console in the mix down or whoile recording??

Should you record vocals dry and then add effect? Or record with effect?

Is there a way to hear it in your headphones
with effect as you are recording but have it recording dry onto the tape?

what do the pros have to say about this??

Any answers to any questions here and or on my other thread are ssooo soo appreciated.!!!!!




I figured out how to monitor the sound , I am hearing the reverb I added on the provocal and everything
through the mixing console via headphones or monitors finally!

But now I am hearing alot of HISS in my head phones as I
am recording But
in the playback of the tape none of the hiss is there.

How do I reduce the hiss in my headphones? it must be coming from the console since it isnt in the play back on the tape ?

I have also a patch bay RCA's only
and a line mixer?

These two pieces of equipment I havent used at all, they came in the box with this mixer when I bought it used. I dont even know what to do with them.
Would these pieces
help with adding the provocal efx in my vocal mic chain? While recording or adding in after?

Happy new Year , I am recording tonight, or at least trying to!!!!!!!!

I think I have just figured out that maybe this provocal is the cause of the mic clipping out becaus of internal presets that can't be totally bypassed , without just bypassing the machine. I really only chose this vocal unit for reverb and maybe delay or echo, it has alot of pre chosen stuff that I have to bypass though.

[Tim Gillett]

Stephanie,
You might be better off going to a forum more designed for these issues such as under General Discussions, Recording Techniques and Mixing/Mastering.

Your questions are certainly related to analog but this forum is specifically centred on Analog Tape, not so much mixing and matching of gear.

As a general observation, mixing pro gear and consumer gear is fraught with problems as you've already discovered!

Not only are the connectors different but more important so are the levels, impedances etc. It's possible to mix them in certain cases and with some mods. For example a pro output (+4db) can be made to work a consumer input (-10db) with the addition a simple "pad' between the two units that cuts the higher signal down to the lower level. Harder to step it up the other way as you have to use transformers or amplifiers.

Pro gear is also generally "balanced" (3 wires rather than 2) which is another headache connecting to consumer stuff.

Also just because devices have plugs that connect properly with other devices doesnt necessarily mean they are matched electrically. A mic's XLR signal is VERY low whereas pro's also use XLR's for signals maybe a hundred times higher than that too! Not simple.
I'm not familiar with the gear you describe. Maybe others will be.

hope this helps.

cheers Tim.