I figured I'm not the only one who is in this situation and I thought I would run it by you guys.
I have a Soundcraft series II mixing desk that operates at +4. My Teac 80-8 operates at -10. Ths is my signal chain:
Mics -> Soundcraft -> 80-8 -> Soundcraft -> computer
I have been fighting some hiss issues that I usually just do some high cut to accomodate but I got to thinking about the signals. The signal is leaving my board at +4 (0db VU on the soundcraft is 0db VU on the Teac), but out of the Teac is a -10v signal which i run into the line in of a channel on my mixing desk and trim the level up to where is appropriate. I do this so I can use the EQ on my board - I don't record w/ any EQ.
To me it seems like an invitation for noise to have to reamp the level like this to use EQ... while it hasn't been too bad, I do notice it.
I assume I should be using some sort of balancing interface between the 80-8 and my board... but basically I'm just increasing the levels through a different device.
Am I being crazy? Should this balanced -> unbalanced - > balanced be a cause of noise? Is there a better way to approach this?
For reference when signal is coming back from the 80-8 to the board I have to turn the channel gain up 1/2 way at least (sometimes more). There is at most a 5'-8' run between the 2 units.
Any thoughts on how to get the hiss down as far as signal flow changes?
I have a Soundcraft series II mixing desk that operates at +4. My Teac 80-8 operates at -10. Ths is my signal chain:
Mics -> Soundcraft -> 80-8 -> Soundcraft -> computer
I have been fighting some hiss issues that I usually just do some high cut to accomodate but I got to thinking about the signals. The signal is leaving my board at +4 (0db VU on the soundcraft is 0db VU on the Teac), but out of the Teac is a -10v signal which i run into the line in of a channel on my mixing desk and trim the level up to where is appropriate. I do this so I can use the EQ on my board - I don't record w/ any EQ.
To me it seems like an invitation for noise to have to reamp the level like this to use EQ... while it hasn't been too bad, I do notice it.
I assume I should be using some sort of balancing interface between the 80-8 and my board... but basically I'm just increasing the levels through a different device.
Am I being crazy? Should this balanced -> unbalanced - > balanced be a cause of noise? Is there a better way to approach this?
For reference when signal is coming back from the 80-8 to the board I have to turn the channel gain up 1/2 way at least (sometimes more). There is at most a 5'-8' run between the 2 units.
Any thoughts on how to get the hiss down as far as signal flow changes?