Just got a new pre - got a couple questions...

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ryanwoollerton

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Hi there,

Sorry for the extreme novice question but i need some help setting up my new golden age pre 73.

Just checking that first of all that my chain is correct:

Mic -> preamp -> fast track pro audio interface -> computer

Secondly i know that my mic will simply plug into the mic input on the pre. But from the preamp output i assume it can only go into the input on my fast track pro labelled "mic/inst" (http://www.core-sound.com/FastTrackPro/fasttrackpro_front-rear.jpg) this link might work?.

Thirdly, im using a condensor mic that requires phantom power. Do i have to have both the phantom power on the fast track pro and the preamp on or just one of them turned on? If just one of them should be on, which one?

And finally, i have to make sure that i have the gain dial somewhere in the "mic" zone between -20 and -80 db correct? Not in the zone labelled "line".
see pic of pre here - http://www.jrrshop.com/catalog/images/images_big/gappre73.jpg

help here would be massively appreciated!!!
 
ryanwoollerton said:
Hi there,

Sorry for the extreme novice question but i need some help setting up my new golden age pre 73.

Just checking that first of all that my chain is correct:

Mic -> preamp -> fast track pro audio interface -> computer

Secondly i know that my mic will simply plug into the mic input on the pre. But from the preamp output i assume it can only go into the input on my fast track pro labelled "mic/inst" (http://www.core-sound.com/FastTrackPro/fasttrackpro_front-rear.jpg) this link might work?.

Thirdly, im using a condensor mic that requires phantom power. Do i have to have both the phantom power on the fast track pro and the preamp on or just one of them turned on? If just one of them should be on, which one?

And finally, i have to make sure that i have the gain dial somewhere in the "mic" zone between -20 and -80 db correct? Not in the zone labelled "line".
see pic of pre here - http://www.jrrshop.com/catalog/images/images_big/gappre73.jpg

help here would be massively appreciated!!!
Click to expand...

Chain is correct. Preamp output is line level so it goes into the LINE input on your interface, not the mic/inst. Preamp provides phantom power to the mic - turn off the phantom power on your interface.
 
Just use the phantom power on the unit that is next in line after the microphone.
You can use it any way you want for what ever sound your looking for ~ NO RULES ~



:cool:
 
gehauser said:
Chain is correct. Preamp output is line level so it goes into the LINE input on your interface, not the mic/inst. Preamp provides phantom power to the mic - turn off the phantom power on your interface.
Click to expand...

aaahh i see! so the the preamp output plugs into the "1 insert" on the bottom right corner of the interface on the behind view?
 
ryanwoollerton said:
aaahh i see! so the the preamp output plugs into the "1 insert" on the bottom right corner of the interface on the behind view?
Click to expand...

I was talking about the line input on the front - you would use the mic/inst combo jack with the gray button (inst/line) to the upper left pushed in so the source is set to line. This may not bypass your interface's preamp, so you would turn the interface gain all the way down and use your outboard preamp's gain.

You should be able to bypass your interface's preamp using the insert on the back, but inserts have in-out so it would take some special cabling to put your preamp there. Suggest you read up on that, as it would be better if you could bypass the interface's preamp.
 
gehauser said:
I was talking about the line input on the front - you would use the mic/inst combo jack with the gray button (inst/line) to the upper left pushed in so the source is set to line. This may not bypass your interface's preamp, so you would turn the interface gain all the way down and use your outboard preamp's gain.

You should be able to bypass your interface's preamp using the insert on the back, but inserts have in-out so it would take some special cabling to put your preamp there. Suggest you read up on that, as it would be better if you could bypass the interface's preamp.
Click to expand...

thanks for your reply!

If anyone reading this does happen to know how i could bypass the fast track pro preamps please let me know!

Thanks!
 
gehauser said:
I was talking about the line input on the front - you would use the mic/inst combo jack with the gray button (inst/line) to the upper left pushed in so the source is set to line. This may not bypass your interface's preamp, so you would turn the interface gain all the way down and use your outboard preamp's gain.

You should be able to bypass your interface's preamp using the insert on the back, but inserts have in-out so it would take some special cabling to put your preamp there. Suggest you read up on that, as it would be better if you could bypass the interface's preamp.
Click to expand...

i have tried finding out in a few other forums whether or not using the inserts on the back of the fast track pro would bypass the inbuilt preamps but i had no luck finding that out.

But as you mentioned above, i am able to run the golden age preamp into the front XLR inputs on the fast track pro correct? as long as i have the button pushed in so that it is switched onto "line" source? (as well as the fast track gain turned all the way down)

Is somebody please able to confirm that?
 
ryanwoollerton said:
i have tried finding out in a few other forums whether or not using the inserts on the back of the fast track pro would bypass the inbuilt preamps but i had no luck finding that out.

But as you mentioned above, i am able to run the golden age preamp into the front XLR inputs on the fast track pro correct? as long as i have the button pushed in so that it is switched onto "line" source? (as well as the fast track gain turned all the way down)

Is somebody please able to confirm that?
Click to expand...

Page 3 in your Fast Track Pro manual says the XLR input is unaffected by the Inst/Line button - the button only works if you have a 1/4" cable connected. Use XLR connector on the Fast Track Pro for mics, use TRS for a preamp.

Page 5 in your Fast Track Pro manual says inserts are between preamp and AD converter, so the inserts will bypass the pre. So you just need to figure out the cabling (inserts have an in and out, and you are just using the in part with your pre).

You should definitely read your manual before connecting anything.
 
gehauser said:
You should be able to bypass your interface's preamp using the insert on the back, but inserts have in-out so it would take some special cabling to put your preamp there.
Click to expand...

Or just use an insert cable. Plug the TRS end into the insert of the interface and one of the TS ends into the preamp's output. Which TS end depends on whether the insert is tip-return or ring-return.

[Edit] Corrected insert reference from sleeve-return to ring-return.
 
Last edited:
Page 5 of his Fast Track Pro manual says the inserts are Ring return.
 
Hey everyone!

thanks for all your replies!

So to put this n00b words for someone like me - i need an insert cable. One end has to be TS and the other end TRS?

The TS end plugs into the output of the preamp correct?
Now the TRS end of the insert cable goes into where on the fast track pro:

1 - the XLR input on the front with the button pressed in to engage the "line" source?

or

2 - The jack labelled "1 inserts" in the bottom right on back of the fast track pro?

pic here - http://www.core-sound.com/FastTrackPro/fasttrackpro_front-rear.jpg
 
ryanwoollerton said:
So to put this n00b words for someone like me - i need an insert cable. One end has to be TS and the other end TRS?

The TS end plugs into the output of the preamp correct?
Now the TRS end of the insert cable goes into where on the fast track pro:

1 - the XLR input on the front with the button pressed in to engage the "line" source?

or

2 - The jack labelled "1 inserts" in the bottom right on back of the fast track pro?

pic here - http://www.core-sound.com/FastTrackPro/fasttrackpro_front-rear.jpg
Click to expand...

An insert cable has one TRS end connected to two TS ends. Use the TS end corresponding to the ring of the TRS end. You don't use the TS that goes to the tip of the TRS.

Use whichever insert you want, but you have to select that channel in your DAW.
 
bouldersoundguy said:
An insert cable has one TRS end connected to two TS ends. Use the TS end corresponding to the ring of the TRS end. You don't use the TS that goes to the tip of the TRS.

Use whichever insert you want, but you have to select that channel in your DAW.
Click to expand...

hmmm ok.. so is this the cable that i need?:
http://www.directproaudio.com/product.cfm?directid=56486

So the plug on the left is the TRS jack that plugs into the front input on the fast track pro interface correct?

Also, do i just use anyone of the 2 TS jacks on the right end of the cable that i will plug into the golden age preamp output?

sorry for my silly questions im new to all of this as you can guess!
 
ryanwoollerton said:
hmmm ok.. so is this the cable that i need?:
http://www.directproaudio.com/product.cfm?directid=56486

So the plug on the left is the TRS jack that plugs into the front input on the fast track pro interface correct?

Also, do i just use anyone of the 2 TS jacks on the right end of the cable that i will plug into the golden age preamp output?
Click to expand...

The Y cable is an insert cable, to be used with your insert connection. So the TRS on the left end of the cable pic goes into your insert on the back fo the fast track interface.

One of the TS ends goes into your preamp output. However, only one of the TS ends connects to the "ring" of the TRS, the other TS end connects to the "tip" of the TRS. You need to contact ProCo or find another reference to determine which TS end connects to the "ring" and use that on the preamp output - we cannot tell which TS end is "ring" from the picture. It probably says on the cable.
 
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gehauser said:
The Y cable is an insert cable, to be used with your insert connection. So the TRS on the left end of the cable pic goes into your insert on the back fo the fast track interface.

One of the TS ends goes into your preamp output. However, only one of the TS ends connects to the "ring" of the TRS, the other TS end connects to the "tip" of the TRS. You need to contact ProCo or find another reference to determine which TS end connects to the "ring" and use that on the preamp output - we cannot tell which TS end is "ring" from the picture. It probably says on the cable.
Click to expand...

Cool!

In terms of me plugging one of the TS ends into the preamp output, would anything bad happen if i plugged in the wrong TS end into the preamp output? (i.e i plugged in the TS jack that connects to the 'tip' and not the 'ring')

Appreciate all your help!!!!
 
ryanwoollerton said:
Cool!

In terms of me plugging one of the TS ends into the preamp output, would anything bad happen if i plugged in the wrong TS end into the preamp output? (i.e i plugged in the TS jack that connects to the 'tip' and not the 'ring')

Appreciate all your help!!!!
Click to expand...

Something bad can always happen. If it you let it, it will. There are no guarantees in this world.

Even if you use the right TS end, you still need to worry about putting a TS (unbalanced) jack into a TRS (balanced) output. I suggest you now email GAP support for how to connect the TRS (balanced) output to a TS (unbalanced) connection.
 
Inserts are basically FX sends/returns, so one of the TS jacks will be an output, i.e. sending output from the Fast Track to an FX box, and the other will be an input, in this case accepting an input from your preamp. I highly doubt you'd damage anything by using the wrong one, but you'll know it's the wrong one because you won't get any signal.
 
for the most fun, crank the input very high and control the level with the output on the GAP, that will get you the most "NEVE" color, if you want it to be cleaner do the opposite!
 
Just been speaking to someone at a local music shop and they dont sell any of the TRS -> dual TS cables. But he said that i could use a balance XLR to TRS cable (XLR plugs into the preamp output and the TRS plugs into the front input with the 'line' button engaged) he said this will bypass the fast track pro's preamps.

This sounds correct aye?

Also thanks above for you comment on how to achieve the "neve" sound! i will be sure to try it...if i ever get it going :)
 
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