-10dBv to +4dBu question????

[Foamfoot]

Hey everyone,

Did I get that right? I never can remember which one is dBv or dBu. Or is it dBm?

Anyway, I'm using a Carvin MX1688 board with a Fostex B16 for recording. I have few compressors also (art pro vla, dbx 166-blackface, symetrix 501, ashly sc-50, rnc).

When mixing down, I'll use the send/returns from a channel on the board to one of the comps, as one normally would. Everything seems to function and sound fine, but I notice when I use the Pro VLA the VU meters on the VLA don't move very much. I do get the gain reduction I need though. I think the VLA's VU meters are calibrated for +4 and I believe (not sure though) that the 1688 is mostly running at -10.

This got me to thinking, am I missing something running like this? Everything does sound ok. But could it be better? I know they make Line Level Shifters and things like that, but do I really need it?

I also notice there is a huge difference between the gain reduction I can get between the VLA and the 166, as well as the make-up gain between the two. With the VLA I can squash the signal pretty hard, but if I do I run out of room on the output as far as make-up, whereas on the 166 I can squash the hell out of the signal and have make-up to spare. Maybe the 166 is setup to run at -10 or maybe this is just a difference between the two compressors. Don't know. The other compressors seem to function more like the 166. I could use some input or just general info on this stuff, as I am comins from a Roland vs-2480 and am used to doing everything ITB.

On another note, although I normally track from the board straight to the recorder (levels seem to match almost perfectly, believe it or not) I did try to patch in a compressor (Board-VLA-recorder) at one point just for the hell of it. When I did this I noticed I can still get the gain reduction that I need, but instead of turning up the make-up gain I had to turn it down to keep from peaking the recorder. I guess this is because I'm going from -10 to +4 back to -10. On playback it actually sounded fine, but am I somehow screwing up my signal doing this? It seemed odd to see the compressor working and then setting the make-up gain in the negative. Am I over-analyzing?

Any thoughts, info or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Blue Jinn]

The ART specs publish a max input level only I'm guessing it doesn't care if it gets a -10 or +4 signal and the VU is switchable fo rin put or output. What are you monitoring ont he ART's VU's?

When you say they "don't move very much" do you mean they don't register much signal, or that they don't move back and forth very much? I would think that if you are using heavy compression, you're not supposed to see the meter "move" much.

 

[briank]

Do not adjust your set lol...level mismatches aside, my experience has been that the ProVLA's meters are mostly there to look pretty (and look pretty they do). I wouldn't monitor with the VLA's meters...stick with the ones you trust on either side of the chain. Actually I share you experience with everything you're saying about the VLA, I have found it to have less makeup gain than our DBXs. Personally I don't like to squash too hard with the VLAs, that's a pet trick I leave to our more aggressive DBXs and Distressors.

 

[purerad]

i have an mx1608 which is the earlier board before yours and i do believe they're all +4 but i could be wrong..............

 

[sweetbeats]

And you aren't screwing up your signal by using an effect or processing unit to match up the levels. If yu can match it up then its matched up right? That's exactly what those input and output level knobs are for.

 

[Foamfoot]

And you aren't screwing up your signal by using an effect or processing unit to match up the levels. If yu can match it up then its matched up right? That's exactly what those input and output level knobs are for.

That makes perfect sense. That's what I was wondering.

Thanks for the responses guys, I really appreciated it.