Building new studio. Help with signal chain?

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kyle.lgk

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I've been recording for over 10 years, but am lacking in the appropriate knowledge.
I have spent a lot of time reading this past week, so I'm not completely oblivious.
Thanks ahead of time for your help!

My equipment right now consists of:

Mics: Rode K2 & Shure SMB7 (Haven't used the SMB7 yet, but plan on selling one of these when I figure out which one sounds better)
Pre: GAP 73 (It was either this or the RNP)
Compressor: RNC (Not sure if I'm gonna use this yet)
Interface: (Audio Interface?)
Monitors: KRK Rokit 5
High End PC: Windows 7 Ultimate (64bit), Quad Core i7 2.80GHz, 8GB Ram, AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series (1GB), 2TB Hard Drive
Sequencer: I've always used Adobe Audition, but will also be trying Pro Tools and Ableton Live
Also... Midi: MPC 1000 + Looking into a Midi Keyboard (will worry about this later)

My 2 focuses right now are learning how to hook up the signal chain and possibly building a vocal booth (seperate thread)...

Signal Chain:

Mics --[XLR]--> GAP 73 --[XLR or TRS?]--> RNC --[TRS?] --> (Audio Interface?) --> Audition/Pro Tools/Ableton Live
 
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XLR and TRS used for balanced signals are electrically identical. Use whichever is more convenient or appropriate. If the preamp has both XLR and TRS output they are probably simply wired in parallel so use whatever is more convenient. If the RNC has TRS input (I think it does) then TRS-TRS would work, as would XLR-TRS. Microphones will generally need XLR-XLR to connect to mic preamps and phantom power.

On page 18 of your manual it says to use the main output for your headphone amp and the monitor output for your studio monitors. There is no headphone output on that card so you need a separate headphone amp. If you hook the headphones up to the preamp (it has a headphone jack?) you can't hear any previously recorded tracks.
 
Thanks for the response! I'm only an hour away in Fort Collins :)

Since the K2 (condensor) has its own power supply, and the SMB7 is dynamic, my understanding is that I don't need 48v phanton power for either... is this correct?

Page 18 of what manual... the PCI card?

So I need an additional unit to plug the headphones in?

I have a Tascam Emu 0404 that I used to use for my interface/preamp/headphones/monitors, but recently the USB female developed a loose connection. Probably an easy fix, but I wouldn't know how to do it :( ... this could be used solely for headphones? (and possibly monitoring?)
 
kyle.lgk said:
Thanks for the response! I'm only an hour away in Fort Collins :)
Click to expand...

Cool. I wondered because your profile only says Colorado.

kyle.lgk said:
Since the K2 (condensor) has its own power supply, and the SMB7 is dynamic, my understanding is that I don't need 48v phanton power for either... is this correct?
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I believe so.

kyle.lgk said:
Page 18 of what manual... the PCI card?
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Sorry, yeah, the PCI card manual.

kyle.lgk said:
So I need an additional unit to plug the headphones in?
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Looks like it to me. Since you have only two inputs you probably won't be recording full bands so a headphone amp with one or two outputs would do it.

kyle.lgk said:
I have a Tascam Emu 0404 that I used to use for my interface/preamp/headphones/monitors, but recently the USB female developed a loose connection. Probably an easy fix, but I wouldn't know how to do it :( ... this could be used solely for headphones? (and possibly monitoring?)
Click to expand...

Two problems. Inputs and outputs should be through one piece of equipment, or units that are wordclock synced together. The iffy USB socket pretty much makes that unit untrustworthy.
 
Hi.

Yes, you'll need an additional unit for the headphones.
I'm taking BSGs word for it that there's no headphone output, so yes, in the case you'd use the left and right main output to feed a headphone amp.

You are correct, the SM7b doesn't require phantom power.
It wont matter if phantom power is on, but you don't need it.

Just a headsup, it's sm7b, not smb7.
I'm only saying cos smb7 might not work well if you're googling stuff.


You can't use the other interface for monitoring I'm afraid. It's one or other. Windows won't let you access both at once.
 
I don't mind switching the plugs between headphones and monitors on the soundcard.
I have to imagine there is a way to plug headphones into the 193 PCI card!?
If not, whats the most affordable solution?
 
What about something likeMackie 402-VLZ3 4-Channel Ultra Compact Mixer
www(dot)zzounds(dot)com/item--MAC402VLZ3 (can't post links yet)

Or if you could offer a better solution in this price range.
I don't think I'll ever be using more than 1 or 2 channels
 
kyle.lgk said:
I don't mind switching the plugs between headphones and monitors on the soundcard.
Click to expand...

No need. The interface has separate outputs...

kyle.lgk said:
I have to imagine there is a way to plug headphones into the 193 PCI card!?
Click to expand...

...but not ones you can plug headphones right into.

kyle.lgk said:
If not, whats the most affordable solution?
Click to expand...

Let me google that for you

(If I didn't hate smileys with a passion I would put one here to indicate an attempt at humor.)
 
Sorry, I'm a little confused.

So can I just use the PCI interface for headphones?

Yes I could have googled that and get thrown into an overload of information and products. I don't really know what I need here.
 
I decided to scrap the PCI sound card and just go with a USB interface. I'll only be using the line in to bypass the preamps so I was wondering how cheap I can go without hindering the overall quality.

zzounds(dot)com/item--BEHUCA202
zzounds(dot)com/item--LEXALPHA

or should I get something like...

zzounds(dot)com/item--PRSAUDIOBOX
zzounds(dot)com/item--TASUS122MKII
zzounds(dot)com/item--MDOMOBILEPREV2
 
How come? Have you not already bought the pci jobby?

Usb interfaces all seem ok.

Even the little behringer would do if it's just line ins you want.
 
Rode K2 & SM7B --> GAP73 --> RNC --> (USB INTERFACE?) ---> PC
Id rather go mixerless

I ordered the PCI interface, but I just canceled it (caught it before it shipped)

Originally I went with a focusrite saffire 6 USB interface but there was compatibility issues with my PC
 
I guess my question is, what interface can I get under $200 that won't compromise the quality of my overall setup
 
oh,sorry.

Well, you could get a little firewire pci card for a few bucks, or just go with any of the 2 channel usb interfaces in that price range.

I don't honestly think there'll be a world of difference between the various 2 channel interfaces, especially when you're not using the preamps.
 
kyle.lgk said:
Sorry, I'm a little confused.

So can I just use the PCI interface for headphones?
Click to expand...

It might be possible with the right adapter to connect headphones to the main outs of the PCI card, but that's not what they are designed to do. They are sending line level balanced signal that works with line level balanced inputs on things like headphone amps and mixers. It may work with some headphones but not others.

kyle.lgk said:
Yes I could have googled that and get thrown into an overload of information and products. I don't really know what I need here.
Click to expand...

Just about any of them will work so it's just down to what you can afford and what features you need. Units with four outputs seem to be the standard at the home/project studio level. Behringer makes one that sells for $22. I'm sure there are audiophile grade headphone amps priced in the thousands. Pick one with a price you like and look for reviews.
 
The presonus and the lexicon have instrument level inputs which are not what you want.

The tascam has line inputs, so yeah, it would do you.
 
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