Cannot get a signal from Amp-->DI-box-->Computer

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Somethinglikethat

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Hello,

Like the thread name says. I have connected everything like:

Blackstar HT-5R mk3---> Speaker cable (16 ohm)--->Two notes torpedo captor 16 ohm XLR--->preamp--->Audio interface.

I have tried a balanced TRS cable through DI-->preamp instead of XLR, still no signal. I tried a microphone through XLR-->preamp, no problem.

I have also tried to turn on the phantom power on the preamp and plug in a power cable to the torpedo. No DAW/computer settings are changed and there are no problems if i plug the guitar straight into the preamp with a TRS.

I have no idea of what's going on, what am i missing here...?

Thank you in advance.
 
From what I can tell of your rig, you can use the Cabridge Output XLR->Interface Mic XLR Input. The speaker output seems to be looking for a 8/16 ohm resistance (a speaker). From What I can see, you should be using the Cabridge or phones (I would be careful with that). Cabridge simulates a speaker cab according to the web site.
 
DM60 said:
From what I can tell of your rig, you can use the Cabridge Output XLR->Interface Mic XLR Input. The speaker output seems to be looking for a 8/16 ohm resistance (a speaker). From What I can see, you should be using the Cabridge or phones (I would be careful with that). Cabridge simulates a speaker cab according to the web site.
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Thank you for your answer.

But shouldn't the torpedo captor act as a speaker? I tried the cabridge (XLR) and it sounded quite alot from the amp but maybe 40% of that in my DAW. I've read the manual and i cannot see anything about how to get a silent recording. Im gonna keep searching.

Edit: I will connect the amp through USB and try that out aswell, not hoping for any quality miracles though, hehe.
 
Somethinglikethat said:
Thank you for your answer.

But shouldn't the torpedo captor act as a speaker? I tried the cabridge (XLR) and it sounded quite alot from the amp but maybe 40% of that in my DAW. I've read the manual and i cannot see anything about how to get a silent recording. Im gonna keep searching.

Edit: I will connect the amp through USB and try that out aswell, not hoping for any quality miracles though, hehe.
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If the XLR is putting out to high a signal, decrease your gain on your interface or set it to line in (not instrument setting) if you have one.
 
DM60 said:
If the XLR is putting out to high a signal, decrease your gain on your interface or set it to line in (not instrument setting) if you have one
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I put a TRS cable to the lineout and to the preamp, that worked but the sound isn't great. The guitar to the preamp (Black Lion Auteur mk3) sounds possibly better than that haha... I've e-mailed Two Notes, hoping for a solution.
 
The unit requires 48V phantom from your interface via the usual 3 pin XLR cable to power the DI. The jack out does not (and cannot} use phantom. TRS or TS should be fine.

This may be a bit silly - but you do know the torpedo unit does NOT have an internal speaker and is just a speaker DI box, and it is also rated for a 100W amp input, when you have just 5W coming from the amp? That's a tiny, puny and weedy signal. 5W instead of 100W means the output level from the device to your preamp will be very low. Boosting that in the preamp might generate lots of noise and a bit of a feeble tone? I suspect nothing is wrong, bar you underdriving it. They're usually warning people not to overdrive them. You are just tickling it!
 
rob aylestone said:
The unit requires 48V phantom from your interface via the usual 3 pin XLR cable to power the DI. The jack out does not (and cannot} use phantom. TRS or TS should be fine.

This may be a bit silly - but you do know the torpedo unit does NOT have an internal speaker and is just a speaker DI box, and it is also rated for a 100W amp input, when you have just 5W coming from the amp? That's a tiny, puny and weedy signal. 5W instead of 100W means the output level from the device to your preamp will be very low. Boosting that in the preamp might generate lots of noise and a bit of a feeble tone? I suspect nothing is wrong, bar you underdriving it. They're usually warning people not to overdrive them. You are just tickling it!
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Thank you for the answer.

I have tried phantom with XLR and TRS and TS without.

Well, i actually didn't know nor think of that...:facepalm: This is why i should use forums before buying stuff, lession learned i guess!
But shouldn't that "tickle" still be noticible, or maybe not neccessarily?

Edit: So i definetly should look on a unit that has an internal speaker?
 
Can you post the tone you are getting that you don't like? It might be it either just sounds terrible, or you have to make some adjustments. I read a small portion about the amp and it states what comes out of the headphones (which you can use that as an input and use the interface for the monitoring) or the Cabridge simulates a speaker output. Maybe you need to run that off/bypass it and just take a clean amp output.

I think it is working like it should, you just don't have it the way you want. Just speculating.
 
The snag with these is that all they are is a big resistive load, and if you shove 100W in, the little fan cools it down - your amp output gets converted to 99.9% (guess) heat, an .1% audio output. Your 5W won't keep it even warm.

They're not mean to produce a sound, because to do that they would need a big speaker to get any tone, and to get good tone, they'd need to be driven properly.

I'm guessing you bought it to capture some kind of amp effect? Otherwise you could have just slapped a mic on the cab if it sounds really good - but does your amp actually sound good - good as in the tone you want to record? The usual reason for buying these is when you have a great amp sound, and just want to capture that, instead of, or in addition to the speakers. I don't know your 5W combo? Is it one of those 'special' ones?
 
Due to the square law for power the voltage difference isn't a massive as you might think. 5W into 16R is about 9V rms and 100W is 40V rms...yes, a lot more but you should have got something! I suspect an "operational error" somewhere.

The lil' 5 is a double Triode in fixed bias push pull and if you drive the nuts off it (which is rather the point with a power soak?) it will kick out around 10W (12.6V rms) People have and do gig them into bigger cabs.

N.B. while you are fooling with the amp? I 'think' Blackstar have fitted the speaker 'interlock' to it now that is used on the rest of the HT series?

This means the amp will not output a speaker signal unless there is a plug in BOTH input and a speaker jack. If you are unaware this can lead to hair loss.

Dave.
 
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DM60 said:
Can you post the tone you are getting that you don't like? It might be it either just sounds terrible, or you have to make some adjustments. I read a small portion about the amp and it states what comes out of the headphones (which you can use that as an input and use the interface for the monitoring) or the Cabridge simulates a speaker output. Maybe you need to run that off/bypass it and just take a clean amp output.

I think it is working like it should, you just don't have it the way you want. Just speculating.
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Sorry, not at the moment. Yes, that is possible. I have recorded some from the input jack and it sounds pretty good and more lively than just the guitar to the computer.
 
rob aylestone said:
The snag with these is that all they are is a big resistive load, and if you shove 100W in, the little fan cools it down - your amp output gets converted to 99.9% (guess) heat, an .1% audio output. Your 5W won't keep it even warm.

They're not mean to produce a sound, because to do that they would need a big speaker to get any tone, and to get good tone, they'd need to be driven properly.

I'm guessing you bought it to capture some kind of amp effect? Otherwise you could have just slapped a mic on the cab if it sounds really good - but does your amp actually sound good - good as in the tone you want to record? The usual reason for buying these is when you have a great amp sound, and just want to capture that, instead of, or in addition to the speakers. I don't know your 5W combo? Is it one of those 'special' ones?
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Yes, i want to capture the amp effect and be able to switch cabs (looking on a captor x now). That is a fundamental yet good question, i do think it sounds pretty good but there are room for improvements and i will tweak the settings and buy a distortion pedal in the future aswell.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by special but it's just an amp with a cab and not the "small" version that's just an amp.
1730804958920.webp
 
". I don't know your 5W combo? Is it one of those 'special' ones?" I am surprised you haven't come across an HT-5 Rob?

"Special"? I and I am sure Blackstar think so!. As I said, it uses a double Triode in ppull fixed bias, a 12BH7. The pre amp section is a 12AX7 (ECC83) and produces about 90% of the OD tone of the amp when running the OP stage clean.

The 'front end' is an op amp (so NO hum, very low hiss* and no microphonics AND it will "last forever") The tone control is also based around op amps. Blackstar got stick for this..."Not a PURE valve amp!!" Well no but it sounds good and is very reliable, light and very well equipped for the price. FX loop, verb, Em speaker out, cans out. Might even be USB recording on the latest ones!

I said peeps gig them and they do sound massive through a good 4x12.

*I defy anyone to find a guitar amp with a better signal to noise ratio with the same amount of gain. I regularly recorded better than 80dB below 5 watts. THAT is hi fi amp territory.
 
Not very interested in anything with tubes, to be fair, so I rarely comment on the glass things - I think 'special' applies to anything that uses magic he he.
 
rob aylestone said:
Not very interested in anything with tubes, to be fair, so I rarely comment on the glass things - I think 'special' applies to anything that uses magic he he.
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Did you mean " TEE hee" Rob? And come on chap! Don't let the Limey side down? WE call them VALVES! "Thermionic Valves'.

Even though most of my living was gained repairing valve based equipment I do admit that they have almost had their time.
Very, very inefficient, nasty materials and polluting manufacturing processes carried out by counties in the world that largely don't give a shit.

I think however that their demise is about nigh? They are getting ever rarer and more expensive. In ten years I think only the very well heeled or daft will keep valve gear going. Anyone who learns how to fix it NOW is going to be in great demand for the next 20 years.


Dave.
 
I've recently been clearing a huge collection of old gear from a warehouse and one item was a valve tester, with plug in profiles for hundreds of valve types. You take the valve, plug in the card and press test. The pile of cards was immense, and it told you everything about the individual valves performance. It went for scrap, nobody wanted it.
 
rob aylestone said:
I've recently been clearing a huge collection of old gear from a warehouse and one item was a valve tester, with plug in profiles for hundreds of valve types. You take the valve, plug in the card and press test. The pile of cards was immense, and it told you everything about the individual valves performance. It went for scrap, nobody wanted it.
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Someone would have done given time! I 'cut my teeth' on such a machine. Mullard Valve Tester with a magic eye? Cards were made of ~0.5mm Paxolin, Brown?

Just the mains transformer was a wonder to behold...all those filament voltages!

Dave.
 
That's it!!!! There were so many things we saved, but couldn't take it all. The BBC's nearly new analogue TV transmitter and complete telephone exchange went. 40 odd of nearly 50 theatre/church organs went, and the 7 ton steam engine went. Lots were just too wierd or big.
 
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