:confused: Gear Connection-Gurus?

[DaleVO]

If this post belongs in another forum, please move it.

This is my first post to this forum. So- Howdy from Texas. I record voice overs. I recently picked up a Behringer MDX1600 ($60.00) to add to my chain and need some help.

I have Rode NT1-A >>ART Tube-MP Studio >>AutoCom Pro XL (MDX1600) >>Fast Track Pro >>Laptop via USB.

I have attached a diagram. However, I need some feedback on the Do's and Dont's of connecting the components. I am looking for the best cabling option(s) for this chain. My dilemma is which to use: TS-TS vs. TRS-TRS vs. XLR-XLR (or all of the above) for the connections and how to insure a safe signal (ie. mic, instrument, line -10dBV, line +4dBu/dBm) through the chain. The compressor has -10 dBV & +4dBu switching, and the FTPro has Line & Instr. switching. Are these the same levels?

I do not want to let "the Magic Smoke" out of the wires and components.

Thank you all in advance.
D

 

[sjjohnston]

Mic --- XLR---> ART Tube MP (That part is pretty obvious)
ART Tube MP --- XLR ---> Compressor (an XLR --> TRS would also work about as well, but a normal XLR cable is more common and a bit sturdier)
(Set compressor to +4; if you have clipping problems at the interface, change to -10)
Compressor --- TRS ---> Interface (an XLR --> TRS would also work and be a bit sturdier at the XLR end, but I wouldn't buy a special cable just for this)
(Set Interface to line)

Note:
- The choice between -10 and +4 isn't the same as the choice between line and instrument, which typically has more to do with impedance.
- If you were so inclined, you could eliminate the ART Tube-MP, as the Fast Track has mic preamps in it. Whether that would improve things, I don't know.

 

[DaleVO]

SJ:
Thank you for the feedback on getting the new Compressor into the chain.

- If you were so inclined, you could eliminate the ART Tube-MP, as the Fast Track has mic preamps in it. Whether that would improve things, I don't know.

If the tube is removed from the equation, is my graphic (see attached) wired correctly?

Is the TRS Output 1 for Channel 1 and Output 2 for Channel 2, OR is OP1 and OP2 the Left and Right channels for a stereo signal? (Hence the reason my graphic depicts TRS "Y" cables.) Same question for Insert 1 & Insert 2?

I appreciate the help.
D

 

[sjjohnston]

If the tube is removed from the equation, is my graphic (see attached) wired correctly?

Not quite

To use the insert on the Fast Track, you'd use one "insert cable" for each channel. An insert cable is a sort of "Y" cable (also sometimes called a "stereo splitter") that has one TRS plug at one end and two TS plugs at the other. The TS plugs should be marked "tip" and "ring" (or "send" and "return," or occasional "left" and "right").

With one insert cable:
insert the single TRS plug into the channel 1 insert jack on the back of the Fast Track
insert the tip/send/left TS plug into the channel 1 input jack on the back of the compressor
insert the ring/return/right TS plug into the channel 1 output jack on back of the compressor

Same thing with the other insert cable, but for channel 2.

More notes:

- The insert jacks on the Fast Track (like those on quite a few other pieces of equipment) are wired so that one jack is both an output and an input. The output signal is connected to the tip contact; the ring contact carries the input signal.

- At the risk of attempting an explanation that's more confusing than helpful:

"Stereo" just means "two separate signals, one of which is intended to wind up in the left speaker, and one of which is intended to wind up in the right speaker." If you were, for an example, to take two mics in an XY configuration, point them at a piano, and plug one into channel 1 and one into channel 2 of your Fast Track, you'd be recording a stereo signal. If you were to take two mics, point one at a singer and the other at an electric guitar amp, and plug one into channels 1 and one into channel 2, you'd be recording two tracks that aren't really "stereo." Your hardware won't know the difference between the two situations (except as noted below). You'd presumably opt to deal with the two situations differently when mixing the tracks with your software, but you could - in either situation - set up your software to treat them like two mono tracks or a single stereo track.

There's one key way you ordinarily want to treat a "stereo" track differently from two mono tracks in hardware:

- if you're compressing a real "stereo" track (i.e. two channels that carry recordings of pretty much "the same thing," except that one is intended for the left speaker and one for the right), you want the compressor to adjust the levels of both tracks identically, using the combined signal as the "key" - the typical two-channel compressor allows you to do this by throwing a switch that's sometimes called "link" or "couple;"

- if you're compressings two mono tracks, you want the compressor to adjust each separately.

 

[DaleVO]

With one insert cable:
insert the single TRS plug into the channel 1 insert jack on the back of the Fast Track
insert the tip/send/left TS plug into the channel 1 input jack on the back of the compressor
insert the ring/return/right TS plug into the channel 1 output jack on back of the compressor.

SJ,

Thank you for clarifying an Insert Cable. I see that I had my "Ys" inverted, too many, and mis-connected.
Got it: TRS>> Tr SEND on tip (Ch.1 IN) & tR RETURN on ring (Ch.1 OUT)

This should place the effect(s), in the chain, between the preamps and A/D converter?

I record everything MONO 24bit/48kHz. But, the stereo explanation was beneficial and affirmed my understanding.

Thank you again,
D