digital preamp sync..how to hook it up?

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John Mayes

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digital preamp sync..how to hook it up? Or how to run new pre thrugh old Pre....

Ok so I've never had to worry about this before as my echo units are synced together and they both run into the computer no problem. But I'm looking for a decent pre-amp that can sync with these units. My questions is How would I go about getting the signal into the computer? I know you use the BNC 75 ohm word clock and sync them together and that is all well and good but for the sound to get fromt he pre-amp on to the hard disk how does one go about that? If I were to put the signal from the mic to the digtal pre-amp (like the dbx 386 for example) then from the dbx outputs into the mona inputs wouldn't I just be taking the signal and making it conform back to the sound of the mona pre's and therefore wasting my time on the new pre-amp? I know this may be a dumb question and I apologize in advance but a little light shed on this for me would be much appricated and will help me make a good descsion based on my needs and budget for a new "colored" pre-amp. Thanks a bundle guys!
 
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even taking it one step further...answer the first question if you can as it is more importnant I think... if the sound of the new micpre is "degraded" (the mona's pre's are nice and clean so degraded is probably not the best choice of words but I don't know the word to use) then is there reall any point in buying ht enew pre? what is the best way to go about hooking in a new pre-amp into my system? Thanks! And just for refrence here is what I have in the studio if it helps out.

Dell Deminsion 4550 running Windows XP. 1 gig RAM, Pentium 4 2.53 processor, 200 gig Hard Drive decidated to Music Storage.

Steinberg Cubase SX computer recording program

Steinberg Wavelab 4.0 editing software

Waves Native Gold Bundle Audio Plugins

Sonic Foundry Soundforge 6.0 Editing Software

Many Cubase Virtual instruments

2 Echo Audio Mona Systems sync'd together to bring in 8 channels at once if needed.

Pair of M-Audio BX5 nearfield Monitors

2 Neumann KM-184 Small diaphragm condenser microphones

1 Neumann TLM 103 Large diaphragm condenser microphone

2 Rode NT5 small diaphragm condenser microphones

1 Rode NTK Large diaphragm Tube Microphone

1 Marshall MXL V69M Large diaphragm Tube Microphone

1 Marshall MXL V69G Large diaphragm Condenser Micrphone

3 Shure PG56 Snare/Tom Microphones

1 Shure PG52 Kick Microphone

3 Shure SM57 Microphones

1 Shure PG81 Small diaphragm Condenser microphone

1 ART Studio Tube MP Pre-Amp
 
I have neither the Mona or the DBX, but can't you use the S/PDIF output from the DBX to the S/PDIF input of one of your Monas?

You would have to set the DBX to sync to the Mona as opposed to the other way around.

Am I missing something?
 
well I think the sync option works through the word clock on the Mona...but my knowledge here is limited..I know I synced the two Mona units together by hooking the two word clocks together with a BNC connector and setting them to word clock...and I don't have the dbx I just used it as a example....but you may be right I have no clue! That is why I'm asking!
 
I think you're right about the word clock. There is a seperate BNC connector for this. The S/PDIF connections look like a standard RCA connector. You should be able to plug the DBX digital output to the digital input of either Mona AND use the word clock at the same time.

The only thing that I'm unsure about is how you would set up the DBX to sync to the Mona. The DBX is also word clock compatable, so I'm sure it's possible.
 
right I got the syncing part down I guess so my title of the post might be a bit off..I was more concerned about after they are synced how to bring the sound into the computer without "degrading" the audio quality from the properties of the preamp to that of the internal pre's with the Mona.

Lets forget digital for a second.

How would you hook up say....a VMP-2 through the Mona System without running it through it's pre-amps. As I'm guessing if you run it through the VMP-2's preamps and then through the Mona's pre-amps the sound quality would either A: sound like the 2nd pre-amp or B: be only as good as the worst pre-amp in the chain. Am I making any sense at all? I guess the best question here is

"How do I run a pre-amp through my Mona System while still retaning the sound of the Non-Echo Pre?"

Does that make sense? I guess if I can figure that out then the syncing is not really a problem. Which also makes me wonder why even use the syncing If I can just run a pre-amp through the Mona system without using the Mona Pre-amps (if that is possible)
 
OK, I understand what you're saying. I think you're missing something. In your first post, you mentioned using a DBX 386 preamp. The DBX has a seperate digital (S/PDIF) output for doing just what you want to do. It has nothing to do with the word clock (which you can use at the same time if you wish). Now the VMP-2 is a different story. It has only analog outputs, which means you have to plug it into the Monas Line Level inputs. The line level inputs should bypass the mic preamp in the Mona. I say 'should' becuase it's unclear (as per the specs on the Echo website) whether or not the preamp is simply attenuated when using the line in. I would hope the signal would actually bypass the preamp.

Here's a quote from Echo..

Microphone Input Level (balanced XLR):
EIN: -129dBV
Input Impedance: 1.5KOhm
Gain Adjustment: 20-60dB
Line Input Level (balanced TRS):
Input Impedance: 10KOhm
Gain Adjustment: 0-40dB
Guitar Input (unbalanced TS):
Input Impedance: 107KOhm
Gain Adjustment: 10-50dB

Notice the "Line Input Level". This is where you would want to plug in your outboard preamp.

Now, if you get a preamp like the DBX that has a digital output, I would suggest using the S/PDIF connection as it would bypass both the built-in mic preamp, and the A/D converters in the Mona. All of the tone produced by the preamp would get into your recording software without anything getting added or subtracted. The Mona would simply act as a S/PDIF digital input for your computer (not a preamp, A/D converter, or anything else).

Is any of this making sense?
 
that makes PERFECT sense. Thanks so much for clarifying!
 
I use a DBX386, and it can be a slave to another digital unit, or another unit can clock off it. no problem-Richie
 
in your opnion howwould you describe the sound of the pre's on the 386?
 
The DBX provides about 30 dB of clean gain. It is a very clean, neutral preamp with a very good A-D converter, as long as you don't touch its stupid front end tewb drive, which sucks in all cases, and IMHO, should be turned to zero for all time. The 386 runs quite hot, needs rack space to breath, and does hum a little, so it needs to be isolated from mics as much as possible.-Richie
 
Thanks for your input Richie. In your setup, are you using the word clock for sync? What are you using for master/slave and why?
 
I have the Roland VS1824CD clocking off of the DBX or a Joemeek twinQ or an M300 Fx box, because any of them are better A-D converters than the Roland. So solly, not MIDI or computer based. Word clock irrelevent to me.-Richie
 
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