FirePod Preamp Question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bigsnake00
  • Start date Start date
B

Bigsnake00

New member
This is for you firepod users. If you plug a condensor into either channel 1 or 2, how far do you have to turn the knob up to get signal? I usualy have to go to "3 oclock" or "7 to 8". Im just wondered if everyone is doing this, or if I have somthing wrong.
 
Bigsnake00 said:
This is for you firepod users. If you plug a condensor into either channel 1 or 2, how far do you have to turn the knob up to get signal? I usualy have to go to "3 oclock" or "7 to 8". Im just wondered if everyone is doing this, or if I have somthing wrong.
Click to expand...

Another user was having the same problem recently. The firebox preamp only provides +45dB of gain, which is a little lower than most outboard pres (55-70 is more common). That may explain why you have to "crank it."
 
Tried Phantom Power?

Have you tried the phantom power, that will put out a little more juice... the furthest that I have to go is about 5/8th the way there on one of my mics. But I don't know much about microphones... it's something that came with my FirePod an MXL some Marshall microphone. It works for the time being. But if it seems too little, try the phantom power (Assuming you haven't already).
 
thehouseofshawn said:
Have you tried the phantom power, that will put out a little more juice... the furthest that I have to go is about 5/8th the way there on one of my mics. But I don't know much about microphones... it's something that came with my FirePod an MXL some Marshall microphone. It works for the time being. But if it seems too little, try the phantom power (Assuming you haven't already).
Click to expand...

Condenser mics don't typically function without phantom power. Some have battery power, but that is relatively rare.
 
Yeah I know its not phantom power issue. I am using at AT2020 and an MXL990, I get good sound, it just takes forever to get there. With my sm7 i can understand since its dynamic. I dunno...wierd
 
Bigsnake00 said:
Yeah I know its not phantom power issue. I am using at AT2020 and an MXL990, I get good sound, it just takes forever to get there. With my sm7 i can understand since its dynamic. I dunno...wierd
Click to expand...

No, it's not weird. The SM7 likes a lot of gain (condenser mics have an internal, phantom-powered preamp that boosts the signal coming out of the mic; dynamics don't have this boost). +45dB is not enough to make the SM7 happy. Are the preamps on the firebox noisy? If not, crank it. You could try ganging the preamp gain by connecting the output from channel 1 to the input of channel 2. That should give you plenty of additional gain, but will limit you to only one channel. You could also add an external preamp, like the DMP3, which supplies +66dB of gain.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top