Focusrite Twintrak Pro Questions.

  • Thread starter Thread starter demensia
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demensia

demensia

www.lukemacneil.com
I posted some of this before, but in the wrong forum. It should have gone here, I apologize.

I bought a Twintrack to upgrade from my bluetube stuff... and when setting it up I noticed that the balanced outputs were only XLR. There are also TS outputs. I record into my computer with a delta 44 which has 4 TRS inputs.. I can set the operating level in the audio driver to +4 or -10... Since the +4 outputs from my pre are XLR, for now I have to record at -10.

It seems like I have to JACK the preamp level in order to get a loud enough signal to record... Which makes me think either the preamp blows, or I have it hooked up wrong (most likely the latter)

I'm also using it as a monitoring device... I send the outputs from my soundcard into it, and from there I send the signal to the monitors and to my headphone amp... Its noisy as hell.

When playing back an audio file, I have the volume all the way up on the Twintrack, in the m-audio mixer, in audition, and on my monitors (KRK Rokits).. With everything jacked I get a reasonable volume.. Whats the problem here.. is it all because I'm operating at -10 instead of +4.. Does anyone else experience this problem, is the Twintrak defective?

I was actually thinking of taking it back... I like the compressor alot... its simple and it does exactly what I want it to do in tracking, but I don't feel comfortable with my input level all the way up.

As a side note I've also used the various Z settings on the Twintrak.. it makes a difference, but not a huge change in amplitude.

I paid about $600 for it new... My recording quality was just as good with my $200 presonus blue tube... And in general, I feel like my daw was operating better.

Could someone please tell me if this is normal, if I've done something wrong, or if they think the twintrak is defective.

Thanks.
 
well the +4 , -10 is to switch between consumer and pro (prosumer) equipment... probably most of your stuff is prosumer at least... it is strange that you can not adjust the level with the ttpro...
id say try... reel buzzers option first, before you think something has gone wrong...

also why do you run the outputs through the ttpro... it would seem easier to just run your audio card outs to your monitors?

and your daw shouldnt notice any difference in your pre-amp...
 
Pretty sure those outputs are trs, make sure you are using trs cables, operate at +4
 
No, they are definatly TS outputs... its even painted -10 above them.

I was running the outputs through the twintrack becasue previously I had to stand up and turn off the monitors when I wanted to just use the headphone amp.. I had the outputs 1/2 of the delta 44 going into the inputs of the headphone amp, and then the headphone amp to the monitors.
.. It was really a pain trying to record myself, listen through the monitors, record, listen record listen.
 
I have the TT Pro and use XLR-TRS cables to a MOTU 2408. It is unfortunate that it doesn't include balanced +4 TRS outputs. Just get some XLR-TRS cables and it will fix the problem.

I find that the preamp has plenty of gain. I've never engaged the high gain button for anything. In fact, on a snare mic the gain is nearly all the way down. I'm not saying it's the greatest preamp in the world, but I don't think you've heard an accurate representation of it yet since it's operating at the wrong level.

I don't use the monitoring from it, so sorry but I can't comment on that.

Sweetwater usually has B-Stocks of the Focusrite Platinum line, which tells me that some of them do go bad and have to be refurbished. Just a thought.

Best of luck
 
Would the ADC card for $229 and an upgraded soundcard that supports SPDIF be a solution?
 
I would make the small investment in the XLR-TRS cables and change your operating level to +4. If it doesn't work then I apologize, but it will almost certainly solve your input problem while recording and it's quite likely it will solve your monitoring problem also. When you send your outputs to the TT, is your soundcard still at -10?

Why spent $200+ when you could probably solve this problem for $20?
 
PhiloBeddoe said:
I would make the small investment in the XLR-TRS cables and change your operating level to +4. If it doesn't work then I apologize, but it will almost certainly solve your input problem while recording and it's quite likely it will solve your monitoring problem also. When you send your outputs to the TT, is your soundcard still at -10?

Why spent $200+ when you could probably solve this problem for $20?
Click to expand...

I'm going to try that first.
I've got the inputs of my delta at -10 and the outputs at +4
Its noisy as hell.
 
Looked quickly at the manual.

You don't happen to have the "Headphones to monitor" button depressed, do you? This would mix the microphone signals with the monitor signals.

If you bypass the TT, going straight from the audio card to the monitors, is the signal good and clean?
 
If I go straight to the monitors the signal is good with the monitor volume at 50%.. If I turn the monitors up to 100% while plugged directly to the sound card ... they're still noisy (even though the manual for the krks says they are designed to operate at full volume)

I've actually tried both ways.. with the headphones button pressed and without.. I've fiddled with that whole monitoring section...

I can't really prove it but it seemed like the amplitue started to get louder the warmer the machine got... theres no tubes in that thing so why would that effect the sound.. I could have just been deluded by hopefullness.
I'm heading off to guitar center after work to grab the cables.
We'll see how that works out.

Thanks for your help.
- luke.
 
I have a TwinTrak and use XLR outs only. I agree that XLR to TRS cables will solve your problems. Set all your equipment to +4 dBu (professional) levels. It will give you approximately 12dB more level and balanced connection will reduce noise.

Why must you send the TT signal to a headphone amp? It has it's own monitoring section that's amplified.

Regards,
Mountaineer
 
I'm with the rest of the guys. If your +4 outs are XLR, and you don't have XLR ins on the soundcard, then you need to have XLR to TRS cables. Suck it up and get the right cables.-Richie
 
I did get the right cables.. came home and plugged it all in.. I also grabbed a power conditioner to see if that may have been the problem.. and I still had to jack the level all the way up to get a signal on my SM81. I tried with all the various impedence levels. I took the twintrak back to guitar center and traded it in for a bunch of stuff. I just grabbed a presonus blue tube and tube pre, for three channels.. I like the sound better than the more expensive twintrak.. I really liked the twintrak's compressor though. Oh well. For the price of the focusrite I grabbed the tube pre, bluetube, a comp16, and the tranzport wireless DAW controller. I think the twintrak I had was defective... I'm not sure though.

Anyway. I dont really dig the presonus stuff either... I'm pretty positive that I'm just not going to be satisfied with my gear... There has to be a point where I just say .. alright.. thats enough crap. Record now.
 
You did set your audio card back to +4, right?

Anyway, sorry about your problems but it seems that you had a defective unit.

I agree that we probably all spend too much time thinking about gear and not enough recording and mixing.
 
yeah, I had phantom power on. It had the same problem with dynamic mics.
 
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