Help! MXL603s into DMP3!

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Dethska

Dethska

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I just got a DMP3 and my MXL603s mics are clipping the ADAT that I record to. I believe I've got the gain turned all the way down on the DMP3. I'm using the 603's as overheads on a drum kit.

Is there anything I can do to fix this? Besides buying $40/ea shure line attenuators?

I'm running the DMP3 into the unbalanced inputs of the ADAT using a 1/4" TS cable to RCA. Is this my problem?

All help is greatly appreciated.
 
ive never used the dmp3 but have ran into

the same exact problem with my alesis studio 32 mixer and mxl603s.
Try raising the overheads a little higher, this helps sometimes but it may not sound as good depending on your room. Ive found that most of the time its the snare that will cause them to clip. Try positioning them where they have the least amount of snare if your recording a hard hitter.
 
Thanks Wireneck. I was hoping to leave the mics in the same position though. It took me days to find the right spots. Plus the overheads are what I use to get most of the snare sound.

Does anybody else have any ideas?
 
Do you have the High Gain (+30dB) buttons activated? If so, switch back to the low gain settings.
 
Yea. Press the buttons that say "Hi/Lo Gain Range." Fittingly, they're directly to the right of the red clip buttons that are flashing like crazy when you record drums. :D :D

That should give you plenty of headroom.
 
Thanks for the help guys, but that wasn't the problem. I already tried that, and they were definately on the low setting. I managed a work around though.
I also got a new RNC, so I sent the outs of the DMP3 to the RNC and then from the RNC to the ADAT. I used the RNC to limit the signal hitting the ADAT. Since I wanted to compress the overheads a little anyway, it was no big deal.

Maybe this isn't the best solution, and I'd be interested to hear if anybody else has any other ideas. Thanks.
 
Jesus. How loud are you playing ? ? ?

Get the Shure attenuator pads. :D Oh, that's right.
 
I'm not playing THAT loud. :D

I think the problem lies with the DMP3 having balanced outs, and me only having unbalanced ins on my ADAT. Or am I wrong in my thinking here?
 
your probably playing loud enough

to make them clip the adat. I havent had a drummer come in my place that hasn't been able to make them clip. I record alot of metal though so i get some hard hitters in here. You should prob go for the attenuator pads when you get some extra cash/
 
Dethska said:
I'm not playing THAT loud. :D

I think the problem lies with the DMP3 having balanced outs, and me only having unbalanced ins on my ADAT. Or am I wrong in my thinking here?
Click to expand...

It shouldn't make a difference. Balanced lines just cancel out noise. They don't make things louder.
 
I guess I was thinking more of the the -10 unbalanced or +4 balanced signals. Like, running a +4 into something expecting -10 is going to make the signal to hot. Or something along those lines. Maybe I'm wrong. I'm fairly new to this "decent" equipment game.
 
Dethska, I believe you have got it. The DMP-3 is putting out +4, and RCA line ins are almost always looking for -10. I had the same problem with my little Korg PXR4 Pandora. Consider a line level shifter such as EBTECH LLS-2. For $50 or so, it changes 2 channels of -10 to +4, or the other way around. It requires no power, and makes damn little noise. That will allow you to turn up the DMP-3 enough to get decent sound out of it.-Richie
 
Thanks Richie! :D I'll look into that line level shifter. That should help a bunch.
 
I put a pair of 603's on Grand Piano running thru a pair of API 312 mic pre's.
I was surprised at how LITTLE gain these mics required.
So, it seems like a common problem.
The API's handled it very well though.
 
Okay, now I understand how this gets out of hand. First I bought some 603s. This made me realize that my drum set sucked. So I spend a few hundred dollars fixing it up. Then I realized my preamps sucked. So I bought a DMP-3. Now the level is too hot from my 603s to my DMP-3 to my ADAT. So now I need to upgrade my ADAT to something with balanced ins. Wonderful.

I'm also realizing that my room could use some work as well.
And it sure would be nice to have some more tracks to record too. And some new cymbals would definitely smooth things out.

I should have taken up a less expensive hobby:D
 
Dethska said:
Okay, now I understand how this gets out of hand. First I bought some 603s. This made me realize that my drum set sucked. So I spend a few hundred dollars fixing it up. Then I realized my preamps sucked. So I bought a DMP-3. Now the level is too hot from my 603s to my DMP-3 to my ADAT. So now I need to upgrade my ADAT to something with balanced ins. Wonderful.

I'm also realizing that my room could use some work as well.
And it sure would be nice to have some more tracks to record too. And some new cymbals would definitely smooth things out.

I should have taken up a less expensive hobby:D
Click to expand...

Well, my mother used to knit. But, she changed to a more expensive knitting twine and then she realized that her knitting needles sucked. So, she changed knitting needles and realized that her knitting chair was bad, So, after changing the chair she complained that the knitting room was too small. So, she bought a new house. Your hobby is definately less expensive than knitting. Feel better?????
 
No.:mad:

But it's nothing a 16 track 1" machine couldn't cure. :D Or maybe I need a 24 track HD machine. Shoot, I can't decide, I think I'll get both. Oh, and while I'm at it, throw it a new ghost with 32 channels and automation. Now I'm happy:D

Well, crap, now my overhead mics need upgrading :eek:
 
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