Just got a new mixer for my daw... always peaking?!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steve Henningsgard
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Steve Henningsgard

Steve Henningsgard

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I've got a Delta1010 which doesn't have pre-amps, so I bought a Yamaha MG16/4 mixer. It's got decent pre's for the price, and i/o jacks that I'm using as direct outs. For microphones, I've got a Shure KSM27 LDC, a Blue Kickball phantom-powered dynamic (you read correctly), and a bunch of random 58-clones. When using the Kickball, I'm apparently peaking/clipping the board with the fader at 0 (doesn't effect it anyway but I figured I'd mention it) and the gain all the way down. With the KSM27, up against a reasonably loud but way below deafening distorted 4x12, I've gotta put the -15db pad on to avoid the same thing, with the gain at near-bottom.

Am I doing something wrong? This mixer, as far as I've found, doesn't have -10/+4 switches or a master gain or anything on it. Are the "peak" meters just plain wrong?

Here's a link to a big picture of the top/back:

http://www.hudobne-nastroje.sk/img_products/MG16-4.jpg
 
The Yamaha preamps just don't offer enough attenuation for that mic. Try a cheap inline PAD.
 
Ford Van said:
The Yamaha preamps just don't offer enough attenuation for that mic. Try a cheap inline PAD.
Click to expand...

Ok whew, I thought that might be it. Is there a reason why the "gain" knob doesn't just plain go to zero?

*edit: I mean -inf?
 
steve.h said:
Ok whew, I thought that might be it. Is there a reason why the "gain" knob doesn't just plain go to zero?

*edit: I mean -inf?
Click to expand...

Well, depending upon how the preamp is designed, it is not always advantageous to have it go all the way to "zero" (I assume by "zero" you mean full attenuation).

Many less sensitive mics will appreciate that built in gain that is already there.

I am personally not a Yamaha preamp fan at all! Their preamps tend to sound cold, hard, and just plain ol' yucky to me. I would actually rather use a Mackie preamp, and if you have known me long enough, you would know how serious of a statement THAT is! ;)
 
Ford Van said:
I am personally not a Yamaha preamp fan at all! Their preamps tend to sound cold, hard, and just plain ol' yucky to me.)
Click to expand...

Same here. I owned a 12/4 for a while and never liked it's mic preamps.
 
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