lexicon alpha, XLR and TRS question

[rafa23189]

Hi,
I have just purchased a lexicon alpha studio. I have a doubt, everything works fine, when both gains pots are all the way down (and nothing connected to the interface) I get the same noise in both channels (XLR and instrument). I need an ampilfication of 92dB to amplify the noise up to near saturation. But when I increase both gains at max, the XLR is noisier than the instrument input, on the first with just 62db of amplification is enough to saturate the noise on the second I need like 77dB. I thought that XLR inputs where better for microphones? Should I buy one of those cables which has one XLR female and a TRS in the other end?
Thanks a lot, sorry for my poor english.
Cheers

 

[miroslav]

If you have nothing plugged into the interface...turning the pots up/down is not really much of a "test" of anything.
Also...mic channels use preamps, instrument channels do not....so they will not be identical.

Use an XLR cable for mics if you have an XLR connection on the interface....that's the best way. An XLR-to-TRS will work also if that's what the connection requires.

 

[rafa23189]

If you have nothing plugged into the interface...turning the pots up/down is not really much of a "test" of anything.

I did that to measure the internal noise of the device, thats the best S/N ratio you can expect to achieve.

Also...mic channels use preamps, instrument channels do not....so they will not be identical.

that makes sense

 

[miroslav]

I did that to measure the internal noise of the device, thats the best S/N ratio you can expect to achieve.

I'm just saying...you need a *signal* (of a certian level) in order to consider S/N ratio.

I need an ampilfication of 92dB to amplify the noise up to near saturation.

What does "near saturation" = _______ ...?
There's no specific measurment there.

 

[witzendoz]

All the people fascinated with how much noise they think they are getting obviously did not start they're recording career on a TEAC 3340S like I did. Most modern gear set up correctly will eat the S/N os a standard CD player which is 90 dB. If you are eventually making MP3's you have less to worry about.

Another fact is that when recording in 24 bit, when you mix and master down to 16 Bit for CD's or down to MP3's, the bit artefacts that usually go first is the noise. I have actually been worried about a master that had a bit of noise at 24 bit, but when we rendered down to 16 bit it had all but gone.

Alan.