Mixer/Drum Machine setup question

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PaulKarate

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I have a Fostex MR-8 and I want to record a drum track with my Boss Dr. Groove 202 drum machine. Before I send the signal to the MR-8 I will use a Mixer to Eq the sound better.

1.) My question is where do I set the level on the drum machine before it goes to the mixer?

2.) on the mixer, where do I set the track level and the master level?

I guess the whole point is which one, the mixer or the drum machine should have the higher output level?

I guess I have no Idea about how to set this all up before the signal gets to the MR-8.

Please Help

Thanks,
Paul Karate



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Without any info on your mixer of groove doctor, this is all I can offer:

Turn the volume on the groove doctor all the way up and run it into a mixer channel to eq it. If it sounds distorted or the level lights on your mixer goes into the red, turn the groove doctor down. If you can't turn the groove doctor down, turn down the trim on your mixer channel. I'm assuming you have some monitors or headphones connected to your mixer.

Run the output mains of your mixer to your Boss recorder, but keep the mixer mains output turned way down initially. Monitor the input signal level using your Boss meters, turn the signal level up using the mixer mains control until you reach the desired level (I don't know what this is for your boss unit).
 
To add to Phyl's post. To get the best possible signal to noise ratio, you want to get the gain up to your optimal level as early in the chain as possible. Hence set max volume on the Dr Groove. This will give you a line level output hopefully peaking a few dB below 0 (it did on my machine when I used to use one).

If you must run it through a mixer (much better record it flat and use the MR8's eq, then you are not committed to anything and you'll get a higher quality recording signal w/o the mixer) then set the track and master faders at 0dB. Use line inputs on your mixer, not ones with preamps and gain knobs. EQ by cutting, not boosting - cut back on the freq's you don't like, don't boost the ones you do.

Turn the input gain on the MR8 all the way down and you should get decent levels. Yo umight need a little gain to get the meters up where they belong, but the Boss machines put out a good strong signal.
 
To add to Phyl's post. To get the best possible signal to noise ratio, you want to get the gain up to your optimal level as early in the chain as possible. Hence set max volume on the Dr Groove. This will give you a line level output hopefully peaking a few dB below 0 (it did on my machine when I used to use one).

If you must run it through a mixer (much better record it flat and use the MR8's eq, then you are not committed to anything and you'll get a higher quality recording signal w/o the mixer) then set the track and master faders at 0dB. Use line inputs on your mixer, not ones with preamps and gain knobs. EQ by cutting, not boosting - cut back on the freq's you don't like, don't boost the ones you do.

Turn the input gain on the MR8 all the way down and you should get decent levels. Yo umight need a little gain to get the meters up where they belong, but the Boss machines put out a good strong signal.
 
hi paul

i have an MR-8, and i use an Alesis drum machine the same way.

The thing to consider, is which device will intorduce the most noise, and leave it down. If your mixer board pre-amps aren't that great and they put out more noise than the MR-8 pre-amps, use the quietest pre amp.

It may be that you elect to turn the drum down, and use the pre's inside the board instead. I don't have a line level output, mine is MIC level, so I turn the drum machine up like they are telling you, but i only go up to about 40%. It seems to me i get some distortion at 100%volume, and the preamp in my mixer is quieter than the final amp in the drum machine.

Theoretically though, you should run a hot signal into the board, with the board padded or the channel gain down as far as practical. After all, that's what all those expenisve "PRE-AMPS' are about: getting a good hot signal into the board. Then run out of the board into the MR-8, again keeping the MR-8 input gain as low as possible while keeping the faders on the marks

i would suggest a test, testing each component at a high and low level to check things out.

turn the drum up all the way and feed into the mixer, padded accodingly, and see what it sounds like. Then, turn the drum way down, and crank up the gain on the board.

Do the same thing with the board. Feed a hot signal into the MR-8 and leave the gain's all the way off. Then try turning the board down, and crank up the MR-8 gain.

You will find a combination that you like.
 
hi paul

i have an MR-8, and i use an Alesis drum machine the same way.

The thing to consider, is which device will intorduce the most noise, and leave it down. If your mixer board pre-amps aren't that great and they put out more noise than the MR-8 pre-amps, use the quietest pre amp.

It may be that you elect to turn the drum down, and use the pre's inside the board instead. I don't have a line level output, mine is MIC level, so I turn the drum machine up like they are telling you, but i only go up to about 40%. It seems to me i get some distortion at 100%volume, and the preamp in my mixer is quieter than the final amp in the drum machine.

Theoretically though, you should run a hot signal into the board, with the board padded or the channel gain down as far as practical. After all, that's what all those expenisve "PRE-AMPS' are about: getting a good hot signal into the board. Then run out of the board into the MR-8, again keeping the MR-8 input gain as low as possible while keeping the faders on the marks

i would suggest a test, testing each component at a high and low level to check things out.

turn the drum up all the way and feed into the mixer, padded accodingly, and see what it sounds like. Then, turn the drum way down, and crank up the gain on the board.

Do the same thing with the board. Feed a hot signal into the MR-8 and leave the gain's all the way off. Then try turning the board down, and crank up the MR-8 gain.

You will find a combination that you like.
 
Sorry about the delay on my answer to your questions.....

Check your PM or your email.


Peace...

spin
 
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