Setting input levels with the VS1680EX

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Alchemist3k

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Hi folks,
I recently bought the aweseome 1680 and have been very please with it so far but I have some queries about setting input levels. When I am in the INPUT mode for the faders and I am setting the input levels I tend to find I get distortion before I have the volume coming through as loud as I would like.

For example for optimium recording the input signal should be showing between 0 nd 12 db but I tend to find the distortion light comes on at around just under 0 even though I cant hear any deterioration in the signal. It only flickers on briefly. Should I just ignore it and record at that level on input anyway or am I doing something wrong?
 
Everything I have read says that your input level on the 1680 should be between -12 and 0db, and not above. It has also been recommended to me that you aim to keep it between -12 and -4 db, because the "meters" on the 1680 are not very sensitive, and cannot accurately reflect when you are getting close to digital distortion.
 
Ah ok. Thanks. I'll give that a go and see what happens.
 
peak indicators

the peak indicators on the vs-1680 light when the input level reaches -4db, so you are correct in not hearing any distortion, because it may not be past 0db. Don't worry about the peak lights, instead make sure you are looking at the input meters(pre).
 
OK I'll give that a go and see if that works. thanks. If anyone else has any comments feel free to post them here.
 
VS Input levels

Hi Alchemist,

You can specify at what db level the peak lights will indicate. On the SYSPM screen, you can select, -6, -3, or 0db. For the best signal, select 0 and simply be careful when you set your levels! I usually set my levels with the input fader such that the levels of all the Mix faders are as close to 0 as possible. This is cool because it allows you to bring up all the Mix faders to 0 and there is your mix! Obviously this might mean that some of your tracks are recorded at a lower level than others, but so what. With 16 tracks of 20 bit audio playing you are not going to notice the slight reduction in resolution, and it will make mixing that much easier (nice if you have to send tracks to others to mix as well). Someone on another forum mentioned that they were in attendance when an old Aerosmith album was being completely remixed. The engineer brough the faders up to 0 and pressed play-there was the album mix! It works great, have fun!

-Richt
 
Ah right I must try that too! I give these things a go. The sound with the 1680 is absolutely excellent anyway.

PS Does anyone know a good setting on the FX board for noise reduction and how do I set the effect up up? I record with the Direct out socket on the back my Line 6 amp plugged straight into the inputs on the 1680? I get a great guitar tone but noticable background noise on the guitar tracks which i need to reduce.
 
The best way to get rid of excess noise is to eliminate it at it's source. I have heard that the pod can be a bit noisy. If you are not able to get rid of the noise there, you might try a parametric eq and cut the frequency that is causing the noise.
 
Good thinking! I'd forgotten about the EQ thing...

BTW does anyone know how to set up the vocoder on the FX board? I can;t be doing it right. I have tried it on the demo song and it hardly seems to make any difference to the vocal at all. I dont think I am setting it up right. The guy on the video manual said something about that effect using all the boards power and so has to be set up alone...
 
Hey Alkie, I do not have the 1680 but the 880. I played around with the vocorder once and thought it was kinda cool. But this was just playing around with it. I did not actually record. Just to let you knoiw, I could be incorrect in what I am about to write. I think you need to link two tracks and pan one left and the other right. I do not remember what channel needs to be what, but vocals need to be in one and another instrument such as a synth in the other. The synth has to be played at the same time as the vocal I would probably try playing the same note to keep it musical. This gives the vocal the affect of the synth. That Cher song used a vocorder to get that affect she used in the song. Let me know if this works. And last but not least, have fun with it.

Joe
 
AH right! Now I understand.... I have completed my first track with the 1680. Well... everything except the vocals anyway.


It's amazing how much stuff I have learned already through this forum!

I still need to find out how I could make an Mp3 with the 1680 despite the fect that I have no CD writer. There must be some way to hook the 1680 up to the computer and do it, right?
 
I do not own a computer(yet). But you should be able to hook up to your computer with out to much trouble. If your sound card has S/PDIF, go that route. If not, you should be able to go from the analog out to the input of your computer. The hookup all depends on the sound card you have. Good luck and happy recording.
 
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