Studio Projects B1 - TOO HOT?

[Ryan_U]

Signal too hot?

Hello everybody,

I purchased a Studio Projects B1 mic and an M-Audio DMP3 preamp to record vocals on my computer. The problem I have is that I don't need to dial in any gain on the preamp for the signal to be hot enough to record on my computer.

I have an M Audio 2496 sound card. I connected the mic to the preamp via a standard mic cable. I then used a stereo-1/4 to stereo-rca cable to connect into the soundcard's rca inputs. If I dial in no gain, the preamp's level meter doesn't move but the signal level is ok at the soundcard/computer. If I get up close to the mic, I actually get some clipping.

I tried the low gain setting on the DMP3 preamp and that allows me to dial in about 50-60% gain for a nice signal but I'm getting very little or no readings on the preamp's meter. If I dial in gain so that the preamp's meter is just shy of clipping, like I thought I was supposed to, the signal is WAY TOO HOT for the computer. It almost seems like I have a preamp on the card but I know I don't or do I? Yet, when I plug my guitar into my GT8 effects processor and then plug my GT8 into the 2496, the signal reflects what I get on the GT8's meter (about 70% gain for a good signal without clipping).

Is the Studio Projects B1 TOO HOT! (That sounds like something Paris Hilton would say) Is my preamp's meter not sensitive enough or not properly calibrated? Or should I forget about the preamp's level meter and just trust the levels on my computer?

Thanks,

Ryan

 

[jonnyc]

As far as the vtb1 goes, that sounds like a connection error. As far as the meters go, just trust your ears and software, don't worry about what a couple of meters on a 150 dollar box are doing.

 

[Jahn]

i'm not certain what software you are using, but I have that preamp and i use a soundcard too - the EMU 0404. patchmix is the software i use which regulates how "hot" the signal is coming in and going out - i turn it way down on patchmix, because i'd rather bring the "heat" from the preamp, which i'm certain is a far cleaner source of boosting the signal.

 

[daav]

have you tried this with both channels of the DMP3? That should help isolate the "is it the meter' issue.

 

[bubbagump]

Are we mixing -10db and +4db equipment here? If yes, the meters on your pre (assuming it is +4) WILL be much lower than what you see on your CPU (assuming you have -10db in on your sound card). You say you have RCA inputs on your sound card which screams -10db to me.

 

[Ryan_U]

Are we mixing -10db and +4db equipment here? If yes, the meters on your pre (assuming it is +4) WILL be much lower than what you see on your CPU (assuming you have -10db in on your sound card). You say you have RCA inputs on your sound card which screams -10db to me.

I'm not familiar with the "db" levels. It would make sense though. Is anybody familiar with the levels on the DMP3 and the 2496?

 

[bubbagump]

Page 24 of the M-Audio 2496 Manual:

NOTE: The analog inputs of the Audiophile are fixed to
‘Consumer’ levels.

Which means -10db.

From page 9 of the DMP3 manual:

Generally speaking, if the DMP3 outputs connect to a
system that accepts a balanced line at +4dB (nominal level) operating level,
you should use TRS plugs on the outputs.

So our mystery has been solved.

 

[daav]

Page 24 of the M-Audio 2496 Manual:



Which means -10db.

From page 9 of the DMP3 manual:



So our mystery has been solved.

These things come with manuals???!!!

I gotta buy something new some day, the luxury of manuals. Speakiing of which, what takes 9+ pages to say about using the DMP3?

 

[bubbagump]

Big table of contents.

And if they don't come with a manual, the web sites have these crazy PDF things you can download that are an EXACT COPY of the manual in electronic form. I like to eat astronaut ice cream while reading these electronic manuals. Makes the space agedness of the situation more real to me.

 

[Ryan_U]

Page 24 of the M-Audio 2496 Manual:



Which means -10db.

From page 9 of the DMP3 manual:



So our mystery has been solved.

Thanks for the info. I feel a little stupid knowing that this info was in the manuals. I looked at the DMP3 manuall but I couldn't really understand what they meant. I'll research about a TRS output.

Ryan