Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

I'd have to disagree with Stuart on a couple of points:
First of all, (as an engineer) I'd rather have a correctly level 
than a distorted or a too low level.  True, you cannot undo a 
distorted signal (shit in = shit out), and you may amplify a weak 
signal.  But, as you amplify you also amplify the noise in the 
signal and if it is a digital recording, you get a distortion of the 
levels as you have only used a small number of bits to store the 
information.  The best is to find out why you only get low signal 
levels and then follow stuart's advice on using approx 70% of max on 
the average signal level.

I don't know the DTXpress module well enough to comment on the 
various settings that might be causing the problem, but if you are 
sure these are correct, I would recomend that you disconnect all 
devices after the sound module and check the cables on a device that 
you know work well and provide a line level signal (a CD player). 

If you are sure all settings in the menus of the sound module are 
correct, the cables are OK and you still don't get the right level 
signal - then you do have a problem!  (You have checked that there 
is nothing wrong with the input of the recorder? - a line level 
signal on an input for mic or other signal levels may give you such 
problems).

If the signal from the sound module is OK, then you proceede through 
your chain of devices and cables and identify where it goes wrong.

Best of luck!
PerH
--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, Stuart McConaghy <stuart@s...> 
wrote:
> Eddie,
> You don't have a problem, seriously. The headphone output already 
sends 
> out a compressed and pre-amplified signal, which is why it's 
louder. 
> The pre-amplification and compression changes the sound character, 
> since it's being optimized for a set of headphones, and that makes 
it 
> difficult to use in a recording setting in conjunction with the 
other 
> outputs.
> You say you have all the volume settings at maximum, that's 
totally 
> alright, as long as you're not experiencing any clipping (i.e. 
digital 
> signal distortion, a very harsh signal degradation, as opposed to 
> analog harmonic distortion, which makes guitars sound nice and 
creamy), 
> you'll normalize and compress the signal anyway, like  99% of all 
> people who record electronic (or even acoustic) instruments. An 
output 
> signal that's very low is always more flexible than a signal 
that's way 
> too high, because after a while signal doesn't really get louder, 
it 
> gets more distorted. I rarely turn electronic modules up higher 
than 
> maybe 70%, it just isn't necessary since, in a recording setting, 
I'll 
> most likely normalize the signal towards the end, anyway, which 
will 
> raise the volume level.
> If you're viewing this as a problem, check your recorder's manual 
for 
> normalization of audio files, and use a subtle compression to 
raise the 
> levels.
> Believe me, as an engineer, I'd rather work with a signal that's 
very 
> low, because there's more I can do with it. You can't remove 
distortion 
> from a signal, you know.
> 
> Stuart McConaghy
> 
> On Tuesday, September 14, 2004, at 09:36 PM, Mr wrote:
> 
> > Hello and thanks in advance for any help. I'm recording direct 
to my
> > Tascam 388 and although I have both the internal and knob volume
> > maxed out I'm still not getting a strong signal. I get a stronger
> > signal (still not good enough) going from the module headphone 
jack
> > out to the board. I have to put the faders on my Tascam all the 
way
> > up and still the meters barely register the kit. Now, I've been 
going
> > through a compressor which has boosted the signal enough, but 
still I
> > should not have to go through a compressor, there should be 
plenty of
> > signal going direct from the outs of the module. Any ideas?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Eddie
> >
> >
> >
> >
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