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
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Community email addresses:
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> >
> > Shortcut URL to this page:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DTXpress
> >
> > Alternate DTXpress site:
> > http://www.dtxpressions.com
> >
> >
> <image.tiff>
> >
> >
> <image.tiff>
> >
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> >
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