737 pre amp

[garrett21allen]

Hi Peter

A good while back I had a post on the 737 in the other forum.
you said you had your 737 running to channel 15 and you said you had the trim
controle at unity.

can you tell me about where your input on the 737 is and the output level is.
I know it depends how fare away you are from the mike. but I would like to get an ideal
do the VU metters on the 737 move a little or a lot or barely move. this is just on vocals
that Im asking about.

I still seem to be having a gain stage problem for some reason with the 737. I have
even set it as the mannal says to set it for vocals. then it just seems like the vocals is
way to loud.

thanks for any help peter

joe allen

[Petersueco]

Hi Joe.

If the vocal is too loud maybe is because you have the Hi Gain switch engaged.

Usually the Preamp Gain is set to 35 and the Output is set to 0. If I need more level I use the Output knob. I also add a little compression to the vocals to keep them under control.

Peter Holmquist.

[garrett21allen]

Thanks Peter

I don't have the hi gain on. I can set my input on the 737 at 38 and set the output level
around 7 oclock not even close to 0. and on the d8b its showing around -15 on peaks
and the UV metter on the 737 is not even moving unless I speak real loud then it moves some.
I just feel like I have a gain staging problem. but then again I might not. it just don't sound right to
me this way. thanks peter

joe allen

[Petersueco]

OK.

Set your Preamp Gain knob to minimum. Set the Output knob to 0 and start pulling up the Preamp Gain until the meter bounces around 0db. Don't worry if it goes over 0db occasionally . The whole point is to add compression (around -2/-3db) so that the meter stays around 0 db.

Have in mind that the EQ will also add level if your are increasing some frequencies.

It could also be that your microphone is really sensitive.

Hope this helps.

Peter Holmquist.

[garrett21allen]

thanks again peter for your time.

the reason I was asking about the VU metters not moving was because I can
turn the gain controle to 38 and the output can be at 3 oclock its real loud but the metters is barley moving
now when I turn on the compressor the neddle will move good with the threshold.
the thing thats bothring me is there is not much metter movement yet its loud.
without any eq.

just asking peter do your metters move a lot just using the input set to 35 and the output set to 0.
do you get a lot of metter movement.

thanks again for your time.

joe allen

[Petersueco]

Yes, having the Preamp Gain set to 35 and the output set to 0 I get a "lot of meter movement".

You do know that the meter has two reading options: Output Level and Gain Reduction?

[garrett21allen]

thanks again peter

yes I know it has two metter reading options. and the one Im having trouble with is the
the output level. with my sitting gain at 35 or 38 and output at 0 the metters don't hardley move but its loud
know when I set the metter to read gain reduction the metters move real good. know I can turn the
gain controle up all the way and and set the output to around 3 oclock and get plenty of movement in the
metters but then its way to loud when I set my d8b channel close to unity I have to bring that channel back down
to -30 for it to fit with anything . so I feel like Im loosing resoloustion and bits by doing this. I hope not

joe allen

[Petersueco]

What you describe it's not right. Something is not well set.

If you get a lot of meter movement when you set the meter to read gain reduction that means you are compressing real hard !! I have the impression that you are misreading the meter: When you have the meters moving a lot is when you are seeing the output level. When the needle barely moves, and stays around 0B, then is when you have the meter set to gain reduction mode.

Try this: Leave the meter setting where you don'n get any movement and the needle stays on 0db.
Now, drive the compressor hard (reduce threshold and increase the ratio), you should see the needle to move backwards showing the gain reduction.

If this fails, then you have something really wrong.

In what channel are you connecting the Avalon output?
What is the gain setting for that channel in the d8b?
What is your monitor level? Do you have your monitors calibrated?

Hope this help.
Peter.

[garrett21allen]

Hi Peter

I just set the threshold high enough to make the metters move
I don't normley set it this high. but the metters move good and seem to work like there suppost to
when Im in gain reduction. it is when Im looking at the input level metters without using the compressor
the metters barley move unless I set the input to 38 and output at 3 oclock to make the metters move like I think thay need
to move I have to turn the gain up more and the output all the way. then the metters move like thay should
and I running the 737 into channel 15 with the trim set to unity.

to my ears this is way to loud as a vocal. now I have my monitors set so its showes a reading around 85 on a radio shack
level metter.

I remember when the metters would move real good. thay don't seem to be doing that now.
maybe I need to look at everything again to make shure I have not changed anything by accident.
thanks again peter for your time and your help.

joe allen

[fishtail]

Hey Joe,
Just out of curiosity, check and make sure that you are using the balanced +4 output to the input of the d8b. There are two output options on the back of the 737. You might have the wrong output feeding the desk which would result in a very hot signal to the desk.
marco