Members 55fmj Posted December 27, 2009 Members Share Posted December 27, 2009 I just recieved a new peavey XR8600 and a pair of SP2's for Christmas. It sounds really good. Here is the question I have. My overall gain level is set on about 4 right now ( small room ). The channel that has the vocals is set about 4 1/2 but the channel that has the acoustic guitar has to be turned up to about 8 in order be at the right mix level with the vocals. I have a couple of different acoustics and they are both the same so I don't think it is the guitar. It sounds really good but I just wonder why I have to have the guitar gain turned up so high ( almost to the max ) ? The mic is an XLR cable while the guitar is a regular 1/4 jack cable, so I'm not sure if that is making a difference or not. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on why I have to turn the guitar up so high to get a decent level ? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RoadRanger Posted December 27, 2009 Members Share Posted December 27, 2009 Don't worry about it - that's what them knobs are for . If everything had the same output you'd not need the knobs, no? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MJastrzebski Posted December 27, 2009 Members Share Posted December 27, 2009 The signal coming out of the accoustic guitar is not line level. Line level signals go into the 1/4 jack on the channel. Get a DI box for the accoustic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 55fmj Posted December 27, 2009 Author Members Share Posted December 27, 2009 I didn't think I needed a DI box if I had a preamp in my guitar that ran off of a 9v battery ? I also run my guitar through a harmony G and then into the mixer but I bypassed the harmony G but it didn't make a difference. Any more ideas ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mogwix Posted December 27, 2009 Members Share Posted December 27, 2009 I didn't think I needed a DI box if I had a preamp in my guitar that ran off of a 9v battery ? it's an unbalanced hi-z signal. you need a DI box. Don't worry about it, the output of the guitar's preamp is inherently low. You can either deal with it as it will cause no problems, or buy an external preamp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MJastrzebski Posted December 27, 2009 Members Share Posted December 27, 2009 I didn't think I needed a DI box if I had a preamp in my guitar that ran off of a 9v battery ? I also run my guitar through a harmony G and then into the mixer but I bypassed the harmony G but it didn't make a difference. Any more ideas ? Do you mean you have active pickups in the guitar? Just because there is a 1/4 plug and a 1/4 jack doesn't mean they are all the same. The output of the guitar with active pickups is still not enough to fully drive a line level input. I am assuming the 'Harmony G' is some sort of guitar processor? That also will not have enough output to drive a line level input. The 'Harmony G' output is meant for the input to a guitar amp. The input for a guitar amp and the line input on the channel of you mixer are not the same thing. That doesn't mean you can't use the 'Harmony G' with your new mixer. I would just get a DI box for best results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mkfs9 Posted December 27, 2009 Members Share Posted December 27, 2009 I think there is a pad button pushed in on that channell. can easily be pushed by mistake. This will reduce your input signal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 55fmj Posted December 27, 2009 Author Members Share Posted December 27, 2009 The pad button is not pushed. I guess my next step is to go buy a inexpensive DI box. This just doesn't make any sense to me since I have never needed one in the past, but it does appear to me that the guitar signal is not as hot as the mic signal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MJastrzebski Posted December 27, 2009 Members Share Posted December 27, 2009 but it does appear to me that the guitar signal is not as hot as the mic signal. Not really. The 1/4 input on the mixer is for LINE LEVEL inputs. The guitar is not a line level input. Just because the guitar has a 1/4 plug and the mixer has a 1/4 input doesn't mean they are the same thing. If you plugged the guitar into the mic input you would get the expected results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted December 27, 2009 Members Share Posted December 27, 2009 The 1/4" input sensitivity will accept less than full line level on the channels. I think it's around -20dBu. That's no problem for your acoustic rig, be sure you have your volume up on your acoustic as well as in your processor. You will also nrrd your input gain/trim control up a little more on your mixer channel IIRC, Jim would know more details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 55fmj Posted December 27, 2009 Author Members Share Posted December 27, 2009 I just found the problem. I used an XLR cable instead of the regular 1/4 guitar cable and now all the gain settings are more in line with each other. Thank you all for your input. I hope you all have a great 2010. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mogwix Posted December 27, 2009 Members Share Posted December 27, 2009 I used an XLR cable instead of the regular 1/4 guitar cable Hopefully not a 1/4" to XLR cable. Go buy a DI box and set it up proper, if that's not what you did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted December 27, 2009 Members Share Posted December 27, 2009 Hopefully not a 1/4" to XLR cable. Go buy a DI box and set it up proper, if that's not what you did. Yes, you do not want to accidently put phantom power onto the output of the fx device or gtr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 55fmj Posted December 28, 2009 Author Members Share Posted December 28, 2009 Well, that is exactly what I did. It is a 1/4 jack on one end and a XLR on the other. The 1/4 is coming out of the harmony G and the XLR goes in the mixer. Without the "pad" button engaged it is a very loud signal at a very low gain setting and if I engage the pad button on the mixer then I have to turn the gain up higher to get it as loud. So, why would this cable not be the way to go ? I can go buy a DI box if that is the correct way to go, but I am only about 15 feet of cable away from the mixer. Like I said, I have never had to use a DI box before but if you all think this is the better way to go, then I will get one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted December 28, 2009 Members Share Posted December 28, 2009 Because phantom power CAN damage your other equipment. A passive DI has an isolation transformer inside that isolates your equipment from phantom power. OR, go into the 1/4" input and set the input gain up higher and be sure the pad is off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 55fmj Posted December 28, 2009 Author Members Share Posted December 28, 2009 Will just an inexpensive DI box do the trick ? I see that GC has a berringer one for 25.00 but I have not heard a lot of good things about berringer. What are your thoughts ? thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Russell1234 Posted December 28, 2009 Members Share Posted December 28, 2009 If your sound board is used like mine and is of similar design it is very easy to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted December 28, 2009 Members Share Posted December 28, 2009 I would suggest any passive DI except the brand you mentioned. The difference in cost is insignificant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 55fmj Posted December 28, 2009 Author Members Share Posted December 28, 2009 I just bought a used DOD 275 direct box. I hope it does the trick. I will post back after I get a chance to test it out and let you all know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bobby1Note Posted December 28, 2009 Members Share Posted December 28, 2009 At $25. this box is a steal. Check out their cables while you're there. http://www.audiopile.net/products/DI_Boxes/FDB-101/FDB-101_cutsheet.shtml http://www.audiopile.net/products/DI_Boxes/FDB-101/FDB-101_600w.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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