ADAT from pre and input meters on recorder. what to level meter to use?

Discussion:

(too old to reply)

lewdslewrate

2011-09-04 16:04:35 UTC

hi...i am aware this will display my lack of digital savvy...but you
guys are the best to ask!

Scenario: mic inputs to Focusrite ISA818 pre. ADAT from pre into a
yamaha AW2400 recorder. (i also feed analogue to an o1v to use as a
monitor mixer). Please advise: What is the significance of the input
meter on AW2400 showing level?....i can increase visual meter reading
by increasing preamp gain...this does not seem to affect recorded
level! The recorded level seems to be dependent only on the preamp
gain settings (ISA828). With input fader on recorder at unity or zero
the input level recorded is essentially unaffected..... only the
visual levelon recorder input meter changes! i can have no input
level shown and have a hot level recorded. Do I have any control on
the ultimate input sensitivity if coming in via ADAT? For the ADAT
input do I ignore the input level meters and work with the gain
displayed on the preamp?
Any help appreciated

Peter Larsen

2011-09-04 16:45:35 UTC

Permalink

It then appears that it indicates your monitor mix, the level matching that
matters for the recording is the gain setting prior to ad-conversion. Void
if I goofed in my attempt at understanding your setup.

Kind regards

Peter Larsen

The recorded level seems to be dependent only on the preamp

Post by lewdslewrate
gain settings (ISA828). With input fader on recorder at unity or zero
the input level recorded is essentially unaffected..... only the
visual levelon recorder input meter changes! i can have no input
level shown and have a hot level recorded. Do I have any control on
the ultimate input sensitivity if coming in via ADAT? For the ADAT
input do I ignore the input level meters and work with the gain
displayed on the preamp?
Any help appreciated

Bob Howes

2011-09-05 23:03:45 UTC

Permalink

Post by lewdslewrate
hi...i am aware this will display my lack of digital savvy...but you
guys are the best to ask!
Scenario: mic inputs to Focusrite ISA818 pre. ADAT from pre into a
yamaha AW2400 recorder. (i also feed analogue to an o1v to use as a
monitor mixer). Please advise: What is the significance of the input
meter on AW2400 showing level?....i can increase visual meter reading
by increasing preamp gain...this does not seem to affect recorded
level! The recorded level seems to be dependent only on the preamp
gain settings (ISA828). With input fader on recorder at unity or zero
the input level recorded is essentially unaffected..... only the
visual levelon recorder input meter changes! i can have no input
level shown and have a hot level recorded. Do I have any control on
the ultimate input sensitivity if coming in via ADAT? For the ADAT
input do I ignore the input level meters and work with the gain
displayed on the preamp?
Any help appreciated

I'm not entirely clear on the routing you are trying to describe, but....

When I use ADAT, because it's already a digital signal, it bypasses any of
the analogue gain adjustments on the gear I'm using. Just now I'm doing a
show with playback from a laptop PC via ADAT into a Yamaha digital mixer.
The ADAT is routed to specific faders on the mixer and bypasses any
adjustment by the head amps on the mixer. The two places I can adjust level
are on the laptop (in the digital domain) or on the actual channel faders of
the mixer (also in the digital domain).

The same applies in reverse when I'm recording. I have level control of the
analogue mics (or whatever) on the mixer but no adjustment on the ADAT
interface or input to the PC I use to record.

Bob

lewdslewrate

2011-09-06 08:15:11 UTC

Permalink

Post by Bob Howes

I'm not entirely clear on the routing you are trying to describe, but....
When I use ADAT, because it's already a digital signal, it bypasses any of
the analogue gain adjustments on the gear I'm using. Just now I'm doing a
show with playback from a laptop PC via ADAT into a Yamaha digital mixer.
The ADAT is routed to specific faders on the mixer and bypasses any
adjustment by the head amps on the mixer. The two places I can adjust level
are on the laptop (in the digital domain) or on the actual channel faders of
the mixer (also in the digital domain).
The same applies in reverse when I'm recording. I have level control of the
analogue mics (or whatever) on the mixer but no adjustment on the ADAT
interface or input to the PC I use to record.
Bob

Thanks to all who took trouble to respond to this. Two points arise:

1): i now know what those red faced icons on forums are for! Being
new to digital and the layers of controls, i got lost in trying to
figure where the ADAT was inserted into my mixer...(the block dig was
unclear). To my shame...the issue was indeed PFL/AFL options. I
still need to have it all laid out in front it seems
2): good tuition is often around the subject so your replies have
been helpful in addressing this error/question but also in other
aspects you have shared.

I throw myself at your mercy if ever you see my forum name again...

p.s. we know we have come to this late in life....but we respect you
professionals and try our best to do things right.
many thanks