a/d convertor or signal chain quality question
a/d convertor or signal chain quality question
hi,
Imagine my surprise when I found my new 7th circle N73 preamp did not sound noticeably different from my mackie preamp or firewire 1814 preamp.
I was using a friend's neumann tlm103 and was prepared to be amazed.
Could it be that my m-audio converters are not good enough to let me hear much of a difference? It could of course be that my ear is not sophisticated enough.
Here's my quesion: If I wanted to investigate better quality converters, how would I hook them up with my firewire 1814 and disallow the on-board a/d converters?
quite a question, thanks.
Al
Imagine my surprise when I found my new 7th circle N73 preamp did not sound noticeably different from my mackie preamp or firewire 1814 preamp.
I was using a friend's neumann tlm103 and was prepared to be amazed.
Could it be that my m-audio converters are not good enough to let me hear much of a difference? It could of course be that my ear is not sophisticated enough.
Here's my quesion: If I wanted to investigate better quality converters, how would I hook them up with my firewire 1814 and disallow the on-board a/d converters?
quite a question, thanks.
Al
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you'd connect the converters to your interface via the SPDIF or ADAT Optical connectors.
I'm surprised that you don't notice a difference, though... it could be your converters or your monitoring situation... but, most likely it's got more to do with not having the experience to be able to hear and exploit the difference in sound.
I'm surprised that you don't notice a difference, though... it could be your converters or your monitoring situation... but, most likely it's got more to do with not having the experience to be able to hear and exploit the difference in sound.
Some really great sounds have been recorded with crappier equipment than a Neumann mic into a Neve-alike preamp, so I'm wondering if you're recording in a room that doesn't sound very good? Or listening back in a room that doesn't sound very good? Or have picked an unfortunate mic placement or something like that?
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Do you have a way to set it up such that you can hear the output of the preamp without the converters? Plug it into a mixer or headphone amp? Then you can compare and contrast how the converters influence it.
Also, you might try a dynamic mic. Modern condensor mics are made with amplifiers in them so that they can be less dependent on what they're plugged into. You might try a 57/58, if you've got one handy...they change recognizably when you plug them into a transformer input.
You might also experiment a little more with the gain vs. trim level on the N72...blast the gain, then turn it back down.
Also, you might try a dynamic mic. Modern condensor mics are made with amplifiers in them so that they can be less dependent on what they're plugged into. You might try a 57/58, if you've got one handy...they change recognizably when you plug them into a transformer input.
You might also experiment a little more with the gain vs. trim level on the N72...blast the gain, then turn it back down.
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Take a photo of Rupert Neve and tape that to your N72....that should help. Ohhh...and if he's wearing a fur coat or a bunny costume it will have more warmth.
seriously though....try monitoring through a non a/d source like a mixer like was suggested. My friend has the N72 in his SCA kit....and it's got more flavor that his bla modded 003. Don't know how those compare to the M-audio unit....but I'd imagine the 003's are as good of better.
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seriously though....try monitoring through a non a/d source like a mixer like was suggested. My friend has the N72 in his SCA kit....and it's got more flavor that his bla modded 003. Don't know how those compare to the M-audio unit....but I'd imagine the 003's are as good of better.
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Hello Al. I understand where you are coming from!
Before judging a new piece of gear, use it for a while and then try and GO BACK to your old pres. You should do this same process with new monitors too. Somehow stepping up is often barely noticeable, but once you're used to it, going back often seems drastic!
Sometimes it takes a while to learn and appreciate just what it was you payed for!
Before judging a new piece of gear, use it for a while and then try and GO BACK to your old pres. You should do this same process with new monitors too. Somehow stepping up is often barely noticeable, but once you're used to it, going back often seems drastic!
Sometimes it takes a while to learn and appreciate just what it was you payed for!
In My Humble Experience....
Comparing these types of things tends to be a "Greater than the sum of its parts" kind of thing.
Whereas, a single inprovement in any part of signal chain tends to be fairly insignificant until you try to bring the rest of the elements into the production.
Except of course when i finished building my 1176s, they were slightly "OH MY GOD."
That being said, i feel that the sound quality question is as follows in order of importance.
Instrument (source)
Mic Placement
Mic
Preamp/Eq/Compressor
How you use it.
The day
The Tuning
The placement of Saturn in the Solar system
What time it was
If the band sucks or not
The Conveter.
Be Well
Chris
Comparing these types of things tends to be a "Greater than the sum of its parts" kind of thing.
Whereas, a single inprovement in any part of signal chain tends to be fairly insignificant until you try to bring the rest of the elements into the production.
Except of course when i finished building my 1176s, they were slightly "OH MY GOD."
That being said, i feel that the sound quality question is as follows in order of importance.
Instrument (source)
Mic Placement
Mic
Preamp/Eq/Compressor
How you use it.
The day
The Tuning
The placement of Saturn in the Solar system
What time it was
If the band sucks or not
The Conveter.
Be Well
Chris
"It's like Tom Jones Gargling a Hammer."
http://www.alpacaranchrecording.com
http://www.alpacaranchrecording.com
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And dont forget, what you had for dinner!
I guess my point was, of all the things that go into the sound technically, IVE FOUND PERSONALLY, that the converter is not as important as most of the other things.
Chris
I guess my point was, of all the things that go into the sound technically, IVE FOUND PERSONALLY, that the converter is not as important as most of the other things.
Chris
"It's like Tom Jones Gargling a Hammer."
http://www.alpacaranchrecording.com
http://www.alpacaranchrecording.com
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