Preamp attenuator

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 2:03 pm

Aiight, so I want to try an attenuator after a couple of my preamps.

I'd rather not spend US$100 on the ATTY, tho', especially because I want un-balanced.

Any suggestions?

And if ya say "build one", do you have a reco for which?

Or am I better off with just a pad?

Should I just rewire, for example, a DI box to be TS to TS?

CedarSound · Post by **CedarSound** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 4:31 pm

I own an ATTY myself, an use it all the time, though I know that's not what you are looking for... I am curious to ask though, why do you want it to be unbalanced?

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 8:34 pm

To use it thru my unbalanced patchbay, with TS.

I mean, I know I can wire adapters and such, but all things being equal, I'd rather...

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Tue Mar 05, 2013 4:23 am

Well, I've not been able to find anything that's unbalanced ...

Present company excluded, of course.

Mebbe the Nano Patch ...

Marc Alan Goodman · Post by **Marc Alan Goodman** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:53 pm

little labs builds this thing: http://littlelabs.com/redcloud.html but just like the atty it's cash.

Just build some pads in to patch cables. You can build the whole thing in to a TS connector easily. It will cost you a couple bucks for connectors and wires and pennies for the two resistors.

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 7:10 pm

Yep, that's what I figured, and still may do.

In the meantime, I'm going to try a DI box with an XLR->TS adapter.

I read a lot of stuff, and learned that 20dB is most likely the "sweet spot" for set attenuation, and I have a cuppla DI's will do that.

roygbiv · Post by **roygbiv** » Thu Mar 07, 2013 10:59 am

Hey V-cubed
what about one of the SMPro Audio M-patch monitor control thingies?

You might be able to find a used one for ~ $50 or so.

Not sure about unbalanced out, but I think they take unbalanced in.

You got me thinking - maybe I should try mine to really drive my EH12AY preamp before clipping my audio interface.

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Thu Mar 07, 2013 5:36 pm

Yeah, I was lookin' at the Nano; Evilbog is geittin' about US$50, used.

Same issues with the balanced vs. unbalanced, tho', altho' the outs is TRS, might work ...

See here.

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Sat May 11, 2013 2:48 pm

Hmmm, I just found this.

Would have to change the input impedance, I think (from 50 to 600 ohms) and rewire a 1/4" output ...

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Sat May 11, 2013 3:04 pm

Or this ...

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Sun May 12, 2013 8:44 pm

Ha! Ronan talks about using the ATTY, here.

accordion squeezist · Post by **accordion squeezist** » Mon May 13, 2013 4:32 pm

I believe that the "2nd volume knob" on your Studio Projects VTB-1 and other preamps is an attenuator or is seen as such in the circuit. You could just turn it way back. Would that help?

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Mon May 13, 2013 6:49 pm

If I still used the VTB1 (well, I do, but not a lot) ...

The VC1Q and the UA710 and even the Eureka hae similar output level controls, but I believe those second knobs are not passive - they are part of the live circuit, for the output gain, not post-circuit pads.

My desire, you see, and especially on a old Altec (1589b) I have, is to turn the pre way up for the transformer, etc., sounds ...

So, I just bought this:

I got it used for US$18 offa the e-Bog, and I intend to have it on the patchbay for use with any pre (as opposed to just installing a T-pad on the Altec.)

I'll post back if it works ...

accordion squeezist · Post by **accordion squeezist** » Mon May 13, 2013 7:54 pm

they would be passive in the sense that they attenuate an active gain stage, which, if you bypassed the knob (pot) the gain would be all the way up.
Similarly, you could bypass that extra gain by the output of the side-chain feature, which may be present on your other preamps as well. Try that sometime.
But, you're focusing on the altec, so I get it.
Hey, good luck to you!

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Tue May 14, 2013 4:22 am

Thanx!

Re that last (you say, "extra") gain stage, I'm thinking it might be cool to keep that in the path and mebbe turned up, also, what is what the pad might allow.

But yeah, the Altec's lack of output control is the main issue I want to address for flexibility - altho' it sounds pretty damn good as it is!

Message Board

Preamp attenuator

Preamp attenuator

Who is online