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t56tr · 18th May 2008

We are trying to track some gtrs with an 003 rack, a jcm 900, and a 57. Pre is a Chameleon labs 7602. Problem is, cant seem to get the gain of the pre to even 20 before it starts to seriously overload the in on the 003 (everythings at +4). With the gain on the pre that low it doesnt seem to have much punch or character.

Someone suggested padding the output of the pre with an atty etc. We dont have an atty but we do have a aphex 661 comp in the rack. Aftrer a little tweaking on the 661 it seems that we can make it act as an attenuator. I think we turned the threshold all the way up so that the compressor would not kick in, then just used the input and output knobs to attenuate (dont want to print or use any comp on the gtrs). Then we could crank the pre more (maybe 35-40) and the gtrs seemed to come to life.

Questions are...

Can the 003 converters be calibrated?

Is something wrong right from the start with the 7602 hitting the 003 that hard at such a low gain level (20db)?

Is it cool to use the comp as a pad like that or is it still worth dropping a $100 on an atty etc?

Can an experienced person comment on what type of gain settings are used on pres when mic'ing a blasting marshall etc?

Thanks in advance

18th May 2008	#1
t56tr Gear Head Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 54 Thread Starter	Question about trying to track a blasting amp (pad question). We are trying to track some gtrs with an 003 rack, a jcm 900, and a 57. Pre is a Chameleon labs 7602. Problem is, cant seem to get the gain of the pre to even 20 before it starts to seriously overload the in on the 003 (everythings at +4). With the gain on the pre that low it doesnt seem to have much punch or character. Someone suggested padding the output of the pre with an atty etc. We dont have an atty but we do have a aphex 661 comp in the rack. Aftrer a little tweaking on the 661 it seems that we can make it act as an attenuator. I think we turned the threshold all the way up so that the compressor would not kick in, then just used the input and output knobs to attenuate (dont want to print or use any comp on the gtrs). Then we could crank the pre more (maybe 35-40) and the gtrs seemed to come to life. Questions are... Can the 003 converters be calibrated? Is something wrong right from the start with the 7602 hitting the 003 that hard at such a low gain level (20db)? Is it cool to use the comp as a pad like that or is it still worth dropping a $100 on an atty etc? Can an experienced person comment on what type of gain settings are used on pres when mic'ing a blasting marshall etc? Thanks in advance