Question about my Manley Dual Mono Block

jfair · 4th September 2003, 12:47 AM

I have a Dual mono that is about 3 years old. I use it mostly for
printing synths and samplers through. And I must say, it is
wonderful!!!!

Everything sounds so warm and "round" in a good way.

I did have an experience recently which kind of concerns me...

I recorded some vocals through it, using the following chain:

SM58 -> Manley Dual Mono -> Apogee Rosetta.

The problem was, I could never get enough gain out of the Manley
to raise more than 1/4 way up the Rosetta's meters.

There were some times when there was some distortion in the signal as well. I had to go to another pre, (everything else the same, and it worked well)

My question is, since the Manley works fine in Direct mode
(I just tracked using it on ALL instruments yesterday, and it was
fine), could it be a problem with the mic inputs of the unit, or
is it the combination of SM58 and Manley that doesn't agree.

Thanks,

John

**EveAnna Manley** · 5th September 2003, 05:18 PM

Hard to tell exactly what was going on without knowing everything involved. If you suspect that something is wrong with your unit, as in it used to work fine but now it doesn't, please get involved with Paul in my tech support department.

Manley Tech Support

Otherwise, maybe that day with that mic with that vocalist you needed more than 60dB of gain?

madrigal · 8th September 2003, 01:14 PM

Have you tried a different mic with the Manley? The sm58 doesn't have a very hot signal, so if the vocals you're recording are pretty quiet, you may not be getting enough level.

However, even if the input level isn't all that hot, you can still switch the apogee to run at -10 instead of +4 (there's a switch on the back, as far as I remember) and then just retrim the meters to more accurately reflect the input levels.

Also, are you definitely running the mic through the XLRs at the back of the Manley and not through the 1/4" input at the front?. Apologies if this seems like a stupid suggestion, but I've seen it happen before!!

jfair · 11th September 2003, 01:40 AM

Unfortunately, I had no other mic available to me.

Thanks for the tip on the -10/+4 issue, it very well may be that
it needed to be switched for this mic. I am going to have to
experiment before troubling Manley. I really do think the world
of their stuff, and think that this is operator error!

I was running them through the XLRs. No apologies needed, I have done stuff like that in the past!

Thanks again.

John

No4PCs · 7th January 2006, 08:24 PM

Hi EveAnna, my birthday is near,

e .

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4th September 2003, 12:47 AM	#1
jfair Gear interested Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 19	Question about my Manley Dual Mono Block I have a Dual mono that is about 3 years old. I use it mostly for printing synths and samplers through. And I must say, it is wonderful!!!! Everything sounds so warm and "round" in a good way. I did have an experience recently which kind of concerns me... I recorded some vocals through it, using the following chain: SM58 -> Manley Dual Mono -> Apogee Rosetta. The problem was, I could never get enough gain out of the Manley to raise more than 1/4 way up the Rosetta's meters. There were some times when there was some distortion in the signal as well. I had to go to another pre, (everything else the same, and it worked well) My question is, since the Manley works fine in Direct mode (I just tracked using it on ALL instruments yesterday, and it was fine), could it be a problem with the mic inputs of the unit, or is it the combination of SM58 and Manley that doesn't agree. Thanks, John

5th September 2003, 05:18 PM	#2
EveAnna Manley Moderator Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Chino, CA (cowtown) Posts: 575	Hard to tell exactly what was going on without knowing everything involved. If you suspect that something is wrong with your unit, as in it used to work fine but now it doesn't, please get involved with Paul in my tech support department. Manley Tech Support Otherwise, maybe that day with that mic with that vocalist you needed more than 60dB of gain? __________________ Cheers, EveAnna Manley, Manley Laboratories, Inc. www.manleylabs.com

7th January 2006, 08:24 PM	#5
No4PCs Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Brasil Posts: 714	My birthday Hi EveAnna, my birthday is near, e . __________________ "Be not fond of the dull smoke-colored light from hell." - Tibetan Book of the Dead

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8th September 2003, 01:14 PM	#3
madrigal Gear nut Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Ireland Posts: 119	Have you tried a different mic with the Manley? The sm58 doesn't have a very hot signal, so if the vocals you're recording are pretty quiet, you may not be getting enough level. However, even if the input level isn't all that hot, you can still switch the apogee to run at -10 instead of +4 (there's a switch on the back, as far as I remember) and then just retrim the meters to more accurately reflect the input levels. Also, are you definitely running the mic through the XLRs at the back of the Manley and not through the 1/4" input at the front?. Apologies if this seems like a stupid suggestion, but I've seen it happen before!!

11th September 2003, 01:40 AM	#4
jfair Gear interested Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 19	Unfortunately, I had no other mic available to me. Thanks for the tip on the -10/+4 issue, it very well may be that it needed to be switched for this mic. I am going to have to experiment before troubling Manley. I really do think the world of their stuff, and think that this is operator error! I was running them through the XLRs. No apologies needed, I have done stuff like that in the past! Thanks again. John