500 series modules with synth?

[Maglor]

Hi,

I am thinking about starting a 500 series lunch box set-up. And I pretty much only record my own stuff which is live to 2 track modular synth. Most times this is recorded direct but on occasion i will mic the speakers/amp. Mainly what I am looking to do is have a nice stereo pre/eq/comp for these recordings. (i am obviously partial to the modular idea and the lunchbox portability is great for my application). and i was also thinking it might be cool to use a mic pre as well for some color and also as a fader not to mention as a mic pre! (i was thinking specifically of the purple biz which has both gain and level functions). So to get to the question... Will the modular synth levels be too hot going direct into the biz? I had an API 3124mb+ for a while and i had to pad the direct synth signal too avoid overloads. Though i have to admit even when the api went "into the red" it wasn't really distorting, in fact it sounded really good... Anyway the synth output is very hot, much more so than the average unbalanced synth output particularly if you are recording the oscillators directly. The reason I ask is that though the biz has a level knob it does not seem to have a pad.

if anyone could let me know that would be great. the modular that i use runs on a 15volt system (frac rack -- blacet/wiard etc.).

thanks,
--david

[ImJohn]

I haven't tried it too much yet but I'm somewhat unimpressed with running synths through nice mic pre DIs. It certainly doesn't hurt the sound IMHO but I think you might find a nice EQ unit much more versitile and pleasing. Like the API EQ or the up coming A Designs EQ or any of the others that are in the 500 series format. (not that the 500 sweries EQs sound better than other form factors, it's just a great time right now to get a 500 rack and stuff it with all the pres, EQs and compressors you can grab! )

[Maglor]

yeah i agree actually which is why i sold the 3124, it was really overkill for my purposes. but i was thinking a mic pre/DI would have a few uses for my somewhat odd situation.

1) for when i record with a microphone.... though rare, it does happen on occasion. though i have crap mics sadly.
2) when using a pre with a level and a gain knob i could use them as master faders, since having the gain all the way down does not necessarily mean no signal is passing through, but one with a level knob would i assume? Both the purple and the OSA pres have level knobs/faders.

I am just worried that given how hot the modular output is that without a pad it would overload the input too easily.

Thanks for the response,
--david

[subspace]

I'm prototyping a custom 500 series panel at the moment for a client who wants to do exactly what you're talking about. The FracRak modules are putting out around +10 unbalanced and he wants to use it with a lunchbox full of API and Biz pres -20 inputs. We're also going the other direction to insert +4 balanced audio into the FracRak modules +10 unbalanced inputs for creative mix deconstruction.

[Maglor]

wow, that sounds pretty great! the idea of using the 500 series modules "in" the synth would be perfect. patching them at different points in the signal path instead of the normal thing of putting the eq/comp/etc at the end of the chain. Would love to hear more about it and would be VERY interested in one myself. do you have any drawings or panel layouts?

please keep me posted with how it is going, super cool idea. I wonder how many people would be into this? And I can not help but try and guess who your client is... The modular synth world can be kinda small....

Anyway, very cool.

--david