Monitoring signals on high end pres

[jdier]

Sometimes I find myself wondering how I have made it this far in life with such limited brain capasity.

In reviewing specs and features on a few different preamps I have found myself wondering one certain units how one with a smaller studio and limited gear would use them. I run RME FF800 and when I have my FMR RNP pre plugged into it I am able to monitor input levels on the 3 light indicator on the front of the RNP.

On units like the TAB-funkenwerk V-78 or a Brent Averill 1272, which appear to have no level indicators, I cannot imagine how I could verify that I have the right input level.

I am starting to think one of the following is true:

1. I am a dolt and should never have been using light indicators on my preamps to set levels, and instead should be trusting my ears.

OR

2. Those high end units are meant for more sofisticated studios than mine.

As I am typing this I contine to get this sinking feeling that the answer is #1 and that I am a real weak suck. However, using the light indicators on my preamps has been really useful to me because when I track, I usually have to move fast and make changes quickly. The lights are like a sanity check for me.

What is the deal? Am I a dork?

[soundawg]

No you aint no dork.

However... what you should come to terms with is that the lights on these units are just 'guides'... and the cheaper the unit - the more unreliable the guides!

Sure there are points to look out for such as digital clipping... but some push this sound and use it on purpose for certain situations.

When your pre is 'into the red' it does not mean its bad, and green does not = good either.

Take your Fireface for example... The red over indicators come on 2db before clipping (if I remember corectly)... but the sound you are recording may be best served lower OR higher in gain.

Truth is you alredy know what to do - use the ears you have.

[David@MVS]

Originally Posted by jdier

Sometimes I find myself wondering how I have made it this far in life with such limited brain capasity.

You and me both.

On units like the TAB-funkenwerk V-78 or a Brent Averill 1272, which appear to have no level indicators, I cannot imagine how I could verify that I have the right input level.

I am starting to think one of the following is true:

1. I am a dolt and should never have been using light indicators on my preamps to set levels, and instead should be trusting my ears.

Nah, you are not a dolt.
The indicators are a good indicator (pun intended) of your gain range.
Of course your ears will tell you if something is wrong too.

Plus, the docs on your pre (if given) will usually have some verbage on how their meters are structured.

OR

2. Those high end units are meant for more sofisticated studios than mine.

Nah.

Design choice. The consoles (where alot of the pres are based) all have meters.
Gain staging was/is very important.

The built-in saviour here is that (assuming you are recording to a digital medium) you will reach the limits or your AD convertor well before you reach the clipping point of a well built preamp (assuming you are not padding the output).

That is not to say you cannot clip the front-end of a pre, but if you are doing that, you will more than likely be decimating the input of your AD box.


So use the meters in conjuction with your ears, leave some leeway/headroom and dont worry about it.

Record away.


Cheers,
David