LA-610 Input Gain Problem

[barryjohns]

Out of nowhere, my gain for my UA LA-610 is reduced. I'm hoping that a preamp tube is shot, but I can't tell. Normal gain level at 5 and output at 5 would typically give a pretty hot signal. Right now, I have to turn the gain switch to +10 and the level to 9 to get a decent signal on the meter, however, audible it distorted of course. Is this as simple as a pre-amp tube? There are 4 tubes inside that are all the same and 1 that is different. The 3 tubes look like 12AX7'S to me, but the other I'm not sure. The 4 tubes are all showing red-hot coils inside, the other shows nothing.

Any ideas?

[Improv]

You've reseated all cables, tried different sources, cables, etc?

[barryjohns]

Originally Posted by Improv

You've reseated all cables, tried different sources, cables, etc?

Yep, all of the above. Removed from patchbay, tried different cables, tried a 414 and an SM57, same thing with all. Checked all above connectiosn through my UA Solo 610, all worked fine. Certainly narrowed down to something internal in the LA610.

[BOWIE]

Most likely a tube though you can't be sure. Smell the inside of the unit and make sure no caps or sesistors burnt out. try switching some of the 12AX7's around. See if any of them are glowing especially bright.
The sound of the unit will greatly benefit from a re-tube anyhow. If you want to buy some vintage tubes let me know.
ProAudioTubes.aol.com

[barryjohns]

I just put in a patchbay into my rig for the first time a few weeks back. I've not needed patchpays prior to this. My patchbay is wired normalled. So if I understand it correctly if I have the Input of a preamp plugged into the top insert on the rear of the patchbay, channel 1, and the Output of the preamp plugged into the bottom insert on the rear of the patchbay, channel 1, if there is not a patch cord connected to the corresponding inserts on the front of the patchbay, this will constantly cycle the signal through the preamp, the only way to break that signal is the plug in a patch cord into the top insert of channel one on the front. I didn't realize this until I incorporated my Lynx Aurora into the patchbay.

Can this continuous cycling of the In and the Out of a preamp damage the preamp? In this case my LA-610?

Now from what I understand, I need to have a Non-Normalled Patchbay so that it passes the signal directly from the top rear to the top front and the bottom rear to the bottom front?

I feel like an idiot, I’ve never been able to insert hardware as inserts into my DAW until I bought Protools HD, which is why I am using a patchbay now. Prior to this, my pre-amps have been connected to various In's on my converters.