Line level output into mic level input...advice please.

loglady · 11th July 2009

Hi, I'm a synth/cubase programmer just branching out into outboard fx, including some guitar pedals. If i use line level outputs from a soundcard or nord lead/moog voyager, can i put them straight into a mic level input guitar effect like my fuzz factory?
Can i damage equipment this way? Does the quality diminish?
Do i need an impedence matching device?
Someone please set me straight on this, in the simplist terms you can.

Thanks in advance!

loglady · 12th July 2009

larry b · 12th July 2009

A reamp device like the Radial ProRMP or the X-Amp is probably the way to go for this job. Impedance matching, level matching, plus a trim pot for fine tuning the gain into the amp/effect pedal/whatever.

I have the ProRMP at my studio and it gets used constantly.

thumbsupthumbsup

vagrantmuse · 12th July 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by larry b

A reamp device like the Radial ProRMP or the X-Amp is probably the way to go for this job. Impedance matching, level matching, plus a trim pot for fine tuning the gain into the amp/effect pedal/whatever.

I have the ProRMP at my studio and it gets used constantly.

thumbsupthumbsup

The ProRMP is great. To expand on the why, most guitar pedals are actually instrument level which, while being kind of close to mic level, is a completely different impedance. You need a piece of equipment to match all of these varying impedances or you get noise.

loglady · 12th July 2009

Thanks for your replies, i'm starting to get the concept. So if i got a radial proRMP (if i can find one in the UK), i would go out of my soundcard with a jack-xlr > into radial with with impedance conversion > as many fx chained as i want > back into my s'card preamps back to high level onto seperate cubase buss. Correct?

Do i have to DI before preamps or will my soundcard do that automatically (audiofire 4 is on order so i cant check)?

Also, is this exclusively about avoiding noise, or can i actually harm my gear if i don't match? I'm sure on youtube people just chain things up any old way.

Are analog synths line level (specifically moog voyager)?

I know these are dumb questions, but i have tried to google them with no luck, i need peace of mind with my gear.

passenger · 12th July 2009

i like to use my radial JDI in reverse to get a balanced signal.... unbalanced.

I guess any normal DI will do the same too. Though some say that YOU HAVE TO USE THAT thing or other.

jackeatley · 13th July 2009

wire a jack to xlr female and run a passive DI backwards, no noise no power and has an included pad.

11th July 2009	#1
loglady Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 531 Thread Starter	Line level output into mic level input...advice please. Hi, I'm a synth/cubase programmer just branching out into outboard fx, including some guitar pedals. If i use line level outputs from a soundcard or nord lead/moog voyager, can i put them straight into a mic level input guitar effect like my fuzz factory? Can i damage equipment this way? Does the quality diminish? Do i need an impedence matching device? Someone please set me straight on this, in the simplist terms you can. Thanks in advance!

12th July 2009	#3
larry b Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Ypsilanti, Michigan Posts: 1,524	A reamp device like the Radial ProRMP or the X-Amp is probably the way to go for this job. Impedance matching, level matching, plus a trim pot for fine tuning the gain into the amp/effect pedal/whatever. I have the ProRMP at my studio and it gets used constantly. thumbsupthumbsup __________________ (after a train wreck take): (producer/talkback mic) "Did anyone hurt themselves?" Kinetic Sound Recording Studio Website coming soon!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
How: adapting a line level signal for mic level input	Farshad	So much gear, so little time!	10	22nd May 2010 09:16 AM
Unbalanced line level signal to mic pre input	Vatraxos	Geekslutz forum	1	31st August 2008 02:24 PM
500 series mic pre with input AND output level control	stevetgn	High end	47	21st August 2007 04:04 AM
Clarification on what travels best on long cable lines, line level or mic level.	esumsea	Remote Possibilities in Acoustic Music & Location Recording	5	16th February 2007 08:58 PM
Connecting a line level device into a Mic input without a pad...?	kwilliams	So much gear, so little time!	27	22nd May 2006 06:44 AM

12th July 2009	#6
passenger Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 578	i like to use my radial JDI in reverse to get a balanced signal.... unbalanced. I guess any normal DI will do the same too. Though some say that YOU HAVE TO USE THAT thing or other.

13th July 2009	#7
jackeatley Gear Head Joined: Aug 2008 Location: West Mids UK Posts: 32	wire a jack to xlr female and run a passive DI backwards, no noise no power and has an included pad.