Quote:
Originally Posted by squeegybug
Sorry didn't mean to imply there was a way to calibrate, I do not know if there is or not.... the description from the OP appears like that's where his problem is. Your diagnosis of "too sensitive" sounded about right to me.
Steve
Rats...I thought someone had discovered an overlooked solution! <g>
Until Trent added the MOTU interfaces, his room was 100% analog, with plenty of VU meters on the gear. Obviously VUs and "peak" meters are different animals.
However, as I recall (can't find my notes), a steady-state 0 VU (ie, +4 dBu) from any analog gear into the MOTU interfaces hits around -12 or -14 dBfs. That is WAY too sensitive. I prefer to set 0 VU analog to -15 to -20 dBfs...better to let the analog gear clip vs causing the digi-gear to puke with 0 dBfs overs!
Here's the "dB math". Analog 0 VU is most often +4 dBu. Clip point on any decent analog gear is at least +20 dBu, if not a lot higher. If I wanted the analog and digi-gear to clip at the same point, then 0VU analog needs to equal -16 dbfs digital. In the real world, allow some margin on the analog side, so 0VU analog should be -18 or -20 dBfs.
The PT interfaces I've used all had analog I and O trimmer pots. Maybe the Prosumer PT boxes don't, but never messed with them in this sort of situation.
So be it..I'll determine a fixed input pad into the MOTU boxes...guessing 6 to 10 dB of padding. Never had this issue with PT interfaces since they could be trimmed.
Bri