-10 or +4 ?

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jerjabs
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2008/08/31 15:32:09 (permalink)

-10 or +4 ?

I have my UA 710 mic pre going INTO my Aphex 661 compressor then out to my Motu Ultralite.

My question is that on the back of the compressor there is a button that lets you choose the OP level. -10 or +4

What one should it be set to going into the Motu?

Thanks

i7-920, 8 GIGS DDR5, SONAR Pro 8.5.2, Motu Ultralite, UA Twin-Finity 710 pre, RNC 1773, M-Audio Axium 49, Event TR 8 and SP-5B Monitors, KRK Sub, Jolymod Oktava 219 mic, MXL V69m, SM7B, Studio Projects C1, POD 2.0 and APHEX 661 & the Variax 700 acoustic.
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    CJaysMusic
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    RE: -10 or +4 ? 2008/08/31 16:05:49 (permalink)
    check the aphex compressors manual or look on the back of it to see what is it. Thats what you set it to.
    Usually -10 is unbalanced and +4 is line level.
    Cj

    www.audio-mastering-mixing.com - A Professional Worldwide Audio Mixing & Mastering Studio, Providing Online And Attended Sessions. We also do TV commercials, Radio spots & spoken word books
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    #2
    ohhey
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    RE: -10 or +4 ? 2008/08/31 16:17:53 (permalink)
    ORIGINAL: jerjabs

    I have my UA 710 mic pre going INTO my Aphex 661 compressor then out to my Motu Ultralite.

    My question is that on the back of the compressor there is a button that lets you choose the OP level. -10 or +4

    What one should it be set to going into the Motu?

    Thanks


    As long as they match on both ends it doesn't matter. I'll bet the Motu is switchable also, check the software control panel for it and the unit.

    Frank Coffey - Songwriter
    http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=790131
    #3
    SvenArne
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    RE: -10 or +4 ? 2008/08/31 17:35:27 (permalink)
    +4dBU is the professional industry standard level, while -10dBV is the consumer level, like you'd find on HIFI CD players and such. Pro and semi-pro studio equipment are always rated +4 dBU by default, but in many cases there will be a switch. You can get distortion if you connect a device outputting +4dBU into a device that is made to accept -10 dBV.

    EDIT: Or so I understand

    Sven


    post edited by SvenArne - 2008/08/31 17:36:39





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    ohhey
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    RE: -10 or +4 ? 2008/08/31 21:02:03 (permalink)
    ORIGINAL: SvenArne

    +4dBU is the professional industry standard level, while -10dBV is the consumer level, like you'd find on HIFI CD players and such. Pro and semi-pro studio equipment are always rated +4 dBU by default, but in many cases there will be a switch. You can get distortion if you connect a device outputting +4dBU into a device that is made to accept -10 dBV.

    EDIT: Or so I understand

    Sven



    If you go from a +4db output to a -10db input you can overdrive it but only if the level reaches that point. If you manage you gain stages right and turn down the output of the device that is +4db then there is no problem. However, if you have a device with a fixed level output and no way to control the input level of the other device then yeah... on the loud stuff you risk overdriving it.

    The +4db spec was designed for studios in the old days where you had long cable runs from the mixer to the machine room where the tape machines were. To to prevent level loss and get the best signal to noise they went to +4db. That's why most "pro" gear still has that option, it just became the standard. And those connections were all balanced so some folks think +4db is always balanced but the two are not related. For example you could have a device with an unbalanced +4db or balanced -10db but it's rare to find that combination. Most of the time you will see balanced TRS or XLR switchable to -10db or +4db. Most of the good sound cards can be adjusted with the software control panel for either level, my Lynx card is like that. Any one input or output can be set to either level.

    Frank Coffey - Songwriter
    http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=790131
    #5
    The Maillard Reaction
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    RE: -10 or +4 ? 2008/08/31 23:30:22 (permalink)
    Sven,
    Thank you for using the units... you're my hero.


    The old +4dBu standard was measured with a 600Ω impedance load.

    The traditional -10dBV consumer standard typically uses a much higher input impedance.

    The +4dBu out has a LOT more current capability.

    If you are not accustomed to to plugging a +4dBu output into a -10dBV input... BE CAREFUL. It can get loud fast!

    best regards,
    mike
    #6
    bitflipper
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    RE: -10 or +4 ? 2008/09/01 05:06:13 (permalink)
    Frank got it right: "As long as they match on both ends it doesn't matter".

    The +4dbu, being quite a bit hotter, might have a better S/N ratio for a long cable run. Other than that, the main consideration is that both ends agree.

    I'd use whichever one the MOTU defaults to (so that's what it'll be set to after being powered off and back on again), which, on my MOTU is +4dbu.


    All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. 

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