Hey Greg it sounds like maybe you are doing something wrong. The Pres in the Roland are very nice and WAY better than any Realistic product. I am not familiar with the Roland Quad but maybe check you are setting everything up correctly etc and settings are OK as well.

Thanks Jeff....I  am hoping that is the case.  I will keep playing with settings.  It sounds "compressed" - for lack of a better word.  The old setup did as well, but just not as much.  It could be fixed with EQ and reverb....This sounds flat/compressed...weird.  Thanks for replying.  :)

Hey did I catch that your using an SM 57 with a 1/4" jack,, just wondering? 

I've seen the odd Hi Impedance Shure mike before, Some even had switches. 

Because this sounds like an impedance miss match. 

Hi all,

I haven't been trying the Auto Sens - but with that being said- I haven't really messed around with the setup of the preamps, either.  I just plugged it in and started recording to test it out, so they are at the default settings.  I do get sound and it isn't "horrible", it just isn't as good of a tone as the other, and that wasn't GREAT, but it worked ok.  The sound is a dry, rough sound - not smooth.  I will experiment tomorrow - can't record anymore tonight or wife and kids will kill me :)  Thanks a bunch guys...

Greg

If the unit has the digital compressors on the preamps/lines that will cause problems.  I didn't like the ones on the VS 700 and 100.  They caused a lot of chatter.  Bypass them.

@

Actually - it is this one:


Haha!  I bypassed the compressor inthe ROland software and that helps a little. I am experimenting with the setup of the physical space as well.  I appreciate everyone's help.  Thanks for downloading the book Jeff!  :)  I am still working on learning what some of the settings even mean.  (I haven't done this in a while - even on the old setup) and I wasn't an expert back then, so it is a learning curve.  I think one thing that helped was that my old version of Producer had a bunch of tools in it to tweak the sounds!  SONAR LE is VERY limited.  May need to get Studio faster than I expected! :)

Thanks guys!

Sorry I posted the picture without comment, I got interrupted by life. 

But I'm still curious about your original set up.   (sorry can't stop wondering why you felt it sounded OK) 

The Mixer looks like it has unbalanced 1/4" inputs which my guess were hi impedance. Those mixers where sort of for use in Churches and non professional set ups. The mikes Radio Shake sold were also mostly hi impedance. The dead giveaway is they come with 1/4" unbalanced cables, The mike end will still be XLR. 
Therefore I wondered about your SM57. Did you use a XLR to 1/4" cable or a transformer adapter? 
If the mike came with a 1/4" end than it just might be a hi impedance model.  

An issue with using a mixer designed for high impedance unbalanced -10dBv connections is that it probably doesn't have enough gain to get the Mic level up to line level on most sources. The mic signal doesn't mind seeing the high impedance... but there's not much gain in a system designed to primarily mix -10dBv input signal and output a -10dBv signal.

Of course a trumpet, usually, does not need a lot of gain. :-)

Which is probably why it seems to work ok with the -10dBv input on the on board Sound line in described in the OP.




One thing to note about the Roland unit. The on board compressor is useful for (near)real time monitoring and sound tailoring. It happens well after the analog signal converts to digital so if you are over driving the analog stage and clipping the digital with overs the compressor is just going to make that seem louder.

The point being is that you are probably going to have to turn down the input gain on the Quad Capture mic input a whole bunch until you find the sweet spot for the trumpet.

I recommend avoiding the digital compressor until well after you get the level settings figured out.

Singing in to a compressor while listening on headphones is a real treat... it effects your performance and helps you explore a relationship with the compression effect. I think the most compelling reason to use the compression on the recording track is to help a performer do this.

If you don't have an interest in that then it's easy to just wait till post to add the compression... which gives you the benefit of getting to try different settings without permanently committing until final mix down.



best regards,
mike

That is a good way to describe the sound....It is like it is slightly "overdriven" even when it is not too loud.  Almost like a slight growl to the sound and missing the fullness of the overtones...hard to describe and when mixed with EQ/reverb and blended in with other sounds, it goes is hardly noticeable.  I will keep experimenting :)

Hi all,

Since everyone on here has been so helpful, I was hoping I could get some more advice and just info in general on Montiors and headphones:

If you've read the previous posts, it shouldn't surprise you that up til now I've been using a relatively cheap pair of headphones and the speakers/sub-woofer that came with my old Dell desktop. (With the Soundblaster Audigy)  So...Now that I am using the Roland I have no way to monitor/mix the sound except through the headphones.  When it comes to monitors, I have read everything from "anything under $500 is a waste of money" to reviews on cheaper ones that say they are great.  Any advice for what would pair would be decent for now?

Also - tried out Headphones at the store last night - Right now I am using Samson STudio Reference Headphones CH70.  They are old and the padding is flaking off...The ones i tried out that were meant for "Studop Monitoring"  had very little to no bass in them, and they ranged from $100 to $350....IS there a reason?  Or for headphones, does it really matter? 

Thanks :)