robbyk
Max Output Level: -76 dBFS
- Total Posts : 705
- Joined: 2009/11/30 17:09:49
- Location: Madison, WI
- Status: offline
ART Preamp into Focusrite 2i4?
I used to connect my ART preamp into my Line 6 UX1 via an unbalanced cable into a analog input on the rear of the interface. I really liked it especially for my quiet acoustic fingerpicking.
I just used my 2i4 (1st gen) for the first time recording tonight and assumed the preamps were so far superior to the UX1, I wouldn't need the ART. However, if I were to connect the ART:
1.) Can I? It has no rear port analog input, so it would have to be connected via the front panel inputs.
2.) If this is OK, is the unbalanced cable into the instrument input OK, or would it be the XLR balanced into the Line input?
Much appreciated if anyone knows, I'd like to give this a go.
"I'm just workin' on a good life, the way it is." Best, Robby K PC Specs: Dell XPS Tower, Intel Core i5 7400 CPU 3 GHz @, 8 GB RAMHardware: Focusrite Scarlett 2i4, Line 6 TonePort UX1, ART Tube MP, JBL LSR2325P 5" Bi-Amped MonitorsSoftware: Windows 10 Home, Sonar 8.5.3 Producer, Sonar Producer X1, Sonar Producer X2 expanded, Sonar Producer X3, Ableton Live 8.3.4, Ozone, Alloy, Toontrack, Podfarm, IK Multimedia, Garritan, Melodyne, Antares, Bias, Rob Papen, OhmForce, Don't Crack... Music Studio
|
DeeringAmps
Max Output Level: -49 dBFS
- Total Posts : 2614
- Joined: 2005/10/03 10:29:25
- Location: Seattle area
- Status: offline
Re: ART Preamp into Focusrite 2i4?
2018/03/11 01:28:52
(permalink)
☄ Helpfulby robbyk 2018/03/11 01:43:07
First pick for me would be XLR to Line in.
That's how I use external pres with my UFX.
T
Tom Deering Tascam FW-1884 User Resources Page Firewire "Legacy" Tutorial, Service Manual, Schematic, and Service Bulletins Win10x64 StudioCat Pro Studio Coffee Lake 8086k 32gb RAM  RME UFX (Audio) Tascam FW-1884 (Control) in Win 10x64 Pro
|
robbyk
Max Output Level: -76 dBFS
- Total Posts : 705
- Joined: 2009/11/30 17:09:49
- Location: Madison, WI
- Status: offline
Re: ART Preamp into Focusrite 2i4?
2018/03/11 01:44:42
(permalink)
DeeringAmps
First pick for me would be XLR to Line in.
That's how I use external pres with my UFX.
T
That's sounds good, how short do they make those cables? I just need 3"? Anyway, I'm going to give it a try! Many thanks!
"I'm just workin' on a good life, the way it is." Best, Robby K PC Specs: Dell XPS Tower, Intel Core i5 7400 CPU 3 GHz @, 8 GB RAMHardware: Focusrite Scarlett 2i4, Line 6 TonePort UX1, ART Tube MP, JBL LSR2325P 5" Bi-Amped MonitorsSoftware: Windows 10 Home, Sonar 8.5.3 Producer, Sonar Producer X1, Sonar Producer X2 expanded, Sonar Producer X3, Ableton Live 8.3.4, Ozone, Alloy, Toontrack, Podfarm, IK Multimedia, Garritan, Melodyne, Antares, Bias, Rob Papen, OhmForce, Don't Crack... Music Studio
|
DeeringAmps
Max Output Level: -49 dBFS
- Total Posts : 2614
- Joined: 2005/10/03 10:29:25
- Location: Seattle area
- Status: offline
Re: ART Preamp into Focusrite 2i4?
2018/03/11 12:42:37
(permalink)
Tom Deering Tascam FW-1884 User Resources Page Firewire "Legacy" Tutorial, Service Manual, Schematic, and Service Bulletins Win10x64 StudioCat Pro Studio Coffee Lake 8086k 32gb RAM RME UFX (Audio) Tascam FW-1884 (Control) in Win 10x64 Pro
|
robbyk
Max Output Level: -76 dBFS
- Total Posts : 705
- Joined: 2009/11/30 17:09:49
- Location: Madison, WI
- Status: offline
Re: ART Preamp into Focusrite 2i4?
2018/03/11 17:45:03
(permalink)
DeeringAmps
Here's a 2' one at Sweetwater
T
Thanks for the link! That's a TRS on the input though, and I was using balanced 1/4" on the UX1, which I suspect is OK on the focusrite front panel but not completely sure. The UX1 had separate analog inputs on the rear port apart from the front panel instrument and XLR inputs, the 2i4 does not.
"I'm just workin' on a good life, the way it is." Best, Robby K PC Specs: Dell XPS Tower, Intel Core i5 7400 CPU 3 GHz @, 8 GB RAMHardware: Focusrite Scarlett 2i4, Line 6 TonePort UX1, ART Tube MP, JBL LSR2325P 5" Bi-Amped MonitorsSoftware: Windows 10 Home, Sonar 8.5.3 Producer, Sonar Producer X1, Sonar Producer X2 expanded, Sonar Producer X3, Ableton Live 8.3.4, Ozone, Alloy, Toontrack, Podfarm, IK Multimedia, Garritan, Melodyne, Antares, Bias, Rob Papen, OhmForce, Don't Crack... Music Studio
|
GaryMedia
Max Output Level: -86 dBFS
- Total Posts : 217
- Joined: 2003/11/05 23:04:20
- Location: Cary, NC
- Status: offline
Re: ART Preamp into Focusrite 2i4?
2018/03/12 02:36:48
(permalink)
☄ Helpfulby robbyk 2018/03/12 17:14:05
robbyk
DeeringAmps
Here's a 2' one at Sweetwater
T
...
That's a TRS on the input though, and I was using balanced 1/4" on the UX1, which I suspect is OK on the focusrite front panel but not completely sure. ...
You suspect correctly. The combo jack on the front is there for you to plug in a TS or TRS. When the switch is set to line, it'll have an input impedance that is appropriate (probably about 10k-ohms, but the manual doesn't specify) for a line level device to drive it properly. Using the XLR connection is not optimal and exposes the external equipment to the accidental application/damage from 48v phantom power.
CbB Win10 | Mac Pro 12-core 3.33GHz/48GB | TCL 55" 4K UHD | 480GB SSD | 6TB HDD RAID-5 array| 1.5TB SSD RAID-0 array | Midas M32 | 2x Audient ASP800 | UAD-2 Duo PCIe | Adam A7X. http://www.tedlandstudio.com/articles
|
Cactus Music
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 8424
- Joined: 2004/02/09 21:34:04
- Status: offline
Re: ART Preamp into Focusrite 2i4?
2018/03/12 03:34:57
(permalink)
☄ Helpfulby robbyk 2018/03/12 17:15:19
I'm glad Gary chimed in there.
You have to be very careful when hooking up any 2 devices that have 48 Volt Phantom.
It's almost the safest to use a plain short patch cable un balanced.
One cool thing you can do with the Art is use the line out to your audio interface and use the XLR out and go to a small mixer for monitoring.
That's how I have mine hooked up. I use a Mackie Mix 8 for headphones. I run my 3/4 output from my Scarlett into a stereo channel of ther Mix 8. And then with both my Art and My Joe Meek pre amps they have the extra output running as XLR to the Mix 8 too. I can dial in any level I want. I use the Joe Meek for vocals and the Art for the guitar. My Acoustic has a passive LR Baggs PU and the Art fattens it up along with my Radial Tone Bone.
I go from the Art to the Tonebone using a short patch cord. The Tonebone has all sorts of outputs but I use another short patch cord into my back line input of my interface.
That' s why it's mandatory for me to have the 4 inputs. I can leave everything plugged in.
|
robbyk
Max Output Level: -76 dBFS
- Total Posts : 705
- Joined: 2009/11/30 17:09:49
- Location: Madison, WI
- Status: offline
Re: ART Preamp into Focusrite 2i4?
2018/03/12 17:16:16
(permalink)
Very cool and helpful responses, time to gear up and check these out! Wahoo!
"I'm just workin' on a good life, the way it is." Best, Robby K PC Specs: Dell XPS Tower, Intel Core i5 7400 CPU 3 GHz @, 8 GB RAMHardware: Focusrite Scarlett 2i4, Line 6 TonePort UX1, ART Tube MP, JBL LSR2325P 5" Bi-Amped MonitorsSoftware: Windows 10 Home, Sonar 8.5.3 Producer, Sonar Producer X1, Sonar Producer X2 expanded, Sonar Producer X3, Ableton Live 8.3.4, Ozone, Alloy, Toontrack, Podfarm, IK Multimedia, Garritan, Melodyne, Antares, Bias, Rob Papen, OhmForce, Don't Crack... Music Studio
|
robbyk
Max Output Level: -76 dBFS
- Total Posts : 705
- Joined: 2009/11/30 17:09:49
- Location: Madison, WI
- Status: offline
Re: ART Preamp into Focusrite 2i4?
2018/03/12 17:32:24
(permalink)
GaryMedia
robbyk
DeeringAmps
Here's a 2' one at Sweetwater
T
...
That's a TRS on the input though, and I was using balanced 1/4" on the UX1, which I suspect is OK on the focusrite front panel but not completely sure. ...
You suspect correctly. The combo jack on the front is there for you to plug in a TS or TRS. When the switch is set to line, it'll have an input impedance that is appropriate (probably about 10k-ohms, but the manual doesn't specify) for a line level device to drive it properly. Using the XLR connection is not optimal and exposes the external equipment to the accidental application/damage from 48v phantom power.
So from the ART, use a "TRS into the focusrite with the switch set to line (not instrument?)" and, of course, phantom power off?
"I'm just workin' on a good life, the way it is." Best, Robby K PC Specs: Dell XPS Tower, Intel Core i5 7400 CPU 3 GHz @, 8 GB RAMHardware: Focusrite Scarlett 2i4, Line 6 TonePort UX1, ART Tube MP, JBL LSR2325P 5" Bi-Amped MonitorsSoftware: Windows 10 Home, Sonar 8.5.3 Producer, Sonar Producer X1, Sonar Producer X2 expanded, Sonar Producer X3, Ableton Live 8.3.4, Ozone, Alloy, Toontrack, Podfarm, IK Multimedia, Garritan, Melodyne, Antares, Bias, Rob Papen, OhmForce, Don't Crack... Music Studio
|
robbyk
Max Output Level: -76 dBFS
- Total Posts : 705
- Joined: 2009/11/30 17:09:49
- Location: Madison, WI
- Status: offline
Re: ART Preamp into Focusrite 2i4?
2018/03/12 17:35:31
(permalink)
Cactus Music
That's how I have mine hooked up. I use a Mackie Mix 8 for headphones. I run my 3/4 output from my Scarlett into a stereo channel of ther Mix 8. And then with both my Art and My Joe Meek pre amps they have the extra output running as XLR to the Mix 8 too. I can dial in any level I want. I use the Joe Meek for vocals and the Art for the guitar. My Acoustic has a passive LR Baggs PU and the Art fattens it up along with my Radial Tone Bone.
I go from the Art to the Tonebone using a short patch cord. The Tonebone has all sorts of outputs but I use another short patch cord into my back line input of my interface.
That' s why it's mandatory for me to have the 4 inputs. I can leave everything plugged in.
That is really cool. I have long admired Joe Meek and Radial equipment as well as the LR Baggs. Now I have something more to shoot for! Wow!
"I'm just workin' on a good life, the way it is." Best, Robby K PC Specs: Dell XPS Tower, Intel Core i5 7400 CPU 3 GHz @, 8 GB RAMHardware: Focusrite Scarlett 2i4, Line 6 TonePort UX1, ART Tube MP, JBL LSR2325P 5" Bi-Amped MonitorsSoftware: Windows 10 Home, Sonar 8.5.3 Producer, Sonar Producer X1, Sonar Producer X2 expanded, Sonar Producer X3, Ableton Live 8.3.4, Ozone, Alloy, Toontrack, Podfarm, IK Multimedia, Garritan, Melodyne, Antares, Bias, Rob Papen, OhmForce, Don't Crack... Music Studio
|
DeeringAmps
Max Output Level: -49 dBFS
- Total Posts : 2614
- Joined: 2005/10/03 10:29:25
- Location: Seattle area
- Status: offline
Re: ART Preamp into Focusrite 2i4?
2018/03/13 17:47:15
(permalink)
☄ Helpfulby robbyk 2018/03/14 17:07:05
"So from the ART, use a "TRS into the focusrite with the switch set to line (not instrument?)" and, of course, phantom power off?"
That's how I would do it.
As has been cautioned, be very aware of the status of your phantom power.
T
Tom Deering Tascam FW-1884 User Resources Page Firewire "Legacy" Tutorial, Service Manual, Schematic, and Service Bulletins Win10x64 StudioCat Pro Studio Coffee Lake 8086k 32gb RAM RME UFX (Audio) Tascam FW-1884 (Control) in Win 10x64 Pro
|
batsbrew
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 10037
- Joined: 2007/06/07 16:02:32
- Location: SL,UT
- Status: offline
Re: ART Preamp into Focusrite 2i4?
2018/03/13 17:54:31
(permalink)
☄ Helpfulby robbyk 2018/03/14 17:07:12
CONSIDER the ART as your 'color' fx.....
don't use it on every track.
the art uses 'tube distortion' as it's 'color', more or less,
and this will create a 'sonic fingerprint' that will create a haze over multiple tracks,
because of buildup of specific frequencies and some masking.
just sayin'
|
Jeff Evans
Max Output Level: -24 dBFS
- Total Posts : 5139
- Joined: 2009/04/13 18:20:16
- Location: Ballarat, Australia
- Status: offline
Re: ART Preamp into Focusrite 2i4?
2018/03/13 19:48:44
(permalink)
☄ Helpfulby robbyk 2018/03/14 17:07:50
DeeringAmps
As has been cautioned, be very aware of the status of your phantom power.
Not quite. The manual clearly states that phantom power will only be applied to the XLR pins, it will never be applied to the TRS connections in the centre of the combo inputs. They would not be that silly. Capacitors would be used to block any DC from being sent to the TRS inputs. Even so keep phantom power off anyway. A mono jack to jack lead could also be used from the ART to the Scarlett inputs. Some signal level loss would occur that is all. Switching to LINE is more important. It changes the input impedance and input sensitivity.
Specs i5-2500K 3.5 Ghz - 8 Gb RAM - Win 7 64 bit - ATI Radeon HD6900 Series - RME PCI HDSP9632 - Steinberg Midex 8 Midi interface - Faderport 8- Studio One V4 - iMac 2.5Ghz Core i5 - Sierra 10.12.6 - Focusrite Clarett thunderbolt interface Poor minds talk about people, average minds talk about events, great minds talk about ideas -Eleanor Roosevelt
|
robbyk
Max Output Level: -76 dBFS
- Total Posts : 705
- Joined: 2009/11/30 17:09:49
- Location: Madison, WI
- Status: offline
Re: ART Preamp into Focusrite 2i4?
2018/03/14 17:09:15
(permalink)
Absolutely fantastic help and explanations, thanks big time all, I'm crankin' up this afternoon for my first real session with the new pc and interface!
"I'm just workin' on a good life, the way it is." Best, Robby K PC Specs: Dell XPS Tower, Intel Core i5 7400 CPU 3 GHz @, 8 GB RAMHardware: Focusrite Scarlett 2i4, Line 6 TonePort UX1, ART Tube MP, JBL LSR2325P 5" Bi-Amped MonitorsSoftware: Windows 10 Home, Sonar 8.5.3 Producer, Sonar Producer X1, Sonar Producer X2 expanded, Sonar Producer X3, Ableton Live 8.3.4, Ozone, Alloy, Toontrack, Podfarm, IK Multimedia, Garritan, Melodyne, Antares, Bias, Rob Papen, OhmForce, Don't Crack... Music Studio
|