I'm not sure if I'm asking the question correctly, but this is what I'm hoping to do: Say I have a Mic (first source in signal chain), then an external mic pre, and then the VS700R. If I am using any of the 8 BAL/UNBAL XLR inputs on the back of the unit, is there a way to get the signal in "cleanly" with out the VS700R's mic pres altering the sound in any way?

I'm certain it isn't an uncolored/unaltered sound since many ppl love the Roland mic pres on the unit.. so my question is, how do I disable the mic pre on the VS700R so that the only mic pre is the external one I have in the signal chain? Is it even possible?

I've heard the digital ins on the VS700R will bypass any mic pres on the unit. If this is true, I'll need advice then on which other unit I can purchase that will allow multiple "INS" (from different external mic pres) which can then send the signal to the VS700R digital in, and eventually onto the timeline in Sonar X1.

Can someone please guide me here? Thanks in advance...

Hi Beeej21,

Beeej21


I'm not sure if I'm asking the question correctly, but this is what I'm hoping to do: Say I have a Mic (first source in signal chain), then an external mic pre, and then the VS700R. If I am using any of the 8 BAL/UNBAL XLR inputs on the back of the unit, is there a way to get the signal in "cleanly" with out the VS700R's mic pres altering the sound in any way? 

No, everything you connect in those inputs, including the 1/4 inputs, are hardwired to the mic pres'circuits, so there's no setting anywhere you can adjust to disable the mic pres completely.      

I'm certain it isn't an uncolored/unaltered sound since many ppl love the Roland mic pres on the unit..

Yeah, the mic pres in there do have a slight 2nd harmonic distortion happening in the low end, which is usually percieved as "warmth",  look at the analisys Craig Anderton made with the Octa-capture here: http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?2746804-Roland-Octa-Capture-Interface-Now-with-Conclusions&p=42373935&viewfull=1#post42373935   Check post #9' last paragraph.

 so my question is, how do I disable the mic pre on the VS700R so that the only mic pre is the external one I have in the signal chain? Is it even possible?

No. ;)

I've heard the digital ins on the VS700R will bypass any mic pres on the unit.

Yes. Straight into Sonar.

 If this is true, I'll need advice then on which other unit I can purchase that will allow multiple "INS" (from different external mic pres) which can then send the signal to the VS700R digital in, and eventually onto the timeline in Sonar X1. 

Check this: http://www.frontendaudio.com/Sonic-Core-Ferrofish-A16-Mk-II-p/2408.htm Lots of I/O! you'll need 2 vs700r to benefit from all 16 I/O with ADAT though.

Or get this: http://www.frontendaudio.com/Universal-Audio-4-710D-p/9999-08664.htm You get 4 pretty nice pres with basic compression, and you have room for 4 more line units of your choice (your external pres), all 8 channels will be converted to ADAT and will go straight in Sonar.

The Isa 428mkII do the same but you must buy the optionnal A/D card separately.

Good luck!

The VS 700 mic pres are transparent enough that you shouldn't have to bypass them. You want to make sure you turn off the -20db pad next to them. A lot of people haven't realized they are on by default. Huge difference. I use a Motu 2408 Mk3 running in standalone mode without it's PCI card and drivers. Analog in and ADAT out. It works well. You can pretty much hear the coloration of any device in the recording train.

      Thank you Dyonight and Craig!  Both of your answers combined really helped settle the issues I had in my mind.  This is HUGE, thanks!  

Okay, so now I have another quick question:  If I have multiple mic preamps, and multiple hardware compressors that I want to be able to  mix and match the signal paths into Sonar with, is there a "transparent" solution I can use without going the patchbay route?  

Here's the scenario... I have 4 mic pres.  I have two compressors.  Do I run the mic pres straight into the VS700R and then find a way to route the signal back out into one of the compressors via another rack unit like say Octacapture or one of Dyonight's other solutions?  This is giving me a headache...  

I am even considering these, but I am not sure how transparent the signal will be by the time it gets into Sonar:  Coleman Audio MS6 (for my mic preamps)  and..  Coleman Audio MS6R (for my compressors, which would then be connected straight to the VS700R).  

Signal chain would be: Mic, to MS6 switcher (choosing a preamp at this stage), then to MS6R (choosing a compressor at this stage), and then finally compressor out to one of the analogue inputs on the VS700R. 

If you use a Mic pre before the inputs to the VS700R you will definitely want the -20 Pads ON not off. For Mic inputs going into the VS700R yes pads off but for a line level signal going in they need to be ON. I believe the input sensitivity is around +4 dBu in this mode which is what you want.

The sound of the Pres in the VS700R are so nice I would not worry about the Mic pres altering the sound.

I would patch a mic into an external Mic Pre and then out of that straight into a compressor and set that chain up before feeding into the VS700R. (Keep it all analogue) That is how I would do it. Just be careful how you set up the compressor obviously before recording. A compressor set up for limiting with a high threshold could be a handy configuration if you were worried about wildly dynamic input material.

You would only want to use a Mic Pre before the VS for it's sound. I think the sound of a Mic going directly to the VS700R is also pretty hard to beat.

Jeff Evans


If you use a Mic pre before the inputs to the VS700R you will definitely want the -20 Pads ON not off. For Mic inputs going into the VS700R yes pads off but for a line level signal going in they need to be ON. I believe the input sensitivity is around +4 dBu in this mode which is what you want.

The sound of the Pres in the VS700R are so nice I would not worry about the Mic pres altering the sound.

I would patch a mic into an external Mic Pre and then out of that straight into a compressor and set that chain up before feeding into the VS700R. (Keep it all analogue) That is how I would do it. Just be careful how you set up the compressor obviously before recording. A compressor set up for limiting with a high threshold could be a handy configuration if you were worried about wildly dynamic input material.

You would only want to use a Mic Pre before the VS for it's sound. I think the sound of a Mic going directly to the VS700R is also pretty hard to beat.

This is the way I have been doing it every since I have had my VS700 and nothing but great sound and various people wonder how I have been attaining my sound with the V...   I hear a lot of complaining and nay-say about the VS700 and Sonar etc... but it is a great machine and a great program and with maximizing your knowledge about recording and the gear great things can be accomplished...
 
Lets continue to make music..

The only problem I have with the -20db pads being on is that you don't get a clear signal when you're setting up. When using a hardware pre that you want use the sound-character of, you won't be able to adjust it properly with the -20db pad on. The pads should only be used for overly hot signals in my opinion. If you're doing a clean peice the pads are going to dull the sparkle some.

Beeej21


I'm not sure if I'm asking the question correctly, but this is what I'm hoping to do: Say I have a Mic (first source in signal chain), then an external mic pre, and then the VS700R. If I am using any of the 8 BAL/UNBAL XLR inputs on the back of the unit, is there a way to get the signal in "cleanly" with out the VS700R's mic pres altering the sound in any way?

I'm certain it isn't an uncolored/unaltered sound since many ppl love the Roland mic pres on the unit.. so my question is, how do I disable the mic pre on the VS700R so that the only mic pre is the external one I have in the signal chain? Is it even possible?

I've heard the digital ins on the VS700R will bypass any mic pres on the unit. If this is true, I'll need advice then on which other unit I can purchase that will allow multiple "INS" (from different external mic pres) which can then send the signal to the VS700R digital in, and eventually onto the timeline in Sonar X1.

Can someone please guide me here? Thanks in advance...

I ran into this a little while back. I have a ADL 600 stereo tube preamp. I wanted the sound of it and nothing else. I wound up buying a Lynx Hilo AD/DA.  It is incredibly versatile with routing configurations. I have it integrated into my VS700 System and use it for all conversion.  I do not use the V700 drivers unless I am using a midi in signal. Then it is immaterial what you use. I still use the Hilo going out.  The Console functions quite well with the Hilo.  I am very happy with the sonic results. Initially, I did this so I could bypass the V700 pre's.  What I discovered was the difference true world class conversion  makes.  I really do like my V700 and am not dissing it in anyway.  This was just one of those "aha" moments.

If you run the mic into a preamp before the VS 700 , you will hit the VS 700 at line level (already amplified) so i second Jeff remark , keep the -20db pad on keep your preamp at nominal posistion (VS 700) , you play with the preamp that do the job (preamplification , in my case my ISA one) , not the VS 700 one ....you will then adjust the VS 700 one if needed for entry gain purposes .....(but if you have in your preamp an output level , no need to use the VS 700 ones !!)