Hot signals with Digi002...HELP !!!

[Grom]

Hi everyone...
I am new here, proud to be part of the family.

I recently purchased a Digi002 and am running it with Pro-Tools LE 7.4 on my MacBook Pro.

I am a professional freelance drummer and do recordings in my studio in L.A.

I also purchased a couple of BLUE mics, the Kickball and the Blue Ball for kick drum and snare drum respectively.
They are phantom powered dynamic mics...(yes indeed...)...I tried recording with them the other day and was having serious problems with the input signal...the signal was WAY HOT ! I mean peaking...even with the gain at minimum...I had to turn the phantom power off to avoid it from peaking but it was still reaching the limit...

I contacted BLUE and they said it's a problem with the Digi002's pre-amps...entry level they said...

What can I do ?? Is it solvable ?? Or do I have to buy a separate pre-amp ??

Please help...



GROM - Freelance drummer

[Ryan Young]

What I do is plug all of my mics into a mixing board first, then send a line level to the 002. Much more control that way.

-Ryan

[peter99]

you play too loud...





sorry just kidding

[p.richardson3]

i have had good results with the digi002 recording drums at high levels, but you have to plug your mics into an external mic preamp and then into the 002. i have used a behringer ultra gain tube pre and got good sounds.i bought an api 3124+ and i am very happy with the sounds i get.

[BaileyBass]

Hi everyone...
I am new here, proud to be part of the family.

I recently purchased a Digi002 and am running it with Pro-Tools LE 7.4 on my MacBook Pro.

I am a professional freelance drummer and do recordings in my studio in L.A.

I also purchased a couple of BLUE mics, the Kickball and the Blue Ball for kick drum and snare drum respectively.
They are phantom powered dynamic mics...(yes indeed...)...I tried recording with them the other day and was having serious problems with the input signal...the signal was WAY HOT ! I mean peaking...even with the gain at minimum...I had to turn the phantom power off to avoid it from peaking but it was still reaching the limit...

I contacted BLUE and they said it's a problem with the Digi002's pre-amps...entry level they said...

What can I do ?? Is it solvable ?? Or do I have to buy a separate pre-amp ??

Please help...



GROM - Freelance drummer

Hey, and welcome. You would probably get a lot more response if you posted in the LE 002,003 forum. having said that... the mics you mention are probably the problem. i have used an 002 (and own an 003) and never had the problem you have. Using gefell, neumann, Pearlman, .. al the way down to sm57's. i could always get them under control.
I would bet the phantom powering of a "dynamic" mic is the issue. That and they are 50-60 dollar mics.... although it is surprising what can be had for relatively little money these days.
Or it could be something with your hardware. good luck, SB

[MoritzRock]

Hi,

I am not to sure but i believe your mics do not have a pad switch. You can buy an XLR pad connector that gets between the mic and the cable. that should help your signal level!
Or as said above use a different pre amp and get to the 002 with a line signal.

Also i am sure there is other people with the same problem in the LE forum.. see what their solution is.. GOOD LUCK!

[Naagzh]

Hi,

I am not to sure but i believe your mics do not have a pad switch. You can buy an XLR pad connector that gets between the mic and the cable. that should help your signal level!
Or as said above use a different pre amp and get to the 002 with a line signal.

Also i am sure there is other people with the same problem in the LE forum.. see what their solution is.. GOOD LUCK!

It is NOT the mics' fault. It is well-known that the stock 002 pres do not have sufficient dynamic range for loud drums. Even with the knobs all the way to the left, they are not at "zero", and there exists enough gain to clip the signal. This is true when using SM57s, various small diaphragm condensers, Senn 421s, and so on. In general, phantom-powered mics possess hotter output levels, so I'm not at all surprised the OP is having this issue.

The inline mic pads mentioned above are your best (and cheapest) bet. No, they will not degrade the sound (any more than connecting two mic cables). These are good.

[Grom]

Thanks everyone for the help ! I'll go with the pads...I only own a Eurorack mixer and I doubt it's good enough to go through for recording.

[flommer]

Did you try the Mic/Line button? It is actually just an 18db pad, the micpre is still in the path. This is another common complaint that you can't take the micpres out of the signal path for 1-4...

It appears to disable the XLR and enable the TRS input. You'll need different XLR to TRS cables or adapters. I just tried it with an SM-58 and it works fine.. The trim knob still works and it puts out less overall level..

[Phil Ogden]

Did you try the Mic/Line button? It is actually just an 18db pad, the micpre is still in the path. This is another common complaint that you can't take the micpres out of the signal path for 1-4...

It appears to disable the XLR and enable the TRS input. You'll need different XLR to TRS cables or adapters. I just tried it with an SM-58 and it works fine.. The trim knob still works and it puts out less overall level..

But does the TRS socket pass Phantom power (which the OP needs)?

http://www.myspace.com/philogg