Mic Pre As Hardware Insert; LoZ or HiZ ?

[TrentWilliams]

Hey everyone,

Sorry this is a fairly foundation level question but I’ve been second guessing myself.

I’m using a Heritage Audio 73jr/73eq as a hardware insert with a MTRX Studio running with line I/O, should it be set to LoZ or HiZ?

Any help is appreciated,

Cheers!

[BScout]

You should be using the line in/outs on the MTRX Studio. There is no impedance setting for those (they are fixed input impedance of 10k ohm.) Your Heritage modules have line in/out options. That's what you should be using on that end.

(Hi Z, Lo Z is only for the two MTRX Studio mic pres to make them DI in Hi Z. )

[TrentWilliams]

Originally Posted by BScout

You should be using the line in/outs on the MTRX Studio. There is no impedance setting for those (they are fixed input impedance of 10k ohm.) Your Heritage modules have line in/out options. That's what you should be using on that end.

(Hi Z, Lo Z is only for the two MTRX Studio mic pres to make them DI in Hi Z. )

Thanks for the reply,

Sorry I should have clarified, they are connected to the line I/O on the MTRX, I ’m speaking on the pre itself.

[Darryl Ramm]

You set the mic impedance to either setting depending on how you want to try to affect your mic tone. For lack of anything else, try the different settings.

Lots of articles on the Interwebs about mic and preamp impedance matching etc, e.g. https://www.soundonsound.com/sound-a...nput-impedance

[BScout]

Originally Posted by TrentWilliams

Thanks for the reply,

Sorry I should have clarified, they are connected to the line I/O on the MTRX, I ’m speaking on the pre itself.

You are connected to the line input on the Heritage? And the line button is depressed on the front (and you are working with the gain knob in the "line" section?)
The HiZ/LoZ will have no effect then. That only applies to the mic in.

[TrentWilliams]

Originally Posted by BScout

You are connected to the line input on the Heritage? And the line button is depressed on the front (and you are working with the gain knob in the "line" section?)
The HiZ/LoZ will have no effect then. That only applies to the mic in.

Sorry for the confusion, to clarify. I’m using the pre’s as a hardware insert for reamping, I’m sending a line level signal from my interface to them, they’re connected via TRS into an RND R10 chassis. I have ‘line’ engaged on the pre’s but when I engage LoZ the input level drops 5.3db (confirmed using a 1kHz test tone), which is where my confusion is coming from. It’s my understanding that when ‘line’ level is engaged the LoZ/HiZ button shouldn’t do anything? But it is, which makes me think even though I’m using it at line level, the mic pre’s are still engaged?

[BScout]

Heritage have a terrible signal flow diagram in their manual (that runs contrary to their description.) Line button should switch to 10k ohm input on the 73 (and pad signal appropriately.) All signal, no matter the input, goes through both gain stages.
According to them, the loZ/HiZ is before the amp stage. Where is your gain dial located in its options -- the mic section or line section? That could be your reason. It controls not only gain but acts like a selection switch.

[TrentWilliams]

Originally Posted by BScout

Heritage have a terrible signal flow diagram in their manual (that runs contrary to their description.) Line button should switch to 10k ohm input on the 73 (and pad signal appropriately.) All signal, no matter the input, goes through both gain stages.
According to them, the loZ/HiZ is before the amp stage. Where is your gain dial located in its options -- the mic section or line section? That could be your reason. It controls not only gain but acts like a selection switch.

Thanks for your reply BScout,

As far as I'm aware the input gain dial isn't split into Mic/Line sections, I have a pair of 1073LB's too and they are split. But the 73jr is just one dial stepped in 5db increments from 30 to 80db.