Is something wrong with my AD converter for Digidesign 96?

[jerberson12]

I am not sure about this.
Everything I plug into my analog input of my interface, everything sounds dull dead and buried. It doesnt sound out properly in the mix.

Take this experience I had....
I have a Digidesign Eleven Rack (A digital guitar processor).
I connect its main analog output to my Digidesign 96 interface analog input.
It sounded like I said dull and deep buried.

I tried using the AES digital output of my guitar processor and connect it to my AES input of interface....It sounded bright and alive which is what I am looking for.

Also have a Yamaha Motif and use its Main Output to Analog input of my interface. It still sounds dull and dead.
The Yamaha has an optional AD card slot which what the manual says is the recommended connection of recording the sound to your DAW AND I bet it will be as bright and alive if I connect it to my AES input.

I have a comparison since I also have some few Virtual INstrument that comes with my Protools like Mini Piano, Digidesign Boom Drum Machine, etc... which is all digital and everything sounds so bright and alive even without using EQ and comp plus my hardware guitar rack that is connected via digital out and in sounds so bright and alive as with the virtual plugin. They sit well together with the mix.

Like I said, anything I plug-in via Analog ... everything sounds dull and would not match intial mix with the digital stuff.

I dont know if this is really what I get from analog or is there something wrong with my AD converter...

Another thing I can described is all the digital mix I had , it sounds that everything just breath out.

Everything that goes analog, everything sounds muddy and its like they squeeze in.

Example: the kick of drumkit 808 from Yamaha sounds like its being held by something like its having hard time getting out of the mix via analog.
the kick of drumkit 808 from the virtual machine of my protools, sounds so full and comes out the mix properly

There are no EQ or comp processing on both of my mixes.


Additional Info:
I also have an old song mix with my budget recording system. The interface I use was M-Audio Delta 44. I compare it to my mix right now assuming I applied the same skills as with my old setup, I like way more better than my old mix, it sound so bright and alive. Just this particular converter right now which is supposed to be a lot expensive is giving me a lot of dullness trouble.


Please help guys!

You can hear the sample from the first post of this thread
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-mu...come-life.html

[Chris Lambrechts]

Hard to judge by the explanation because I would have to see the same path but there could be something wrong with the AD side of things yes.

Do all the inputs on the 96 sound the same ?

The can definitely be an audible difference between the AES inputs and the Analog inputs but one should not be 'dull' where as the other is bright.

You seem to indicate that there is no processing on the way in or on the audio tracks.

I would suggest to take it to a reseller and have it tested if possible.

Chris

[jerberson12]

Hi Chris
thnx for replying...

Please take time to visit this thread
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-mu...come-life.html

I attached a sample on the first post of this thread talking about the same issue since I dont know how to attached the sample from here.

Please let me know if it sounds ok to you or not.
The sample sounds dull , constant, dead or pretty straight forward.

I dont know if that how it should sound before editing or if theres something wrong with it.

Chain use... AKG 820 Perception -> Digidesign PRE -> Digidesign 96



Another thing...
I also have a Digidesign Eleven Rack...
I tried connecting my synth to its Line Input and it sounds different from Digidesign 96.
It more spread out the mix or more alive and everytime I use EQ or compressor, it just sit on the mix perfectly.
Since this is a USB interface (TDM), I used SONAR as my DAW.
This setup sounds better that the Digidesign TDM Protools Setup/

PS.
Does the analog input of Digidesign 96 IO different from the Line Input of Digidesign 96i ?