making beats
Out of context: Reply #2384
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QBN making beats crew. I have a problem, that seems simple, but is kinda leaving me without many options.
The basic issue is: My Focusrite Pro40 audio interface does not provide enough power to push my newly acquired Adam T5V studio monitors. There's a +2 setting, and you can crank them past unity, but these tweeters hiss like crazy when you boost them built in amps. So, I want to keep everything at 0, and boost the signal going into them.
Currently, I have an old Aalto (I never heard of it before getting it) 4 channel mixer (which has balanced inputs) amplifying the output of my audio interface. Problem is: this thing is old, beat up (one output channel is failing), and noisy.
My first idea was buy something from Allen & Heath or Soundcraft in a small form factor. Well, the small ZED mixer is a 6 channel, and complete overkill for amping a signal 20db at maximum. I don't need anything but the master volume.
So, the internet directed to audiophile amp world. Someone suggested a Schiit Magnius, which is a headphone amp with balanced stereo in's and outs. It looked perfect! But, the outputs are preamp only (not using the internal amp), and the volume basically acts as an attenuator.
So, I'm back at square one. Is there really nothing out there that's basically a volume knob (with amplification) for balanced signals going into powered monitors? I saw some monitor controllers that have input gain, but I don't want Behringer (even though I love my model D), and I don't have 3 sets of monitors. So spending $500 on something for that just to boost a signal seems dumb.
Any ideas?
- there should be more than enough from the interface... in saffire mix control settings do you have active monitor pad enabled?kingsteven
- I have a Pro 24 and Scarlett 18i20 and Adam A7x and can drive them to distort quite easily (and yup you hear it with those tweeters)kingsteven
- I do not have active pad enabled, and it's not nearly enough. I mix tracks down at roughly -6db, and my interface is set at 8 for reasonable listening.section_014
- I can put the pro40 to 10 (full volume), and while it's certainly louder, I've had them much louder (with the mixer) without distorting.section_014
- damn, was hoping that would be an easy one. it's a bit too late for me to test i'm assuming its clipping on the amp but could be the interface outputkingsteven
- I keep the Adams on 0dB and rarely above center on the interface and just a rotary TRS jack speaker switcher as i'm also paranoid about such things...kingsteven
- Radial J4 line driver could be an option... provides +4dB on TRS jacks. Maybe do a side by side with another interface first to see if it's something fuckykingsteven
- just noticed the T5V has a -10/ +4dB switch for the operating level, it should be +4dB if connected to the Saffire. The +2dB switches are high and low shelves.kingsteven
- Yep, it's on +4db. Man, I've been so far down this rabbit hole, there's not way it's not the interface. I do want to measure the output somehow.section_014
- Maybe this will work? You can find them on eBay for $50 sometimes https://www.altomusi…keewee
- I ended up ordering a small mackie vlz mixer. I was going to get the A&H, but it was too big to sit on my desk.section_014