running audio back through pre

[joeymusicguy]

just wondering

what's the proper way to take a track (digital domain) and putting back into analog domain for running through a mic pre

for example, a snare track running to a mono output (D/A) then through a mic pre (A/D again) into a new track

do i need to attach anything before hitting the pre?

 

[Force666]

The line output is going to be mega hot going into a mic pre. Take that into consideration.

 

[Charles J]

I've never had much of a problem doing just as you described... line out straight from my 002 to my Chameleon Labs and then usually straight into our Drawmer comp... depending on what I'm sending the signal OTB for in the first place...

i recently started doing this w/my kick/snare/bass gtr/vox to give them a little transformer goodness and a little analog compression... i almost always add these in parallel to my original tracks, though...

If signal is too hot, I'll just drop the fader and maintain proper gain-staging between the CL Pre and comp...

 

[egan.]

Hey Joey, I'm not sure what the goal is but if you want to hit the mic pre again I would go D/A-->DI-->micpre. That way you will hit the mic pre with an appropriate level and impedance.

 

[Wolfeman]

Yeah you'd want to use some type of transformer to keep everything proper. If the line out signal is already at +4 though, you would want to go into a reamp box, then to a di, then into the pre.

 

[jval]

or just use the line input on the pre.... if it has one

 

[Wolfeman]

yeah you could do that to, i was assuming he was going out of the DAW to put it through some mic level gear(or wants the effect of the preamp)

 

[Charles J]

or just use the line input on the pre.... if it has one

Indeed! Forgot about this, I have our CL7602 patched up so that I can go 002 line out to the line in of the 7602, THEN to compressor.

School me, though... why would he want to go through a reamp/di box? Maybe my mind is slow tonight, but converting a line signal to Hi-Z and into DI, again, back to line signal and then into say, his API. Seems kind of convoluted but then again I'm lazy as all hell when it comes to routing =D

 

[Wolfeman]

Well assuming a +4 line out signal, and you want to go into a mic level, you would want to convert that +4 to the proper level and impedance. this can be done with a simple resistor network. But if you want to do it with gear you already have (and not have to buy or build something) you can do it by going into a reamp box(+4 gets converted to instrument level and proper impedance) and then into a DI (instrument level gets converted to mic level, and at a proper impedance).

So it works out well.


Just be warned this whole thing is frowned upon anyway, since you are boosting then attenuating then boosting and attenuating.... So any noise in the equipment chain is going to get louder.

BTW if you want to build your own 50dB L-pad attenuator, it's just a 33kohm and 100ohm resistor. You can solder them right into a XLR connector. Ends up being like 50 cents .

 

[JasonAaronAdams]

Nothing to attach, but if your preamp has a line input, definitely use that instead of the mic input.

I do it all the time, either running tracks back out to the preamp or compressor, never really had any problems. I like to hit the Input kinda of hard when I do that, and then just roll back the output a little bit.

 

[joeymusicguy]

i should go ahead and say its an api 3124 so there's no line in

 

[vespiz]

Also, some preamps' line inputs bypass the input transformers completely, so if you want that coloration*, you have to go through the mic inputs.



* And to me that would be the whole point..

 

[joeymusicguy]

Also, some preamps' line inputs bypass the input transformers completely, so if you want that coloration*, you have to go through the mic inputs.



* And to me that would be the whole point..

good call

 

[Mikaël-ange]

Joey: what you raquest for is call a line pad

 

[Wolfeman]

Joey: what you raquest for is call a line pad

Yep, see my post above. But don't buy one! Build it for pennies!

 

[ahjteam]

Yep, see my post above. But don't buy one! Build it for pennies!

...or use the one in the API

 

[Wolfeman]

...or use the one in the API

It's not exactly a 'correct' pad for this application. I think the API has a 20dB pad, what he needs is a 50dB pad.

 

[jval]

ah yeah no lines on the 3124. You actually might not need any line pads at all.. just maybe just use the fader or trim plug in protools to send it out at the level you need.

 

[Wolfeman]

ah yeah no lines on the 3124. You actually might not need any line pads at all.. just maybe just use the fader or trim plug in protools to send it out at the level you need.

That's still not doing it right though. That will fix levels, but you are still running at an improper impedance.

Not that you can't do it that way, but it's not 'right'. Just like some people using a DI backwards as a reamp device. It works, but not 100%

 

[egan.]

I would go D/A-->DI-->micpre. That way you will hit the mic pre with an appropriate level and impedance.

Not to be a dick but this is still the answer (with the possible caveat wolfeman raised).

In practice once you drop the balance (which you will with nearly all DI's) you are in an acceptable range for the DI box IME.