Improving Waveforms

SilverSurfer3001 · 05-09-2008, 12:08 PM

Right now, my set up is pretty clean cut:

MXLV63M -> Presonus Inspire 1394 -> Cubase LE

My problem is that I am getting a very low waveform in my outputs.

Here's where I need ya'lls help:

Do I need to get a mixer (to effectively act as a PreAmp) to run into my Presonus so that I can tweak my eq and gains before it gets there, or would a PreAmp serve a better purpose? If so, what are some viable (read: cheap, but high quality) options? I'm currently looking at the ART Tube Pre, or the Samson C-Valve Pre... But I really don't want to add any additional noise to my line - I like it nice and quiet and I have a Tube Distortion VST built into my Cubase (which I have been experimenting at between 20% and 35% to add just enough "dirt" without making it fuzzy.

And for the record: Sure I would like to upgrade some of the equipment, but that ain't really an option until: a) the gigs start rolling in or, b) Surfergirl is out of grad school (December, Hurry up!!!)

I really want to liven up my waveform before normalising my projects. Right now they are running at (on average) between -.15 db and .15 db.

Any suggestions?

jsgilbert · 05-09-2008, 08:17 PM

perhaps you could submit a few recoreded lines so that we can get a sense as to what defiicienceies (if any) they present

jsgilbert · 05-09-2008, 08:18 PM

And you're slogan is treading close to mine.

"J.S. Gilbert will do voiceovers for food"

billelder · 05-15-2008, 02:50 PM

Your Inspire 1394 is a pre amp in that it has XLR inputs for your mic and +48V phantom power for your MXLV63M. So you should be good to go for the basics.

Like the thread about Suggestions on new equipment in Colin's section where he recommended the DBX 286A that has +48VDC phantom power as well as Expander/gate and preamp. Or, look at a good new or used Mackie mixer to help with the mic EQ. I use the 1202-VLZ and love the sound of the pre amps. Mackie is even making a $199 mixer and even a $99 mixer which I'm eying for my remote VO setup. Sweet!

SilverSurfer3001 · 05-15-2008, 05:22 PM

That's what I was thinking, too, Bill. Unfortunately, I am getting a pretty pronounced hum when the gain is running fairly hot. JS has been helping me try to nail it down. It appears that I may have a closed feedback loop lurking around the PreSonus. I am having an engineer freind come over and see if he concurs with that assessment. I was talking this weekend to a buddy who has a house very similar to mine, and who runs two studios out of his house - one for VOX and one for music.

He sweras by his Mackie, and is using a spanking new ElectroVoice that he just got to replaced his very competent AKG Dynamic. I have persoanlly heard t he product of that mic on the radio, and I am thinking about negotiationg some kind of deal to get it from him - I will at least borrow it from him to see if my hum is originating at the mic, or if I can get a more acceptable responce from the dynamic than I am gettinmg from the condenser.

If it turns out that the problem is in the PreSonus, I will look into that little mackie dealio.

Thanks for the input and the heads up Bill!

05-09-2008, 12:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
SilverSurfer3001 Jody Silvers Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 230	Improving Waveforms Right now, my set up is pretty clean cut: MXLV63M -> Presonus Inspire 1394 -> Cubase LE My problem is that I am getting a very low waveform in my outputs. Here's where I need ya'lls help: Do I need to get a mixer (to effectively act as a PreAmp) to run into my Presonus so that I can tweak my eq and gains before it gets there, or would a PreAmp serve a better purpose? If so, what are some viable (read: cheap, but high quality) options? I'm currently looking at the ART Tube Pre, or the Samson C-Valve Pre... But I really don't want to add any additional noise to my line - I like it nice and quiet and I have a Tube Distortion VST built into my Cubase (which I have been experimenting at between 20% and 35% to add just enough "dirt" without making it fuzzy. And for the record: Sure I would like to upgrade some of the equipment, but that ain't really an option until: a) the gigs start rolling in or, b) Surfergirl is out of grad school (December, Hurry up!!!) I really want to liven up my waveform before normalising my projects. Right now they are running at (on average) between -.15 db and .15 db. Any suggestions? __________________ Will talk for money.

05-15-2008, 02:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
billelder Member FDIC Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 140	Your Inspire 1394 is a pre amp in that it has XLR inputs for your mic and +48V phantom power for your MXLV63M. So you should be good to go for the basics. Like the thread about Suggestions on new equipment in Colin's section where he recommended the DBX 286A that has +48VDC phantom power as well as Expander/gate and preamp. Or, look at a good new or used Mackie mixer to help with the mic EQ. I use the 1202-VLZ and love the sound of the pre amps. Mackie is even making a $199 mixer and even a $99 mixer which I'm eying for my remote VO setup. Sweet! __________________ Bill Elder Voiceovers

05-15-2008, 05:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
SilverSurfer3001 Jody Silvers Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 230	That's what I was thinking, too, Bill. Unfortunately, I am getting a pretty pronounced hum when the gain is running fairly hot. JS has been helping me try to nail it down. It appears that I may have a closed feedback loop lurking around the PreSonus. I am having an engineer freind come over and see if he concurs with that assessment. I was talking this weekend to a buddy who has a house very similar to mine, and who runs two studios out of his house - one for VOX and one for music. He sweras by his Mackie, and is using a spanking new ElectroVoice that he just got to replaced his very competent AKG Dynamic. I have persoanlly heard t he product of that mic on the radio, and I am thinking about negotiationg some kind of deal to get it from him - I will at least borrow it from him to see if my hum is originating at the mic, or if I can get a more acceptable responce from the dynamic than I am gettinmg from the condenser. If it turns out that the problem is in the PreSonus, I will look into that little mackie dealio. Thanks for the input and the heads up Bill! __________________ Will talk for money.

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05-09-2008, 08:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
jsgilbert jsgilbert Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 338	perhaps you could submit a few recoreded lines so that we can get a sense as to what defiicienceies (if any) they present

05-09-2008, 08:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
jsgilbert jsgilbert Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 338	And you're slogan is treading close to mine. "J.S. Gilbert will do voiceovers for food"