Effects Not Working via Behringer VX2496 Mic Preamp

Post by **Acoustica Eric** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:17 pm

Glad to hear you got it figured out. So basically it was a weak signal then?
You are welcome for the help, let us know if you need anything else.

rf3107 · Post by **rf3107** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 3:24 am

The vocal signals from both output are very strong.

I believe one could be for live performance and the other for recording. The manual does not explain this. Guess I found out the hard way. Thanks again to Greg & Eric.

Post by **Acoustica Eric** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 5:51 am

You're welcome. But this still makes no sense. I have been working with musicial equipment and PA systems all my life and never encountered anything that put out a fine strong signal but would not allow effects to be used. A signal is a signal, it's analog to digital, recorded to the pc. After that there is nothing stopping it from being used with effects.
Can you send me one of these files that refuses to use effects?
Maybe it records at a bitrate or sample rate too high for the general computer.
Let me know if you want to send it, I would like to mess with it and see hwta the deal is.

rf3107 · Post by **rf3107** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 5:05 am

I agree with your comments above.

I have previously sent a sample wave file that the effects refuses to work to Greg. Could you please ask him for it?.

I am looking forward to the outcome of your analysis.

Cheers

Post by **Acoustica Eric** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 5:45 am

Greg went on vacation until next week. Can you send the file to me?
eric at acoustica.com

rf3107 · Post by **rf3107** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 5:04 pm

No worries Eric, I will send you 3 vocal files in a day or so.

1) Vocal recorded directly from the mic bypass the preamp. Reverb works effectively.
2) Vocal recorded from preamp, output from the side XLR recording output for a DAT or Hard Disk recorder, Reverb works but not effective.
3) Vocal recorded from preamp, output from MAIN output on a balanced XLR. Reverb does not work.

Thanks.

Post by **Acoustica Eric** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 5:16 pm

Ok, I will check them out when you send them.

rf3107 · Post by **rf3107** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 3:54 pm

Thank you Eric for testing my sample vocal files

Post by **Acoustica Eric** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 4:00 pm

I am not saying it IS a bad cable, it's just what the file sounds like.
When we set up to play a show and one of the mics sounds like that through our PA system, we immediately know we have a bad cable. What I think the deal is with your situation is that the outputs you used for the recordings that sound bad, are meant to be used in other ways rather than direct line outs.
Or maybe they are phantom powered or need phantom power. Something is not right with the signal, may it be a cable, an output jack or simply that the output is not meant for what you are trying to use it for.

It is not actually lack of bass you are hearing, it is an incomplete signal which turns out to sound as if it's all high-mid range, no highs, no lows.

rf3107 · Post by **rf3107** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 2:21 am

Solution Identified (Eric's posting above is on the right track):

1) The Effects worked with this setup but with poor vocal quality sound:
Hardware connection:
Microphone input to preamp (Behringer VX2496) and output from side XLR recording output using a MONO cable from XLR to â•

rf3107 · Post by **rf3107** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 6:18 pm

Analysis of this problem.

I am sure there are thousand of home studio users (besides Mixcraft) with a similar setup as mine. I am very surprise that this is not a known issue.

Hardware Type:
Microphone (mono), Preamp Behringer VX2496 (mono), Soundcard (stereo). Please note that all microphones are mono.

Issue:
The output cable from the Preamp into the Soundcard i.e. mono to stereo.

Possible Solution:
The XLR output from the preamp must be MONO and the â•

Post by **Acoustica Eric** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 6:22 pm

You don't need that cable. Just an adapter to go from XLR to 1/8. Stereo OR mono, either way will work. The software does not record stereo on a single track anyway.
You may have to get two adapter, XLR to 1/4 and 1/4 to 1/8

You should use the mic input (which is mono) for running a mic straight to the pc.

rf3107 · Post by **rf3107** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:00 pm

Thank you again Eric - for leading me on the right path.

The MONO cable I use is an XLR to 1/4" male out.

This web site has the cable adaptor to solve my problem:
http://www.directron.com/aistudiolink.html#caption

Monster iStudioLink Cable Adapter, 1/4" Mono (Female) to 1/8" Stereo Mini-Plug (Male), Model: AI STUDIOLINK

Features: Plug your guitar, keyboard or mic directly into your laptop or desktop. 1/4" mono (female) to 1/8" stereo mini-plug (male). Lightweight and economical alternative to more expensive input units. Perfect for Apple's new GarageBand software.

I have contacted several music stores including Tandy & Dick Smith in Sydney, Australia but they don't stock this adaptor. Will keep looking!

You mentioned "You should use the mic input (which is mono) for running a mic straight to the pc"
I didn't want to do this as it bypasses the preamp.

Post by **Acoustica Eric** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:38 am

you're welcome, just sharing my years of rigging and trial/error so hopefully some people will not have so much of the "error" end of it.
Radio shack or walmart will have it, you can also look at www.musiciansfriend.com

Gman · Post by **Gman** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:22 am

rf3107 wrote:Analysis of this problem.
Hardware Type:
Microphone (mono), Preamp Behringer VX2496 (mono), Soundcard (stereo). Please note that all microphones are mono.

FWIW-

Actually, stereo microphones are quite common and used mostly in live recordings of large spaces.
Example-
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=275558
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=272042