Mbira said:
Thanks for all the replies. I can only say what is actually happening here for us. I have the QU-16 A&H mixer sending a balanced mix out and the meters are going to 0 (not above) because I don't want to clip and I want to have enough headroom.
I haven't been paying close attention to your journey.
Apparently the qu-16 is a digital mixer and the meter is calibrated for 0dB (0VU?)= +4 dBu (1.23V). They spec a max output of +22dBu so a very comfortable 18dB of headroom above the +4 dBu.
The meter is a "fast" peak meter (their description). So setting it so the peaks only nudge 0VU, means you are running a rather cool signal... Old school VU meters were average responding so when pushing 0VU average, the peaks could easily be 10 dB hotter (or more, much more).
IIRC you are messing with some kind of percussion instrument so the crest factor of peaks to average could be larger than typical sound sources.
Sometimes I send an instrument like marimba and sometimes I send vocals through this "effects send". This is currently going into an input module that claims to "boost the signal by 6 db".
It is common for active balanced outputs to bump gain +6dB (from 2x the output voltage swing.. 1x on each output leg).
This boosted signal is now my sound source inside the modular and is feeding effects and filters, etc, and is then going back out the module that "attenuates the signal by 6db" to come back in to our mixer.
OK modular means "synth", and this synth drops signal -6dB.. but I thought you just said input module boosts signal +6dB? Is the input module the "synth"? I am getting a little confused.
The 6 db boost is not enough. It is too quiet. I need more gain. It is like 1/4 the volume of other things in the modular like the VCOs.
This is a eurorack setup and has +-12v rails.
I googled eurorack and didn't find any specs.
Since I have long since lost track, I will offer some general advice,, if it isn't loud enough turn it up louder.
The QU meter "peak" indication is calibrated for -3dBFS (so 3dB before digital clipping). Just tickling the -3dB peak lights on occasional musical transients is not clipping. You don't want to see steady peak lights but occasionally flashing is OK.
If you are creaming it, it will probably be audible.
JR