Forrrest
27 December 2013
I'm looking for an analog volume control knob to put between my Firewire soundcard (MOTU 896mk3) and Active monitors (Focal Twin6)
I don't want to just lower the volume in my DAW or on the soundcard because it'll reduce the bit depth resulting in a lower quality signal at the DA stage of my soundcard. I'd like to keep all 24bits in use.
I've come across a few products like the "TC Electronic Level Pilot Desktop Volume Control" and the "SM Pro M-Patch" but have also read bad reviews on how the quad pots used are not always well balanced resulting in an uneven image as you change the volume. What do you recommend I get that won't be the weakest link in my signal chain. Don't want to break the bank either.
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The SM Pro Audio MPatch-2 is about the best of the passive volum
The SM Pro Audio MPatch-2 is about the best of the passive volume controls. It's true that it's not well matched between channels below somewhere around -55dB, but above that is fine. There is a more recent (and more expensive) version, but the original MPatch-2 is now good value and perfectly OK for volume control and selection between two channels. It also contains a headphone amp, for which you need the external power brick, but you don't need to use the amp or the power brick for normal passive volume control.