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Hello,
I am currently looking at getting a Fmr audio Rnp (really nice preamp) and am wanting to know the best way to connect it upto my computer.
I currently am using a PreSonus digimax Lt and a Behringer ada8000 mic preamp running ADAT to my soundcard (RMEhammerfall).
The Fmr rnp doesn't have ADAT connection so I would have to either run it through my ada8000 or digimax first. Is this the best way? If I do this will I be losing any of the quality of sound from the Rnp because it is not going through great converters?

Anyone help? Thanks

Comments

BobRogers Sun, 03/22/2009 - 05:57

I suppose that either the Behringer or the Presonus could add some noise to the analog signal, but if you use the line level inputs there isn't much of an analog signal path. Since you have been using the converters on these units all along, you won't "lose any sound quality" by using their converters on the analog signal from the FMR preamp rather than their own preamps.

I suppose what you are really asking is whether the converters you are using are going to prevent you from hearing the quality of your new preamp. Certainly there are converters out there that a lot of people think are better than the converters in your units, but I'm not convinced that converters in consumer-level products are much of bottleneck in the signal chain. It's not all that easy to isolate the converters in these units from the rest of the signal path and conduct rigorous tests on them. I tend to worry more about overall build quality and connectivity when evaluating an interface.

hueseph Mon, 03/23/2009 - 03:12

Xlr to xlr will not bypass the preamp. I'm not entirely sure that the line input will bypass the ores entirely either but I haven't looked at the schematics.

On another note, I'm not entirely sure that the RNP will be all that much of an improvement over the DigiMax. You might be better off saving a bit more something a little more boutique.

Boswell Mon, 03/23/2009 - 08:03

As Bob said, it's not really the converters you need to be concerned about, it's the pre-amps. The only way you are going to be able to use anything like the full quality of the RNP is to by-pass the pre-amps in the Digimax LT, and not even think about using the ADA8000 for this purpose.

You don't say which Hammerfall interface you have, but if it is one that has a pair of line-level analog inputs, you could route the RNP outputs in there. Otherwise, make up a pair of special cables that take single-ended (unbalanced) outputs from the RNP and feed them into the insert returns on a couple of the Digimax channels. We can describe how to wire these cables if it's not something you are familiar with doing.

damo Tue, 03/24/2009 - 05:51

Thanks for the replies,
I am not too familar with setting up all this type of gear ,it was all set up once and I haven;t really had to touch it.
I have the Rme hammerfall series soundcard, basically I wanted to get a rnp as I wanted 2 decent pre's that I could use for vox and guits, I use digimax for all drums but what I have read about the Rnp it is supposed to very good ( for the price).
Are you suggesting that I make a lead xlr one end and (guit jack) the other end and go xlr from Rnp to guit jack into digimax? Would that get the purest sound from the Rnp?

Thanks again! Do you think I would notice a difference with the Rnp?

BobRogers Tue, 03/24/2009 - 06:06

damo wrote: Thanks for the replies,
I am not too familar with setting up all this type of gear ,it was all set up once and I haven;t really had to touch it.
I have the Rme hammerfall series soundcard, basically I wanted to get a rnp as I wanted 2 decent pre's that I could use for vox and guits, I use digimax for all drums but what I have read about the Rnp it is supposed to very good ( for the price).
Are you suggesting that I make a lead xlr one end and (guit jack) the other end and go xlr from Rnp to guit jack into digimax? Would that get the purest sound from the Rnp?

Thanks again! Do you think I would notice a difference with the Rnp?

You would use an XLR to TRS (tip ring sleeve) cable. (The TRS is 1/4 inch like a guitar cable, but a guitar cable is only two conductor (TS).) The Digimax has combo connectors on the back that send an XLR connection through the preamp and (I assume) bypass the preamp for TRS connections. (At least they expect the TRS to be (higher voltage) line level.)

How much you notice the difference in quality between the RNP and the preamps you own depends on your ears and your imagination. How much difference do you notice between the Digi and the Behringer?

hueseph Wed, 03/25/2009 - 14:36

*shifty eyes* ...eh....that was a joke right? Didn't we already clarify that xlr to xlr goes to preamp on the Digimax? I guess maybe not. The XLR inputs generally are mic connectors and NOT line. I don't know why. That's just the way it is.

Sorry for being a skeptic. I don't want to see another Walterz on the forum.

damo Thu, 03/26/2009 - 05:42

Yeah that is want I meant, I basically would like to know if the signal would be noticeably better and cleaner by running xlr from the Rnp pre into the digimax or behringer ada8000 by line input? Instead of xlr to xlr, and also if you do run xlr to line input does it make a noticeable difference having a Trs or a Ts tip?

Thanks Again

Boswell Fri, 03/27/2009 - 05:51

damo wrote: Yeah that is want I meant, I basically would like to know if the signal would be noticeably better and cleaner by running xlr from the Rnp pre into the digimax or behringer ada8000 by line input? Instead of xlr to xlr, and also if you do run xlr to line input does it make a noticeable difference having a Trs or a Ts tip?

If you want best quality, by-pass the DigiMax LT pre-amps by taking unbalanced outputs from the RNP into the DigiMax LT insert returns. You may need to wire cables specially for this connection. If you want to go this route, we can point you in the right direction for making (or buying) the cables.

Leave the ADA8000 out of this loop. Like the DigiMax LT, its line inputs are simply attenuated and put through the pre-amps, but it has no insert jacks.

Boswell Mon, 03/30/2009 - 11:14

The RNP has an electronically balanced output that self-adjusts when driving an unbalanced load. Its outputs are on 1/4" jack sockets.

What I would do is buy a TS jack-jack cable ("guitar lead") that is at least twice as long as the distance you need from the rear of the RNP to the insert jacks on your interface. Also buy a pair of TRS jack plugs. Cut the TS jack cable in half and wire a TRS jack plug to each of the cut ends, connecting the inner conductor of the cable to the ring contact on the TRS jack plug. Wire the cable screen to the jack sleeve as normal. Leave the tip connection on the jack plug open circuit.

Plug the TS end of each cable into the RNP outputs and the TRS end into the insert jacks on your interface. Job done.

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