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My question involves metering on multiple digital sources on my Central Station.

I'm running out of my DAW (Aardvard Q10) via SPDIF into the SPDIF in on my Central Station. I'm running out of my CD player (Sony CDP-CE375) via Toslink into the Toslink in on my Central Station. The Central Station has a feature that lets you AB between two digital sources to utilize the same DA converter for mix comparison. I have calibrated the Central Station meters so that they peak at the same time as my DAW. However, when I switch to CD, the signal is so hot that it peaks immediately, rendering my meters useless. Does anyone have any ideas on how to remedy this. The CD player has a gain control, but it doesn't affect the digital out. I know I can run RCA from the CD player to the Central Station, but I had hoped to keep it digital. Thanks in advance.

Wes Bolton

Comments

KurtFoster Tue, 02/15/2005 - 15:24

PreSonus has this weird philosophy of running thier mic pres outputs at a nominal 0dB level instead of the accepted -10dB for semi pro or +4db for pro levels ..

I asked them about this once and the answer I got was "we think it's right" ...

I don't get it.

Perhaps this is a problem with the "Central Station" too?

anonymous Wed, 02/16/2005 - 09:24

Wes and Kurt,

I have a similar situation. In my studio I use two Furman SRM-80 units. One in the control room, the other in the studio.
The main need for them, [especially in the CR] is to use the three speaker outs, mains and 2 sets of nearfields. The secondary need is for the input switching. My source is the Amek console, A - is the half track, B and C - the rarely used cassette decks and D - the CD player, [to play only]. My DAT and ProTools connect directly to the master strip of the Amek. EVERYTHING calibrated, both record and playback, is perfect, EXCEPT the CD player. I have to use the variable line [analog] out of the player turned DOWN to match everything else.

And YES, it drives me nuts.

Tom Durso
First Bass Audio

anonymous Fri, 02/18/2005 - 10:35

PreSonus has this weird philosophy of running thier mic pres outputs at a nominal 0dB level instead of the accepted -10dB for semi pro or +4db for pro levels ..

Good call, Kurt. Here is the response I received from Presonus Tech Support:

"Unfortunately I do not know a solution to that. The meters cannot be calibrated to individual inputs, only overall. There may very well be a difference between analog and SPDIF inputs due to the analog inputs being set to 0db and not +4, causing the meter to jump 4db higher on average compared to the SPDIF inputs. Many devices have +4 outputs (0db on meter = 4db on output) and corresponding input devices have +4db inputs (unit has to receive +4 in order to read 0); but as all of our analog devices have true 0db inputs and outputs (0=0 always), you will often find some incongruency with analog equipment running at +4 and -10."

I'm still trying to figure out if I have any other options so I can AB digitally. Don't get me wrong I love the central station. I just wish this feature was designed a little differently.

Wes Bolton

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