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Hi this is my first post and I want to thank you guys in advance for any feedback. I'm certain I'll learn a lot.

I do voice-overs and this is my mic chain. Miktek c7e/Vintech x73i/Purple Audio mc77.

Of course the Vintech does not have nput/output meters. I was told by the manufacturer in order to set up the x73i properly, crank the output volume and to adjust the input level selector. The issue I have is that the output level that I arrive at once this is done, is very low going into the mc77. Does this matter?

Hopefully this won't confuse you. The input level on the mc77 pegs only 20% of it's vu range. Am I wrong in thinking that the input level should be strong and tap at least tap 50% on the mc77's vu meter? Or does this not make as much of a difference as I expect?

Comments

Davedog Sun, 08/16/2015 - 19:13

This is the basics for 'gain-staging'. You will have to continue searching this combo for that happy medium that allows you as much clear and clean gain and hits your recording device with a nice level. You should be able to do whatever sounds great to you with these pieces as there isn't a dog in the bunch!

Mevo Tue, 08/18/2015 - 16:46

Thanks!! I appreciate the feedback. Just to be clear the level I was most concerned with is the input to the purple audio mc77, which would be the output of the x73i. Not so much the daw or recording device. I contacted the guys at purple audio and described the signal level I have going into the unit and they suggest it's not an issue. It's hard to ignore the vu meter though :)

Thanks again.

DonnyThompson Wed, 08/19/2015 - 03:38

Meters are great for giving you an indication of what's happening, but in the end, as Dave said, the important thing is how it sounds. People listening to your music certainly won't care about where your VU's were sitting. ;)

You've got a very nice signal path with the gear you've mentioned. So... if you've got an even and stable gain chain with those mods, and what you are recording sounds good to you, then isn't that really all that matters?