Re: Audio quality issues :(

[Nick <ParadoxQuine@gmail.com>]

Thanks for all the help RP!

Yes, I am using the (non-main) line out and returning on the one line in pair. I keep the kp3 input vol such that it stays at "green" peak (which it says is fine and shouldn't have distortion).  I use the software input boost on the firebox to +12 dB the kp3 input because it's pretty weak.

When testing with headphones, it seemed to me that the kp3>comp connection was fine, as I got the same mediocre audio from the kp3 headphones port as back through the comp.

I currently don't have a hardware mixer, but can look into getting one in the future if necessary.

I'm not sure how to set the line out level, only the line in. Should I just reduce the vol output from ableton? (it's always below the distortion threshold now).

Afaik everything's getting full signal, but I dont know that much so perhaps I'm wrong.

I have the routing configured so one track goes out to the kp (output 3/4) and a separate one gets the returned signal (in 3/4).

As far as cables, I just swapped my old ones for belkin pureAV RCA audio cables since I heard those are high quality. I'm using a generic silver-plated RCA -> 1/4th" adapter from radioshack to connect them to the firebox.

For my testing I have just been playing a song through live and comparing, without having any effects activated.

Also, at one point I sent a signal to the kp3 and had the input volume too high and the peak light went bright red before I caught it 15 secs later. Don't know if that could have damaged the inputs or if there's a way to check.

If any of that looks potentially troublesome, feel free to let me know. 

Again, thanks a lot for all your help!

-Nick

On Sat, Apr 11, 2009 at 9:21 AM, RP Collier <skeptikalist@gmail.com> wrote:

On Apr 10, 2009, at 10:19 PM, Nick wrote:

if so, how would i go about doing that?

Some mixers and some amps have fx loop i/o and there are stand alone passive line level shifters.
So it would be comp>mixer>kp3>mixer>comp

But you may not need that.

Are you using the line out and then returning on line in?
If the line out is  -10db then no need for a level shifter.
What cables are you using? Might be worth trying 1/8 to 1/8 mono cables with 1/4 and rca adapters

Sorry I am not familiar with firebox.
You may need to check the mixing software to see if routing is ok and no pads active so the line i/o are getting full signal.
And there may be a way to tweak the routing in LIVE - are you putting the KP return on its own track?

Not clear what instruments you are trying to effect, but as you know, some of the kp3 patches have tone, frequency or cutoff as part of the x/y so that can attenuate the signal, you may need to adjust the fx depth or wet/dry mix and some patches may not be useful or only partially useful for what you are trying to do.

You might try using the Main out rather than the line out in which case you will need a level shifter, then return the signal on line in.
Or you can try:   line out to kp > kp headphone out to > line in or perhaps even route back into a front panel jack.

There are a lot of variables to play with.


BobC