mic level, line level, instrument level ?

[egold]

Hi everyone,

I bought a firestudio project so my son can record his drums into grageband and perhaps record a band at some point in time. I picked up a couple cd's of songs with the drum track removed so he can practice and also learn about garageband and mixing. My intentions are to plug the cd player into the presonus so he could record the song with his drums if this all makes sense lol.

I'm confused about the difference between mic level line level and instrument level for the inputs. The manual says input 1 and 2 are mic or instrument and the rest are mic and or line level.

Whats is the difference between the 3 and where would his cd player plug into? Also does it make a difference if the cd player is a walkman type with a amp in it or a home cd player that plugs into a reciever? From the diagram I see the drum mics which I have 3 plug into 3-8 I assume thats because there mic inputs and need a preamp to work? One more thing He plays the electric guitar I see that plugs into number 1 I'm not sure why though lol..

Any help would be greatly appreciated


Thanks

[hummel]

1) CD players typically produce 'line level' signals. These should connect to the line-in on the Firestudio. That way, you by-pass the pre-amp (which isn't needed).

2) Guitars require a different impedance on input. That is provided by the 'instrument' setting which is available only on input 1 and 2.

3) Mics produce a much lower signal strength than CD players, etc. These need to be input into the pre-amp of the Firestudio. Line level signals have already been amplified by some other unit. You don't want them to got through the Firestudio pre-amps too or you will get clipping.

[egold]

Thanks for the reply,

Im still not 100% sure but the explanation did help thank you... As far as the cd player goes... if its a home stereo cd player which would normally run into a reciever and use a wire that merges the right and left outputs into a 1/4" and then use that into the line in inputs 3-8 on the firestudio project or would that go into inputs 1 or 2 because there is no amp vs a portable cd player which des have an amp that should go into inputs 3-8?

Im confused just re reading this lol

thanks

[hummel]

Each input line on the Firestudio is a mono signal. Your CD output is stereo so you would need to send separate left and right signals into two inputs on the Firestudio. These would go into one of the line inputs (3 through 8). IF the jacks on the CD player are 1/8", you would need to converters (1/8" to 1/4"). There is no point in merging the two lines into one 1/4" jack.

CD players start with digital signals (from the CD) and then have to convert it to analog audio. If your CD player has a digital out option, you could connect that directly to the S/PDIF input on the Firestudio and avoid the line-in issue completely.

Both home stereos and a portable CD player require amplification of their signal before playing through speakers (most portable CD speakers are powered). But, they still both put out a line-in signal level. So, it shouldn't matter which CD source you use.

[Rod J.]

Thanks for the reply,

Im still not 100% sure but the explanation did help thank you... As far as the cd player goes... if its a home stereo cd player which would normally run into a reciever and use a wire that merges the right and left outputs into a 1/4" and then use that into the line in inputs 3-8 on the firestudio project or would that go into inputs 1 or 2 because there is no amp vs a portable cd player which des have an amp that should go into inputs 3-8?

Im confused just re reading this lol

thanks

Why not just import the CD into your Windows Media Player (if you are using a PC) and go from there? You can then Re-import the songs one-by-one into your DAW Sequencer(Cubase or Whatever),Hook-up your Drum Mikes to the Firestudio, Setup your Inputs/Outputs and Record.
You'll also need Headphones to Monitor when overdubbing the Drumkit.
No sense in making things complicated when it's totally unnecessary.
Rod J.

[samuel1]

Inputs one and two, are set to accept signal from microphones, and instruments (instruments are things like direct input from an electric guitar or bass).

The rest of them, are set to accept signal from microphones, and signal from LINE sources. LINE sources usuaully require zero preamplification, and include things such as CD players, mixer outs, DI outputs from boxes or amp backs, any external preamp, and many other things.

If you look around the knobs themselves, you can actually see two different scales around inside and outside of the notched circle. Each of the two is labeled for the type of input you have plugged in (if you have a mic plugged into input 1, look at the mic ring and find the number 10 if you are looking for 10 DB of gain).

Just another way of looking at it...

[egold]

Thanks for all the replys, Im sure by now you know were just getting involved with this,,, I wasn't sure if importing the songs into i tunes ( were using a mac) and then bring the song into garageband would cause a sync. issue once the drum tracks were setup and he started recording. I'll try that also, looks like there are many ways to accomplish what we want to do, the easier is always the better when your just starting out.

Do you guys know of any tutorials that are around on the use of the unit and using the built in mixer?

Thanks
Evan