PreSonus Forums

I prolly should RTFM , but I figured I'd just ask and someone would know.

When I record a linked stereo AUX in capture using RM32, where does the send to capture come from?

I believe it is post FAT channel and output Fader, but pre GEQ (if you have one on that AUX). I was using AUX 13+14 which doesn't have a GEQ available. Does it actually send before the fader? (Meaning the fader has no bearing on the recording level?)

On Monday I did a live radio show, I use the AUX mix for a separate recording mix as opposed to the live mix. The capture recording is perfectly clean, but the sends from my mixer out the xlr outs were reported to me as distorting from the video guys. I thought they would be the same, but now I'm trying to figure out what may have gone wrong.

At first I thought they were over driving their inputs (I still think that), but could I be over driving my DA converters on the outputs? (Not likely but I suppose it's possible) And still come out with a clean recording? I do believe I had the output fader of the AUX set a little above 0, maybe +4, and I had some gain added on the compressor, but I also had the limiter on.

Does the FAT channel Limiter come after the fader?

Ok, seems I have more than one question here. LOL

I am trying to get a decently leveled recording out of it without the need for much post production.
But I don't want to distort the outputs.

FYI, on the capture recording, in S1, I added +7db before a limiter to get it where I like it for radio/CD. So it's not like it was a really hot recording.



Above is a song of it for your listening pleasure, again all I did was add 7db to it.

I guess the big question is, could I have distorted my outputs while maintaining a good capture recording?

Thanks!

Steve

The Limiter can easily add distortion in this kind of configuration. And I would also say that the general level was too high. In a situation like this you need to be able to check/hear the signal you're handing out. It makes sense to consciously stay in the green range of the level meter, at least as a start. If the signal is too low, the person doing the recording will demand more...

The flex mix faders control the mixes - there is no way to change this and bus processing is always inclucded. The only thing you can change is to set all input signals to Pre 1, Pre 2 or Post. The manual says that the limiter is part of the Fat Channel (after EQ). The fader is the last instance.

StudioLive_AISoftware_ReferenceManual-EN-V6_05042017 knows more:
2.5.2 Auxiliary Digital Sends (StudioLive AI-series)
5.2. Fact Channels Controls
5.2.3 Mix Detail
5.7.2.2 Aux Routing Tab (AI-series)

To answer your "big question": If you are recording your outputs (aux), all processing and distortion will be included, while all single tracks might sound OK.

When I’m talking about capture in this instance I mean the stereo track aux3+4, not the individual raw tracks. Is there a difference between the recording and what is coming out of the xlr output?

If the stereo recording is clean the output from the xlrs would also be clean right?

Or is there a way to screw that up?

Steve

Recording and aux get the same signal. Have a look at the Block Diagram (download on the product page). After the Fat Channel the signal goes to RTA -> GEQ -> Fader. After the fader the signal is split to FireWire and D/A conversion aka XLR output. If there is distortion in the processed signal, you will hear it at the outputs and on the recording.

As a side note: Have a look at the metering of Capture, how fast and precise the metering is! The display follows the music in real time! This looks really great, especially in Big Meter Mode...!

Just what I needed to know! Thanks!

That means that if my recording was clean and no where near 0 DBFS, then the output was clean too. So something after my mixer output caused the distortion that the video guys were hearing. I sent them my recording to replace what they had and they were delighted to hear no distortion.

Steve