Re: Repeater gain staging tips (Was: RE: evangelize EDP please)

["Lance Chance" <lrc8918@louisiana.edu>]

i am using both a tube pre and a 160a compressor before it, but i am also
using a couple of other things (particularly, a filter factory)  between 
the
two.  i like a nice strong pump into my filter factory, but i find that 
post
compression steps on really dynamic filter work.   this is all for vocals
anyway.    i guess that i'll have to try and start from scratch with my
guitar input, again.   also, from what i've been reading, some repeaters 
are
noisier than others and maybe i got one that is a little more noisy.   it 
is
an absolutely wonder piece of equipment and completely unique in it's
capabilities, in a standalone unit at any rate.    i will simply have to
continue honing my sound for it.

thanks for all of the responses, (this list rocks)
lance


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Barrs" <mbarrs@nightviewer.com>
To: <Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 1:22 PM
Subject: Repeater gain staging tips (Was: RE: evangelize EDP please)


> > From: Greg House [mailto:ghunicycle@yahoo.com]
> >
> > --- Lance Chance <lrc8918@louisiana.edu> wrote:
> > > man, you are the second guy to mention my gain stages.   i
> > guess i'll have
> > > to go home and tweek that stuff some more to see if i'm missing
> > something.
> > > say, are you fellows using a compressor on the input of the
> > thing?   maybe
> > > that's my problem.
> >
> > I don't, but I do use a preamp (line level output) before it gets to 
>the
> > Repeater. Either a DG Stomp, or an old Roland GP16. The Repeater
> > then feeds
> > either a professional mix console or a power amp directly.
> >
> > Greg
>
> A few of the Roland VG-88 patches I use have a little compression added 
>as
> an effect in the patch, and the distorted guitar patches have a simulated
> "tube overdrive compression." But I also use the Repeater with my 
>acoustic
> guitar pickup output with no compression, and that's a very dynamic
signal.
> I just try to make sure that my levels are set barely under the clipping
> point. That's critical for pushing down the noise floor (especially in a
> 16-bit system like this). Get those input levels hot!
>
> If you can't get a hot enough input level without lighting up the clip
> LED's, then you could try throwing a limiter ahead of the Repeater's
inputs.
> That will tame the peaks and let you run a hotter input. Even a good
limiter
> will mess with your attack transients though, so I'd only use this idea 
>as
a
> last resort.
>
> I think it's also a good idea to avoid using the instrument input on the
> front panel. I have a feeling the preamp on that circuit isn't super-high
> quality. Like Greg, I have a preamp (Roland VG-88) ahead of the Repeater,
> and I use the stereo line inputs on the back of the Repeater.
>
> One final tip -- I know this sounds dumb, but make sure the Line/Phono
> button on the back panel is in the out position, if you're using those
line
> inputs. It's easy to accidentally press that button when you're groping
> around inside a rack case making cable connections.
>
> --
> Mike Barrs
>