Samson SM10 Line Mixer Help

[saxxamafone]

I'm running out of my Torpedo Live into Ch3 of the SM10.

Volume on Ch3 is set to noon which is supposed to be unity gain.
I have the button on Ch3 set to +4db (not -10)

I find I need to then run the SM10 main output on full in order to match the volume of running my Torpedo Live direct to my DAW.
However the SM10 manual says noon on the main output should also be unity gain.

Is it normal to have to run the main out on full with a SM10 like this?

I get a massive volume drop if I don't.

I'm using TRS balanced cables so I didn't expect this volume drop to happen.

cheers

 

[Dave L]

Definitely sounds like you´re getting too little juice from channel 3. Have you tried the -10 mode or tried turning up the channel volume? Just a little gain earlier in the chain can go a long way towards turning down the master outputs, especially if your output setting on the Torpedo is on the low side to begin with and gets dampened by the +4 mode.

 

[saxxamafone]

Definitely sounds like you´re getting too little juice from channel 3. Have you tried the -10 mode or tried turning up the channel volume? Just a little gain earlier in the chain can go a long way towards turning down the master outputs, especially if your output setting on the Torpedo is on the low side to begin with and gets dampened by the +4 mode.

Thanks Dave I'll give those a go.
I didn't bump up the volume on Ch3 only because the manual said said unity gain is at noon - so I assumed I wouldn't have to.

I thought going into -10 mode would make it even quieter but i'll still give this a go regardless.

My torpedo is set to -18db and it goes into my DAW at that level.

When I run through the SM10 with all the settings at 'unity gain', I'm coming into the DAW around -30db or so

Thanks for your help

 

[Dave L]

-10 might make the input a lot more sensitive, I have a hunch you might have that backwards. I´m not familiar with the Torpedo, but if you have a small signal coming out of it it might actually be better matched to the -10 setting. If you turn up the output of the Torpedo the +4 could be better, it´s a pretty crude system of clamping the signal and the dB readings are very relative. But once you have it matched up roughly I think unity gain will be a lot more unity =)

 

[saxxamafone]

-10 might make the input a lot more sensitive, I have a hunch you might have that backwards.

This worked!
You legend.

I don't know why but -10 produces a stronger signal than +4.

Wonder if a pad or something is applied at the +4 setting.

Whatever it is, that solved my problem

 

[Dave L]

Great! The terminology basically boils down to that +4 is a sort of shorthand for "line level" and -10 for "instrument level" these days, even though the actual specs might vary wildly. Instrument level requires a more sensitive input to provide the same level to the actual circuit as hotter line signals, and that´s what you saw there now.