Justine.
Joined: 07/03/06
Posts: 34
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Aux returns problems
#941343 - 16/09/11 08:23 PM
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Hi - I recently bought a soundcraft Notepad 124, and am trying to route several guitar
effects through it via the aux send - Im using channel 11/12 as the return (mono) with the
aux control on the return turned right down, aiming to mix the send signal with the
input... My problem is the signal is really distorted - Id like to use the FX out of
the guitar chain to get a cleaner sound, but am getting the opposite! Any clues as to
what Im doing wrong much appreciated! x 
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Jumpeyspyder
Joined: 20/01/06
Posts: 1236
Loc: Yorkshire
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Re: Aux returns problems
[Re: Justine.]
#941348 - 16/09/11 08:55 PM
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Hi Justine.
It sounds like you may be sending too much level to the guitar
effects pedals.
Aux sends are desined for line level signals which are a
little too 'hot' for guitar pedals.
You probably just need to turn down the
aux send level.
Edited by Jumpeyspyder (16/09/11 08:55 PM)
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Justine.
Joined: 07/03/06
Posts: 34
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Re: Aux returns problems
[Re: Justine.]
#941463 - 17/09/11 01:06 PM
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Hi - thanks for your reply. That would be the common sense solution...but Im still getting
a distorted sound from the pedals..worse than when they are used in line...very
frustrating!
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Maxine
Joined: 22/07/09
Posts: 36
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Re: Aux returns problems
[Re: Justine.]
#941664 - 18/09/11 11:12 AM
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...I seem to have reached a good level compromise..thanks for the help!
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ef37a
Joined: 29/05/06
Posts: 5620
Loc: northampton uk
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Re: Aux returns problems
[Re: Maxine]
#941692 - 18/09/11 01:27 PM
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You might find it useful to make up some attenuators.
Just solder two jack sockets
pin for pin earths and use a 15k and a 4k7 in series. The junction (across 4k7) gives you
12dB loss near as, and that sorts +4dBu to neg 10.
Dave.
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Maxine
Joined: 22/07/09
Posts: 36
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Re: Aux returns problems
[Re: ef37a]
#941716 - 18/09/11 04:44 PM
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..now im totally lost but sounds great! - are you saying the signal is too hot going into
the pedals?
Im still getting distortion but its about the same as when the pedals are
in line..
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ef37a
Joined: 29/05/06
Posts: 5620
Loc: northampton uk
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Re: Aux returns problems
[Re: Maxine]
#941746 - 18/09/11 08:24 PM
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Quote Maxine:
..now im totally
lost but sounds great! - are you saying the signal is too hot going into the pedals?
Im still getting distortion but its about the same as when the pedals are in line..
Well I am sorry Maxine! The
problem is, so long as the project recordist is content with Mic>AI>PC>Monitors and maybe
a guitar, micc'ed up or DI'ed thru the AI, he/she can get along perfectly well with stock
kit and cable but as soon as you start to introduce equipment that was not originally
designed to interface together in terms of level (sometimes impedance but almost always
boils down to level)you have a problem.
At this point you need to learn to
solder!You really do not need any electronics knowledge at all, just the abilty to follow
simple diagrams to make all sorts of useful boxes and special leads.
If you want to
PM me I can send you a drawing of that jack attenuator.
Dave.
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Hugh Robjohns
SOS Technical Editor
Joined: 25/07/03
Posts: 18348
Loc: Worcestershire
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Re: Aux returns problems
[Re: Maxine]
#941819 - 19/09/11 10:36 AM
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Quote Maxine:
...are you saying
the signal is too hot going into the pedals?
Possibly. Pedals are designed to take the output from an
electric guitar which will typically be around about -20dBu or less. The nominal line
level output from a mixer aux send will be about +4dBu, and thus is likely to overload the
pedal input stage.
Turning down the Aux send master level control will
obviously reduce the level significantly and that should resolve the overload problem,
although it can be difficult to adjust the control accurately at such low settings, and
the mixer's noise floor may become more apparent.
Dave's suggestion of
building an in-line attenuator is a good one, since it reduces the signal level to the
pedal while allowing the aux master control to operate in its normal range, and avoids
reducing the mixer's signal-noise ratio. But it's not essential, just a handy 'nice to
have'
Hugh
--------------------
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound
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