SOUND ON SOUND

[curlybob43]

I just posted a similar thread before I saw this, with level drop going from my interface to my 1176-KT. Even though it states in the manual it accepts balanced/unbalanced connections, I never knew an unbalanced cable can cause a signal drop of 6db - next thing to try!

All of my connections are TRS so they should all be balanced.

I was talking about mine, but still concerning you’re having the same issue nevertheless.

I'm sorry, I didn't understand. Have you tried balanced lines?

Not yet, although I'm not sure that'll be the one considering the issues you are having also. Give it a go anyway

[Hugh Robjohns]

I never knew an unbalanced cable can cause a signal drop of 6db - next thing to try!

It depends on the precise nature of the balanced input or output, and not all configurations will suffer a 6dB loss. However, for interfaces that expect to work with non-floating symmetrical signals, connections to or from an unbalanced destination /source result in half the signal voltage being lost, and thus a 6dB reduction in the sent /received signal level.

[curlybob43]

I just posted a similar thread before I saw this, with level drop going from my interface to my 1176-KT. Even though it states in the manual it accepts balanced/unbalanced connections, I never knew an unbalanced cable can cause a signal drop of 6db - next thing to try!

All of my connections are TRS so they should all be balanced.

I was talking about mine, but still concerning you’re having the same issue nevertheless.

I'm sorry, I didn't understand. Have you tried balanced lines?

Not yet, although I'm not sure that'll be the one considering the issues you are having also. Give it a go anyway

So I have just had a mess around and it would appear that it was a mixture of things, I think, for me. Firstly, the balanced cable did help somewhat, may of been more interference than anything. Secondly, I was expecting the meter to react as a VST would (dumb, I know, but it's so easy to get complacent with technology), it is definitely reducing more gain than the meter will show on fast-hitting transients. I kind of like this, going to make me LISTEN more, instead of look as I'm used to with plugins, someone told me that's a good thing once ;). Thirdly, I find that in Ableton Live, routing manually to outputs with sends, rather than using Live's External Audio Device did give me better results, I think this is user preference as I found it easier to match level pre/post effect. I'd probably use it more for reverbs, etc. where gain adjustments are more forgiving.

[curlybob43]

I never knew an unbalanced cable can cause a signal drop of 6db - next thing to try!

It depends on the precise nature of the balanced input or output, and not all configurations will suffer a 6dB loss. However, for interfaces that expect to work with non-floating symmetrical signals, connections to or from an unbalanced destination /source result in half the signal voltage being lost, and thus a 6dB reduction in the sent /received signal level.

Every day is a school day - I suppose today's lesson is that the not so sexy 'What are Decibels' & 'Cable & Signal Types' chapters of our music production books shouldn't be so dusty :D . Thanks for your help as always - I love this site!

[The Elf]

...or as I always say: If you can use a balanced connection ALWAYS use a balanced connection.

Not as technically informative, but a good one to keep in mind! :lol:

[lordmike]

I just ordered some matched EHX tubes, I'll put the Genelx in my Fender.

Putting the Genelex tubes in one of the EQs leveled out their output so I imagine that putting matched sets in will make them behave nearly identically.

[Hugh Robjohns]

I would hope so. Nice to know for sure, though.

[lordmike]

Ok, I installed a matched set of EHX tubes and, as expected, the two EQs behave about the same now. Not that this is shocking to anyone, but I would really recommend swapping out the tubes in the KT stuff as soon as you get any of their gear. The tubes I pulled out we not very good looking. The plates on the inside were crooked like somebody couldn't get the guts to fit in the tube so they just mashed them in, and the glass was distorted and bulging. These are really lovely sounding units so it would be shame to judge them on the merits of the trash tubes they come supplied with. I have a pair of KT-2A's coming in June/July and I already have replacement tubes and upgraded optocells on order. If anyone would like to hear those units, please let me know.

[curlybob43]

Ok, I installed a matched set of EHX tubes and, as expected, the two EQs behave about the same now. Not that this is shocking to anyone, but I would really recommend swapping out the tubes in the KT stuff as soon as you get any of their gear. The tubes I pulled out we not very good looking. The plates on the inside were crooked like somebody couldn't get the guts to fit in the tube so they just mashed them in, and the glass was distorted and bulging. These are really lovely sounding units so it would be shame to judge them on the merits of the trash tubes they come supplied with. I have a pair of KT-2A's coming in June/July and I already have replacement tubes and upgraded optocells on order. If anyone would like to hear those units, please let me know.

Yeah not so surprised to hear that but great you’re having better results. I’d love to change the tubes in my KT-2a but wouldn’t know where to start. Any guidance on changing tubes in a compressor? Are they pretty much plug and play like smaller guitar amps?

[lordmike]

From my experience with the tube in the EQP it is plug and play, just pop the old ones out and off you go. I know the KT-2A has a power tube in it and those usually have to be biased in guitar amps, but I have no idea if that is even an option in that compressor. I don't imagine that it would make that big of a difference anyway as long as all of the tubes are balanced.

[curlybob43]

From my experience with the tube in the EQP it is plug and play, just pop the old ones out and off you go. I know the KT-2A has a power tube in it and those usually have to be biased in guitar amps, but I have no idea if that is even an option in that compressor. I don't imagine that it would make that big of a difference anyway as long as all of the tubes are balanced.

In my Vox AC4C1-12 there is only 2 x 12ax7 and the power El84 - which took me some research to figure out does not need biasing, there's no information in the manual about it - thanks VOX!

In terms of the KT-2A, I only took it apart once when I bought it, purely to check build quality more than anything. From the digging I have done, I think the tubes in the audio path are 1 x 12AX7 & 1 x 12BH7A. I'm not schooled in this sort of thing, but I think these tubes can be swapped without the need for biasing (?), would be good to get some better-informed opinions.

[Zanza]

Voxengo's MSED MS converter is a free plugin and almost completely idiot-proof.

So route your audio to a stereo bus and insert the MS plugin to convert to the Mid-Sides format, then send to your physical IO and into the EQs.

Then take the returns from the EQs, route to a stereo channel, insert the MS plugin again, and convert back to left-right stereo. Then route the output of that channel on to your mix or master bus as usual.

Elements in the centre of the original stereo image will be affected by the Mid channel EQ, those near the edges by the Side channell EQ, and stuff in between by both...

Hi bro, can you please explain it sep by step on Pro Tools? I can't do it...
Thanks

[dickiefunk]

Ok, I installed a matched set of EHX tubes and, as expected, the two EQs behave about the same now. Not that this is shocking to anyone, but I would really recommend swapping out the tubes in the KT stuff as soon as you get any of their gear. The tubes I pulled out we not very good looking. The plates on the inside were crooked like somebody couldn't get the guts to fit in the tube so they just mashed them in, and the glass was distorted and bulging. These are really lovely sounding units so it would be shame to judge them on the merits of the trash tubes they come supplied with. I have a pair of KT-2A's coming in June/July and I already have replacement tubes and upgraded optocells on order. If anyone would like to hear those units, please let me know.

Thanks for sharing your experience. This is good to know :thumbup:

I have single EQP-KT at the moment along with the KT-2a and 76-KT. I'm really impressed with how well these unit's perform at their price!

[Aled Hughes]

Just taken delivery of a pair of these at the studio today. Testing now, and both show around 2dB loss of gain from input to output. They are both quite well matched, build quality is nice and they sound good from the little I've played with them.