"Unlearning" VAC (reconfiguring audio set-up)

JJ4SDR
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"Unlearning" VAC (reconfiguring audio set-up)

Postby JJ4SDR » Sat Jan 14, 2023 7:23 pm

Decided to try going straight into the LINE IN (L) on back on my ANAN 7000 DLE MKII instead using VAC1 (and VST plug-ins). Condenser mic goes into a very good quality (absolutely "flat", adding no color whatsoever) on an XLR line and then OUT from there (XLR line) into a Jensen Transformers PI-XR Audio Isolator, and then from PI-XR OUT into LINE IN (L) using RCA cable.

I keyed the MIC via a cable into the MIC on the front of the ANAN (hand-switch).

Is there a good place to start to reconfigure my audio chain from VAC1 (and VST plug-ins) to going straight into LINE IN?

Juha
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w-u-2-o
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Re: "Unlearning" VAC (reconfiguring audio set-up)

Postby w-u-2-o » Sat Jan 14, 2023 8:23 pm

Turn off VAC. Go to Setup > Transmit, select Line In as the source. Adjust other parameters as necessary.
JJ4SDR
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Re: "Unlearning" VAC (reconfiguring audio set-up)

Postby JJ4SDR » Sat Jan 14, 2023 10:44 pm

Scott,

That's what I thought it would be, but the audio didn't sound good at all so I will need to be playing with the settings a lot more. I have never used my ANAN this way, always VAC1 to date, getting many unsolicited, glowing reports on the quality of the audio :). I will watch Rob's video on this to get to a good starting point.

Juha
PC: 8 Core i7-10700 CPU @ 2.90GHz, NVMe SK Hynix 512 GB SSD, 32GB RAM
Windows 10 Home, Version 22H2
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K4IBC
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Re: "Unlearning" VAC (reconfiguring audio set-up)

Postby K4IBC » Sat Jan 14, 2023 11:26 pm

What are you using for phantom power for the mic?
JJ4SDR
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Re: "Unlearning" VAC (reconfiguring audio set-up)

Postby JJ4SDR » Sun Jan 15, 2023 2:39 am

Te MIC pre provides the phantom power
PC: 8 Core i7-10700 CPU @ 2.90GHz, NVMe SK Hynix 512 GB SSD, 32GB RAM
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w-u-2-o
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Re: "Unlearning" VAC (reconfiguring audio set-up)

Postby w-u-2-o » Sun Jan 15, 2023 6:53 pm

Juha,

You might take the output of the audio transformer and put that into an audio amp or amplified speaker, just to make sure the mic, preamp and transformer are all working OK.

If that works ok, then in Thetis: select line in, set mic boost off, set mic gain 0dB, and adjust the mic preamp gain so you are getting peaks of -3dB, give or take (but not over 0dB) on the Thetis mic meter.

What mic preamp are you using?

Scott
w3ub
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Re: "Unlearning" VAC (reconfiguring audio set-up)

Postby w3ub » Sun Jan 15, 2023 7:14 pm

Hey Scott,

I too am using non-VAC audio, with all EQ/processing/ect external, and use the 3.5mm mic connection, zero mic gain and no mic application inside Thetis. All is good, including the lowest possible latency.

My question, if you set the drive level externally such that you get -3dB or so on Mic peaks, with all of the other Thetis processing bypassed (EQ/CFC/COMP) I find that you get little or no ALC compression, which I think you need for proper Pure Signal feedback?

Is this right? If so, what is the best block to enable to bump up the level to achieve this, perhaps Post-CFC EQ?

Doug
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w-u-2-o
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Re: "Unlearning" VAC (reconfiguring audio set-up)

Postby w-u-2-o » Sun Jan 15, 2023 7:32 pm

w3ub wrote:My question, if you set the drive level externally such that you get -3dB or so on Mic peaks, with all of the other Thetis processing bypassed (EQ/CFC/COMP) I find that you get little or no ALC compression, which I think you need for proper Pure Signal feedback?

Is this right? If so, what is the best block to enable to bump up the level to achieve this, perhaps Post-CFC EQ?
You sure are creating some thread drift, Doug ;)

My guidance to Juha is based on him using Thetis internal audio processing. If you've got everything in the software turned off (you did turn off the leveler, too, right?), and the Thetis mic gain set to 0dB, then simply increase your input level until you start to see peaks of +2 or +3 on the ALC Group meter. That's all there is to it. If that doesn't work to your satisfaction, then bump the Thetis mic gain instead.
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Re: "Unlearning" VAC (reconfiguring audio set-up)

Postby w3ub » Sun Jan 15, 2023 7:35 pm

Sounds good, a little drift is good ... Ha.

Yes, that is what I have been doing, just thought I check from the experts!

Thanks,
Doug
dynamicfusion
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Re: "Unlearning" VAC (reconfiguring audio set-up)

Postby dynamicfusion » Fri Jan 20, 2023 6:12 pm

Obligatory knowledge drop:

Switch DSP settings from "Low Latency" to "Phase Linear" and I suspect you will appreciate the quality boost.

To the naysayers, I've already examined before and after in Adobe Audition and there most certainly is a quality boost by applying the above.
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Re: "Unlearning" VAC (reconfiguring audio set-up)

Postby w-u-2-o » Fri Jan 20, 2023 7:01 pm

dynamicfusion wrote:Obligatory knowledge drop:

Switch DSP settings from "Low Latency" to "Phase Linear" and I suspect you will appreciate the quality boost.

To the naysayers, I've already examined before and after in Adobe Audition and there most certainly is a quality boost by applying the above.

That's all well and good, but it won't solve the issues being discussed in this topic.

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