Topic: Is there Brickwalling in hard disc recorders?

[gratefulphish]

I know with my DA-P1, you could get brickwall distortion if you turned the levels below about 3.25, with the level peaks at 0 db.  Does the same problem exist in some/all hard disc recorders?  If so, where is that level, and what can be done to avoid it (other than mic line attenuators)?  Specifically looking for info relating to R-4s or R-4 Pros.  Thanks.

[gratefulphish]

I am having a mod done to the deck to replace the stock pre's, and was hoping (maybe) to avoid the need for a V3 or other preamp A/D converter.  So if I was running into the decks pre's, does it still have the brickwalling issue?

[Shawn]

the R4 should be able to handle normal concert volumes without brickwalling as long as you run line-in. Line-in on the r4 is basically just a pad so you can still use it's phantom to power your mics. You have no technical need for an external pre/ad (though you may prefer the sound a specific pre and wish to use it instead of the R4 pre).

who is modding your unit? It's my understanding that some of the common mods lower the gain and allow you to run mic-in.

[gratefulphish]

Busman mod.  I have not received the unit yet, but I did not know that you could run the mics to line in, and still give them phantom power. The R-4 Pro has input sensitivity levels, that according to them, act as a 20 db pad in their lowest setting.  How much effective padding would there be going line in?

[Shawn]

Busman mod.  I have not received the unit yet, but I did not know that you could run the mics to line in, and still give them phantom power. The R-4 Pro has input sensitivity levels, that according to them, act as a 20 db pad in their lowest setting.  How much effective padding would there be going line in?

I believe that the line-in is the same thing as the sensitivity settings they are talking about.