Taperssection.com

Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: Jeremy Lykins on April 21, 2016, 07:23:04 PM

Title: Can preamps go bad?
Post by: Jeremy Lykins on April 21, 2016, 07:23:04 PM

Can preamps slowly go bad over time but still work?  I've had a Church Audio CA-9000 since 2008 and for the past year or two it seems like the right channel is less powerful than the right.  I've only got one preamp right now, but I've used two different mics, different connecting cables between the preamp and recorder, and two different recorders (this problem is why I bought the second recorder) so I've narrowed the problem to the preamp.  I've tried cleaning the connectors with rubbing alcohol and that seemed to help a little bit, but not enough, so I ordered a new preamp.  But can my old preamp be repaired or refurbished?

Title: Re: Can preamps go bad?
Post by: capnhook on April 22, 2016, 10:02:09 PM

It's gain has drifted a bit, assuming it was OK when you started using it, of course.


Nothing you can't fix easily.  :hmmm:


You watched the levels on your left channel for overs when you recorded.  That was good.

Load into Audacity, "Split Stereo Track" into left and right channels.

Amp up the right channel.  I like using the "Envelope Tool" for this, instead of having to zero in on a guess for the amount of gain to add.

When you are satisfied, then "Make Stereo Track", and of course, "Save As.."

Title: Re: Can preamps go bad?
Post by: capnhook on April 22, 2016, 10:06:00 PM

Can the preamp be fixed?


Yes.

Title: Re: Can preamps go bad?
Post by: Jeremy Lykins on April 29, 2016, 08:49:22 PM

Quote from: capnhook on April 22, 2016, 10:02:09 PM

Load into Audacity, "Split Stereo Track" into left and right channels.

Amp up the right channel.  I like using the "Envelope Tool" for this, instead of having to zero in on a guess for the amount of gain to add.

When you are satisfied, then "Make Stereo Track", and of course, "Save As.."

Thanks!  I really do need to learn to use Audacity better, so this tip will help me fix some shows I wasn't happy with.  Luckily it's not too bad, but once I get my new preamp I think that I'll send this one to Chris Church for a checkup and repair.

Title: Re: Can preamps go bad?
Post by: F.O.Bean on April 30, 2016, 05:30:08 AM

Yeah, in WaveLab, I highlight each channel separately, and add gain until both the Left/Right tracks look pretty close 8) Then just save as a stereo track! And if you're taping in 24-Bit, you should be able to adjust left/right levels without any worry of bringing up the noise-floor, if one channel is a good bit off from the other!

That should do the job just fine until you get it fixed, unless they're WAY off!