why am i getting clipping??

[creekfreak]

Some things you don't mention:

1) how loud was the venue (acoustic show, rock show)?
2) Any pads on the mics themselves?

One thing I have learned is just because the preamp has headroom doesn't mean you can't overdrive the mics depending on the sensitivity of the microphones.

I tend to run my SR-77 mics with the -20dB pad on the preamp, plus an additional -10 dB using the AT8404 attenuators. The QTC-1 mics which are way more sensitive I run with -20 dB pads on the preamp and -20 on the AT8404 attenuators. Using this much attenuation prior to the preamp stage, I have never had an issue with overdriving any stage of the preamp or A/D. Which is another thing. You never really say what it is you are hearing. Is it distortion, or digital pops from being over 0 dB?

Anyhow, you may want to try to attenuate your signal as well as the cleaning options already offered here.

Wayne

I don't get this either. I see a lot of people running -20 and -30 pads and I don't see why. I run schoeps which are a hot mic and not once have I ever needed a pad running a mini-me, V2, modsm-1 or V3.

[Kevin]

the sound was more of a distortion sound (hissing though) thanks for the help fellas, I cleaned the DAT and ever since my recordings have come out good

[gonads]

if you're using that much attenuation before the preamp I'd consider dithcing the preamp all together. seems silly to pad and then boost...

[wbrisette]

if you're using that much attenuation before the preamp I'd consider dithcing the preamp all together. seems silly to pad and then boost...

Obviously you've never mixed four channels. There isn't an option NOT to run the mics through a pre-amp when using any ENG style mixer.

Wayne

[gonads]

if you're using that much attenuation before the preamp I'd consider dithcing the preamp all together. seems silly to pad and then boost...

Obviously you've never mixed four channels. There isn't an option NOT to run the mics through a pre-amp when using any ENG style mixer.

Wayne

obviously I've never mixed with an ENG... don't be a dick, I've mixed 60+ channels thank you very much.

without knowing that you were using an eng mixer you have to admit that it sounds silly to run -30db worth of attenuation and then a preamp.

[wbrisette]

obviously I've never mixed with an ENG... don't be a dick, I've mixed 60+ channels thank you very much.

Sorry, wasn't trying to be a dick. Simply pointing out that ENG mixers are very different and those folks in the pro video/movie industry who use these know that. And those folks who are drooling over the SD 722, will soon find that out.

Wayne

[gonads]

no harm Wayne, sorry didn't mean to jump on you. what model do you use?

[Kevin]

the sound was more of a distortion sound (hissing though) thanks for the help fellas, I cleaned the DAT and ever since my recordings have come out good

So it was a dirty head huh?
I've seen and heard of weird things happening with dirty dat heads!
Glad it was that simple of a fix for ya!

Preciate it, Ye that had to be the problem unless my connections werent good well all is well so im happy

[hoobash]

Take the old tape that had the issue and check it errors. If you dont have deck that check errors send it to someone. Make a sample tape of after you cleaned the heads to compare it with. If you havent had pro wet cleaning and alignment done on the machine in a while you should prob get it done. Dat machines should get a real cleaning and alignment on a reg basis(year or year 1/2)