Lunatec V3 > Mod-SBM1 Attenuator Question

[F.O.Bean]

So I was talking to toddr about the modsbm1 I am gonna grab, and he said if running BOTH the v3 at full for patchers and the V3>modsbm1 at full for myself, I am gonna OVERLOAD the v3 analog outs bigtime, so my question is, what would be an optimal attenuator to run out of the v3's analog outs

the AT ones are nice and also switchable at 10/20/30 pads, but there is a whirlwind one that is a fixed 30db attenuation and was wondering if you all thought that might be too much attenuation for the modsbm1 end and I am thinking i may not get good enuf levels on the sbm1 end

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=324507&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Thoughts?

I hate to shell out 43 a piece for the AT switchable attenuators when I can get TWO whirlwind fixed 30pads for only 20 each, cheaper than one of the AT ones

someone who knows the v3 better than me, Id love to hear from, particularly toddr

Thanks and happy holidays,
Bean

[Kyle]

Bean,


IMO,
The SBM1 you are getting - it has the coax mod - right? So I am guessing that there is a coax out and the female seven pin that is built in. If you are getting a male 7pin to optical for the jb3, give the patchers the coax out from the sbm1. Don't attenuate your signal for the convienience of the patchers. Not trying to sounds like a dick, but your recording comes first. If they want the V3 adc signal, they can take it and then boost the levels in post.

[F.O.Bean]

Bean,


IMO,
The SBM1 you are getting - it has the coax mod - right? So I am guessing that there is a coax out and the female seven pin that is built in. If you are getting a male 7pin to optical for the jb3, give the patchers the coax out from the sbm1. Don't attenuate your signal for the convienience of the patchers. Not trying to sounds like a dick, but your recording comes first. If they want the V3 adc signal, they can take it and then boost the levels in post.

im not really doing it for patchers, just assuming I havent had a patcher in years

I WOULD however like to have a backup or something, so rather than running the v3 low gain and the sbm1 cranked, I wanna run the v3 levels like normal for backup and have the sbm1 copy for kicks

and when I go 24-bit, I can run the v3 full throttle, and the sbm1 as a 16-bit backup/patcher/etc line

w/out attenuators, that would be useless

[bluegrass_brad]

The higher you run the SBM-1 the better off youll be

[F.O.Bean]

The higher you run the SBM-1 the better off youll be

exactly what ive heard, thats why I wanna know which attenuator would/should work the best

[Brian Skalinder]

Per the V3 manual, at 0 dBFS on the V3 the analog outputs produce a +25 dBu balanced signal.  But if I recall the modSBM-1 takes an unbalanced signal, so by unbalancing it'll drop down to +19 dBu.  However, I don't recall whether the modSBM-1 takes a pro (+4 dBu) or consumer (-7.8 dBu, or -10 dBV) line level.

If the modSBM-1 takes a pro line level (+4 dBu), then you'll need ~15 dBu attenuator (19 dBu - 4 dBu).

If it takes a consumer line level (-7.8 dBu), then you'll need ~27 dBu attenuator (19 dBu - (-7.8 dBu)).

I think.  Hopefully someone who's stronger than me technically can confirm or clarify.

[F.O.Bean]

Per the V3 manual, at 0 dBFS on the V3 the analog outputs produce a +25 dBu balanced signal.  But if I recall the modSBM-1 takes an unbalanced signal, so by unbalancing it'll drop down to +19 dBu.  However, I don't recall whether the modSBM-1 takes a pro (+4 dBu) or consumer (-7.8 dBu, or -10 dBV) line level.

If the modSBM-1 takes a pro line level (+4 dBu), then you'll need ~15 dBu attenuator (19 dBu - 4 dBu).

If it takes a consumer line level (-7.8 dBu), then you'll need ~27 dBu attenuator (19 dBu - (-7.8 dBu)).

I think.  Hopefully someone who's stronger than me technically can confirm or clarify.

thanks brian, I couldnt find my v3 manual right away

I think todd said the sbm1 takes a pro-line at +4dbu, so that would mean a 15 attenuator, well, I have never seen a -15 db attenuator, so either 10 or 20 is gonna have to work, and If i recall, the sbm1 doesnt technically add 'gain' its really just an attenuator itself, ala the v2 trim, so if i get a 20 db pad, i may not have enuf juice, correct, and if i had a 10db attenuator i could run the sbm1 at 5, correct?

Im a bit confused to be honest

[Kyle]

Bean,


IMO,
The SBM1 you are getting - it has the coax mod - right? So I am guessing that there is a coax out and the female seven pin that is built in. If you are getting a male 7pin to optical for the jb3, give the patchers the coax out from the sbm1. Don't attenuate your signal for the convienience of the patchers. Not trying to sounds like a dick, but your recording comes first. If they want the V3 adc signal, they can take it and then boost the levels in post.

im not really doing it for patchers, just assuming I havent had a patcher in years

I WOULD however like to have a backup or something, so rather than running the v3 low gain and the sbm1 cranked, I wanna run the v3 levels like normal for backup and have the sbm1 copy for kicks

and when I go 24-bit, I can run the v3 full throttle, and the sbm1 as a 16-bit backup/patcher/etc line

w/out attenuators, that would be useless

gotcha - wasn't quite sure what you were trying to do

[F.O.Bean]

Bean,


IMO,
The SBM1 you are getting - it has the coax mod - right? So I am guessing that there is a coax out and the female seven pin that is built in. If you are getting a male 7pin to optical for the jb3, give the patchers the coax out from the sbm1. Don't attenuate your signal for the convienience of the patchers. Not trying to sounds like a dick, but your recording comes first. If they want the V3 adc signal, they can take it and then boost the levels in post.

im not really doing it for patchers, just assuming I havent had a patcher in years

I WOULD however like to have a backup or something, so rather than running the v3 low gain and the sbm1 cranked, I wanna run the v3 levels like normal for backup and have the sbm1 copy for kicks

and when I go 24-bit, I can run the v3 full throttle, and the sbm1 as a 16-bit backup/patcher/etc line

w/out attenuators, that would be useless

gotcha - wasn't quite sure what you were trying to do

Kyle-can i borrow the psp-2 sometime possibly? prolly wont be until feb/march

Id love to run psp2>v3 and psp-2>modsbm1

I like to have many options like you

[BC]

did you try adjusting the level on the SBM1 to match the levels from the digi out on the V3? 

[F.O.Bean]

did you try adjusting the level on the SBM1 to match the levels from the digi out on the V3? 

dont have it yet, but talked to toddr in a PM, and he said hes tried many times and the v3 always overloads the modsbm1, so just going by what todd said, whom i trust very much so i'll take his word for it

[Kyle]

Bean,


IMO,
The SBM1 you are getting - it has the coax mod - right? So I am guessing that there is a coax out and the female seven pin that is built in. If you are getting a male 7pin to optical for the jb3, give the patchers the coax out from the sbm1. Don't attenuate your signal for the convienience of the patchers. Not trying to sounds like a dick, but your recording comes first. If they want the V3 adc signal, they can take it and then boost the levels in post.

im not really doing it for patchers, just assuming I havent had a patcher in years

I WOULD however like to have a backup or something, so rather than running the v3 low gain and the sbm1 cranked, I wanna run the v3 levels like normal for backup and have the sbm1 copy for kicks

and when I go 24-bit, I can run the v3 full throttle, and the sbm1 as a 16-bit backup/patcher/etc line

w/out attenuators, that would be useless

gotcha - wasn't quite sure what you were trying to do

Kyle-can i borrow the psp-2 sometime possibly? prolly wont be until feb/march

Id love to run psp2>v3 and psp-2>modsbm1

I like to have many options like you

Let's mix it up

I have been wanting to hear the V3>PSP2 combo as well (and w/ the SBM1)
Would love to take those setups on-stage and really hear what they can do...

[F.O.Bean]

Bean,


IMO,
The SBM1 you are getting - it has the coax mod - right? So I am guessing that there is a coax out and the female seven pin that is built in. If you are getting a male 7pin to optical for the jb3, give the patchers the coax out from the sbm1. Don't attenuate your signal for the convienience of the patchers. Not trying to sounds like a dick, but your recording comes first. If they want the V3 adc signal, they can take it and then boost the levels in post.

im not really doing it for patchers, just assuming I havent had a patcher in years

I WOULD however like to have a backup or something, so rather than running the v3 low gain and the sbm1 cranked, I wanna run the v3 levels like normal for backup and have the sbm1 copy for kicks

and when I go 24-bit, I can run the v3 full throttle, and the sbm1 as a 16-bit backup/patcher/etc line

w/out attenuators, that would be useless

gotcha - wasn't quite sure what you were trying to do

Kyle-can i borrow the psp-2 sometime possibly? prolly wont be until feb/march

Id love to run psp2>v3 and psp-2>modsbm1

I like to have many options like you

Let's mix it up

I have been wanting to hear the V3>PSP2 combo as well (and w/ the SBM1)
Would love to take those setups on-stage and really hear what they can do...

Lotus Feb 17, its a friday and I'll be there stage-lip mr smalls

lets dooooooetttt!

Id like to run 481>psp-2>v3 maybe and you can run schoeps >v2>modsbm1 or something

I REALLY like my lotus stage lip tapes that are just straight 481>v3

SOOOO much life and energy perfect balance IMO

[BC]

I have an idea of a little test you can run to see how much attenuation you need.

1) See what levels the V3 is outputting from the SPDIF at some given gain.

2) Then see where you have to set the gain on the V3 to get the same output level from the SBM1 (maybe set your SBM dial around 7 or so for this step?).

3) Then, the difference in gain setting on the V3 for step 1 vs step 2 could be the amount of attenuation you need?        

[F.O.Bean]

I know, im just antsy, and was gonna order some attenuators even before the sbm1 arrives, and i was hoping someone has a technical answer or something

Like i said, im just antsy, and wanna spend some money on myself