VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Deirdre

I just got this channel strip and I can't use it. It's shockingly hissy in the outputs and it's driving me completely crazy.
_________________
DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

Edo · Guest

Hey Deirdre,

Does the 230 hiss already when nothing is hooked up to the inputs?

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Is everything set flat and the exciter off?
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

Frank F · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:44 pm Post subject:

Deebs, to answer your question: "Just lucky, I guess".

Are you using any EQ prior to the Aphex?

Have you applied each feature separately, then together"
I systematically run through each 230 feature, dialing hard and subversively, to which I found that I can make the gate thresholds extremely unforgiving. This effort can result in a creative application which renders harshly squared waves and unattractive noises.

The 230 makes it very obvious if settings need adjustment, so if your performance is critical, and you intend to use gates and compression, I recommend being thorough in checking for the performance’s full dynamic range. Quoting Keyboard.com

Have you checked your cables?

Finally, Good luck.

Toodles

F2
_________________
Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com

Deirdre · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:01 pm Post subject:

Frank F · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:31 pm Post subject:

DB, you have a bad chip. Or, bad soldering on a chip. Time to return the Aphex.

Sorry.

F2
_________________
Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com

Deirdre · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:54 pm Post subject:

Meh.

Ebay.
_________________
DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

This is the second time this year I've read about someone having unusable hiss with this unit...but I've read many more people having great results. Sorry to hear about it.

If you're using a SP C1 that could be really nice with a MPA Gold with spiffy NOS tubes Wink

.
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

Frank F · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 11:37 pm Post subject:

Probably the same unit Lance. D.B. mentioned eBay....

F2
_________________
Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com

Bruce · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:06 am Post subject:

If you were out West here I'd say look for a small snake that climbed in there to get warm. But you're not, so please ignore my suggestion.

B
_________________
VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

Charles Nove · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:21 am Post subject:

I fell quickly out of love with mine, because of excessive hiss. The nice people at Aphex got in touch with some things to try, which I have not yet had time to explore. Their main concern was that one should avoid feeding the output of the 230 into another pre-amp, such as the padded mic preamp on many desks' "Line In"s. They say there should be a much cleaner result if you bypass the desk preamp by feeding the 230 o/p in at the channel insert point, rather than the Line in.

As I say, I haven't tried it yet. I was horrified at the hiss, but heartened by the interest shown by the Aphex chaps. They are keen for it to be right.
_________________
Charles Nove
Scottish voice-artist, to the world ... and beyond!

www.charlesnove.com

Deirdre · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:39 am Post subject:

Yep! Even though I'm not the original owner of this unit, the guys at Aphex gave me a call after getting a note from George Whittam.

I need to call them back to go over the setup— so I will will report back once I spend some time on the phone with them!

Thanks for the "insert" idea, Charles— I'll ask about it when I speak with them today.

xo
_________________
DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Charles is the other person I was thinking of that had this issue. I mention it only so one doesn't think there are three people with this problem. The clips I've heard of the 230 in good working order are excellent.
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

Vocalvoodoo · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:56 am Post subject:

Hey Deirdre,

FWIW, any preamp is going to have hiss with nothing plugged in to the inputs. Maybe something else plugged in to your power strip is causing it?

I have my monitors plugged into a power strip that also has other gear plugged in to it. With the monitors are plugged in, I get hiss just like the file you posted. If I unplug those monitors the hiss goes away. Maybe something to consider.

I would try unplugging everything, including computer, except for the Aphex and then see if you still hear the noise with the headphones plugged into the line out. Or maybe just plug in the Mackie and Aphex to see if you still get it through the headphone out of the Mackie. Make sure you have the mic plugged in though with phantom power on if your mic needs it (I don't know what mic you're using).
_________________
Josh Mahler
http://www.vocalvoodoo.com

Deirdre · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 4:09 pm Post subject:

Three Cheers for the service department at Aphex!

They talked me through the whole setup for this unit and holy cow— it's sweet.

The Mic gain needed to come WAY UP.
We made the gate invisible, have the compressor on a smidge, nudged the De-esser into action, engaged the "Big Bottom" (what a name) and Aural Exciter elements just enough to know they're there.
It's quite a big sound. BIG.

Thanks to SoundGun George Whittam for including them in our ongoing conversation.

Life is grand.
_________________
DBCooperVO.com
IMDB