Adjusting to line level output

Anyone have an idea why the MPC1000 defaults to -12dB for the output rather than line level?

I kept screwing around with the gains on my mixer to get the MPC to be heard enough and this was of course amplifying some hiss. Even when I adjusted the MPC to line level, I still have to tweak the gain a little bit (not sure why--but whatever, its only a little bit) so there's a minimal amount of noise coming through.

But I am under teh impression that default settings are like 'recommended' settings--so I was hoping one of you might throw a guess at it... I am kind of concerned I might be doing something wrong.

adjust the global volume in the other screen

**** wrote:adjust the global volume in the other screen

Yeah, I did that--I was wondering why it isn't set by default... like if its recommended that you don't run at line level?

if you want the answer you should look in the manual and read the specifications of the output, and again for the input of your mixer. Really there is no such thing as 'line level'.
But there is voltage and signal and this has impedance as well. People as a rule have the opposite problem and the MPC signal is too hot and distorts from clipping..... Hence the preset you see. The MPC1000 is +11dBu @ 11kΩ and this is pretty hot.

you can save your setting with 'MPC setup' saved settings in JJOSXL, and i think your using that one now arnt ya h3ndrx!
Ok so think voltage and this has a log for dB not loudness and your gain structure is not right if you are getting a lot of noise from pushing up the gain. But then that can be a hundred other things like RF interference, bad cables, unearthed gear, ground loops, noise on the MPCs input monitor to.
I find it runs as spec and this is quite hot, so I suggest you check above and the desk impedances on the input to match it properly. I do not know what desk you are using, you should not need preamp or anything and definitely no phantom power of course.
Unless i know the input impedance of the desk I can not tell what is going on though.

if you are using analogue gear there is always the noise from a whole number of things. and can be caused by strange things to like RF or EMF

The MPC1000 is +11dBu @ 11kΩ and this is pretty hot.

That does sound pretty hot, but I am not completely sure. These are things I've read about but never full comprehended

Ok so think voltage and this has a log for dB not loudness and your gain structure is not right if you are getting a lot of noise from pushing up the gain.

This makes sense but I am still wondering why I need any gain at all, I feel like I am missing something fundamental here..

But then that can be a hundred other things like RF interference, bad cables, unearthed gear, ground loops, noise on the MPCs input monitor to.

Yeah, I figured that I might have a little EMF going on since I haven't been able to run cables exactly how I want--limited on space. However, it seems like a louder hiss than I have experienced before.

I find it runs as spec and this is quite hot, so I suggest you check above and the desk impedances on the input to match it properly. I do not know what desk you are using, you should not need preamp or anything and definitely no phantom power of course.
Unless i know the input impedance of the desk I can not tell what is going on though.

I pulled up the spec sheet on my desk, a Pevey PV10 and found the following for the stereo input I am running the mp on:

Input Z is 10k ohm, input levels nominal is -16dBu and -1dBu, max is +2dBu and +17dBu.

I have run the MP to a keyboard amp before and I know how hot this thing is when I had the volume knob on the mp turned up just a little and the amp channel only about halfway. My neighbors do to. So I am a little concerned about how powerful the signal is going through my mixer, but even the mixer's output gauge never leaves a few blips of green.

if you are using analogue gear there is always the noise from a whole number of things. and can be caused by strange things to like RF or EMF[/quote]

you know that sounds like maybe the wires are crossed in your leads. Like they are soldered wrong, so signal goes to earth and all you hear is channle cross talk bleed.
Can happen with unbalanced lines.... Try different cables maybe, but it is a bit You know from experience (and your neighbours) that it has plenty of signal so something is a bit amiss. That or your desk is a bit broken ?

Well there's one more detail I am leaving out. The way I have it wired is this:

MPC > Stereo In on desk > to line input on Audio Kontrol 1 > monitors.

I have the level from the line input to the I/O maxed but the volume to the monitors only about half as I use the monitors as computer speakers as well (don't laugh). When I turn up the volume to the monitors all the way, I definetely hear the signal but hte mixer still say 'few blips'.

I'll check different cables..

h3ndrix wrote:

**** wrote:adjust the global volume in the other screen

Yeah, I did that--I was wondering why it isn't set by default... like if its recommended that you don't run at line level?

It's so out of the box, you don't have to worry about headroom.
Set to 0db, if you have two or more normalized samples on pads set to 100 level, then it's going to clip.
I guess it just makes it a bit easier to manage headroom for n00bs on the mpc...