ADA Depot - A Forum To Support Users of ADA Amplification Gear

Non ADA Gear => Rack Gear => Topic started by: herbyguitar on October 29, 2017, 05:18:41 PM

Title: Preamp signal too powerful?
Post by: herbyguitar on October 29, 2017, 05:18:41 PM
I have a Alesis 3630 stereo compressor, limiter, gate, that I used to gate pre and post MP1 and effects. The right side was pre and the left side was used right before the power amp. Everything in the rack was in series. MP1 - Harmony Machine - Midiverb - Gate (left side) - Poweramp. Is it possible that the signal going into the left side of the Alesis was too strong and could have damaged it? I gave the Alesis to a friend to use in his DJ system and one day about a month later the left side started acting up.
Title: Re: Pream signal too powerful?
Post by: rnolan on October 29, 2017, 06:56:46 PM
Hey Herby, possible  :dunno: but not likely, more likely the DJ thing may have damaged it, but who knows, could be neither ?
So if I understand correctly how you were running it, the right channel you used in front of the MP1 so you'd set that at -10 (as signal is instrument level at that point) and the left channel after the midiverb so you'd set that to +4 (as is now line level).  If you were driving it too hard (left channel) you should have seen it on the input meter (or heard clipping).
In the DJ rig you'd set both channels to +4 and probably select stereo link (so the channels operate as a pair).  DJ rigs are often pushed very hard (and often by people who don't really understand what they are doing (audio/PA wise)) to get the most volume from them (otherwise, why use a compressor in a DJ rig  :dunno: , although using it as a peak limiter to protect the amp and speakers does make sense).
Title: Re: Pream signal too powerful?
Post by: Soloist on October 30, 2017, 12:15:10 PM
So you got a "dirty six-dirty"  :lol: I used to have one too. I found that it added alot of noise into my signal chain. They are better suited for dj's and vocals than guitar. The hard gate and a compressor up front from the 1101 will do the same job but without the added noise. Best thing I did was to sell mine.
Title: Re: Preamp signal too powerful?
Post by: herbyguitar on October 30, 2017, 07:04:25 PM
I would sell it... but it's broken  :( 
Title: Re: Preamp signal too powerful?
Post by: herbyguitar on October 31, 2017, 09:34:24 AM
What's a decent, inexpensive option for a stereo noise gate?
Title: Re: Preamp signal too powerful?
Post by: Soloist on October 31, 2017, 10:36:26 AM
What's a decent, inexpensive option for a stereo noise gate?

Rocktron hush rack mount on the inexpensive side.
Title: Re: Preamp signal too powerful?
Post by: rabidgerry on October 31, 2017, 11:17:37 AM
I have had a Hush IICX lying about for ages, it's a stereo gate.  I only got round to using it about two weeks ago.  It's f**king great.  Scott "NOT" Ian out of Anthrax still uses one as far as I know.  I only use one side of it btw.  I am very, very impressed.  The gate closure is super natural to me.  And then the extra band width filter also is very useful.

Think it came out in 1990 but that particular model but it really is good from my experience.  I'm gonna do a review and post it on youtube as there aren't any good ones and it's too good a unit to ignore.  No idea what the new units are like.