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Location: Woodbridge, VA | Question to anyone out there.
I bought a shielded microphone XLR plug from Radio Shack to try out on my new Adamas. No question that it produces twice the sound than the regular 1/4" plug. However, the XLR end into the guitar plug seems to move around resulting in large pops through the PA system. Is the plug loose, or is the XLR not up to specs? The manual states that one can get an XLR shielded plug from Ovation. Does any one know how to fix this?
This is largely an academic question seeing that the volume is so sensitive with the XLR it generates a ton of feedback.....I may just stay with the 1/4" plug anyway.
Thoughts?
Thanks...... |
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Location: NJ | Yeah.
Forget RadioShack and invest in a good guality cable.
(Also back off on the Gain of your guitar channel on the PA a little when using the XLR). |
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Location: NJ | I carry the ovation xlr cable. |
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Location: Scotland | I had the same problem even with the Ovation-branded cables which came with my custom Folklore. I did the ground to shell mod on a couple of cables with Neutrik & Amphenol plugs and they seem to be a much more snug fit than the generic plugs on the Ovation cables
The XLR output is not neccessarily hotter than the line out. It's just that low-impedance XLR inputs are much more sensitive. Unbalanced Line level is considered as anthing between 1 & 4 volts. Balanced Mic level is a few hundred milivolts max. Consequently mic level inputs have more gain at the input stage. If you are using a mixer you need to learn how to balance the channel fader, master fader & input gain to correctly set it to unity gain or "zero dB". |
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Location: closely held secret | Paul's right on both points. Neutrik or Amphenol plugs will give a much more secure fit than the ones you find on most 'affordable' cables. Nothing like having your xlr fall out in the middle of a song. And mic(XLR) inputs are more sensitive.
For the XLR volume problem, try this quick and dirty fix I use. Turn the OPPro all the way down. On the mixer, start with the channel input gain all the way down and the channel fader all the way up. Strum your guitar, turn the OPPro up. If you get to an acceptable level with this, great, leave the input gain alone.
The OPPro boosts the signal from the P/U, and whatever noise it gets from the 4"-6" wire inside your guitar. The channel input gain boosts what it gets from the OPPro plus any noise it picks up on the 10' to however far it is to your mixer. Granted, low-impedance cables are less prone to noise. There's still no reason to amplify it if you don't have to. Poor signal-to-noise ratios are usually a factor in feedback, as the entire signal must be boosted to overcome it. A good rule of thumb is to leave the stinkin' input gain all the way down. Turn it up only as a last resort.
I get more than enough signal out of my OPPro using XLR with the input gain all the way down. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | This is a great thread. |
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Location: closely held secret | Well, sure. BBBB shows up at all the great threads. :D |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | TAH-DA!
(cameo) |
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Location: closely held secret | Very nice. (polite applause) |
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Location: closely held secret | I wonder if this board supports avatars. |
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Location: NJ | NO AVATARS |
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Location: closely held secret | you got a problem with avatars, Al? |
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Location: NJ | yes
unfortunately people link to avatars that are often on porn sites even if the avatar themselves are not porn. When people surf this site, say at work and their web surfing is being monitored, it comes up that they visted a ton of sites and all they did was click on one thread on the ofc.
I have also seen avatars used to belittle or poke fun at other members of an on line community(ok it has happened to me) or unflattering photoshopped images used.
I would rather not promote any of this.
The goal of this site is to talk about guitars, share our enthusiam for music and the musical artists. Personally, I find myself tuning out when there is talk about llamas and other crazy stuff. I know I am instigated some of it and am not totally at fault but really there has to be some line drawn in the sand.
I am still fascinated that when someone posted about a slot head Adamas that he had, a guitar that should be the holy grail of our group it got under 10 legitimate responses. Yet mauve shirts get a hundred responses.
so...
NO AVATARS |
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Location: SoCal | What is an avatar? |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by alpep:
I am still fascinated that when someone posted about a slot head Adamas that he had, a guitar that should be the holy grail of our group it got under 10 legitimate responses. Al,
Given the breadth of creativity, genuine concern, talent, knowledge, this board is remarkably well self-regulated. Yes, we (I am) are prone to flights of complete irrelavence (but that does not mean that we (I'm) not reading the substantative posts on music and guitars and learning.
This, unique, site is as much a community as many real neighborhoods. Hell, I spend more time with folks here than my less evolved neighbors...and even though contact is made through keyboard, I am listening much more intently here than when I listen to the locals bitch, whine and complain about the very things they create.
I agree with your stance on avatars and the hard line on flaming. It says, "we don't support the denegration of other's in this community". It sets a boundry--a cultural standard of acceptence. Given the 3000+ folks, this is a very cool place and I applaude you and Miles for creating it--- and keeping your hands off to let it become the diverse fun AND tolerant community it is.....
As for the Slothead...
Maybe we should have taken up a collection from all Members willing to contribute and bought the guitar for OFC...and as has been said many times before...Rotate it. I should have made this suggestion before...
...Cause I didn't have the 10 grand to buy it.
And if I did have the 10grand to buy it....believe me IT WOULD be making the rounds. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
What is an avatar? Its a graphic image you can post, say, below your name that is supposed to represent you. Used on IMs and Chat rooms.
...or guys like the Dali LLAMA!
....sources of expanded concsiousness by returning to a physical body. Really. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | 2nd Jeff's comment on the 10 grand Adamas.
I tend to lose interest in things that I find unobtainable. I find I would rather deal in reality than dreams.
For myself, I find it easier to convince my wife every now and then that a guitar for $1500 or $2000 or less is a needed toy. If I said I wanted to buy only one for 10 grand, she would be showing me the door!
Probably the reason there was less than 10 legitimate responses. Beside you, Tony, and a few others, none of the rest of us could afford it! |
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Location: Scotland | Originally posted by Waskel:
Poor signal-to-noise ratios are usually a factor in feedback, as the entire signal must be boosted to overcome it. A good rule of thumb is to leave the stinkin' input gain all the way down. Turn it up only as a last resort.
OK, this is the industry standard way to do it. With the channel input gain all the way down set the guitar pre-amp output to around 6 or 7. Set the mixer master fader and channel fader to zero dB (0 db is around 2 thirds of the faders travel, between 7 & 8 on a scale of 1 to 10) while playing with a moderate attack adjust the channel input gain so the meters peak at 3dB over zero. Usualy that's one or 2 amber segments over the last green segment on the meters. This optimizes the mixers s-n ratio and avoids clipping the input. You then set the channel fader to the appropriate level for the room/mix and any further volume adjustments can be made from the guitar, without going back to the mixer. Master faders & power-amp outputs should stay at zero dB at all times. |
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Location: closely held secret | Paul's got it. (I was just trying to keep it as simple as I could, but he described it very concisely.) Thanks, Master T.
Al, I completely understand your position on avatars, and have no issue with it. It's one of those things that can be cute and fun, but people invariably use to hurt others and abuse websites.
As far as a $10k slothead is concerned, I read the posts, I look at the pictures, but there's no way I could buy it, so there's really nothing else for me to do but drool on my keyboard. :D
btw, this is the most peaceful (as in non-flaming) board I've ever had the honor of being a part of. |
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Posts: 21
Location: Woodbridge, VA | Thank you all for the responses. Although my Adamas U681T is not $10K it certainly sounds and plays like something in that range. I will have to keep tweaking the XLR...perhaps get a different cable.....and experiment with the PA setup.
No Avatars from me since I didn't know what they were until I read the responses....I just enjoy reading the great info about my passion: the guitar.
BTW, I've been very surprised (seeing that I bought this guitar for its plugged-in quality) that it sounds almost better unplugged.....I wonder what a regular mic in front of it (or an internal mic) would add....Hmmmm
Cheers. |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Keep in mind . . .
. . . the original two proto's of that guitar were just that . . strictly acoustic.
They were designed to be just THAT . . a GREAT sounding ACOUSTIC guitar.
IMO . . . they shoulda' stayed that way . . . but then again, they probably wouldn't have sold.
Oh well, . . . there's always the #47Slots . . . |
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Location: Scotland | Forget internal mikes, they're more trouble than they're worth.
I've been using my '78 Adamas on some acoustic gigs lately. I have a miniature gooseneck condenser mike which clips conveniently into the largest sound hole and sits 3 or 4 inches above the end of the fingerboard. Works great at moderate volume especially when combined with the pickup |
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Location: Keller, TX | Originally posted by alpep:
...Yet mauve shirts get a hundred responses.
Do you have something against Mauve shirts? :D |
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XLR plug on U681T
