Topic: Soundtracs Topaz +4dB mod (Read 11974 times)

SilentSi · « **on:** December 06, 2004, 05:18:16 PM »

Hi
Can anyone tell me how to do the +4dB mod on the Soundtracs Topaz Project 8 32/8? I havent got a manual and as I'm a dirty scrounging student I can't afford one.

Thanks
Simon

hargerst · « **Reply #1 on:** December 06, 2004, 05:58:36 PM »

Ok, let's see if I can upload the 4 pages. Here's page 48: index.php/fa/445/0/

hargerst · « **Reply #2 on:** December 06, 2004, 06:00:46 PM »

Here's page 49: index.php/fa/446/0/

hargerst · « **Reply #3 on:** December 06, 2004, 06:02:04 PM »

Here's page 50: index.php/fa/447/0/

hargerst · « **Reply #4 on:** December 06, 2004, 06:12:00 PM »

All these mods are located near the back of the console, close to the inputs. Here's the last page, page 51: index.php/fa/449/0/

hargerst · « **Reply #5 on:** December 06, 2004, 06:20:07 PM »

And here's page 47 on how to take it apart: index.php/fa/450/0/

hargerst · « **Reply #6 on:** December 06, 2004, 06:23:44 PM »

Sorry about deleting your posts but I wanted to have all the posts in order (kinda).

SilentSi · « **Reply #7 on:** December 06, 2004, 06:37:08 PM »

Ah, I was a little confused for a while. Thankyou very much for taking time to help me.

hargerst · « **Reply #8 on:** December 06, 2004, 07:19:37 PM »

SilentSi wrote on Mon, 06 December 2004 17:37

Ah, I was a little confused for a while. Thankyou very much for taking time to help me.

Hey, it's my job. Razz

SilentSi · « **Reply #9 on:** December 06, 2004, 07:38:10 PM »

Just to make sure...Will carrying out this mod solve the problem of the signal level coming into my desk being to high and the output being to low? I am using it in conjunction with a PC running Cubase SX2, a Steinberg VSL2020 sound card and 2* Behringer ADA8000 A-D-A converters.

hargerst · « **Reply #10 on:** December 06, 2004, 07:53:28 PM »

SilentSi wrote on Mon, 06 December 2004 18:38

Just to make sure...Will carrying out this mod solve the problem of the signal level coming into my desk being to high and the output being to low? I am using it in conjunction with a PC running Cubase SX2, a Steinberg VSL2020 sound card and 2* Behringer ADA8000 A-D-A converters.

Uh, the signal level coming in from where? These mods affect the input and output of the tape sends and returns.

SilentSi · « **Reply #11 on:** December 06, 2004, 08:17:00 PM »

The Tape returns are connected too the ADA's outputs witch is connected to the computer by ADAT cable. When I play a signal at normal level in cubase it is too loud for the desk.

hargerst · « **Reply #12 on:** December 06, 2004, 08:56:30 PM »

Then yes, it should work.

James Duncan · « **Reply #13 on:** December 07, 2004, 11:48:51 AM »

I just ordered (and received) the manual for the Topaz as well...$55 (ouch!)!!! Hehe...if I had waited a few days, I could've got the info for free!!!

Hehe...actually, I am glad I have the entire manual, just in case. Hopefully I'll be picking up my board later this month!

James Duncan · « **Reply #14 on:** January 05, 2005, 09:11:49 AM »

In case anybody cares (!), I am getting my board this week (I paid it off last week, and now just need to go pick it up).

I will be taking it apart straight-away to see if the +4 mods have been done, if not...out comes the soldering gun!

salty · « **Reply #15 on:** January 05, 2005, 03:41:49 PM »

You'll know if it's set to -10, your A/D won't get enough level from the tape sends, and the desk's tape returns will be clipping like crazy.

trodden · « **Reply #16 on:** January 05, 2005, 04:21:50 PM »

Doublehelix wrote on Wed, 05 January 2005 06:11

In case anybody cares (!), I am getting my board this week (I paid it off last week, and now just need to go pick it up).

I will be taking it apart straight-away to see if the +4 mods have been done, if not...out comes the soldering gun!

Hey! I'm picking mine up this weekend as well! Hopefully the weather isn't too bad for the drive from Seattle to San Fran.

James Duncan · « **Reply #17 on:** January 06, 2005, 05:03:51 PM »

Hey Trodden...

Cool! Two new Topaz owners!

Unfortunately, I have to travel all of next week for my *real* job, so I am not going to be able to get it in and all setup. In fact, I will probably wait until I return to pick it up, just to be safe.

trodden · « **Reply #18 on:** January 27, 2005, 04:26:04 PM »

Ok,
GOt the board up and ready.. checking a few things out.. THe person i bought the board from said that the +4 mod was done..

ok, I've got my tape outs going to my digi 001 and my digi001 going back to the monitor/tape return input on the board. When audio is coming back to the board from the 001, and i've hit the "flip" switch so its routed to the faders.. the CLIP lights are going off like all freakin' mad!!! but I dont HEAR any clipping.. now yeah i know, "if you don't hear then whatcha worried about!!" but its just kinda wierd.. do any of you find this as well... the whole board is lit up like a x-mas tree with the clip light blippin.. and but its not clipping? i'm guessing that maybe after the +4 mod, the clip lights still "think" the audio is clipping, but since the mod is done, its not really, so ignore the clip light...

also, the metering on the main outs.. bullshit right i set my faders to unity and i'm way up past the 0 level..

besides that, i 'm liking the board!

thanks
Brandon

James Duncan · « **Reply #19 on:** January 28, 2005, 10:20:48 AM »

As I am getting mine set up (I am still soldering looms!!! Grrrr...), it appears to be set up for -10 also. So it looks like I need to open it up and drag out the soldering iron. (I have an EE to help me!)

Also, both light bulbs are burned out on the meter bridge's VU meters. Anyone know what is involved in changing them out?

Thanks!

Luke · « **Reply #20 on:** February 04, 2005, 02:28:26 PM »

The bulbs are specificly made for the board, and are very expeensive, according to Steve Magalnak. They are made in Europe. He told me that with the value of Euros being so high, plus shipping cost, that it would be better to wait. He didn't have any in stock at that time, it was probably about 6 months ago. Good Luck,
Luke

James Duncan · « **Reply #21 on:** February 04, 2005, 11:07:32 PM »

Thanks on that Luke...

I just contacted Steve also, and he quoted me $10 each, and said that he had a few in stock, but that I should hurry, and would only let me order a maximum of 2...

James Duncan · « **Reply #22 on:** February 18, 2005, 06:30:44 AM »

I was finally able to get my engineer/tech person over to the studio a couple of days ago, and although we were able to accomplish a lot (left VU meter working again, VU meter bulbs, talkback mic XLR), there is a problem that is bothering me greatly about the -10/+4 situation.

When I play back a mastered file in Wavelab (Wavelab -> MOTU 24I/O -> Topaz Tape ins), the file is pegging the VU meters and sounds horrible!!! So I naturally assummed that the Topaz was set up as a -10 dB system (default from the factory).

Well, much to my dismay, when we opened up the board, it had already been modified and was setup for +4dB operation throughout (each channel and the master section).

CRAP!

Now I can easily pull down the faders in the software to attenuate the signal, but I don't want to have to do that...I want to maintain the full digital bits in Wavelab when I render.

Any ideas as to what is going on here? Why is a 0dB (approx) file in Wavelab blowing the VU meters to east like a hurricane?

Thanks!

hargerst · « **Reply #23 on:** February 18, 2005, 10:48:01 AM »

Turn down the knob under the "solo" knob.

James Duncan · « **Reply #24 on:** February 18, 2005, 12:50:10 PM »

hargerst wrote on Fri, 18 February 2005 10:48

Turn down the knob under the "solo" knob.

Thanks. That would be the "monitor mix level" knob? It is set at "zero" already.

Any other ideas?

hargerst · « **Reply #25 on:** February 18, 2005, 02:51:45 PM »

Make sure the MERGE button (above the "monitor mix level" knob) is pressed.

James Duncan · « **Reply #26 on:** February 20, 2005, 07:31:59 AM »

hargerst wrote on Fri, 18 February 2005 14:51

Make sure the MERGE button (above the "monitor mix level" knob) is pressed.

Thanks, but this had no effect.

I am running the signal into the 2 TK returns.

Anyone else?

floodstage · « **Reply #27 on:** February 20, 2005, 10:55:48 AM »

I hate these problems! In fact, I've made a conscious effort to avoid changing out any major component in my studio for quite a while to avoid having them.

This probably won't help, but......

Info (that I'm sure you're already aware of) from Motu.com

MOTU 24I/O Rear Panel
* The 24 analog inputs and outputs are professional-grade TRS
* (balanced/unbalanced) connectors operating at either -10 dB or +4 dB.
* The input level can be switched via software in banks of eight inputs.
* In addition, CumixDSP provides continuously variable input
* trim with up to 12 dB boost per channel.

Could it be the output from your 24I/O being too hot?
Maybe in the Cuemix section?
(just taking wild stabs at the problem)

Also, why not try bumping the output down to -10 and see what happens.

(Not suggesting you leave it there, just see what happens.)

floodstage · « **Reply #28 on:** February 20, 2005, 10:59:10 AM »

........
Or possibly the 2-track returns on your Topaz are still at -10 even though other stuff is at +4
.........

James Duncan · « **Reply #29 on:** February 20, 2005, 07:50:58 PM »

Actually, the 2 trk returns are also set for +4. Just to be safe, I plugged in a consumer CD player that I know has -10 outputs, and the signal is very low compared to the outputs from the MOTU.

BTW...you cannot control the *outputs* from the MOTU, only the inputs, which really sucks. The CueMix software also allows you attenuate only the incoming signals.

I am looking into one of these guys to put inline with the computer's output to attenuate the signal:

http://www.adesignsaudio.com/atty.htm

Anybody know anything about these things, or have any other suggestions?

James Duncan · « **Reply #30 on:** February 23, 2005, 07:37:46 AM »

Quote:

I am looking into one of these guys to put inline with the computer's output to attenuate the signal:

http://www.adesignsaudio.com/atty.htm

Anybody know anything about these things, or have any other suggestions?

I got one of these things, and it really works well! I recommend it highly!

floodstage · « **Reply #31 on:** February 24, 2005, 10:57:54 AM »

Cool!

Sounds like you've got the board integrated into your setup finally!

So how's it sound?

Is it better than your old setup?

James Duncan · « **Reply #32 on:** February 25, 2005, 05:22:54 AM »

floodstage wrote on Thu, 24 February 2005 10:57

Cool!

Sounds like you've got the board integrated into your setup finally!

So how's it sound?

Is it better than your old setup?

Oh yeah! Before this, I was using a digital mixer (DDX3216), but only as a control surface and a cue mix generator. With the Topaz, I can actually pass signal through it that I want to send to tape!!!

The Topaz rocks, and I am extremely happy with it so far. It also looks great with the meter bridge! Wink

honeypower · « **Reply #33 on:** March 08, 2005, 06:24:24 PM »

just out of curiosity...am I the only one who cant seem to get the .gifs to open properly? I tried the windows fax viewer and there was no preview, and when open with IE I just get a big red x on the pic......

floodstage · « **Reply #34 on:** March 08, 2005, 08:52:11 PM »

honeypower wrote on Tue, 08 March 2005 18:24

just out of curiosity...am I the only one who cant seem to get the .gifs to open properly? I tried the windows fax viewer and there was no preview, and when open with IE I just get a big red x on the pic......

A lot of links at PSW are broken at the moment. That's one of them apparently.

hargerst · « **Reply #35 on:** March 09, 2005, 08:09:16 AM »

I think they're fixed now.

bounce · « **Reply #36 on:** March 15, 2005, 08:49:17 PM »

hey hey hey. this is my first official post on this forum. hello to all! i wanted to poke my head in and say that i have been using a topaz console for the last 5 years or so mainly for drum tracking and monitoring in and out of Pro Tools and it's been solid for me (nice eq in this price range!). i had a bridge rectifier die on me which killed the power but a nice man in the u.k. gave me a troubleshooting tip via e-mail and i bought the part at Fry's and soldered it in the next day. No down time!!! anyway, there ya go. my topaz is the first light grey cheesy miami vice looking model with pastel knobs which they later changed to dark grey. greetings and look forward to chatting with all of you.

mckay

mbroadstreet · « **Reply #37 on:** March 18, 2005, 10:59:37 PM »

Using one of the dark grey Solos here and I've been told that the light grey Soundtracs models are a bit more powerful on the pre's than the later models by people who have tried both. Sure wouldn't mind replacing this board with a Topaz someday...

hargerst · « **Reply #38 on:** March 19, 2005, 08:22:19 AM »

When we decided to replace our Akai 1214 and go to 24 tracks, I looked at (and listened to) damn near every board on the market at the time. The choices were down to the Soundtracs, or an older used big board. I couldn't find any decent older boards at the time for the right price (cheap), so we went with the Soundtracs. It's an amazing piece of gear at the price point.

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Author Topic: Soundtracs Topaz +4dB mod (Read 11974 times)