MOTM

--- In motm@yahoogroups.com, Adam Schabtach <adam@s...> wrote:
> That actually brings up a whole 'nuther point: is anybody using a
DI box or
> some other input buffer between their MOTM and their console when 
recording?

Yes. While the signal levels out of each module may be adequete, not
every module likes to drive a wire clear across the room to a mixer. An
active DI helps buffer the output, and can balance a long cable run.

> > So protect all your equipment by learning about "Gain Stages" and
you
> > will be a-ok.

Your speakers are the only gear in danger. If you can damage any
other gear in your studio with a little extra signal then it deserves to be
destroyed.
 
> My point is that there is a much larger range of
> signal amplitudes present in a modular synthesizer than in any
other piece
> of equipment that's likely to be present in a studio. 

Nominal MOTM signal levels are about where I  run everything in my
studio.  It works out very nicely, but there are a few devices that need pads 
and"bump-boxes" to interface properly. But yes, it's a little out  of control
for anyone working in -10 land.

> Maybe a system is going to be able to pass a big
> signal on to the power amp and speakers, which could be a problem;
or maybe
> it's not--maybe it will just saturate and pass along a not-very-big
but
> saturated signal, which might be ugly but probably won't be a
problem.

A low level clipped signal is very bad for your monitors as well.
Hard-clipped signals contain raging amounts of high-freq energy that can be 
worse for your monitors than louder, but clean signals.

Good luck not blowing anything up!

Cheers

Max