• Registered: 2024-09-13
  • Posts: 1

Topic: Outputting guitar DI to multiple devices at same level

Hello,

I have the UFX III. Currently, I'm sending my guitar DI to one of the 4 front inputs (the Mic 10 input) on the UFX III.

I'm using TotalMix to route the DI to various devices: pedalboard, Kemper, Axe-FX III.

Kemper and pedalboard are getting the DI from analog 7 & 8 out.

Axe-Fx is getting the signal from AES out.

I don't know much about signal chain and audio mixing, but for consistency's sake, I'm trying to set the levels such that the signal that the pedalboard/kemper/axe get from the UFX is virtually the same as they would get from plugging the guitar directly into the instrument jack of the respective devices.

Is that possible? How do I accomplish this such that the devices get an unmodified signal?

(Currently, I have the DI input set as instrument and have added 35dB of gain - should I leave the gain at 0? Should I turn off the instrument level, so that the signal is not changed before it gets to the devices?)

Thank you

  • waedi
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  • From: Swiss Zürich
  • Registered: 2020-12-08
  • Posts: 4,451

Re: Outputting guitar DI to multiple devices at same level

yes make zero gain in the input and I would try without instrument setting.
If you double-click onto a fader in Totalmix the fader will jump up to zero position.
You can use this to ensure input signal is forwarded and outputted at the same level.

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

3 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2024-09-13 17:47:23)

  • ramses
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  • From: UTC+1
  • Registered: 2012-10-14
  • Posts: 13,132

Re: Outputting guitar DI to multiple devices at same level

waedi wrote:

yes make zero gain in the input and I would try without instrument setting.
If you double-click onto a fader in Totalmix the fader will jump up to zero position.
You can use this to ensure input signal is forwarded and outputted at the same level.

Sorry, but this appears to me very wrong.

@user100001rme

Plug your guitar straight into any of the UFX III inputs AN9-AN12 and enable "Instr".
Enable Autoset (see manual ch 19.2).
Set the gain of your instr input to approx 40.
Strum into the strings as hard as you can.
Autoset will reduce the gain so that you have 6 dB of headroom so that the input signal stay below -6 dB.

If you have a Guitar with Humbuckers which are comparable to the output level of a Gibson Classic  '57
then the gain of your instrument input will be set to around 20.
If you have a Tele with single coils (I use the little hotter Texas Specials) then you need a little more Gain, in my case 23.

By this you have a valid input signal from your guitar for an optimum A/D conversion and with a little safety headroom of 6 dB, so that nothing clips.

If you have analog connections to your connected gear, then you need to find an optimum reference level so that you can keep the output fader at 0 dB without overloading the other input. Check the manual of the other device which max. input levels it supports.

If you have a digital connection, then you do not need to take care of reference levels. Then you send the output signal on the digital output with 0dB settings on the output fader.

Volume adjustment do either in the DAW or at the SW playback channels.

EDIT: forgot to mention to disable Autoset on the Instr input once you are done and have the proper level.
Don't forget to save the routing and settings in one of the TM FX snapshots and to save the complete workspace.
Additionally save to Quick Workspace Select slots. Very practical is to be able to restore the first eight slots with ALT-1 .. ALT-8. Then you can experiment with settings and restore quickly the last best settings.

By recording setup for guitar here: https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ent … iii-en-de/

Special features:
- parallel effect loop for marshalls
- marshall stereo setup
- external FX (Lexicon PCM 81 and 91)
- by routing I can use the Lexicon for either guitar or DAW or both/split (81 for guitar, 91 for DAW)
- I plug the guitar to an instr input to be able to record the guitar signal for any potential re-amping
  or to use a VSTi as amp. Very nice S-Gear3 with the special overdrive with its own presets.
  There is a nice Marshall Plexi emulation. Sounds phantastic in combination with Lexicon.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14