• Registered: 2010-02-20
  • Posts: 8

Topic: Recording active pick up EMG 81 with DI clipping

HI!

i record active emg 81 with FF400 input 3 ( DI input ), instrument and pad checked, gain at o.
My problem is that i am afraid my wave tracks are clipped...
the red led on the front of the FF 400 its not clipping but my cubase input fader clipps occasionally...so when i finish tracking riffs  its red on the bottom every time.the input fader it`s at 0 to.
my tracks looks ok but when i zoom in hard i see little clips in the wave.
i wonder if this is an FF400 issue or just the EMG 81 preamp clipps the signal before the input?
i read a topic about an EMG 81 mod from 9 v to 18 v and the guy said that after the mod the pick up has more gain less distorted and compressed signal but also changed the character of them and i may not like it.
anybody has the same problem here?what is the solution? your recommendations ?
thanks

  • isaac
  • isaac
  • S/Mux specialist
  • Offline
  • From: Auckland New Zealand
  • Registered: 2007-05-01
  • Posts: 339

Re: Recording active pick up EMG 81 with DI clipping

cigame wrote:

Turn the volume down on your guitar.

Agreed! The 81 has a wicked high output! You could also try using a DI box with a pad and running into a mic pre instead. Or make an inline pad to use before the FF input. If you use quality components it won't affect your sound.

The guy is right. The 9 - 18 Volt mod will give you alot more level but it will change the sound of your gat.

Isaac.

  • Byt3
  • AES/EBU artist
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2008-01-10
  • Posts: 147

Re: Recording active pick up EMG 81 with DI clipping

Yes this pickup has one hot preamp built in.
Unless you are striving for more dynamics, (& I doubt you do, as it will not feel as 'intense' anymore, & last time I checked these were not a Nashville favorite wink ..)

So what you need to do is either trim the volume via some active pedal ,
or just take it to a guitar tech to install a quality resistor in line with it,
Then again if you need all this gain for distortion usage, the pedal method is the best,
as it can be controlled/reversed etc.

  • rwil
  • rwil
  • S/Mux specialist
  • Offline
  • From: Montreal
  • Registered: 2007-05-01
  • Posts: 343

Re: Recording active pick up EMG 81 with DI clipping

Do you really need to enable the inst hi-z option?
Maybe the pad alone will be just fine?

Asus P8Z77-V LE Plus_i7-3770K-3.9GHz_DDR3-16GB_Win8.1-x64_TI FW PCI_1xUAD-2_Cubase 4&7

5 Reply by MC

  • MC
  • MC
  • Administrator
  • Offline
  • From: Germany/Thailand
  • Registered: 2007-04-06
  • Posts: 24,813

Re: Recording active pick up EMG 81 with DI clipping

That's correct, active pickups/instruments don't need Hi-Z.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website