Fuzzy Sound

[Bob Zelin]

There is no question that you will get a FUZZY sound from the AJA directly into your speakers as you are sending WAY to hot of a level from the AJA IO
into your powered speaker inputs.

Plug your VTR into your mixer. Plug the mixer into your speakers. Play the VTR. Does it sound fuzzy ???? Now, plug the AJA IO into the mixer – use the mixer to adjust the level into the IO, and monitor the IO thru the mixer?
Does it sound fuzzy?

If so, what inputs on your mixer are you using. I assume you are using a small mixer, like a small Mackie, Behringer, or Soundcraft. You MUST go into the stereo phone jack inputs, and NOT the XLR Mic inputs, as even with the trims all the way down, it is still not enough attenuation to handle a line level signal. This is a VERY common problem that I see, when people plug the XLR output of the AJA or AVID system into the XLR inputs of a Mackie Mixer – THIS IS WRONG – plug into the Stereo phone plug LINE INPUTS and you will not get the fuzzy sound.

Bob Zelin

[Michael Lazar]

I assume you mean “plug into the *TSR* phone plug LINE INPUTS” – i.e. the signal in question coming out of the VTR is still balanced. The output from the AJA is however unbalanced. On my Mackie 1202 I put these into one of the unbalanced, stereo LINE IN channels.

Michael Lazar

[Bob Zelin]

Michael writes –
I assume you mean “plug into the *TSR* phone plug LINE INPUTS” – i.e. the signal in question coming out of the VTR is still balanced. The output from the AJA is however unbalanced. On my Mackie 1202 I put these into one of the unbalanced, stereo LINE IN channels.

Michael –
The AJA I/O, and I/O LA have BALANCED XLR outputs. The only unbalanced audio output on any AJA product (from the desktop line) is the audio monitor output on the K-Box for the Kona 2. The CORRECT way to hookup the AJA I/O or AJA I/O LA analog XLR outputs into a Mackie 1202 or 1202VLZ mixer is to plug into the BALANCED TRS 1/4″ phone plug inputs on this mixer – NOT THE -10dB unbalanced inputs on the Mackie 1202.
You also CANNOT plug the AJA I/O or I/O LA XLR outputs into the XLR inputs of the Mackie 1202. These are MIC LEVEL inputs designed for a low level signal from a Microphone. There is an attenuation circuit (controlled by the TRIM adjustment), but this trim adjustment does not attenuate the MIC preamplifier circuit enough, and you will get DISTORTION from a +4dBu signal source. This not only applies to the AJA product line, but applies to ANY AVID edit system, or ANY Sony or Panasonic pro VTR with XLR (+4dBu) outputs that plug into ANY of the Mackie VLZ series mixers (which means the 1202, 1402 and 1604). I see people do this ALL THE TIME, and they say “gee, how come my audio is distorted – I am using balanced cables and going right into the balanced XLR inputs of the Mackie”. These are the WRONG INPUTS. You MUST use the 1/4″ TRS inputs on these mixers. This applies to Mackie, Soundcraft, Yamaha, Behringer, Allen Heath, and so many others of these small boards (who have all copied the Mackie design).

If you plug the output of an AJA I/O or AJA I/O LA into the RCA inputs of a Mackie 1202 (The tape inputs), you will have a 14dB mismatch, and will get distortion.

Bob Zelin

[Michael Lazar]

Bob –

Doh! Your are quite right. I am of course using 1/4″ TSR plugs into LINE IN for the Io. It’s been so long since I put this system together I had forgotten! ;->

The point in responding to your orignal post was only to clarify that one needs to use 1/4″ TSR plugs and not 1/4″ unbalanced plugs. Someone who make the first mistake (XLR into MIC IN) might also make the second.

Michael

[Mark Beazley]

This drives me so nuts. A lot of people think that XLR is XLR and that is all there is to it. grrrr…

-mark

[Fred Miller]

What does the “TSR” stand for? I Just curious. Audio ENG is my achilles heal.

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