How do you know you are sending too much input signal to either of the two line-level inputs? I was playing my MTD through my Bass PodXT live into input #3 at rehearsal on Monday night and I was having a bit of trouble.

At times, I noticed the speakers in the L1 and the B1 starting to rattle a bit. I turned down the bass control on my MTD's pre-amp, and that certainly stopped that, but of course I lost all the bottom-end. I didn't want to damage the Bose. Was this happening because my bass's signal is too hot, or the input gain on channel 3 was too high, or what???

How should I go about setting up proper levels using a line-level input AND also using channel 1 for a vocal mic?

Hi drgroovenstein,

First thought - you probably can't damage the Bose with a hot signal from the Bass PodXT Live.

quote:

At times, I noticed the speakers in the L1 and the B1 starting to rattle a bit

Wow - I don't think I've ever heard the speakers in the L1 rattle. (and I've done some pretty silly things in terms of volume, just to see what would happen).

I'm inclined to think that you may have something in the room that is rattling.

quote:

I turned down the bass control on my MTD's pre-amp, and that certainly stopped that, but of course I lost all the bottom-end. I didn't want to damage the Bose. Was this happening because my bass's signal is too hot, or the input gain on channel 3 was too high, or what???

Bass signal too hot - maybe
Input gain on channel 3 too high - also maybe

I'm not familiar with the MTD, but from the way you described your signal chain it could also have been that the signal coming out of the MTD preamp was too hot running into the Bass Pod XT Live.

So back to the original question.

quote:

How do you know you are sending too much input signal to either of the two line-level inputs? I was playing my MTD through my Bass PodXT live into input #3 at rehearsal on Monday night and I was having a bit of trouble.

What I'm going to suggest is not an accurate approach but it can give you a quick answer.

Even though the Channel 1 input trim performs a different function than the Channel 3 level control you can still use the Channel 1 input trim and o/l light to help you set the Level for Channel 3.

Using the R1 Remote
- set the master level all the way down

Take the output of the Bass Pod XTLive and run it into Channel 1. Set the Bass, the preamp, the Bass Pod XTLive running as hot as you are likely to have things while performing.

Set the Channel 1 input trim so that you have steady green and occasional red flickers are fine.

The preset you are using doesn't matter at this point.

On the Remote - turn up the master level and see how things sound. If it's okay then ...

Turn down the Master Level.

Set the Channel 3 level about the same (and quite probably a little lower) than the Channel 1 input trim. Run the Bass Pod XTLive output to Channel 3.

Bring up the Master Level.

What do you hear?

PS - here's another discussion where SparkyG went through a similar process to set levels for his Guitar XT Live - see: Strange.

drgroovenstein,

I want to re-iterate what ST said - you most certainly cannot harm the L1(tm) by turning it up too loud. It's internally protected against this.

If you hear something rattling it is very likely something in the room. It can be hard to pinpoint where it is coming from - try having a band member track it down while you play.

MikeZ

It is of course possible to clip the Pod internally - and that will send a clipped signal to the L1- which will amplify it and sound very distorted.

Make sure you are not seeing the "clip" warning come on on the Pod display.

Not sure if feeding in and amplifying a clipped signal can harm the L1 equipment , but I know from reading other forums etc. it certainly can damage other PA equipment. Recently a guy had his HK Actor (Hight end £4000+) system blow because a DJ was feeding him a clipped signal. and although the PA amps weren't clipping or even being pushed, the source signal was clipping and the drivers blew.