User Manual

15
Crimson
Preamplifier, LED Indicators
Control Elements
Instr Gain
The Crimson also includes two identical instrument preamps. Use the Instr Gain control to
adjust the instrument preamp level in steps.
The adjustable volume range spans from -6 to +31dB. The possibility to reduce the level -6dB
allows for the direct connection of electric bass guitars. To achieve the best recording level,
the -6dB LED should flash from time to time: you have enough headroom left. If the LED
remains always on, it means that the level is at the brink of overloading — in such cases, you
should reduce the Instr Gain value. The OVL LED indicates the Crimson‘s converter is overloa-
ding, which should be strictly avoided.
Note: During monitoring, both instrument signals are played back as mono signals.
IMPORTANT: Read the explanation regarding Mono and Stereo Signal Selection on page 10!
LED Indicators
The central LED display panel provides information about the operating status and also helps
you adjust better microphone and instrument signals.
Level Adjustment with Four LED sets
Four traffic-light-like LED sets indicate the level of the four recording channels. Every set of
LEDs is numbered: set 1 and 2 correspond to mic preamps 1 and 2, while set 3 and 4 corres-
pond to instrument preamps 3 and 4.
Each LED set is identical to the others:
• The OVL LED lights red to indicate the Crimson‘s converter is being overloaded
• The -6 LED lights yellow. An optimally adjusted level makes it flicker on and off from time
to time
• The SIG LED lights green and indicates the presence of a signal with a minimum level of
-42dB
Special note regarding the OVL LED: this LED is directly connected to the converter and thus
indicates the overloading of the converter. Make sure it never lights during a recording, other-
wise you risk ending up with a useless take due to the presence of audible distortion. As a
safety measure, the OVL LED remains lit for around a second.
Status LEDs
1. The PWR LED indicates the power supply of the unit.
2. The MIDI IN LED indicates the reception of MIDI data.
3. The HOST LED indicates that a host computer has been detected at the USB port and the
connection has been correctly established.
Note: When used standalone, without DAW or iPad connected to the USB port, the digital
section is not initialized. And since the OVL LED is controlled directly by the converter, if
not initialized, the OVL LED is inactive. This has no negative effect on the operation of the
Crimson, since you cannot record without a DAW and analog distortion is clearly noticeable.