Event ASP8 and Central Station Users........

[Resonant Alien]

I am monitoring through a Central Station and Event ASP8s. (out of DP thorugh RME Fireface into the CS).

I am just confused by the trim settings on the CS and the input sensitivity setting on the ASP8s. If I set the trims on the CS to max (as recommended by PreSonus since this is the "unity gain" setting) and set the input sens on the ASP8s to max (as recommended by Event since this is the "unity gain" setting), and set the faders in RME TotalMix to "unity gain", the sonic output is LOUD, I mean LOUD. I can barely use 10% of the travel of the main level knob on the CS.

I know the practical solution is to turn down the trims on the CS, or turn down the input sens on the ASP8s, but I have always been told to run signal at "unity gain" for best sound quality. So, would it not degrade the sound quality to run these trims at anything other than "unity gain"??

Thoughts?

[BradLyons]

IMHO, just use what sounds good to your ears. The idea for having the max settings is for best S/N ratio. In the case of the ASP8's when I owned mine, I had them at max gain but pulled the level down on my Central Station. Remember, every speaker is different. The ASP8 is 250-watts or so of power, my current ADAM S1A's are 100-watts of power so there is a drastic difference in max gain and how loud it really is. It's okay to pull the trim pots back on either, preferably on the CS first. Just use your ears is all, remember though--you do have a pad on it as well. But pull back the trims on the CS and you'll be fine.

[Resonant Alien]

Thanks Brad.