TL Audio 5050 - Manual (Page 17)

44.1kHz or to 48kHz, and the card can be clocked to an external digital source
via the BNC wordclock input. When clocking the DO-2 to an external source
the sample rate setting on the DO-2 needs to be set to match the external
sample rate, otherwise correct locking may not occur and audible clicking may
appear on the digital output. In terms of gain, the DO-2 will generate a signal
level of 0dBfs in the digital domain when +18dBu of output level is generated
at the balanced line output of the 5050.
5. GETTING
STARTED
5.1 Connections.
There are various ways that the 5050 can be connected into your audio
system. The three most common are:
a) As a mic or instrument front end
b) Connected to a channel insert point on a mixing desk
c) Connected to a group or master insert point on a mixing desk
To use the 5050 as a mic or instrument front end, connect the output of the
5050 directly to the line (not mic) input of your console, recorder or sound
card. A common mistake is to plug the 5050 line output into the XLR mic input
of a console. This will cause the console mic inputs to overload very easily and
may result in a loss of quality. Once the output is connected, simply feed your
mic or instrument into the relevant input on the 5050. Recording direct to the
multitrack recorder (thus bypassing the console) is a common technique these
days as it keeps the signal path short, and of the highest quality. No
unnecessary console stages are passed through, thus maintaining quality.
Many mixers have sockets called ‘insert points’, which allow processors such
as dynamics devices and EQs to be patched in-line into the mixer signal path
at various points. The mixer’s channel insert point usually ‘sends’ the input
signal out directly after the mixer’s preamp stage - allowing connection to the
line input of the 5050 - and then returns the processed signal from the line
output of the 5050 back into the mixer at the same point in the signal path.
This is commonly achieved using a special insert cable (sometimes known as
a ‘Y’ lead or split lead - usually a stereo 0.25” jack connector at one end split
into two mono jack or XLR connectors - one for send and one for return). The
most likely positions that insert points are located on a mixer are in the
channel, group and stereo master sections. Patching the 5050 into the
channel insert point means that any signal passing through that channel will
pass directly though the 5050. Compressing an off-tape signal on mixdown, for
instance, can be achieved by connecting the tape machine to the mixer tape