Here's a tech question about this Peavey 10AT mixer: My question is: If I connect an external preamp, How do I make sure the built-in preamp from the PeaveyAT does not also colour the input signal?

If I look at the Peavey 10AT block diagram, I'm noticing some schematic difference on channel 4 vs. channels 1-3... Particularly the dotted line that extends underneath the mic pre and the guitar-specific element: Seems like if I'm going to connect an external pre to the Peavey 10AT, I'd want to use a single channel pre and connect it with a 1/4" male TRS into the channel 4 input. Look good?

Does using a TRS male directly into the input channel of a device like this somehow bypass the internal pre of the interface (i..e Peavey 10-AT)? Specifically, what about channels 1-3?

Also, it seems Channel 5/6 is for "Analog Media" and the block diagram does not show any built-in preamp, so this would make sense schematically... but I think this is moreso like plugging a stereo into the mixer to record off the radio, or a drum machine that outputs in stereo, something like that... I don't think using an external pre is the idea for Channels 5/6

Line input is definitely the way to go. There is no way the Electronics in the peavey are not going to change the sound of the preamp, whether or not it is going to be something that bothers you or not will be subjective, or in some cases, objective. I would guess the line inputs DO NOT bypass the amplifier section, but are just a padded input to the gain stage. That triangle you see in the schematic is most likely the exact same IC chip you see in the Mic section. I'd say just do it and don't worry about additional coloration. If it bothers you, you might consider a higher grade converter that is designed to be more transparent. My guess is it will sound fine if not over driven by the mic pre. 5/6, do not have mic preamps, but there are amplifiers in the block diagram for them that act as buffers most likely and are also going to "change" the sound of the preamp. Again, could be a big deal, maybe not. I'd try 5/6 first, if you don't find yourself needing more. They DO look like they are stuck as stereo inputs, and are probably looking for 2, unbalanced L and R signals, so they might be easy to drive.

Pretty sure you can use 4, 5, & 6 without the internal preamps. If you already have this mixer you can just plug in and see if the gain knob does anything. Though they all might just bypass the pot and go directly to a fixed resistor for "line level" while still actually going through the preamp. It's hard to know which amplifier (triangle) they are hitting in that diagram, because 1-3 have two.

Also, mixers have built-in autotune these days?!!! What a world.

tommy wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 5:08 pm Also, mixers have built-in autotune these days?!!! What a world.

Can't imagine ever turning that off. Who wants out of tune musics?

It looks like the 1/4” input on channel 4 can either function as a Line In that passes through the preamp circuitry (identical to channels 1-3) or an instrument-level input with a different initial gain stage (and likely a higher input impedance) but also passing through the preamp circuitry. The dotted line just indicates that the two switches comprise a double-pole double-throw (DPDT) switch; it’s not a signal path.

Channel 5/6 is the one you want to use, though it is unbalanced. Just plug into either 5 or 6 for a mono signal. Using both will send it to either left or right, respectively.

Adam P wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 7:40 pm It looks like the 1/4” input on channel 4 can either function as a Line In that passes through the preamp circuitry (identical to channels 1-3) or an instrument-level input with a different initial gain stage (and likely a higher input impedance) but also passing through the preamp circuitry. The dotted line just indicates that the two switches comprise a double-pole double-throw (DPDT) switch; it’s not a signal path.

Channel 5/6 is the one you want to use, though it is unbalanced. Just plug into either 5 or 6 for a mono signal. Using both will send it to either left or right, respectively.

Yeah I think you're correct with this assessment. Thanks for everyone's input BTW, it has helped me understand the block diagram more comprehensively.

EDIT: Just figured it out.

There's a button inside my DAW (similar to the switch on the mixer itself) that decides between Stereo and Mono... so I'd hook the external Pre up to 5 or 6, and then put the switches to Mono and boom.

The only downside of this setup would be if I wanted to use a dual channel external preamp... I'd have to pay attention to the phase alignment of my mic setup.
I'd have to always take into consideration the hard panning (and phase relationship of the mic setup) if I wanted to use a dual channel pre and record to stereo. Which is an option...

Thanks everyone for the help.

Yeah man. Make it work. What Preamps are you injecting? Don't write off trying the 1-3 channels too. sometimes it is a good thing to drive cheap mixer inputs. Medicine tone wouldn't exist if it wasn't for that. Have fun.

Kniferide wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 11:27 pm Yeah man. Make it work. What Preamps are you injecting? Don't write off trying the 1-3 channels too. sometimes it is a good thing to drive cheap mixer inputs. Medicine tone wouldn't exist if it wasn't for that. Have fun.

It's looking like grace design m101.

I record rock music that's sort of like Nirvana, KISS... stuff like that. I recorded and put out a rock E.P. with the Peavey itself earlier this year but noticed some of the instruments within the mix could use some more clarity.

I also checked out a Universal audio preamp, a Warm audio one, something by Black Lion... the FMR? Really Nice Preamp... Seomthing else called like DAT audio box or something... and I've previously owned a Focusrite ISA One which in retrospect wasn't exactly my favorite flavor of sound, though it's a cool piece of equipment to own for sure.

indiegrab_360 wrote: Fri Sep 03, 2021 6:26 pm

Kniferide wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 11:27 pm Yeah man. Make it work. What Preamps are you injecting? Don't write off trying the 1-3 channels too. sometimes it is a good thing to drive cheap mixer inputs. Medicine tone wouldn't exist if it wasn't for that. Have fun.

It's looking like grace design m101.

I record rock music that's sort of like Nirvana, KISS... stuff like that. I recorded and put out a rock E.P. with the Peavey itself earlier this year but noticed some of the instruments within the mix could use some more clarity.

I also checked out a Universal audio preamp, a Warm audio one, something by Black Lion... the FMR? Really Nice Preamp... Seomthing else called like DAT audio box or something... and I've previously owned a Focusrite ISA One which in retrospect wasn't exactly my favorite flavor of sound, though it's a cool piece of equipment to own for sure.

I would suggest that your next purchase after the Grace be a higher quality converter interface than the Peavey. Could consider something like a MOTU Ultralite MK5 or something like it. It has a couple of usable preamps, plus a 6 other balanced line inputs for using other preamps, plus some optical and a bunch of line outputs. I think yo will get more usable expansion using that or something like it over the Peavey mini mixer.

Hey ya'll sorry, just one more question before this thread is basically done...
Using the grace design m101 as an example... What sort of cable should I use to connect this to the Peavey?
Here's the grace design m101 user manual: https://www.gracedesign.com/support/man ... l_RevA.pdf (It has two balanced and one unbalanced outputs).

Looks like I can just use....
1. An unbalanced to unbalanced 1/4" (Like any old guitar cable)... [ when using the unbalanced output of the grace design].. But this would not be optimal.
2. A female XLR to balanced 1/4" TRS and... plug that into Channels 1-4. And also 5/6?? Not sure about that.
3. A special balanced to unbalanced TRS 1/4" (...or a female XLR to unbalanced 1/4" TRS) when plugging into Channel 5/6 from the grace balanced outs.

Does this sound right? Can I just plug a regular XLR cable from the balanced XLR out into Ch. 1-4 on the Peavey?

If you find a link to the best cable I would want to buy for this that would be much appreciated... I guess the goal is to avoid any chance for unwanted noise or ground loops (...not even sure exactly what these are) or whatever else might happen.