Hi All.
I have a SQ5 and a SQ6 connected together via the SLink port.
I have analogue gear (Comp/EQ/…) connected to the local analogue I/O of the SQ5 and then routed to the SLink tielines to some inserts sends and returns (Channels and Mains) of the SQ6. What would be the operating level for the SQ6 inserts? +4dBu or Digital? technically the insert viewed from the SQ is fed from a digital tieline but in reality it is analogue as it is an analogue I/O on the SQ5. To me, analogue is the best bet but I’m not sure. Can someone comment on that?
As soon as any signal is fed into either desk, it is converted to digital (A/D), and stays that way until it hits an output (D/A)
I would assume that if you insert a digital signal, its operating level should also be set to digital.
Not Obvious. I’d say if I use an insert with a DAW from a Dante card, it would be digital but finally there, we have A/D and D/A, surelly not on the desk that house the inserted channel but on the one that house the I/O. All the question is where is this compensation made.
What is the difference between the digital operating level of a DAW and the digital operating level of another console?
DAW remains internal and never go AD/DA
I would have assume that you had already set the correct digital operating level on your SQ-5 by carefully adjusting the analog send and return levels for your FX unit.
This could be, as is likely in your case, a device that conforms to the +4dBu studio standard, or just as easily a device that conforms to the -10dBV “home standard” - or even something that doesn’t conform to any standard at all.
Despite the fact that these 3 devices require very different analog operating levels, you now have all the same digital operating level that you’re inserting into the SQ-6.
But perhaps I’m overlooking something, and someone else can help and send more light on this.