Aphex 204 Aural Exciter: Need Help Setting It Up Please!

[crazyface]

Hi!!

I need to adapt this thing to connect via RCA, and my question is this:

Do I need to connect the L & R channels of a standard stereo RCA connector to the Channel 1 and Channel 2 inputs/outputs of the 204 via mono 1/4" plugs, or can I just connect the L & R channels to input and output of a single channel by using a STEREO 1/4" plug?

Thanks!

 

[grawk]

You need to use 2 channels.

 

[GreatDane]

You will need 4 of these cables if you're connecting the 204 to a source with RCA connections and sending the processed signal to a device using RCA connections.

 

[crazyface]

Will it degrade/distort the current too much more if I used 1/4" to RCA-Female adapters at the connections, then connected with RCA male cables? They only had the adapters at the Radio Shack near me, not the cable-adapters...

Thanks for your help!!

 

[GreatDane]

imo it won't make any difference.

Is this your first time using the 204?

 

[crazyface]

Yes, it is.

I'm still trying to figure out how to really integrate with my receiver in such a way that I can easily use it for both music listening and my (admittedly amateur) voice-over/music processing for my (admittedly even more amateur) film projects.

When I've some more money and more interior "real estate" to work with, I'll definitely clean this mess of a system up, but for now I'll just have to make due this way.

If the way I've figured it out works, then I think I've pretty much got all my bases covered... Just the same, I'll type out what my plan is here, so that if there's an obvious flaw maybe someone can tip me off before I waste too much time.

For Music Playback:

PC: Begins with 1/8, adapter takes it to 2xRCA, input to receiver 2xRCA "DVD."

CDP: 2xRCA output to Receiver 2xRCA input, "CD."

Receiver: Tape Out 2xRCA, Adapter to dual mono 1/4, Aphex 1/4 inputs.

Aphex: dual mono 1/4 Outputs, Adapter to seperate RCA's, RCAs on Receiver, "TV."


For Recording:

Use Extra PC 1/8 Line Out, Adapt to 2xRCA, Adapt RCA's to dual mono 1/4 and Input Aphex
then
Output dual mono 1/4 Aphex, Adapt to seperate RCA's, Adapt to 1/8 and input PC
so i'll have to switch around the cabling a bit when i do this, but that's no big deal.

then I'll just set CoolEdit to record that input, then play back the track from a second Cool Edit window, then play back the resulting track directly through the Receiver to get an idea of how the adjustments are working out.


I know the noise level is going to suck for recording, but I think it will still sound a lot better than the other students' projects and I won't have to work around the sound studio's scheduling.

Does that sound like it will work out ok? If you see a better way of doing, let me know.

I know bugger-all about setting up a proper recording system, I'm really just beginning to get into this so that I can do the audio for my projects in my own flat at no added expense and at greater convenience.

Thanks again for all your help!!!

 

[crazyface]

All right, I got all the adapters, but I still don't understand what I'm supposed to do with the tape out, see, because....


If I select, say, "CD" on the receiver, then my input is the CD -- NOT the "TV", which is where I've got the 204 coming in...so I'm kind of lost as to how to get two different inputs at once (the first one into the receiver and then the second one from the 204...)

Any ideas??

Thanks!!

 

[GreatDane]

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyface /img/forum/go_quote.gif All right, I got all the adapters, but I still don't understand what I'm supposed to do with the tape out, see, because.... If I select, say, "CD" on the receiver, then my input is the CD -- NOT the "TV", which is where I've got the 204 coming in...so I'm kind of lost as to how to get two different inputs at once (the first one into the receiver and then the second one from the 204...) Any ideas?? Thanks!!

I mostly understand how you'll be connecting but that last part ( "so I'm kind of lost as to how to get two different inputs at once (the first one into the receiver and then the second one from the 204.." )

What can you do with two sources at once into your receiver? If this helps, remember that you can send any line-level source through the 204 such as your CD player...or maybe you just need a mixer??

 

[crazyface]

Well, first I'd need to select which input (CD, DVD, TV, etc.) my receiver will be receiving, right? Until I select one, it won't route that signal to any output - isn't that correct?

So then I'd select, say, "CD", to listen to the CD. Now it will output the CDP signal, and I can press the Tape button to reroute that signal to the TApe Out, which takes it to the Aphex 204.
Now it's gone through the 204, and is coming back into the receiver via the "TV" input, but because I already have "CD" selected, I cannot select "TV" to play back the output of the 204.

So I think my idea won't work...

Instead I think that I'll have to buy a big RCA switchbox and just hook that between my sources and the 204, then connect only the 204 to my receiver....

 

[infinitesymphony]

It sounds like you need a summing box. A mixer would work well for this purpose, since you could control the level of each input and route them all to the main output at once. You could set up the Aphex 204 as an insert (which is what most pro audio people would do), and adjust the send ratio between 100% and 0% to turn the effect on/off.

 

[crazyface]

Thanks for the tips guys! I think I'll use an RCA box for now, and get a mixer once I've more money.

But...I think the unit I've bought may be faulty.

Maybe it just needs some more time to warm-up in my system, but I'm getting channel drop-outs, crackling, and occassionally the processing seems not be functioning (either I'll have to jiggle the knob for it to start working, or it will be working and then turn off until I fiddle with the knob...)

I'll keep testing it out...

Anyway, thanks again!

 

[crazyface]

hmm, any of the issues is immediately solved if i press the "off" button on the 204 and then turn it right back on again...then it goes for a short while without any more trouble.

what could be the cause of that?

does the thing need to be plugged directly into the wall instead of a power strip -- is it just not getting enough juice? how would resetting it like that help it if that were the case though? super-confusing....

 

[infinitesymphony]

Sounds like a faulty unit.

 

[crazyface]

Once again am I led into ruin by the siren song of eBay's low prices.

 

[GreatDane]

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinitesymphony /img/forum/go_quote.gif Sounds like a faulty unit.

I agree. I've been using a 204 for about a year?? and I've never had the slightest glitch. I have mine plugged into an isolation transformer atm but before that I used a simple surge protector (both Tripp-Lite units).

Your troubles don't seem like bad cables but I'd be sure to rule that out first.