Levels mysteriously rising and falling with no changes in your setup? In this episode of The Pro Audio Suite, we go hunting for those dreaded signal-chain gremlins.
From flaky TRS connections that drop a balanced leg and cause sudden 6 dB losses, to patchbay switches that "moved themselves," to the quirks of send/return jacks on interfaces like the Audient iD series—we unpack the common culprits behind random level swings.
We also share a practical, step-by-step troubleshooting method called binary reduction: change one thing at a time, ideally from the middle of the chain, and halve your suspect list with every move.
What you'll learn:
-
Why XLR usually outperforms TRS for reliable, balanced connections
-
How to "exercise" or clean jacks to stop intermittent dropouts
-
How the Return jack on the Audient iD bypasses the preamp (and why the Send is half-normalled)
-
Why patchbays and inserts can be both lifesavers and headaches
-
The simple logic of binary reduction for solving audio mysteries fast
Mentioned: Grace m101, Audient iD22/iD44, Mackie inserts, Apogee Duet, phantom power quirks, Behringer patchbay switches.
Sponsors:
-
TriBooth — use code TRIPAP200 for USD $200 off your TriBooth
-
Austrian Audio — Making passion heard.
Credits: Recorded via Source-Connect. Edited by Andrew Peters. Mixed by Robbo. Tech support by George "The Tech" Whittam. theproaudiosuite.com
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Are You A Charlotte?
In 1997, actress Kristin Davis’ life was forever changed when she took on the role of Charlotte York in Sex and the City. As we watched Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte navigate relationships in NYC, the show helped push once unacceptable conversation topics out of the shadows and altered the narrative around women and sex. We all saw ourselves in them as they searched for fulfillment in life, sex and friendships. Now, Kristin Davis wants to connect with you, the fans, and share untold stories and all the behind the scenes. Together, with Kristin and special guests, what will begin with Sex and the City will evolve into talks about themes that are still so relevant today. "Are you a Charlotte?" is much more than just rewatching this beloved show, it brings the past and the present together as we talk with heart, humor and of course some optimism.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.