Adequate Line In/Line Out Connections For Optimal Signal (PS-100)

Greetings,

I’m using a pedalboard with 2 preamps and the outs from the pedal board is Stereo (Temple Audio DI Mod Pro Stereo) which has 2 XLR outs and 2 1/4" outs. With my limited knowledge of audio signals, I was hoping you can clear up some things for me for optimal signal retention.

A. Does it matter which outputs I use to the PS-100 Line In? Either way, I’d be using either a Y Cable (XLRs > 1/4" TRS Y-Cable) or (2 1/4"s Mono > 1/4" TRS) into the Line In of the PS-100. I have confirmed that the preamps output is Line Level. The signal from the preamp ALSO includes a Cab SIM.

B. With the PS-100 Line OUT, would it be optimal to use 1/4" out to a 1/4" input into a Mixing board? What would happen if I took the Line out into a Active/Passive DI box to XLR Out into the Mixer (sometimes XLR in is all that’s available in the mixer)? Signal Loss because I’m converting a line level to a mic level from the DI > XLR?

C. In Regards to the Youtube Video Labeled " Using the Power Station’s Self-Attenuation Feature for Silent Recording", I noticed Joe “Jumping” the AMP IN to SPEAKER IN of the power station which is what I’m doing. He chose to use the Line out to his Audio Interface. Can you use the LINE OUT XLR port also if I’m going to a mixer? Or is Line Out a better option? On pg.5 of the instruction manual, it says its Transformer isolated for the XLR LINE OUT…so what would that mean in this situation? Is that optimal?

D. Would it be more ideal to run the preamp pedal WITHOUT the Cab SIM, and then send the LINE OUT of the PS-100 TO a separate Cab SIM pedal/External Effects processor, and then TO the mixer? Or is the preamp and the CAB SIM together into the PS-100 Line In okay? Or is the difference negligible?

E. I have been using a Y-Cable from the 1/4" outs of the output of my board to a TRS end into the PS-100 Line In, and from there I’ve used a 1/4" out of the Line Out into a home mixer that does have 1/4" INs. That won’t always be the case. Either way I’ve noticed the signal with both the XLR LINE OUT and the LINE OUT of the PS-100 not that hot of a signal? I have to blast the volume on the PS-100 to get usable volume and the channel on my mixer is at unity. Hence, why I’m asking all the questions about the best possible signal from the device.

I do understand some of these questions have to do with understanding audio signals, and I thank you for breaking this down for me. Also, I know the PS-100 is a better tool to use as an actual AMP connected to an actual GUITAR CAB, but I’d like to have just the predalboard as an option when I’m gigging.

I have now confirmed that A/Bing the XLR outs from the pedalboard output are much hotter than the signal that goes from 1/4" Y cable to the PS-100 and out to the mixer.

Wow, you did your research when writing this question!

A. PS-100 is unbalanced line in, so use unbalanced mono output, there is no advantage to use anything else..

B. I prefer to use XLR balanced and isolated output at all times it is possible. This is simply the best way to connect audio gear.

C. I think you mean SPKR OUT to AMP IN i.e. the PowerStation tube amp connects to it’s reactive load. Again always use XLR balanced when possible.

D. Trust your ear on this one. People tend to forget that a speaker tone is preamp → power amp → speaker. It is different if you do just preamp → IR. The Power Station let’s you do the former in self-attenuation mode.

E. PS-100 has plenty of head room, it’s not the issue.

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