SM58 very quiet through VE20?

[bluemeadey]

Greetings as a total numpty when it comes to anything technical, I’m also having low volume issues with my SM58 ( compared to band mates ) I’m guessing that apart from being a few years old , the fact that I route the vocals through a Boss -VE20 processor for some important effects on a couple of songs … Any advice gratefully received!

[Hugh Robjohns]

The VE20 is designed to pass the output (processed) mic signal at the same level as the input so there's no obvious reason why you should lose level.

What is the VE20 connected to?

Does the mic provide sufficient level if you disconnect the VE20?

Have you optimised the level settings through the processing?

[Wonks]

Are you sure it’s a genuine SM58? There are so many Chinese knock-offs out there that if you didn’t buy it new from a store, or used from someone you trust, then there’s always a possibility it may be a fake.

[bluemeadey]

The VE20 is designed to pass the output (processed) mic signal at the same level as the input so there's no obvious reason why you should lose level.

What is the VE20 connected to?

Does the mic provide sufficient level if you disconnect the VE20?

Have you optimised the level settings through the processing?

VE20 connected to Yamaha MG12 mixing desk

Yes mic is louder when connected directly

I need to check level settings in VE20

Thanks for the advice

[Hugh Robjohns]

VE20 connected to Yamaha MG12 mixing desk
Yes mic is louder when connected directly
I need to check level settings in VE20

Yes, you're losing level through your effects configuration. Should be fairly easy to track down and resolve.

[Wonks]

Reading through the manual, there is no direct control of the output volume.

You have control of the pedal's input gain, which needs to be set to optimise the signal passing through the pedal, so ensure that's set as in item 3 on page 4 of the manual. https://static.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/VE-20_OM.pdf

The only other effect that that could have an effect on the level of the direct sound is the Dynamics function. This will be a compressor. It's not described as to how it works, so if you have it on, it may be limiting the maximum output signal level and not adding any make-up gain. The 'depth' control will adjust the amount of compression applied. If this is switched on in your patches, try turning it off to see what the unaffected signal level is like, and then turn it on and try adjusting the 'depth' control to see how much that squashes the sound. It may apply auto-gain with more compression, or it may not. If the latter, then the output is likely to get quieter the greater the depth setting. If the former, then it should stay roughly the same level but with less dynamics, so you can sing really loudly into the mic but the vocals don't get much louder in volume.

[MarkOne]

Both our lead vocalist and I have a VE20 pedal and she certainly uses an SM58 (I use an EV ND76) and I don't ever remember tweaking the input gain from the factory setting. And I'm almost certain our singer won't have either.

Neither of us have problems with low input level into the mixer.

[Wonks]

But if the VE20 isn’t brand new, the previous owner may have used it with a high-output capacitor mic and turned the input gain down.

And even if new, then the default may still provide a quieter signal than an SM58 plugged straight in, despite the desk having enough gain to compensate. You and I might not worry about that, and just set the desk input gain as necessary, whilst others will fret that the gain pots aren’t all at the sane setting.

[Hugh Robjohns]

I've split this topic off from the original thread and given it a more relevant title. The latter to aid future searches, and the former to remove the inevitable confusion from posts responding to the first topic rather than the current one....

[Wonks]

[MOF]

others will fret that the gain pots aren’t all at the sane setting

This typo amused me, I think there should be an insane setting.

[Wonks]

-20dB, -10dB, 0dB, +10dB, +20dB, +30 dB, +40dB & Wibble.

[ef37a]

-20dB, -10dB, 0dB, +10dB, +20dB, +30 dB, +40dB & Wibble.

I thought anything over eleven was the really batty one?

Dave.

[Wonks]

Modern Fender amps go up to 12.

[ef37a]

Modern Fender amps go up to 12.

Well, no one is going to make one that goes to 13 because musos are a superstitious lot!

Dave.

[Folderol]

Modern Fender amps go up to 12.

Well, no one is going to make one that goes to 13 because musos are a superstitious lot!

Dave.

No problem. Just convert to hexadecimal, then you can not only go to 'd' but all the way up to 'f'

[MOF]

-20dB, -10dB, 0dB, +10dB, +20dB, +30 dB, +40dB & Wibble.