Hello again,

here are the results of my modest diagnostics:

- the signal from pre-amped piezo-acoustic guitar (guitar's preamp volume to the max) tops at some -10 dB when connected into UX2 Line input (value from Gearbox's input meter);

- the same guitar with similar preamp settings tops at some -7 dB (I aproximate this value from UX2 VU's as it's not shown directly in gearbox - when Instrument input is selected, input VU meter disappears) when connected through UX2's Instrument input;

- during the test I used "as dry as possible" setting in gearbox (no amp, no cabinet, no effects, volume at 75 %;

- despite the fact it is pre-amped, guitar's signal doesn't seem do overdrive the Instrument input circuit, as input meters show some headroom even with guitar preamp's volume to the max;

- I've just made similar comparison with my electric guitar (2 x humbucker) and it topped at some -16 dB (line input) and -10 dB (Instrument input) both with no effect/cabinet/amp gearbox settings;

You can hear three attached tracks with my piezo-acoustic guitar. One recorded through Line input (guitar preamp vol to the max), second plugged into Instrument input (guit. pre vol to the max) and, to add some chili, there is also the third track containing sound recorded through instrument input but this time with guitar's preamp volume reduced to 70 %. In theory, it should sound OK, as reducing volume at input lowers the risk of unwanted peak distortion. But that's not the case - the sound is slightly better, but can't compare to the one captured with the line input.

By the way, the difference between sound "from" instrument and line input is not purely distorted/clean type, it's something more complex and hard to describe - instrument input appears to have some kind of a superfast limiter/echo at high frequencies when co-operating with my piezo-acoustic guitar. Is it possible that there are some “hidden” peaks that UX2 peak indicators don’t show? And how to be sure there are no such peaks as in the Gearbox there’s no input meter in Instrument mode?

What's surprising is a modest sensitivity difference between these inputs even with a humbucker pickup. Is it correct?

Please, listen to attached files and compare the sound.

I'll try to do some tests with electric guitar/bass sound, I've never tried to plug them in line input, but maybe it's time to check this out?

PS. I've spent tons of hours on every mix eq-ing and cleaning up acoustic guitar tracks from unwanted harmonics, resonances etc. Now I know I'll have to play and record all the stuff again, this time with line in input. But what if I'm to do the same job on bass and electric guitar tracks...

Even given my enthusiasm for making music - a hard task.

:-)

best,

Mike

Hello,

so you suggest it's correct that the UX2's instrument input pollutes signal from piezo-acoustic guitar so significantly that it can be easily heard despite -10 dB recording headroom? If so, what can I call a "safe" recording level for instrument input?

Maybe I should sent my TonePort to service point for some tests, but I'm not sure that such testing procedures covering dynamics exist.

In the meantime I'll record evetything with line in input, even electric guitar and bass, as I can't feel safe about sound quality when using instrument input.

It's not as it's supposed to be I guess...

Musician needs something predictable in his recording gear to rely on.

Wondering if this time UX2 cuts the warmth ot the guitar or not - could you have any pleasure when playing guitar with this question in mind?

best,

Mike