Problem with Mix In on TD-8

[gcurry]

Hi all,

I'm wondering if anyone else is having a similar problem to mine and able to offer any suggestions. I have a standard V-Custom setup.

When I am playing along with certain CD's, parts of the song playing are not able to be heard. For instance, on some songs, the lead guitar track is at such a low volume, that it can't be heard above the other instruments tracks. It's not a stereo problem as I'm hearing sound through both right and left channels, just that certain instruments are very low. Here is some of the troubleshooting I've done so far:

Plugged my headphones directly into the CD player - The sound is fine, so I know that the problem isn't with the CD player or the headphones.

Switched out the cord going from the CD player to the TD-8 - same problem noted with both cords, so I know that it's not the cord.

Swiched out the 1/8 to 1/4 stereo adapter for the patch cord. same problem noted with both adapters, so I know it's not the adapter.

Just generally jiggled (technical term) all of the connections to see if something just wasn't connecting correctly - doesn't help, so I feel like all of the connections are OK.

I'm thinking that maybe the TD-8 is defective, although I can't seem to figure out what would be defective. Before I try to resolve this with Roland, I thought I would ask the participants of this board.

Thanks for any help you can give,

Greg Curry

[gcurry]

Thanks Chris. I guess my next course of action is to go to Radio Shack and make for sure I get a stereo patch cord to connect the CD player to the TD-8. I'll let you know if this corrects the problem.

Greg

[Alexander]

Greg,

A Stereo plug will have 2 black plastic rings on the plug. A Mono plug will have just 1 black ring, in case you don't know.

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Thank Ye,
Alex.

[wincent]

Originally posted by feefer:
Make sure ALL leads, converters, etc are TRS, i.e. stereo, and not the more common mono.

Chris

Funnily enough these leads can be very hard to find... I had to go to four stores before I could find one!

But in any case, the other thing I have noticed with my TD8 is that the mix in source has to be very "hot" (ie. it has to have a high level going into the unit) otherwise the sound quality is very scratchy and degraded (sounds very similar to what you hear with a defective lead with loose wires in it). Perhaps this is a symptom indicating that my TD8 has a dodgy connector... I don't know...

[gcurry]

Originally posted by Alexander:
A Stereo plug will have 2 black plastic rings on the plug. A Mono plug will have just 1 black ring, in case you don't know.

Alex,
I didn't know this, thanks alot. I looked at my cord and, voila, the 1/8" jack is mono (1 plastic ring) and the 1/4" jack is stereo, so this is definately my problem.

Thanks to everyone for the help

Greg

[Alexander]

! np, Greg.

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Thank Ye,
Alex.

[gcurry]

I just wanted to thank all of you who helped. I may have been able to figure out the problem on my own, but it probably would have taken me a lot more time. I'm greatful for the helpful people who contribute to Vdrums.com.

Greg