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Levels & Metering

ASP880 runs internally on ±18 V DC rails and can deliver up to +27.5 dBu from the rear analogue outputs. Its internal ADC has 115 dB A-weighted dynamic range and a fixed line-up reference of +18 dBu = 0 dBFS, leaving 4–9.5 dB of analogue headroom above the digital maximum in different parts of the analogue path.

Set recording gain​

  1. Connect and select the required microphone, line or instrument source.
  2. Enable phantom power only if the connected microphone requires it.
  3. While the performer produces the loudest expected passages, adjust the channel gain while watching the destination interface, recorder or DAW meter.
  4. Aim for peaks around −10 dBFS in the DAW. This preserves useful headroom.
  5. On channels 1 and 2, engage the −10 dB pad if the input remains too hot.

The ASP880 LEDs provide a quick indication:

  • SIG: begins around −48 dBFS (−30 dBu) and rises in brightness towards −28 dBFS (−10 dBu)
  • PK: potential overload at −2 dBFS (+16 dBu)

Use the recording destination for accurate metering.