Rolls PM50s and ART Tube Channel not combatable?

[The Diaper Geni]

Here's the deal: I'm in a group that's going to IEM's. I've been messing around at home with hooking up my IEM with a newly acquired Rolls PM50s. Seems that my bass preamp, an ART Tube Channel Instrument/Mic Preamp, is overdriving the Rolls. A lot.

Now, if I just plug my bass straight into the Rolls, everything is fine. (I just am not able to EQ or compress my tone first with the ART.)

I have tried using the FX loops on the back of the TC. And have even tried using a built-in pad on my cheap-o direct box. The pad kind of worked. But with the pad engaged, the signal became too weak and thin! DOH!!

Am I missing something? Or am I going to have to get a pre with a Line Out Volume so I can adjust the line out to be compatable with the Rolls? Make sense??

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[uhdinator]

Are you running a line level from the pre to the mic thru. If so it would be to hot and distort. If running pre into monitor in (line level) then distortion would mean the pre is set too high.

[billbern]

I've had a similar issue, running LMII effect send to PM instrument in. I put an EQ before the PM to tame the level and a little EQ.

[uhdinator]

Originally Posted by billbern

I've had a similar issue, running LMII effect send to PM instrument in. I put an EQ before the PM to tame the level and a little EQ.

An effects send is sending line level (after the instrument level is boosted by pre to line level). The PM50 has mic thru and monitor in. check the specs as I think it accepts line level at the monitor in jack. If so and you get distortion, you are probably running the pre gain too hot.
Turn it down some and turn master up slightly instead.