FireWire Audiophile CPanel problem

2007-01-03 08:05:31

Hey folks,

Yeah, I snuck in one last question. But this is really driving me nuts, not just some thereotical question (not that they're not important of course!).

Basically, I use (and always have used) Total Recorder to record WAV files from my sound equipment.
Until recently, I used a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz sound card, which is a pretty good one.
I upgraded to a M-Audio FireWire Audiophile though, and have the following problem.

If the input from my sound modules was too high, with the Santa Cruz I could lower the line in volume (with Windows mixer) and the recording level in Total Recorder (line in being TR's input recording device) would decrease.

However, with the FW Audiophile, when I make a change in the FW Audiophile control panel (Windows mixer doesn't have or display the same inputs/outputs that the card actually uses), like analog in, that affects the volume I hear but not the volume that Total Recorder records.

It's very confusing. Total Recorder has to use "Wave" to record from (In Windows mixer there's Wave, SW Synth and CD Player), but the Control Panel bits I use are Analog 1/2 in, Software return 1/2, Line In 1/2.



Sorry if I'm explaining this badly. Just confuses me to no end.

Regards,
- Spike

FireWire Audiophile CPanel problem

Reply #1 – 2007-01-03 09:12:23

No professional nor semi-pro soundcard has input level control on line-in inputs (there is probably something out there that does, just to emphasize the rule that it isn't done). It is necessary to control the analogue signal level in the analogue domain, before it reaches the soundcard. This is the standard condition that every recording engineer, and every serious amateur, works under.

A mixer just before the soundcard is the standard solution. The most common input source is microphone. These must always go through a microphone preamp. Such preamps have gain control, and frequently also have output level control. Many electronic instruments either have output controls or work through an instrument preamp that can control the output signal level.

What is your audio source? Are your recordings clipping? If so, you need to run the signal through some kind of attenuating device -- a mixer, a HiFi preamp, a stand-alone volume control -- before feeding it to your soundcard's input jacks.

FireWire Audiophile CPanel problem

Reply #2 – 2007-01-03 09:24:28

Right. Yeah, I figured as much- that the FW Audiophile had to have the input sent to it modified, rather than the other way around.

Yeah, that's what I've been doing too (my recordings were clipping, so I lowered the volumes). I run 4 synth modules through each other (daisy chained RCA/phone jack cables) and then into the FW Audiophile. Changing their volume output levels obviously does the trick, but also changes the balance unpredictably, which is why changing the soundcard's level through the control panel or a mixer as you suggest is the desirable option.

Guess I should make some topic about a mixer

Thanks man.

- Spike