Maybe Delta 44/66 wasn't made to sound good on my Mac.

F

focus2

New member
This is my last hope to find an answer before I give up on the Delta series.

I purchased a Delta 44 for my Mac G4 400. It worked ... but doesn't work well.
No matter what I did, the output was coming out of just the left speaker.
I've tried everything I could think of. Making sure the pan was correct on
the monitor mixer ... 2 in 2 out as well as 1 in 2 out using a Y adapter.

Along with that ... I have the occasional distortion on the output for
no particular reason. I recorded a track to test the input. It turns out that
it distorted during the recording process as well. I used the +4 signal level
and I never had it close to clipping during recording. It still distorted.
BTW. I used Logic Delta using the ASIO driver.

Anyway ... I returned the 44 and exchanged it for a Delta 66 hoping
that the 44 was defective somehow. Well ... I'm having the exact same
problem with the 66. Driver problem?
I had better sound quality using the existing Mac sound input.

I know I'm still relatively new to digital audio. But I think I know enough to
keep sound from distorting ... at least I thought.

I'm ready to return the 66 and save up for something else.
Perhaps I will have better luck with a MOTU 828.

If anyone had a similar experience ... please let me know
Thanks.

F
 
I use a Delta 44 on PC and when I first got it I had a few problems with clicking and poping. But once I updated the drivers to the lastest versions it worked fine.

With digital you don't have to record with the track peaking anywhere near 0dB to get a good s/n ratio. I usually record peaking between -6 and -12.

IMHO the Delta 44 is one of the best soundcards out there for the price.
 
Im gonna have to say its somethingin the Monitor Mixer settings or a cabling issue (something as simple as using a cable with a mono plug instead of stereo...ive been guilty of that)....

i would try using a different driver other than Asio to start out with....also, give a detailed description of where all your settings are in the control panel, and exactly how everything is connected, including wires.....
 
I'll try to describe my whole setup without making it too long ...

To start with ... I downloaded the latest drivers from Midiman's website
so I should be up to date with that.

Input: I'm using a Alesis 7.1 synth's mains that's connected directly
to the break out box ("ins" 1 & 2) using a RCA (red/white) cable with 1/4"
adapters.

Output: I'm simply using a cable connected to my Yamaha
multimedia speakers connected to a Y cable to the breakout box "outs 1 & 2".
I was hoping to get by on that until I get some decent monitors.
I've also tried a good set of headphones using the same cable.

Logic "Delta" Preferences: Driver - ASIO Delta66; Clock Source - Internal;
20/24 bit recording, software monitoring, larger process buffer, larger
disk buffer, more friendly Disk Read Handling are all checked ON.
I had the sample rate at 48000 when recording.

Delta Control Panel: Patchbay Router; H/W Out 1/2, SM/ASIO 1/2
(same as WavOut 1/2 on PC) is checked. Also note that I tried it with
the monitor mixer checked as well.
Monitor Mixer; SM/ASIO 1/2 mixer input was on usally at -4.5 and
the master volume was about -3.0.
Hardware Settings; Master Clock - Internal Xtal., DMA Buffer Sizes (samples)-
I've tried many settings (right now is set to 512), Sound Manager - In: Analog 1&2 -
Out: Analog - 1&2 (that's where the cables are hooked up),
Sample rate - 48000, Signal Levels, Outputs - +4dBu, In1 - +4, In2 - +4
(I have also tweaked with these settings too).

I hope this helps. I heard also that this was one of the best soundcards
for the price. That's why I purchased one. I honestly hope the problem
is the user and not the Delta.

Thanks.
 
No wonder your having problems with cliping. It isn't cliping. Its distorting!
The output from the delta is not powered like on a normal soundcard.

Its line level out!

You need to go into a headphone amp before going into the computer speakers or headphones!

Lets just hope you didn't fry channel 2 on the card.
 
Didn't I said I had trouble with distortion?

You mean to tell me I need to purchase a headphone amp
or studio amp? According to the manual ... it said a sound
system will do. It didn't necessarily define sound system but
I figured a home receiver would do the trick.
BTW. I couldn't find in the manual that a headphone
amp was required when using headphones.

I just now tried a home receiver trying 1 &2.
Then I tried 3&4. Both still distorting but the
sound was coming from both the left and right side.
Problem 1 fixed ... but the occasiobal distortion remains.

BTW. I mentioned in my last post that I used RCA cables
from my synth to the break out box. That was a typo.
They were actually (2) line cables with 1/4" plugs.
 
I was thinking of another post when I said cliping. I've been reading a few diffrent boards tonight.

The distortion is likely because the levels are mismatched somewhere along the line. +4 may cause distortion going into consumer level gear like the home reciver.

"Output: I'm simply using a cable connected to my Yamaha
multimedia speakers connected to a Y cable to the breakout box "outs 1 & 2".
I was hoping to get by on that until I get some decent monitors.
I've also tried a good set of headphones using the same cable. "

Multimedia speakers usually need a headphone level input. Anything that has line level inputs and headphone outputs will do. I've used everything from broken tape decks to my old radio shack mixer, I've even used my old soundcard.

Most gear with rca's use consumer level signels. Alot of pro gear uses +4 and some -10. My Hi-fi amp from the 80's takes +4 no problem. On the other hand my tape deck that I use for a headphone amp works best on -10.
 
Thanks for your help Garak.

I realize I still need to tweak the output and I appreciate your suggestions.
However, I'm still confused as to why I'm still getting distortion from the input.
I think I failed to mention that after I recorded a track I used my
existing Mac soundcard (not the Delta) to play back the audio after
recording using the ASIO driver. Does that make sense. I was doing
that just to test the input. Pehaps I need a Midiman Audio Buddy even
though the manual stated that I didn't since I'm using a keyboard (not
a guitar or mic). Any thoughts?
 
It's a Alesis 7.1 synth

I looked in the manual to find output specs.
I couldn't find anything. How could I find out?

It does have an ADAT digital out.
Is there a device that would convert that
to S/PDIF so I can utilize the digital input
on the Delta?
 
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