presonus tubepre vu meter goes into red

[ssman]

I'm using an emu 0404 soundcard, and it says the input should be set so that the peak meter stays in the yellow region (to get maximum resolution due to digital). I have to turn the gain so high for this that the vu meter on my presonus tubepre goes into the red region. Is this bad, is there something I'm doing wrong. I don't really know what a vu meter is for.

[ssman]

also am I damaging my equipment when it goes into red? (mic/preamp/soundcard/headphone amp, headphone?)

[ssman]

please help, someone

[treymonfauntre]

its fine if its in the red, as long as the clip light doesn't come on

[jonnyc]

You really need to pay more attention to what your mic and converters are telling you, if they dont clip then you dont have a problem. Don't put too much faith into a meter on a hundred dollar box.

[ssman]

ok, thank you.

[punkin]

Does your sound card have a -10/0 /+4 adjustment. If your card has jumpers or adjustments to match the input device the meters should come up pretty close to each other.

I'm with the others in that it's ok that the level is pretty hot on the VU meter but if the clip light comes on...oh oh... not so much "damage" to the equipment but rather clipped/distorted audio. Also, constantly running those cheaper mic pre's up high could bring in amplifier noise. They pretty quiet in the mid range especially if you add a lot of the TOOB drive.

[bennychico11]

you're comparing Volume Unit (VU) and Peak Programme Meters (PPM). There is going to be a difference in readings. You're fine.

[punkin]

Yea...I understand that but as far as full meter deflections go, he should be getting good strong signal at the sound card if he's driving the input of the amp. I guess I should have prefaced my suggestions first with the question, how does the recorded signal look and sound? Is it peaking out or clipping or is it down in the dirt or best scanario...somewhere in the middle?

The amp has a pad switch...try using it you're constantly peaking the meter and the drive and/or gain controls arent' helping.

[bennychico11]

sorry, my post was directed toward ssman...i understood what you were talking about