low monitor sound

[nillapoet]

when i play back music through my monitors it's really quiet and i'm not sure why. all the levels on my comp and on the monitors are turned up... here's how i'm set up...

i have active behringer truth monitors hooked up to my m-audio mobile pre/audiointerface by xlr cables which is plugged into my comp.

any possible ideas?

[.:Wyze Loc:.]

the monitors prolly need to be powered
what kind of monitors are they?

[ssscientist]

In general it's not good policy to plug your monitors directly into your interface.

I recommend a small mixer like this one to buffer and to boost your signal to the monitors.

[warble]

Originally Posted by .:Wyze Loc:.

the monitors prolly need to be powered
what kind of monitors are they?

"i have active behringer truth monitors".

Active typically meaning monitors powered by built-in amps.

[daav]

THere are a number of things that you can consider as well, but making sure your monitors are powered is of course the first (either self powered (actives) or through an amp (passive). if you ahve passive monitors you definately need to put sopmehting between the interface and the monitors, but not the little mixer linked above 9it is not powered with an internal amp)

Most interfaces have software drivers with a control console. On mine (echo;s version) there are playback output controllers and a mainout controller (either or both can affect eh sound level being put out) alsoi there is the selector between the pro audio connection or commericail output level ( +4 or -10 db or something similiar) and depending on how that is set there can be a big differene in the level. Check that stuff.

You recording software of course also has a built in mixer with various sound level controls, include the main output.

Daav

[warble]

I'd put something between the interface and the monitors too. I don't have active monitors, but I'm using a Presonus HP4 which has a handy-dandy monitor level knob. I run my Layla 3G into the inputs, and the outputs run into my Hafler amp. The HP4 is balanced, but only 1/4" - no XLR.

You get the idea (maybe).

A small mixer would work just as well for the same purpose!

[Reggie]

Well....first he needs to get his levels under control. Taking this low-level signal--which could be due to a software volume slider hiden somewhere accidentally being lowered, and possibly giving him a low-resolution/low-volume signal--and boosting the crap out of it may give him less than optimum sound. I would look into the interface's control panel in the computer. And if Windoze is using the interface as its main playback card, you may have another secret hidden volume slider thing to deal with in the Windows control panel.

[Reggie]

Well....first he needs to get his levels under control. Taking this low-level signal--which could be due to a software volume slider hiden somewhere accidentally being lowered, and possibly giving him a low-resolution/low-volume signal--and boosting the crap out of it may give him less than optimum sound. I would look into the interface's control panel in the computer. And if Windoze is using the interface as its main playback card, you may have another secret hidden volume slider thing to deal with in the Windows control panel.