Is it mic, preamp, or soundcard clipping?

[tenkas]

When I record drums, I use a pair of MXL 603 (small condensor), sm57 on snare, atm25 (not pro25) on kick, and I also have a SP b1 and an audio technica 3035 which I wanted to use on toms.

The major problem is that whenever I try to record drums, I have to set my preamps on my mixing board to the closed position (the less amount of gain possible) orelse it will clip in sonar (I use sonar 3 with a delta 1010lt). The clipping doesn't appear on the meters of my mixing board and when I track drums, I never hear any distortion while monitoring from the board.

When I get into sonar, some clipping occurs on the tracks of the overheads, kick, snare, and when I tried using the sp b1 on toms, it was always clipping (I guess that's because the condenser is pretty sensitive).

I was wondering what is the problem with my setup:

Do I need limiters (compressors) before going into my soundcard? do I need some -10db pads for each mics?

Is it something else???

Well, thx everyone, I hope you can help me out because I would really like to use the Sp b1 and the AT 3035 on my toms without clipping.

thx

 

[LemonTree]

look in your Delta control panel and try lowering the gain from there. If it's not clipping on your board then it's not the mic's or the board.

 

[tenkas]

I have tried attenuating the gain in the control panel but it seems useless. There is no effect on the volume that is perceived in sonar. It seems that the "virtual volume" in the control panel for each input is at a set value, probably too high.
Is there anyone who could help me with this? I didn't see anything about this in the manual.

thx

 

[mixsit]

I have tried attenuating the gain in the control panel but it seems useless. There is no effect on the volume that is perceived in sonar...
thx

Then what remains may be too much level from the mixer to the A/D converter. Can you set the mic pre trim to it's nominal level, but then reduce at the chanel fader (if you're diredt out) or at the mains?
Wayne

 

[tenkas]

Hi! Well I read the french part of the manual (English is not my first language) and I found out that there is a place in the panel where I can adjust the inputs. This feature is not easy to spot at first, but thx a lot for the help, I am using the direct outs of my mixing board so I can't control by faders.

I will test it tonight, should work great.

Thx a lot

 

[OneArmedScissor]

Yeah, that first eleborate panel with all the level meters and stuff doesn't let you change the gain settings.

I personally do not understand the point of it being there in the least.

You have to change the input and output gain levels under the "Hardware Settings" panel with the "Variable Signal Level" stuff.

I would imagine that is what you found. The layout for the Delta control panel really is just stupid.