Just bought a Presonus Firebox

  • Thread starter Thread starter ryansanders
  • Start date Start date
R

ryansanders

New member
I just bought this.. and I have some issues.. Mostly just recording level.

I haven't bought a mic yet.. but I have my acoustic guitar. And I am plugging straight into the Mic 1 (tried Mic 2 as well) with the +12 db enabled. My problem is that I can't seem to get enough volume. Its VERY VERY low. The only way I have been able to get it up some is go through an old mixing board that I have and turn the volume up on it, then it will give enough volume to the Firebox.

Has anyone else had problems with this? Am I suppose to be using something else going into the firebox to record with? Direct box? I got better results out of my mic input on my crappy onboard audio card.
 
Hi,

You need a DI box and use an XLR lead between the DI and the Firebox. Then there will be no problem.

Cheers

Alan.
 
So... When I am not using the XLR... It changes to a basic line input right? No preamps used? Therefor, the only way to get a good signal is using a mic preamp (if using 1/4") before the Firebox.. or something like a Pod (guitar processor)?
 
If using one of the jack plugs, the 2 on the front between the xlr's or the jacks in between, these are for line level inputs and instruments. The problem you have is that the signal from the acoustic is not at high enough gain.

The signal from an acoustic guitar is not at line level, when you use a DI box this converts the signal to line level. DI boxes have xlr outs, this is a balanced line level signal, if you then plug the xlr into the xlr on the front of the firebox you will have a healthy balanced signal that you will most likely have to turn down using the front volume controls.

You don't have to but any other pre-amps as the XLR inputs are pre-amps.

If you use a pod you will take the line out of the pod and plug the line into one of the jack line inputs of the firebox, the pod will have a healthy line level signal and this will work fine.

I hope I have cleared this up for you?

Cheers

Alan.
 
Ah ok.

I plugged my guitar into an effects processor.. then into the Firebox.. and the record level is still low. The good thing is that I can easily just raise the volume in the audio software if I need to. But does that make the sound quality lower when you raise the volume (add db) rather than it just recording at that level?
 
If you record it at an extremely low level and raise the volume later you are probably going to get a hissing sound. At least that is what happens to me. I try to get the volume as loud as possible on the initial recording just under the point of peaking.
 
That hissing sound is the noise floor. You should be recording at a high enough level so that the hissing is not audible when you can hear your recorded signal. However, that does not mean you need to record as loud a signal as possible. You should have plenty of headroom above the noise floor without coming anywhere near clipping.
Raising the gain digitally will not change the sound of the recorded audio at all. That's about the only place in the signal chain where you can raise the gain without any change in the sound. That's why a DI box or something like a pod (that has a hi-z [guitar] input and a line level output) is so important here. A mixer in line between the guitar and the interface, a guitar pedal designed to go between the guitar and an amp, anything like that, is going to change your tone when you add gain, and often unpleasantly.
Try out what you've got before buying anything else, make it sound as good as you can, just bear in mind that there exist tools to solve this exact problem.
 
Being the dumb person that I am... I believe I fixed it.. or actually, there was nothing ever wrong

I thought the bottom left knob went to Mic 1.. and top left went to Mic 2.. So I would always have the wrong one turned up/down. Hah.

Tonight I plugged my guitar straight into the Mic 1 (just like I did before).. but realized that the knob wasn't adjusting the volume and tried the other and it worked. Now I am able to actually get clipping with the guitar. Very nice. My only complaint as of now is that the knobs are not as smooth as I would like.. very noticeable on the headphones. You go from very quiet to kinda loud with one turn (or increment).
 
I love it when i run into those porblems like a bad level and i realize im not even plugged in. Then what the hell am i hearing:o.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top