m-audio mobile pre usb clipping at half of what it should

[dcccgoose]

We've been producing a shortwave radio broadcast from our home computer for a few months now and just upgraded our sound card to the m-audio mobile pre usb so that we could increase quality and gain and be able to use XLR cables. We've been using audacity as our software. It is easy to edit, mix multiple tracks, etc. and was free. It has done a very good job. Anyway, now that we have the moblie pre installed and try to record into audacity or any other software as well (I've tried it with Record Pad and Sound Recorder) it is clipping at half the rate it should. So, we can't record at the level we want. I can record at a lower level and then amplify it without having the clipping problems. M-Audio is shut down for the weekend if anyone can help, I'd really appreciate it.

 

[scrubs]

What do you mean when you say you can't record at the level you "want" without clipping? What level are you trying to record? If you are comparing to commercially produced music and/or broadcast, you will not be able to achieve those levels with the mobilepre alone. Commercially produced material is compressed/limited (usually too much so) during mastering for maximum volume. However, it is typically recorded at much lower levels. So, record at a level so that you're not clipping. Then, use compression/limiting within the software to bring up the volume (the Kjaerhus Classic Master Limiter is a good free VST limiter to try out). Also, the mobilepre is 16-bit, I believe, so you have less headroom to work with than if you were recording at 24-bit.

 

[petermiller]

what I think you are having a problem with is that you are used to using possibly an 1/8" computer jack or possibly a 1/4" with a lowZ mic. And on top of that probably without an impedence transformer. you said that you can now use XLR input. You are probably now used to gaining the source to accomodate the low impedence signal. You now have a low impedence signal w/a preamp and may require less gain for the same signal level on the program. ????