Matching Levels - Help Requested

[Scinx]

In order to match my mixing board to the computer, I played a test tone on the computer and matched between the two. This would simulate playing something already recorded to disk, going thru the mixer and to the computer. However - I need help going the other way.
For instance - my board can be in the red but CoolEdit is in the green or early yellow. As a result, I can clip thru my board but the waveform might only fill 50% of the possible recording space. I have adjusted my sound card levels upto the highest they can go to no avail. What do you recommend?
Cooledit2.1, Delta1010, Soundcraft M12.

Thanks very much

 

[Chris Fallen]

What is your exact routing path? Have you tried switching the -10/+4?

 

[Scinx]

Mic into Input on board which has direct out to input on sound card. I am using all balanced cables. If I use +4 I have the opposite problem..where it pins in the Delta Control Panel but is in the green/early yellow on the board

Im just trying to find a way to improve the S:N ratio so I can record nice full waves.

Thanks for the response
Any Ideas?

 

[Chris Fallen]

Since I can't fiddle with your system I really don't know. I'd say just start with everything at unity and move stuff around until it works. That's all I would do.

How about more detail on how you've set it up? Let's start with the board. Make sure nothing is clipping. Since you're going direct out, the trim is all that matters. Solo the track and make sure it's set to where you want it.

Just do the simple stuff and trace the path, one at a time, until it's recorded. Hopefully you find something you missed (if you've already done all of this then I have no idea).

 

[Scinx]

The board is fine...I have the levels down on that perfectly...its a matter of getting those same levels into my system...thanks for trying...Ive been trying to figure this out for many moons now...

 

[mixsit]

...CoolEdit is in the green or early yellow. As a result, I can clip thru my board but the waveform might only fill 50% of the possible recording space...

It would seem unusual if neither setting gets you in the ball park. How far off is it if you run the board at good nominal levels? Green/yellow range could be -6 dbfs depending on the meter's range. And there is no pressing need to get anywhere near to full scale. The theory being, run your analog stuff where it sounds good, don't worry about the conversion level. There's even reason to suggest that NOT having a bunch of hot tracks makes things go beter downstream, both on the analog side if you're mixing external, and even in-the-program-mix.
Yea?
Wayne