MBox Volume Levels

[espman87]

I have the MBox and I have a problem with the volume being too low when recording. I have an SM57 (or another mic like the Shure KSM32) hooked up directly to the mic input of the MBox and I have the phantom power on. I have the input selected as mic and I max out the volume knob, but when I record I end up barely getting the signal to be in the green. I know that the level is supposed to be in the yellow/red area, just enough to be "hot" but not clip, however I can't get it anywhere near that! Do I constantly have to record it at a low level and then normalize? I am recording choirs/concert band concerts with the mic being fairly close to the source. I record the signal into my Mac Powerbook. Thank you for any help/suggestions you may have for me!

 

[Dr Biscuits]

No, you should have plenty of gain available from the Mbox's preamps... something is definitely set up wrong...
First thing, an SM57 is a dynamic mic and does not need phantom power, you should turn it OFF! It most likely will not damage the mic, but it is good practice.
It sounds like perhaps you've got your patching wrong in Protools, or you're accidentally turning gain up on the wrong channel (the Mbox is set up counter-intuitively with ch1 being on the top in the front, but ch2 being the top input jack).

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Not related to your specific problem but this:

I know that the level is supposed to be in the yellow/red area, just enough to be "hot" but not clip

is not a god way to track. you need to leave some headroom for mixdown and you're also running the risk of clipping and having to retrack if you do it that way.

It depends what you're recording (some sources are more dynamic than others) but a good general rule is that levels should be averaging around -12db. I know some folk who's levels peak at around -12db when they record.